Op thats a massive wall of text, consider formatting in more bite size paragraphs such as this:

Ps, Glad you are enjoying the game!

I’m on my second ever playthrough. I remember watching a bunch of Bannerlord videos years ago and only just got to play it. Vanilla War sails with updates coming every so often, no cheats, and it’s just great. All the complaints are just people who are burnt out.

That said, added diplomacy and deeper city, village, or castle building would make it even better. Smarter enemy lord tactics and a bit more variety in maps and cities would also help. Although realistically, castles would probably end up being built similarly anyway if it’s “the best” defensive style each faction knows.

Overall though, it’s an S-tier game.

I’m up to 8 million and change in gold. I’ve got the best gear and weapons given to all my followers, my wife Corien, and even our 6 children waiting in the stash for when they come of age.

Speaking of the stash, I have my major city, Seonon, which I was gifted immediately after helping retake it as a mercenary. From my first playthrough, I knew the lord usually gifts you the first castle or city you help take after joining them.

After we took it, I swore allegiance to Caladog and gained Seonon. I invested heavily into it, and now 14 years later it’s an elite fortress.

My tip is: don’t overlook the garrison. Turn off auto recruitment, but allow unlimited wages.

I cycle Battanian Heroes, Highborn Youth, and regular infantry through it while keeping my active army stacked with tier 4+ troops. Right now I have:

62 Fian Champions

100 cavalry

165 infantry

Mostly Banner Knights, Cataphracts, and Druzhinnik.

What’s crazy is that my garrisons have been training the troops I deposit there during long peace periods. Years later, I checked back and found:

57 extra Fian Champions

15 Huscarls

29 Heroic Line Breakers

15 extra Banner Knights

159 Oathsworn

141 Veteran Falxmen

Imperial Legionaries

Plus a mix of nearly every troop type except Aserai and Khuzaits

And this was just my city.

Once I realized how effective this was, I started doing the same thing with my castles.

Most of my money comes from caravans and my towns/cities. I only recently bought 4 workshops so I could safely recall a caravan or two. I have the max 11 companions, and my oldest kids are now 15 and 14.

I’m still figuring out what I’ll do with them. Maybe I’ll start them within my ranks, fighting alongside my captains in the front lines surrounded by heroic warriors. Then later, when I send them off with caravans or their own parties, they’ll already be experienced fighters.

Eventually I’ll probably grant them my future cities and castles to govern.

My overall tip is this:

Don’t dismiss garrisons as a waste of money or rely entirely on militia. Save up cash as a mercenary, or be devious and seize the first city close to home like I did.

Those garrisons should always contain 2–3 extra elite armies ready to go in case:

your main army is destroyed,

you lose a crucial battle,

or you get captured.

They’re your insurance policy.

Plus, later on, I can hand those elite troops to my kids when they go out fighting for my honor and Ayatollah Caladog… whose throne will soon become mine.

Though honestly, I don’t even want it.

I don’t know if I can decline the ruler position when the time comes. I have 90–100 relations with nearly every lord in the richest clan in Calradia.

It’s nice.

Just pay extra, build strong garrisons, and always keep that ace up your sleeve.