Espionage.
Since we have fog of war and the player character has limited knowledge of the heroes and the world I think spying would be a great addition to the game in form of companions and clan members being able to spy on other factions.
Warband companions were sent on missions for right to rule, to recruit lords, peace missions with Kingdoms or spying on kingdoms so Warband companions were envoys or messengers. Companions could do the same things in Bannerlord.
They can be sent to do many things like causing rebellions or telling the player about coming rebellions.
Spies could be sent to rescue lords in exchange for rewards like relation increase.
Spies could inform the player about marriages.
They can be sent out to sabotage fiefs or garrisons.
They can recruit units from villages.
Spies can be sent to recruit lords.
They can hire mercenaries.
Spies can give the player data like which towns are the most dangerous, productive etc.
They can inform about Lord defections.
They can be sent to delivery gifts to lords.
Spies can be sent to do business with notables like purchasing workshop.
They can get gang leaders to help the player sabotage kingdoms and clans.
Clans can be bribed by spies.
Spies can search for the strongest and weakest clans.
Spies can seek clans that are having financial problems.
Spies can seduce clans to join because financial problems.
Envoys can be used for arranging marriage.
Envoys can buy the freedom of captured lords.
Spies can find out about scandals that can affect a clans influence through a debuff.
Spies can offer information about a scandal to the player character and the player can blackmail clans or notables.
Scandals exposure would be vague enough to leave things to our imagination but it has the potential to temporarily debuff a clan or hero's influence and relations with other clans and heroes.
Scandals affect army cohesion. Think of it as divide and conquer tactics.
The death of notables could be a scandal. Meaning it would vaguely be suggested that a clan had a notable executed or assassinated even if it is true or not meaning town loyal can be debuffed if the notable has a lot of power in the settlement.
Another scandal could be married heroes are committing adultery which causes debuffs but this would be vaguely described. Maybe a lord is involved with a notable or even a villager. Paramours. Clans may be upset that a family member is being cheated on causing relation problems.
Another scandal is two male lords fighting for a female lord in some rivalry.
The player can spy on clans their own kingdom.
The player can have clans in his kingdom spy on their behalf.
There could be different types of roles a spy is bad, a messenger is neutral and envoys are good. Each would do things accordingly.
All of these things should have a consequences and cost.
Spies are expensive.
Espionage is risky and potentially fatal.
Risk of imprisonment.
The AI lords can do similar actions against the player such as sabotage.
Gang leaders and notables could betray the player's spy.
Betrayal could take to form of the notable telling on the player faction.
Clans hate being spied on and this has consequences.
Clans favor envoys over spies.
Clans are indifferent to messengers.
Messengers could be a regular unit rather than a spy or envoy.
Spies and envoys could be heroes.
Clan members and companions, especially if they are a spy or envoy can give the player advice and data about the game world. They would function like political or financial strategist, a Machiavellian adviser that can convey things as dialogue or a quest to the player.
Spies know who hates who, clans, notables etc.
Use books like Machiavelli's The Prince as the basis of such a system of diplomacy.
Healers would make good spies and can be sent to gain relation by healing heroes and gaining relation. Healers can gain trust easily.
Charisma, Roguery, Engineering, Healing, Intelligence are required traits for such a character.
Maybe their could be a trust stat.
Clan members and companion make suggestions like how Warband companion would while traveling but this would also happen in settlements.
Since we have fog of war and the player character has limited knowledge of the heroes and the world I think spying would be a great addition to the game in form of companions and clan members being able to spy on other factions.
Warband companions were sent on missions for right to rule, to recruit lords, peace missions with Kingdoms or spying on kingdoms so Warband companions were envoys or messengers. Companions could do the same things in Bannerlord.
They can be sent to do many things like causing rebellions or telling the player about coming rebellions.
Spies could be sent to rescue lords in exchange for rewards like relation increase.
Spies could inform the player about marriages.
They can be sent out to sabotage fiefs or garrisons.
They can recruit units from villages.
Spies can be sent to recruit lords.
They can hire mercenaries.
Spies can give the player data like which towns are the most dangerous, productive etc.
They can inform about Lord defections.
They can be sent to delivery gifts to lords.
Spies can be sent to do business with notables like purchasing workshop.
They can get gang leaders to help the player sabotage kingdoms and clans.
Clans can be bribed by spies.
Spies can search for the strongest and weakest clans.
Spies can seek clans that are having financial problems.
Spies can seduce clans to join because financial problems.
Envoys can be used for arranging marriage.
Envoys can buy the freedom of captured lords.
Spies can find out about scandals that can affect a clans influence through a debuff.
Spies can offer information about a scandal to the player character and the player can blackmail clans or notables.
Scandals exposure would be vague enough to leave things to our imagination but it has the potential to temporarily debuff a clan or hero's influence and relations with other clans and heroes.
Scandals affect army cohesion. Think of it as divide and conquer tactics.
The death of notables could be a scandal. Meaning it would vaguely be suggested that a clan had a notable executed or assassinated even if it is true or not meaning town loyal can be debuffed if the notable has a lot of power in the settlement.
Another scandal could be married heroes are committing adultery which causes debuffs but this would be vaguely described. Maybe a lord is involved with a notable or even a villager. Paramours. Clans may be upset that a family member is being cheated on causing relation problems.
Another scandal is two male lords fighting for a female lord in some rivalry.
The player can spy on clans their own kingdom.
The player can have clans in his kingdom spy on their behalf.
There could be different types of roles a spy is bad, a messenger is neutral and envoys are good. Each would do things accordingly.
All of these things should have a consequences and cost.
Spies are expensive.
Espionage is risky and potentially fatal.
Risk of imprisonment.
The AI lords can do similar actions against the player such as sabotage.
Gang leaders and notables could betray the player's spy.
Betrayal could take to form of the notable telling on the player faction.
Clans hate being spied on and this has consequences.
Clans favor envoys over spies.
Clans are indifferent to messengers.
Messengers could be a regular unit rather than a spy or envoy.
Spies and envoys could be heroes.
Clan members and companions, especially if they are a spy or envoy can give the player advice and data about the game world. They would function like political or financial strategist, a Machiavellian adviser that can convey things as dialogue or a quest to the player.
Spies know who hates who, clans, notables etc.
Use books like Machiavelli's The Prince as the basis of such a system of diplomacy.
Healers would make good spies and can be sent to gain relation by healing heroes and gaining relation. Healers can gain trust easily.
Charisma, Roguery, Engineering, Healing, Intelligence are required traits for such a character.
Maybe their could be a trust stat.
Clan members and companion make suggestions like how Warband companion would while traveling but this would also happen in settlements.
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