FYI: there are mercenaries to hire in taverns

[durbal]

For those that don't know, if you go to a tavern and walk around you can find mercenaries (not companions) usually standing off the the side or leaning up against a wall. Talk to them and they'll offer to join your party as troops.

I'm sure a lot of people here know this, but I wasn't immediately aware of it so I figured I'd let people know.

 

[Mr.Kebab]

Yeah tier I bandit groups to hire is possible in taverns. If you are lucky you can find better units but its very rare

 

[pww217]

Yeah same as Warband, except all the merc troops seem awful. Not really much better than recruits.

 

[urugamer5]

I wonder if thug tier 3 is even good XD

 

[Aho]

Yeah same as Warband, except all the merc troops seem awful. Not really much better than recruits.

I remember in end game in Warband I just bought Mercenary Cavalry and Infantry. You just have infinite money so why bother training Stronk Nords and Knights and Merc Cav isn't that bad.

 

[Ogagon]

They're trash, though, so no real point in getting them, unless you're looking to beef up the numbers of your garrison.

 

[Ogagon]

I remember in end game in Warband I just bought Mercenary Cavalry and Infantry. You just have infinite money so why bother training Stronk Nords and Knights and Merc Cav isn't that bad.

They're wages in warband were higher than regular kingdom troops of the same tier, and they were a bit weaker, too.
I only had a few of them from time to time, mostly in early-mid game.
Later on, try to avoid them by all means.

EDIT: I wish I could quote in edits of the posts, or at least have the "Show new messages" on the screen instead of just a "There are new messages since the time you started typing."

 

[durbal]

They're trash, though, so no real point in getting them, unless you're looking to beef up the numbers of your garrison.

The thugs are bad because they don't upgrade into anything. However, you can directly hire mercenary units. So far I've hired Watchmen (which upgrade into either a nice crossbow unit or decent sword infantry) and Mercenary Scouts (which upgrade into decent mounted skirmishers).

 

[Hugo_Stiglitz]

I only played the Viking Conquest(VQ) Campaign. Tt seemed most tavern recruits in VQ were either really, really bad or really really good and expensive like top tier type Cataphracts from Bannerlord. Thus far all i see in Bannerlord are really bad units in the Taverns. Hope that changes in the future with a rare chance of elites being in there.

It would be nice if there was a chance of rare spawn Mercs in Taverns that were really pricey. Though with the current state of the game prices really dont matter after you're over the newbie hump because gold/dinar flows into your pockets like water down a river.

 

[Vasdema]

For those that don't know, if you go to a tavern and walk around you can find mercenaries (not companions) usually standing off the the side or leaning up against a wall. Talk to them and they'll offer to join your party as troops.

I'm sure a lot of people here know this, but I wasn't immediately aware of it so I figured I'd let people know.

Actually, I did NOT know this. I stopped walking around the taverns because I never came across any mercenaries on my first few visits. Cheers, mate! This post gets three gold stars from me.

 

[ReKaimelar]

I wonder if thug tier 3 is even good XD

They have same stats as tier 1. Don't bother with thugs as the combat AI is currently based on skill points.

 

[rowyerboat]

Yeah same as Warband, except all the merc troops seem awful. Not really much better than recruits.

Pretty much this, unfortunately. All I ever see are Armed Traders. It does make sense that mercenaries of any type would carry a premium in cost compared to "state" troops, but it would be great if there was a good variety, with some that would provide things you couldn't get from state troops. I'm thinking specifically of Prophesy of Pendor, which was what I mostly played in Warband. Lots of variety, with different looks and weapon loadouts. Also, you could hire young "adventurers" who were super green but could eventually turn into some of the best cavalry in the game (albeit very pricey).

 

[raapster]

I only get like 2-3 dudes for 800 gold.

 

[LavaLampMaster]

Actually, I did NOT know this. I stopped walking around the taverns because I never came across any mercenaries on my first few visits. Cheers, mate! This post gets three gold stars from me.

I always find them leaning on the walls around the edge of the tavern or sometimes on columns. I'm not sure if they ever are just standing around or sitting like the townsfolk

 

[Ichon]

I wonder if thug tier 3 is even good XD

Nope- they are terrible. The Armed Free Traders are the stars of the more frequent mercenaries I have seen. Occasionally some higher tier units are there- the best way to get better units is still recruiting from prisoners or freeing captives from bandits. Grinding up from recruits takes a really long time. It does help to improve your relations enough to get the higher tier recruits right away but it also takes a hell of a long time to get high enough relations with more than a few towns/villages to make that worthwhile as most of the time you can only recruit 1-2 higher tier recruits at a time so to refill after a big battle where you lost 10-20 takes 3-4 towns and a few villages but does let you get exactly the units you want.

Also- once in a while I have seen mercenaries upstairs- there is sometimes a companion in a room upstairs but even more rarely some more mercenaries. It would be handy if the available mercenaries in the town had a single gathering spot like a guild... high relations with the guild could also allow you put out the word you will pay a premium wage for certain types of troops.

 

[woodser]

Actually, I did NOT know this. I stopped walking around the taverns because I never came across any mercenaries on my first few visits. Cheers, mate! This post gets three gold stars from me.

You can also pick fights with the gangs you find when you're walking around outside of the tavern.

 

[Vasdema]

You can also pick fights with the gangs you find when you're walking around outside of the tavern.

lol. Yeah, found that out the hard way. My last character was spec'd for mounted and throwing. Didn't end well.

 

[durbal]

It's always worth it to check. Never know who you're gonna find relaxing with a pint.

5 tier 5 crossbowmen at 600 each? Yes please.