Negative morale modifier for "unit size"?

[Fearghus The Killer]

I didn't have this problem in the original M&B, but seems like in Warband my troops are always desserting. Since the beginning of my current campaign its been like this, even though I have high right to rule, high honor, no controversy, lots of friends in my faction, etc. etc. I'm a good guy. But my  troops just hate my freakin guts.

So, what exactly is this negative modifier for unit size? What the hell does that mean, even? For example, at around Level 16 or so I had maximum unit size allowed at 59. So I put 59 troops together, including about 4-6 companions. You get a base size of 59 troops, then a negative number which wipes that out and more, maybe negative -60 to -70. What's left is your leadership skills, food variety, bonuses (or penalties) for foreign faction troops. Even with high leadership in my group, it's not enough to pull me up to Average morale.

So, again, where does this negative modifer come from? What's it trying to tell me? Do I not have enough troops or too many? Do I have too many different varieties of troops, or not enough? Too many companions? Not Enough? The vaguely worded Morale explanation in the game having to do with unit cohesion must have something to do with it, but I can't figure out how to correct it.

 

[Archonsod]

Too many troops.

Note that maximum troop number is determined by renown, leadership skill and charisma. Leadership determines the maximum amount of troops you can effectively command (i.e. keep happy), however if your renown is high enough you can recruit over this number. At which point the negative morale penalty starts to apply. Either disband some troops, or garrison them somewhere and they'll get over it.

 

[Fearghus The Killer]

Hey, thanks. Your explanation sounds reasonable, but I gather from it that the base size is not real size allowed, but rather some "hidden" number, modified by high renown (in this case). I know I might be making this more complicated than it really is.

Right now, same game, my base size is 80. I have 125 troops at my castle and I'm cruising around in an all-cav and companion unit of 40. They're still a bit pissy...average and below average, but at least they aren't desserting.

 

[Mormacil]

Look at it this way. The more guys you cram together the less a coherent group it gets. Men fight best in small 'bands of brothers'. You can take over your leadershipskill but keep food to keep 'm happy. About 40 guys sounds workable just don't fight 5 battles in a row or move cross country to often. They hate long walks and to much fighting but giving them the best food all the time makes them spoiled. Find a balance, I haven't found the perfect one yet.

 

[Wayans]

I usually have very high or excellent morale. I carry varied high morale food winning battles helps me also even if I can win "hard battles" your soldiers don't enjoy being outmanned, and when I have to walk across the country I use some time to step over some bandits those easy battles seem to help morale, I guess it's because I'm doing good deeds. Try to don't be evil, even if that makes you rich.