how do companions in bannerlord recruit more troops

Lussy04

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24-01-2025

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Bannerlord companions are crucial for expanding your army. Their ability to recruit troops is a significant factor in your success. Understanding how to maximize their recruiting capabilities is key to building a powerful force. This guide will walk you through the mechanics of companion troop recruitment in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord.

Understanding Companion Recruitment

Each companion has inherent skills and traits influencing their recruiting abilities. These skills, along with their characteristics, determine the type and number of troops they can recruit. The most crucial factor is their Party Size and Influence.

Party Size and Influence

• Party Size: A larger party size allows a companion to recruit more troops. This isn't just about the number of troops they personally lead, but their overall influence and the size of the settlements they control. A companion managing a large castle with flourishing economy will naturally have more recruitment power.

• Influence: This stat directly impacts recruitment potential. Higher influence equals a larger pool of recruitable troops. Improve this stat by completing quests, winning battles, and gaining their loyalty through gifts and actions they appreciate. Different companions value different things.

Companion Skills

Certain skills significantly boost a companion's recruiting power:

• Steward: A high Steward skill improves a companion's ability to manage resources, indirectly affecting their recruitment capacity. More income translates to more troops.

• Charm: This skill helps companions attract recruits, boosting their overall recruitment numbers. It builds loyalty and morale in their troops.

• Leadership: Though not a direct recruitment skill, it improves troop morale. High morale troops can lead to increased recruitment success and the likelihood of securing good recruits.

• Trade: Though less direct, a high trade skill improves their profitability and allows for more investment in troops.

Maximizing Companion Recruitment

To get the most out of your companions' recruitment abilities, follow these strategies:

• Assign Companions to Settlements: Give companions control of towns and castles. These settlements provide a steady income and a larger pool of potential recruits. This directly improves their effective party size.

• Invest in Prosperity: Focus on improving the prosperity of settlements under your companions’ control. Higher prosperity translates into more taxes and a larger pool of potential recruits. This involves building infrastructure and improving trade.

• Level Up Steward Skill: Prioritize training companions with high Steward skills. Effective management of resources and efficient taxation directly impact their ability to recruit and maintain troops.

• Improve Companion Relationships: Invest time in developing strong relationships with your companions. Happy, loyal companions are more effective and willing to work hard for you. This will improve their performance in many aspects, including recruiting.

• Give them appropriate gear and equipment: While this won't directly affect recruitment numbers, equipping your companions with appropriate gear and weapons can boost their effectiveness in battle, and as leaders, this indirectly helps with the recruiting process. A high-ranking well-equipped commander will inspire more recruits.

• Strategic Recruitment: Don't just focus on numbers. Pay attention to the troop types each companion is best suited to recruit. Consider their strengths and weaknesses when assigning them to recruiting tasks.

FAQs: Companion Recruitment in Bannerlord

Q: Why aren't my companions recruiting more troops?

A: Check their Influence, Party Size, and Steward skills. They might need to control a settlement or have their skills improved. Low prosperity in their controlled settlements can also heavily reduce their recruiting capacity.

Q: Which companion skills are most important for recruitment?

A: Steward and Charm are the most directly impactful. Leadership indirectly assists through morale improvements.

Q: How do I increase a companion's Influence?

A: Complete quests, win battles, and ensure their loyalty. Each companion responds uniquely to various actions, so pay attention to their individual needs.

By focusing on these key factors and strategies, you'll significantly boost your companions’ troop recruitment capabilities in Bannerlord, building a formidable army ready for any challenge. Remember that a strong army is built not just on numbers, but on the efficient management of your companions and their respective strengths.