Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

set positions. This is no Total War— the AI is much more autonomous—but it’s still possible to set up cavalry flanking charges, or to move archers to a more advantageous position.

king of the hill

In Bannerlord, armies can be asked to attack or defend. This has a major effect on the behavior of the enemy AI. A defending army won’t necessarily charge at your position, instead moving to higher ground. But even a defending army will hunt you down if they think they’ve a chance to take you out. TaleWorlds hasn’t yet decided on a unit cap for battles. It’s possible to have hundreds of soldiers, but too many causes performance issues. This battle is composed of just 18 soldiers, so there’s little need for advanced tactics. The bandits are taken out with ease.

The battlefield is looted, and prisoners are captured. Both loot and prisoners can be traded for money to buy new equipment and food to sustain the army. In addition, some of Yasmin’s soldiers have leveled up. It’s one thing to have a large army, but basic recruits are quickly despatched. Here, too, there are advantages to having friends among the right locals. Certain NPCs can recruit more experienced volunteers of different specialities. Carrying out missions for the right people can lead to a more varied and effective army.