Early game strategy

[giltirn]

I am having great difficulties in the early game due to the lack of enemies to fight. At the very beginning I would just circle around the map hunting desperately for thief parties, but these are rarely larger than 10 men and most run faster than my party and path past the edge of the map (VERY annoying). Now my men are leaving in droves because I can't keep their morale up, and I am losing about as much money as I gain. Most of my men are raw recruits, because massacring those small thief parties that I catch doesn't offer much xp, and therefore don't have the skill to take on the odd harder enemy I come across; I tried to take on 7 deserters with 20 men and got slaughtered. I would appreciate any advice!

 

[Rarilmar]

Here's some early game strategy: Wait for more patches! LOL

 

[cjackson92]

I am having great difficulties in the early game due to the lack of enemies to fight. At the very beginning I would just circle around the map hunting desperately for thief parties, but these are rarely larger than 10 men and most run faster than my party and path past the edge of the map (VERY annoying). Now my men are leaving in droves because I can't keep their morale up, and I am losing about as much money as I gain. Most of my men are raw recruits, because massacring those small thief parties that I catch doesn't offer much xp, and therefore don't have the skill to take on the odd harder enemy I come across; I tried to take on 7 deserters with 20 men and got slaughtered. I would appreciate any advice!

Best I can tell you is to trade and do tournaments. You have to be like lvl 25 before you can use the train skill on units. Definitely get away from anything not England. Hire some mercs and fight vkings for good money.

 

[Belisarius]

I started out in Denmark, first did some trading from villages to cities and then moved to Norway, where I traded a lot of timber. Went afterwards to Jorvik, where enough money was made to make an oak karvi. Got good gear from vikings, at first they were very hard and solving the battle automatically would result in victory. Now I lead a life of plunder and freedom. Captured a second ship and paving the way for a third hitting monasteries.

 

[Ivor]

If you're a pagan just go for monesteries.  Lots of easy money

 

[mouthnhoof]

for profitable simple trade - buy from villages and sell to the cities. The village prices on many pricy commodities are much lower than what you get in cities.

A general strategy for long term leveling is to pump your companions up on "trainining" skill. Raw recruits are level 15 usually, so until your companions are higher than that they will not contribute any training - HOWEVER, they will train each other, so the few that do more killing and level faster will pull the others (usually the skill mules) after them in levels. Eventually they will be recruits upgrade machines.

If your party is too big to fight bandit groups, it means that it is time to start raiding caravans and join the big league (fighting armies and sieges).

 

[gdwitt]

I'm finding that the most common renegade groups in North England and south England are a bit tough now.
I am seeing packs averaging about 18.
They are all very well equipped and easily beat 25 level two infantry.
The viking bands are tougher, though not as high as Denas in Brytenwalda.