Bandit Lairs & Hideouts

Bandit Lairs and Hideouts are persistent locations on the world map that serve as bases for various bandit factions. Clearing these hideouts is a common quest given by lords, offering renown, experience, and a boost to your relationship with the quest-giver. They also provide an excellent opportunity for early-game combat practice and loot.

Finding a Hideout

Unlike regular bandit parties, hideouts are static locations on the map. They are often well-hidden and require you to be in very close proximity to discover them. Here's how to effectively locate them:

Quest Clues: If you receive a "Destroying Bandit Lair" quest from a lord, the hideout will generally be located within the vicinity of the lord's fief (town or castle) or a nearby village. However, the quest description rarely gives precise coordinates.
Patrol Common Bandit Spawns: Bandit hideouts tend to spawn in areas where you frequently encounter their respective bandit types. For example, Forest Bandit Hideouts will be found in dense forests, Sea Raider Hideouts along coastlines, and Mountain Bandit Hideouts in mountainous regions.
Systematic Search: The most reliable method is to systematically patrol the suspected area. Ride your party through the region, paying close attention to the terrain. Since visibility is reduced in areas like forests, you'll need to be practically on top of the hideout to spot it.
Speed Up Time: To expedite your search, hold down Ctrl + Spacebar on the world map to fast-forward time. This allows you to cover ground more quickly, but be mindful of potential enemy encounters.
No Prisoner Interrogation: Unfortunately, capturing bandits and interrogating them will not reveal hideout locations. They remain silent on such matters.

Preparing for the Assault

Before entering a hideout, ensure your party is adequately prepared. You will be limited to a small number of your best troops, and the combat can be challenging, especially in the early game.

Party Composition: You can only bring a maximum of 10 troops with you into a hideout. Choose your most skilled and well-equipped soldiers. High-tier infantry, archers, or even a few experienced cavalry (who will dismount for the fight) are ideal.
Personal Gear: Equip your character with your best armor, a strong melee weapon (one-handed or two-handed, depending on your preference), and a shield if using a one-handed weapon. A bow or crossbow can be useful for picking off enemies at range before closing in.
Healing Supplies: While not directly consumable in hideout battles, having a high Wound Treatment skill among your companions or yourself will help your troops recover faster after the engagement.
Morale: Ensure your party's morale is high. Low morale can lead to troops fleeing the fight.

Hideout Combat Strategy

Hideout battles are unique, taking place on smaller, more confined maps with specific objectives.

Initial Engagement

Upon entering a hideout, you'll typically face a small group of bandits guarding the entrance. This is your chance to thin their numbers before they can reinforce.

Archery Advantage: If you or your chosen troops have bows or crossbows, use them to pick off isolated targets from a distance.
Shield Wall: If you have strong infantry, command them to form a shield wall to absorb incoming projectiles and protect your more vulnerable troops.
Flanking: Look for opportunities to flank the initial group, preventing them from focusing fire on your main force.

Clearing the Camp

The main objective is to defeat all the bandits within the hideout. This often involves navigating through a series of tents, structures, or natural cover.

Advance Cautiously: Don't rush headlong into the camp. Bandits can be numerous and may ambush you from around corners or behind cover.
use Cover: Use trees, rocks, tents, and other environmental elements for cover against ranged attacks.
Focus Fire: Command your troops to focus fire on individual targets to quickly reduce enemy numbers. Archers should prioritize enemy archers or skirmishers.
Melee Engagement: Once you close the distance, engage in melee. Your character, especially if well-equipped, can be a powerful force in these close-quarters battles.

The Bandit Leader

In most hideouts, there will be a designated "Bandit Leader" who is often tougher and better equipped than the regular bandits. Defeating the leader is crucial for clearing the hideout.

Prioritize the Leader: Once identified, focus your attacks on the leader. Their death often demoralizes the remaining bandits.
Isolate and Conquer: Try to draw the leader away from their bodyguards or isolate them for a more manageable fight.

Rewards and Aftermath

Once all bandits are defeated, the hideout is considered cleared.

Loot: You can collect any dropped weapons, armor, and other items from the defeated bandits. This can be a good source of early-game income.
Experience and Renown: You and your party will gain experience for the kills, and completing a quest for a lord will grant you significant renown and relationship points.
Quest Completion: If you were on a quest, return to the lord who gave it to you to claim your reward.
Hideout Respawn: Bandit hideouts will eventually respawn with new bandits after a period of time, allowing for repeatable content and farming opportunities.