Warfare & Campaigns

Warfare & Campaigns

Engaging in large-scale warfare and strategic campaigns is the ultimate goal for many a Warband player. This section will guide you through the intricacies of leading your army, besieging castles, and conquering Calradia.

Preparing for War

Before you can lead your banners to glory, proper preparation is key. A well-equipped and trained army is far more effective than a hastily assembled mob.

• Recruiting Your Army:
  • Village Recruits: Visit villages and speak to the Village Elder to recruit peasants. These are your most basic troops, but essential for forming the backbone of your army. They are cheap to maintain and can be upgraded.
  • Town and Castle Garrisons: Once you own a town or castle, you can recruit from its garrison. These troops are often higher tier than village recruits but cost more.
  • Mercenaries: Found in taverns in towns, mercenaries offer immediate, higher-tier troops for a price. They are excellent for quickly bolstering your forces but can be expensive to maintain.
  • Companions: Your loyal companions (e.g., Alayen, Borcha, Marnid) contribute to your party limit and can be equipped and trained like regular troops. Their unique skills can also benefit your army.
• Training Your Troops:
  • Combat Experience: The most straightforward way to train troops is through combat. Engage in bandit hunting, participate in tournaments, or join a lord's army as a mercenary to gain experience.
  • Trainer Skill: Invest skill points into your character's Trainer skill. This skill allows all lower-level troops in your party to gain experience daily, even without combat. Companions with high Trainer skill are invaluable.
  • Equipment: Ensure your troops are well-equipped. While you can't directly choose their gear, upgrading them to higher tiers often comes with better armor and weapons.
• Logistics and Supplies:
  • Food: Always carry a diverse stock of food items (e.g., Grain, Dried Meat, Cheese, Bread). A varied diet boosts morale. Running out of food severely impacts morale and can lead to desertion.
  • Morale: Keep your army's morale high. Victories, good food, and a high Leadership skill contribute to morale. Defeats, lack of food, and long sieges will lower it.
  • Wages: Ensure you have sufficient funds to pay your troops weekly. Unpaid wages lead to desertion.

Leading Your Army in Battle

Effective battlefield command can turn the tide of even the most desperate situations.

• Battlefield Commands:
  • F1 (Infantry):
    • F1-F1 (Hold This Position): Orders infantry to stand firm.
    • F1-F2 (Follow Me): Orders infantry to follow your character.
    • F1-F3 (Charge!): Orders infantry to attack the enemy.
  • F2 (Archers):
    • F2-F1 (Hold This Position): Orders archers to stand firm.
    • F2-F2 (Follow Me): Orders archers to follow your character.
    • F2-F3 (Charge!): Orders archers to attack the enemy (generally not recommended for archers).
    • F2-F4 (Fire At Will): Orders archers to fire at any enemy in range.
  • F3 (Cavalry):
    • F3-F1 (Hold This Position): Orders cavalry to stand firm.
    • F3-F2 (Follow Me): Orders cavalry to follow your character.
    • F3-F3 (Charge!): Orders cavalry to attack the enemy.
  • F4 (All Troops):
    • F4-F1 (Hold This Position): Orders all troops to stand firm.
    • F4-F2 (Follow Me): Orders all troops to follow your character.
    • F4-F3 (Charge!): Orders all troops to attack the enemy.
• Strategic Formations:
  • Infantry Line: Position your infantry in a line to absorb enemy charges. Use F1-F1 and then adjust their position with F1-F2.
  • Archer Hill: Place archers on elevated ground (F2-F1) to maximize their range and minimize enemy melee threats.
  • Cavalry Flank: Use your cavalry to flank enemy formations (F3-F3) or to protect your archers from enemy cavalry.

Sieges: Taking Castles and Towns

Sieges are a critical part of territorial expansion. They are often long, costly, and require careful planning.

1. Initiating a Siege:
   • Approach a hostile castle or town and select "Lay Siege to the Castle/Town."
   • You will then have options to "Assault the castle/town" or "Wait for a while."
2. Building Siege Equipment:
   • If you choose to wait, you can build siege towers or ladders. Siege towers are generally safer but take longer to build. Ladders are quicker but expose your troops more.
   • The speed of construction depends on your Engineering skill and the skills of your companions.
3. The Assault:
   • Once siege equipment is ready, or if you choose to assault without it (only possible for some castles with breachable walls), the battle begins.
   • Strategy:
     • Infantry First: Send your most heavily armored infantry (e.g., Swadian Sergeants, Nord Huscarls) up the siege ladders or into the tower. They will draw fire and engage the defenders on the walls.
     • Archers Support: Position your archers (e.g., Vaegir Marksmen, Rhodok Sharpshooters) to provide covering fire, targeting enemy archers on the walls.
     • Player Intervention: Your personal combat skills are crucial. Lead the charge, clear choke points, and eliminate key enemy defenders.
   • Casualties: Expect heavy casualties during sieges, especially if your troops are low-tier or poorly equipped.
4. After the Siege:
   • Loot: You will gain loot from the defeated garrison.
   • Prisoners: You can take enemy soldiers as prisoners to sell them later.
   • Decision: You will then decide the fate of the captured settlement:
     • Take it for yourself: If you are a vassal, this will upset other lords and may lead to a negative relationship with your liege. If you are an independent ruler, it becomes your property.
     • Give it to your liege: This improves your relationship with your liege but you gain no direct benefit.
     • Sack the settlement: Provides a large amount of loot but severely damages the prosperity and loyalty of the settlement.

Campaign Management and Diplomacy

Warfare isn't just about battles; it's also about managing your kingdom and navigating the political landscape.

• Vassalage:
  • Join a faction by swearing fealty to a king. This grants you protection and allows you to participate in large-scale wars.
  • You will be granted fiefs (villages, castles, or towns) by your liege, which provide income and recruitment opportunities.
  • Participate in your liege's wars and campaigns to gain renown and influence.
• Becoming an Independent Ruler:
  • To become a king or queen, you must capture a settlement while not being a vassal to any faction.
  • This will immediately declare war on the faction you took the settlement from, and potentially others.
  • You will need to convince lords to join your new kingdom, which requires high Persuasion skill and good relations.
• Diplomacy:
  • Relations with Lords: Maintain good relations with other lords through quests, helping them in battle, and participating in feasts. Positive relations are crucial for convincing them to join your faction or for avoiding unnecessary conflicts.
  • Peace and War: You can send emissaries to other factions to negotiate peace treaties or declare war. This often costs a significant amount of money.
  • Marriage: Marrying a noble can improve your standing and provide alliances.