Approximately when should I join a faction?

[Eylk]

I've rushed into factions and every time I screwed up and lost a lot of battles, after being attacked by rivals.

I was wondering if anyone had a good idea for how much renown or what level I should be before joining a faction. I deleted all my saves and characters, so this is a new one.

For any answers, much appreciated, and thanks.

 

[kt0]

I generally don't join a faction until level 20ish with WPs around 250 or so.  Less than that and I don't really feel effective.  I also try to have a group of around 40 or more top-tier troops.  You don't start getting vassal offers from kings until 160 renown.  The merc job isn't worth it, IMO. 

 

[Eylk]

I completely agree about the mercenary position part. So far as I understand, it's like being a vassal-minus the perks.

No fiefs, so no taxes, no chance of being a marshall, the battles you win don't have any chance of getting you land, and you still have the enemies your faction has...

 

[Sir Lulzalot]

Well the merc job is alright for picking a side. It's generally a bad decision though since if you want out then you gotta wait for 3 months.

 

[stygN]

I recently visited my brother for two weeks, he have M&B too, and I tried out a new characterbuild.

What I did was to ride solo, no troops at all, until I got an offer of vassalage from the King I wanted it from (Yaroglek). I don't quite remember what level I had at that moment, but I could solo around 40 searaiders, and practically any number of mountainbandits. I didn't have many partyskills at the time, but I gained levels rather fast so that was not a problem. I just harvested recruits and trained them all into Marksmen. That was my tactic (I had bow, 2 x large bag of khergit arrows, B sword of war and a horse).

So... If you really like a faction, and want to join only that faction, you should wait either until you get an offer from that faction, or until you feel ready for it.

It don't take a long time to reach level 30, or even 40, when you ride around solo. Just a bit of practice and you can take on anything.

 

[PitVip3r]

I normally just join when i get a message saying so and so wants you to be his vassal

 

[Saint of Blood]

Um, just when you wanna start getting land. Then, once you can easily train units, get a castle, and build from there