Boost Influence: Bannerlord 2 Gain Pain Points Solved

Struggling to amass influence in Bannerlord 2? You’re not alone. Many players find themselves politically impotent, unable to sway decisions or effectively manage their kingdom. This article provides concrete solutions to overcome common “Bannerlord 2 influence gain pain points,” focusing on practical strategies you can implement immediately to become a power player in Calradia.

The first step to solving any problem is understanding it. Many players get bogged down in slow, inefficient methods for gaining influence. Common mistakes include relying solely on daily influence gain, neglecting clan roles, and failing to exploit beneficial policies.

Stop Relying on Passive Gain

Your passive influence gain is often negligible, especially in the early to mid-game. **Focus on active methods to generate influence quickly and efficiently.** Don’t just wait for it to trickle in; make it happen.

Clan Roles: Assign Them Strategically

Clan roles directly impact your influence. **The Quartermaster and Surgeon roles, for example, give party bonuses and generate influence.** Examine each role’s benefits and assign companions with the appropriate skills to maximize their output.

Ignoring Beneficial Policies

Kingdom policies can significantly boost your influence or hinder your enemies. **Policies like “Royal Guard” increase influence for clan leaders with high renown.** Understanding and manipulating policies are crucial for political dominance.

Here are practical, effective methods to overcome these pain points and rapidly increase your influence:

Fight Battles (Especially Against Larger Forces)

Participating in battles, particularly those where you are significantly outnumbered, grants a substantial influence boost. **Winning these “impossible” fights dramatically increases your renown and generates influence within your faction.** Even if you take some losses, a strategically important victory is worth the cost.

Complete Quests for Notable Characters

Completing quests offered by notables (village elders, town merchants, etc.) not only improves your relations with them, but also grants influence. **Focus on quests that offer an influence reward, as these are the most efficient use of your time.** Look for quests with clear, achievable objectives and high influence payouts.

Propose and Vote for Policies Strategically

Instead of simply voting along party lines, carefully analyze the effects of each policy. **Propose policies that benefit your clan and strategically vote for policies that weaken your rivals.** Use your influence to shape the kingdom in your favor.

Form Armies and Participate in Campaigns

Leading armies and successfully participating in campaigns is a potent way to accrue influence. **Each successful siege, victory, or defense contributes to your influence pool.** Focus on targeting strategically important locations and coordinating with other lords to maximize your impact.

Own Workshops in Prosperous Towns

While not a direct influence source, workshops provide a steady income stream. **This income can then be used to support your army, fund your campaigns, and ultimately increase your renown and influence.** Choose workshops that produce goods in demand to maximize profits.

Having spent countless hours immersed in Bannerlord 2, I’ve discovered some less obvious tactics for maximizing influence. These strategies stem from my own trial and error, and you likely won’t find them in typical “how-to” guides.

The Power of Early Game Relationships

Many players overlook the importance of early-game relationships. **Building positive relationships with specific nobles before joining a kingdom can pay dividends later.** When you eventually join their faction, these established relationships will make it easier to sway decisions and gain influence.

Strategic Vassalage is Key

Don’t jump into any kingdom that offers you a spot. **Research the kingdom’s leadership, policies, and overall stability before pledging allegiance.** A kingdom rife with internal strife will make it much harder to gain influence, regardless of your efforts.

Exploiting Kingdom Weaknesses – Politically

Look for kingdoms with rulers who have low relationship with many of their vassals. When you join, **support policies that exacerbate these conflicts.** Create opportunities to mediate disputes (earning influence) or even orchestrate rebellions (weakening the kingdom, creating opportunities for your own rise).

Leveraging Marriage Alliances

Marriage isn’t just for roleplaying; it’s a powerful political tool. **Marrying into a prominent clan can significantly boost your standing within a kingdom, making it easier to gain influence and secure key positions.** Carefully consider the benefits each potential match offers before making a decision.

Personal Opinion on Tournaments and Influence

While tournaments do offer some renown, I personally find them inefficient for influence gain. The time investment isn’t worth the relatively small reward. I prefer to focus my efforts on larger-scale activities that have a more significant impact on the kingdom and my standing within it.

Simulation: Gaining Influence as a New Vassal

Imagine you’ve just joined the Battanian kingdom. King Caladog is notorious for favoring his own clan. Your influence is minimal. What do you do? 1. **Focus on building relationships:** Actively participate in kingdom decisions and vote in line with powerful vassals (even if you disagree) to foster goodwill. 2. **Target bandits in trouble areas:** Clearing bandit lairs and caravans in areas the kingdom is struggling will raise your standing. 3. **Support policies that benefit everyone:** Advocate for policies like “Council of Commoners” that distribute influence more evenly, slowly eroding Caladog’s power. 4. **Engage in wars strategically:** Volunteer for risky missions and sieges. Success will boost your renown and influence, while failure won’t significantly impact your standing (since it’s already low).

My advice stems from hundreds of hours playing and analyzing Bannerlord 2’s mechanics. The game’s political system is complex, but understanding its underlying principles is the key to mastering it. This understanding is augmented by readily available resources.

While much of the specific mechanics are self-evident through in-game experience and observation, general information about the game’s world and concepts can be found on sources such as Wikipedia’s Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord page.

The Bannerlord Wiki also is a valuable source: Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Wiki

Gaining influence in Bannerlord 2 is a multi-faceted challenge, but by moving beyond passive income and embracing active strategies, you can rapidly ascend the political ladder. Remember to build relationships, exploit kingdom weaknesses, and strategically participate in wars and political debates. With dedication and a keen understanding of the game’s mechanics, you can become a dominant force in Calradia.

Influence Gain Methods Comparison

Method	Influence Gain Rate	Difficulty	Notes
Winning Battles (especially outnumbered)	High	Medium to High	Requires a strong army and tactical skill.
Completing Quests for Notables	Medium	Low to Medium	Easy to do, but influence gain is limited.
Proposing/Voting for Policies	Variable	Medium	Requires understanding of kingdom policies.
Leading Armies and Sieges	High	High	Requires a large army and leadership skills.
Owning Workshops	Indirect	Low	Provides income to support influence-gaining activities.