This article addresses the common frustrations players face when trying to support the Imperial factions in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord. We will explore practical methods to overcome challenges related to recruitment, influence, kingdom management, and strategic warfare as an Imperial supporter. By understanding these pain points and applying the solutions detailed below, you can effectively lead the Empire to victory.
One of the earliest challenges in Bannerlord is securing a reliable source of troops. For Imperial players, this often means navigating cultural preferences and availability.
Difficulty Recruiting Imperial Units Early On
The initial stages of the game often find you far from the heartland of the Empire. This makes recruiting solely Imperial troops difficult and inefficient due to travel time and low availability in non-Imperial settlements.
- Solution: Diversify your initial recruitment. While aiming for a core of Imperial troops, supplement your forces with mercenaries and readily available units from nearby cultures. Focus on quality over quantity in the early game. Highland clansmen and Sturgian warriors can provide a solid backbone while you slowly integrate Imperial troops. Don’t be afraid to raid enemy villages for recruits either, just be prepared to deal with the reputation hit.
- Personal Insight: I initially tried sticking to purely Imperial recruits, but the travel and cost were crippling. Embracing diversity early on saved my campaign.
Maintaining Troop Morale with Mixed Cultures
A mixed army can lead to morale problems if not managed properly. Different troop types have different cultural preferences, leading to desertions and lower combat effectiveness.
- Solution: Focus on leadership skills that boost morale and cohesion. The “Leadership” skill tree offers perks that mitigate cultural differences and increase party morale. Regularly engage in successful battles to boost morale, and ensure your party has sufficient food variety. Prioritize recruiting companions with compatible cultures and high leadership skills to act as captains.
- Practical Tip: Check the morale of your troops regularly. Short term losses from swapping low morale troops with higher ones is often worth it.
- Source: See Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord skill descriptions in game.
Influence is crucial for participating in kingdom decisions, raising armies, and enacting policies. Imperial players often find themselves struggling to maintain sufficient influence due to the inherent political instability of the Empire.
The Constant Factionalism Drains Influence
The Empire is often plagued by infighting between its three factions, leading to constant votes and debates that require influence to navigate. Dealing with this constant political maneuvering can quickly deplete your influence reserves.
- Solution: Focus on increasing your daily influence gain. This can be achieved by owning fiefs with high prosperity, enacting beneficial kingdom policies, and increasing your clan tier. Consider specializing a companion as a governor to manage your fiefs effectively. Choose policies that favor your playstyle; for example, “Royal Guard” can increase the party size of nobles.
- Innovative View: Don’t be afraid to play the political game. Deliberately siding with weaker factions can allow you to gain favor with them and secure support for future proposals. Alliances can be crucial and can be formed by marrying clan members to those of another clan.
- Source: Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Wiki – Influence
Dealing With Unpopular Kingdom Policies
The AI lords within the Empire often propose and enact policies that are detrimental to your interests. Fighting against these policies requires significant influence, and often leads to unpopularity.
- Solution: Form alliances with other powerful clans to ensure your voice is heard. Vote strategically, focusing on policies that benefit you and your allies. If a detrimental policy is enacted, use your influence to propose alternative policies or, if possible, initiate a vote to repeal the existing one. Be prepared to accept some losses; not every battle can be won.
- First-Hand Experience: I found it more effective to patiently build alliances rather than constantly fighting every unpopular policy. Long-term relationships are key.
The Empire often finds itself at war on multiple fronts, making strategic warfare a constant challenge. Defending your fiefs and pushing back enemy incursions requires careful planning and resource management.
Responding to Simultaneous Attacks on Multiple Fronts
The Empire’s geographical location often leaves it vulnerable to attacks from multiple directions. Managing these simultaneous threats can be overwhelming and lead to significant losses.
- Solution: Establish a strong defensive network. Invest in upgrading your fiefs’ garrisons and fortifications. Utilize scouting parties to provide early warnings of incoming enemy armies. Coordinate with other Imperial lords to form defensive coalitions. Focus on strategic chokepoints to slow down enemy advances.
- Practical Method: When a large enemy force approaches one of your fiefs, consider abandoning it temporarily and regrouping your forces elsewhere. The AI will often prioritize sieging undefended fiefs, allowing you to strike them later when they are weakened.
Securing Border Regions and Preventing Raids
Imperial lands are often subjected to constant raids by enemy factions, disrupting trade and hindering economic growth. Protecting your border regions from these incursions is crucial for maintaining stability.
- Solution: Establish a strong patrol force to constantly roam border regions. Focus on recruiting fast-moving cavalry units to effectively chase down raiders. Offer incentives to villagers who report enemy sightings. Build watchtowers in strategic locations to provide early warnings of incoming raids. Enact policies that increase the effectiveness of local militias.
- Innovative View: Raiding enemy lands in retaliation can sometimes be a more effective deterrent than simply defending your own.
- Useful Table:
| Strategy | Benefit | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Garrison Upgrades | Increased defensive strength, longer sieges | High initial investment, ongoing maintenance |
| Patrol Forces | Reduced raiding, improved villager safety | Troop upkeep, potential losses in engagements |
| Watchtowers | Early warnings, improved response time | Construction cost, ongoing maintenance |
| Retaliatory Raids | Deters future attacks, weakens enemy economy | Potential for escalating conflict |
Many Imperial cities and castles have significant non-Imperial populations, leading to cultural unrest and potential rebellions. Managing this unrest is crucial for maintaining stability and preventing losses of territory.
Managing Non-Imperial Populations in Conquered Territories
Conquered territories often have populations that are loyal to their former rulers. These populations can be a source of constant unrest and rebellion.
- Solution: Implement policies that promote cultural integration. Offer incentives for non-Imperial citizens to assimilate into Imperial culture. Appoint governors from the local population to reduce resentment. Invest in infrastructure projects that benefit all citizens, regardless of their cultural background. Focus on improving security and providing essential services to gain the trust of the population.
- Personal insight: I found early executions of criminal elements to be a highly effective means of improving security.
Preventing Rebellions and Maintaining Loyalty
Even with efforts at cultural integration, rebellions can still occur. Preventing these rebellions requires careful management of public order and loyalty.
- Solution: Invest in security measures to deter rebellion. Maintain a strong garrison in potentially rebellious fiefs. Appoint a skilled governor with high loyalty to manage the settlement. Regularly conduct patrols to maintain order. Implement policies that increase loyalty, such as tax exemptions and public works projects. Address the underlying causes of unrest by improving living conditions and providing economic opportunities.
- Practical Method: Consider gifting workshops and properties to influential locals to secure their loyalty.
Supporting the Empire in Bannerlord 2 presents unique challenges, stemming from political infighting to cultural unrest. By focusing on strategic troop recruitment, proactive influence management, and comprehensive territorial defense, you can address these pain points. Prioritize cultural integration and loyalty-building in conquered lands to ensure long-term stability. With careful planning and execution, you can successfully navigate these challenges and lead the Empire to a glorious future.