Are you struggling to command a large and powerful army in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord? A small party limits your combat effectiveness and ability to influence the game’s world. This article solves that problem by providing five proven ways to significantly increase your party size, allowing you to conquer Calradia with a force to be reckoned with. These methods range from leveling the right skills to understanding policies and clan tiers, so you can choose the approach that best suits your playstyle.
The Leadership skill is the cornerstone of increasing your party size in Bannerlord 2. Leveling this skill unlocks perks that directly boost your party size limit.
Focus on Leadership Perks
Pay close attention to the Leadership skill tree. Specific perks, such as “Authority” or “Raise the Meek,” directly increase your maximum party size. These perks often have specific requirements, like a minimum Leadership level or a certain number of troops of a particular tier in your party. Read the perk descriptions carefully and plan your leveling accordingly.
Training Troops Efficiently
Leadership also impacts how effectively you train your troops. Higher Leadership allows you to train troops faster and more efficiently, turning recruits into seasoned warriors who contribute to your overall combat strength without necessarily increasing your party size to unmanageable levels. Focus on perks that improve training speed and reduce training costs.
My personal Experience
In my experience, focusing on Leadership early in the game makes a significant difference. I prioritize reaching Leadership level 50-75 before venturing too far into enemy territory. The increased party size allows me to handle larger bandit groups and defend myself against opportunistic lords. I find “Raise the Meek” is an extremely good perk for its early accessibility and direct bonus to party size.
Your clan tier directly impacts the maximum party size you can command. Increasing your clan tier requires accumulating renown by winning battles, completing quests, and participating in tournaments.
Clan Tier Progression
As you progress through the clan tiers, from Tier 1 to Tier 6, you’ll gain access to larger party sizes, more fiefs, and the ability to field more powerful armies. Focus on activities that generate renown to climb the clan tiers as quickly as possible.
Policies and Their Impact
Kingdom policies can also influence your party size. Certain policies, when enacted in a kingdom you control, provide bonuses to party size for all clans within that kingdom. Voting for policies that benefit your clan is a strategic way to increase your overall military strength.
First-hand Tips
Don’t underestimate the power of tournaments early on. They offer a consistent source of renown, especially when your clan is still young. Additionally, focusing on quests that reward renown, even if they seem tedious, can significantly speed up your clan’s progression. I once spent a frustrating week hunting down looters for a local village elder, but the renown reward helped me reach the next clan tier much faster than expected.
While not a direct party size increase, effective fief management, particularly through the governor’s skills, plays a crucial role in supporting a larger warband.
Governor Skill Selection
Choose governors with skills that improve settlement prosperity, security, and militia size. A prosperous settlement generates more taxes, providing you with the funds to maintain a larger army. A secure settlement reduces the risk of rebellions and bandit raids, freeing you from defensive duties and allowing you to focus on offensive campaigns.
Construction Projects
Invest in construction projects that boost prosperity and security. Buildings like granaries, aqueducts, and walls improve the overall well-being and defensibility of your fiefs, contributing to a stable economy and a reduced need for garrison troops.
My Perspective
I’ve found that a well-managed fief can be more valuable than multiple poorly managed ones. Focus on maximizing the economic output and security of your primary settlements before expanding too rapidly. A strong economic base allows you to recruit and maintain a larger, more effective army in the long run.
Companions can lead their own parties, expanding your overall military reach and influence. Each companion has a specific skill set that makes them suitable for different roles, including leading parties.
Companion Skills
Select companions with high Leadership, Tactics, and Steward skills. These skills will improve their ability to recruit, manage, and lead their own parties effectively.
Assigning Roles
Assign companions to lead scouting parties, raiding parties, or even smaller armies to support your main force. Properly equipped and skilled companions can significantly enhance your military capabilities.
Unique Insight
Don’t just focus on combat skills when choosing companions. A companion with high Engineering can significantly improve siege offense, while a companion with high Medicine can reduce casualties in battle. Diversifying your companion skills allows you to tackle a wider range of challenges.
| Method | Skill/Stat Involved | Benefits | Drawbacks | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leadership Perks | Leadership | Direct party size increase, improved training | Requires dedicated skill point investment, perks may have specific requirements | Medium |
| Clan Tier Progression | Renown | Access to larger party sizes, more fiefs, kingdom influence | Requires consistent renown generation, can be time-consuming | Medium |
| Kingdom Policies | Influence | Party size bonuses for all clans in the kingdom | Requires political maneuvering, policies can be repealed | Hard |
| Governor Skills/Fiefs | Stewardship, Others | Economic stability, security, which supports a larger army | Requires careful management, slow to develop | Medium |
| Companion Parties | Leadership, Tactics | Expands military reach, provides additional forces | Requires skilled companions, managing multiple parties can be complex | Medium |
Understanding and strategically influencing kingdom policies can unlock significant party size bonuses, effectively amplifying your military strength without directly investing in personal skills.
Policy Options
Several policies directly or indirectly impact party sizes. Look for policies like “Royal Guard,” which increases the party size of lords, or policies that boost militia sizes in towns and castles. While these don’t directly increase your party size, they strengthen your kingdom’s overall defensive capabilities, freeing you up to focus on offensive campaigns.
Gaining Influence
To enact favorable policies, you need influence. This is primarily earned by owning fiefs, winning battles for your kingdom, and completing quests for other lords. Participating in kingdom decisions and strategically voting on proposals is crucial.
A Lesson Learned
I once made the mistake of ignoring kingdom politics, only to find that my kingdom was enacting policies that actively harmed my economic interests. From then on, I made it a priority to attend kingdom meetings, voice my opinions, and forge alliances with other lords to push through policies that benefited my clan. This ultimately allowed me to field a much larger and more effective army.
Q: How do I increase my party size quickly in Bannerlord 2?
A: Focus on leveling your Leadership skill and earning renown to increase your clan tier. Prioritize Leadership perks that directly boost party size and participate in tournaments and quests that reward renown.
Q: What is the maximum party size in Bannerlord 2?
A: The maximum party size in Bannerlord 2 depends on your Leadership skill, clan tier, and kingdom policies. It can range from around 80 at clan tier 1 to over 300 at clan tier 6 with the right perks and policies.
Q: Does my character’s culture affect party size in Bannerlord 2?
A: No, your character’s culture does not directly affect your party size. However, certain cultures may have unique units that are more effective in combat, allowing you to achieve more with a smaller force.
Q: How do I manage a large party effectively in Bannerlord 2?
A: Ensure you have sufficient funds to pay your troops’ wages and maintain their morale. Appoint a skilled quartermaster to manage supplies and distribute food evenly. Utilize companions to lead smaller detachments and scout ahead.
By implementing these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to building a formidable army and dominating the battlefields of Calradia in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. Remember to adapt your approach to your playstyle and the specific challenges you face in the game. Good luck, and may your banner fly high!