Morale is the lifeblood of your army in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. A happy, well-fed, and victorious army fights harder and longer, allowing you to conquer Calradia with ease. Low morale, on the other hand, leads to desertions, infighting, and a swift end to your campaign. This article provides five effective strategies to ensure your troops stay motivated and ready for battle.
A starving army is a demoralized army. Ensuring a consistent and varied food supply is the most basic, yet crucial, step in maintaining high morale.
Diversify Your Diet
Bannerlord features a food system that rewards variety. Simply carrying around sacks of grain will only get you so far. Aim for at least three different food types in your inventory to provide a morale bonus. Meats, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables all contribute to a happier, more effective fighting force.
How to Get Different Food?
- Purchase: Visit towns and villages and buy a range of food items from merchants.
- Raid: While not the most honorable option, raiding caravans and villages can quickly replenish your food stores. Be aware of the consequences for your reputation.
- Hunt: Hunting parties can be sent out from settlements to gather meat, supplementing your food supply. This is an option only when you own the settlement and choose this option.
- Production: Grain and grapes can be produced in your own fiefs with the correct building selections.
My Experience With Starving Troops
I once made the mistake of relying solely on grain for an extended campaign. My army, initially eager for battle, quickly became a collection of disgruntled peasants ready to abandon me at the first opportunity. The turnaround was remarkable once I started investing in a diverse range of food items. Think of it as catering to your troops; happy customers (soldiers) perform much better.
Winning battles is a potent morale booster. A string of victories not only fills your coffers but also inspires your troops and solidifies their faith in your leadership.
Seek Out Favorable Engagements
Don’t throw your army into hopeless battles. Analyze the terrain, assess the enemy’s strength, and choose your engagements wisely. A decisive victory against a weaker force is far more beneficial than a pyrrhic victory against a larger one.
Exploit Enemy Weaknesses
Every army has vulnerabilities. Perhaps their cavalry is weak, or their archers lack range. Identify these weaknesses and tailor your tactics accordingly. Flanking maneuvers, ambushes, and concentrated missile fire can turn the tide of battle and secure a morale-boosting victory.
My Winning Streak Story
Early in my Bannerlord career, I focused on hunting down smaller bandit groups and raiding weak caravans. These easy victories not only provided valuable loot but also created a snowball effect, increasing my army’s morale and attracting more experienced recruits. Remember, early wins build momentum.
Unpaid soldiers are unhappy soldiers. Regularly paying your troops is essential for maintaining morale and preventing desertions.
Manage Your Finances
Track your income and expenses carefully. Looting, ransoming prisoners, and owning profitable enterprises are all viable ways to generate revenue. Prioritize paying your troops over personal luxuries. A well-equipped army is useless if it’s constantly on the verge of mutiny.
Reduce Troop Wages
Consider recruiting lower-tier troops. While they may not be as effective in combat, they’re significantly cheaper to maintain. A large army of moderately skilled soldiers can be more effective than a small army of elites if you’re struggling financially.
My Payroll Nightmare
I once neglected my payroll for several weeks while focusing on acquiring new territories. The resulting wave of desertions crippled my army, leaving me vulnerable to attack. Learn from my mistake: prioritize payroll, always.
Having diverse units within your warband not only provide tactical flexibility but boost morale for cultural reasons.
Recruit From Different Cultures
While sticking to one culture for your troops might seem thematic, it isn’t always optimal for morale. Recruiting units from different factions grants a small but appreciable morale boost, as they appreciate the variety of experience and camaraderie. Furthermore, their diverse skillsets can give you an edge in battle.
Balance Troop Tiers
Ensure a mix of high and low-tier units. Lower-tier units are more expendable, while higher-tier units offer greater combat effectiveness. This balance prevents stagnation and provides a clear path for advancement, motivating your troops.
The Power of Cultural Diversity
In my campaigns, I’ve found that incorporating Battanian Fian Champions alongside Imperial Legionaries and Vlandian Knights creates a powerful, well-rounded, and surprisingly happy army. The key is to find a synergy between different unit types and cultures.
Your character’s skills and the policies you enact have a direct impact on army morale.
Leadership and Charm Skills
Invest points in Leadership and Charm skills. These skills unlock perks that directly boost morale, reduce troop wages, and improve party cohesion. A charismatic leader who knows how to inspire their troops is worth their weight in gold.
Policies That Boost Morale
Enacting policies that favor your troops, such as “Grain Storage” (reduces food consumption) and “Sacred Majesty” (increases morale in owned settlements), can significantly improve morale. Choose policies that align with your long-term goals and benefit your army.
My Leadership Transformation
Initially, I underestimated the importance of Leadership and Charm. However, after focusing on these skills, I noticed a significant improvement in my army’s morale and overall performance. Don’t neglect these crucial skills; they can make or break your campaign.
In conclusion, maintaining high morale in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord requires a multi-faceted approach. By providing a varied food supply, securing victories, paying your troops on time, diversifying your army, and investing in leadership skills and beneficial policies, you can ensure that your soldiers remain motivated, loyal, and ready to conquer Calradia.
Here is a table summarising the key points:
| Strategy | Actionable Steps | Morale Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Food Variety | Purchase, raid, hunt, or produce at least three different food types. | Significant boost to morale, prevents desertion due to starvation. |
| Securing Victories | Choose favorable engagements, exploit enemy weaknesses, use flanking and ambush tactics. | Huge morale boost, inspires troops, and attracts experienced recruits. |
| Timely Payroll | Manage finances, prioritize troop wages, consider recruiting lower-tier troops to reduce costs. | Prevents desertion, keeps troops loyal, and maintains army cohesion. |
| Diverse Cultural Units | Recruit units from different cultures, balance troop tiers for tactical flexibility. | Appreciable morale boost due to varied skills and camaraderie. |
| Leadership & Policies | Invest in Leadership and Charm skills, enact policies that favor troops. | Improves morale, reduces costs, and enhances party cohesion. |