Things to think about in singleplayer

[Vigil80]

I've been living in the singleplayer campaign since Warband came out, and I wanted to start getting folks' thoughts about some of the finer points. Here's a couple questions to get started, mostly about starting/growing your own faction. I've only just begun to play with it.

What are some determining factors in finding upgraded items, such as lordly armor or masterwork weapons? Does it depend on the city's prosperity, or is it mostly random?

When running your own faction, you have the option to send an emissary to another faction. When choosing who to send, your advisor warns you pick "someone you can trust" but who also "won't offend." Has anyone noticed ill effects from an untrustworthy or uncharismatic/unpersuasive choice? Does it seem like a good idea to train up a companion for the sole purpose of being an emissary - high charisma, high persuasion? As a matter of fact, have you noticed any of the companions stats/skills making them better fits in certain roles (emissary, advisor, marshal) or does it not seem to matter?

The game seems to recommend vassalage to one of the main factions even when trying to start your own - to guard against getting dogpiled. But how can you claim conquests for yourself if you owe allegiance to a different monarch?

Can you lift one of the other claimants to the throne of a faction while leading/expanding your own?

 

[CaptainObvious]

It will take a long time to establish your proper right to rule; in order to achieve the task of becoming king of the world you will need to "establish" yourself by serving another monarch. I would suggest a claimant, as you will have more control over that campaign.

 

[Mercenary88]

Being a vassal first can also give you the inside scoop on a given kingdom. In your time there you can learn about the inner workings of how lords treat each other, who likes who, who hates who. This way you can exploit all of that later whne you are trying to get them to join your cause.

As for companions as emissaries I have no idea, not far ahead enough for that. I do have one major concern, my companions fulfill a very important role each, be it engineer skills, tactics, trainer, all the medic party skills, tracking, spotting, path finding. Virtually every companion is irreplaceable, having them as vassals means they won't be in your party anymore, that I have a problem with, I need them all in my party.

 

[CaptainObvious]

Making them vassals is optional -you can choose to only recruit other lords for vassals. Keep in mind that you can always recruit other companions (since you cannot have them all in your party at the same time, or the don't get along) and make the others vassals.

 

[Mercenary88]

I thought about that but still 2 things concern me:

1. It really seems like having companions as vassals is an intended core function of the game, so going against that would have many downfalls.

2. If I were to bring other companions into my party I would have to train them and level them, and complete a proper build with their skills before they would be ready to head out on their own. All of this would involve having them in the same part as the others which we all know its a problem, more so in the vastly more complex morale system of warband.

 

[CaptainObvious]

If you need to train the companions you want to be vassals, and not in your party, you could just send your normal companions on missions or tell them you need to separate for a while as you train the others.

Also, since its just a means to an end... you could just cheat a little bit to move the process along, since its so bugged / incomplete.

But some people don't like cheating at all. If that's the case, you have a long, boring road ahead of you, until some decent mods come out :-/

 

[VampLena]

Thanks for this! I had chosen to serve the Lady of Suno but I also had aspirations of being Queen myself, and i thought i was locked into serving her. Though i have to say, there are things about this system that doesnt make sense. Like why cant I execute captured nobles (or any prisoners?) or talk to them while they are a prisoner and try to convince them to serve my side instead? Those things happened in the medieval ages.

 

[Vigil80]

Good advice all around. Good enough that I'm going to start a third new playthrough. 

I don't think it's required to turn your companions into vassals. The option is just there if you want it. I was shy of doing it, actually, because I wasn't sure if it was irreversible and if I was prepared to cut a companion loose for good.

Also, I remember it mentioned that giving land to all your companions would cause difficulties with other people over their non-noble blood. Only Alayen, and maybe a couple others are actually "nobles" with technical rights to fiefs.