I just wanted to post my progression thru the game here when I have used the tips I have recived in this thread. They work like a charm
First I looked around for a town with an ongoing tournament, saved, and tried over and over again to beat it until I made it. (sometimes you start facing crappy odds, like bow vs sword&shield when I barely know which way the arrow should point) But once I recived my money from my cleaver bets on myself I bought several recruits from villages and men looking for some fighting in the taverns.
Then I rode around on the desert plains robbing every village of its belonings and selling them to the nearby cities. (to get money and food)
I continued till me and my men became a bunch of hardknocked soldiers eager for action (and with loads of different food in my inventory) . Now we ere strong enough to take on a caravan, so we did.
We attacked Sultan Hakims caravan so we became a little hostile with his faction, just so we then could go back to his villages and spread blood on the sands informs of looting and burning.
And something I discovered pretty quick was how fast you can get a lot of money by just taking their stuff and selling it, so I made 40 000 denars in no time. And the Sultans army was to busy fighting of rival armys to defend his villages from a mere bandit crew.
And with great money comes great power, I bought up several knights and mercs lurking around in tavaerns so my band of thugs expanded rapidly. And with an evergoing flood of money incomes and food supplies my army morale was "excellent" at all times. And whenever the Sultans realm stopped fighting wars I stopped ravaging their land. (since my actions with their full focus would not be taken kindly).
But eager as I was I just wanted more money so I raided the villages in the outskirts of their kingdom. And it all went great until one day the Sultans army stood at my doorstep. (or, tbh Their doorstep since I was actually breaking and entering
) And his army and the towns villagers came down on me like a hammer. But my men, forged in the heat of.. looting, was rough and tough enough to fend them off. I managed to almost completely destory his whole army even though I was outmatched 1-4. But my glory came quickly to a halt when his power armored boy scouts in full bodychainmail came crushing in. They won the battle but I managed to escape, plotting and bidding my time.
But the king of Rhodoks had heard of my exploits and sent an invitation to join his kingdom, so I did. And here I am now. And life is good.
And I managed to get this far by investing in good but light armor, training to perfect my swings from horseback. And commanding and sticking with my troops. And ofc, using the terrain to my advantage.
Now I can enjoy Warband and not having to grind looters for all eterinty. Cheers for that lads