Mount And Blade Bannerlord How To Recruit Clans

Alright, gather 'round, you aspiring lords and ladies! You wanna build an empire in Calradia, eh? You think swinging a rusty sword and looking broodingly at peasants is enough? Think again! You need clans. Loyal (ish) clans to bend the knee and swell your ranks. But let me tell you, convincing these guys is harder than getting a cat to take a bath.

So, you've got your eye on a particularly beefy clan. Maybe they’re rocking some sweet armor, or maybe their leader has a name that sounds vaguely like a cheese you like. Whatever the reason, you're determined to bring them into your ever-growing blob of power. Here's the skinny on how to do it without pulling all your hair out (or at least, not all of it).

Step 1: The "Nice to Meet You, Wanna Join My Cult… I Mean, Kingdom?" Phase

First, you gotta find these guys. They're usually wandering around, getting into trouble, or losing all their troops to looters. Think of them as extremely stubborn, sword-wielding toddlers. Track them down on the map – look for those little clan banners trotting (or limping) around. Once you've located them, initiate dialogue.

Here's where the fun begins! You'll get a charming conversation starter like, "Greetings, noble clan leader!" followed by some options that basically boil down to:
A) "Hey, wanna join my kingdom? We have... uh... cookies!" (Okay, maybe not cookies, but you get the idea.)
B) "I'm just here to admire your... magnificent... face." (Only choose this if you're aiming for a very slow burn relationship.)

Important note: Don't sound desperate. Nobody wants to join a sinking ship, or a kingdom run by someone who sounds like they haven't slept in days. Project confidence, even if you’re wearing mismatched armor and your horse keeps sneezing.

Step 2: The Charm Offensive (Or, Bribery in Disguise)

Now, here's the harsh truth: Nobody joins a kingdom out of the goodness of their heart. Calradia is a harsh land, and everyone's got a price. That price is usually gold. And lots of it.

When you're sweet-talking a clan leader, look at their current situation. Are they at war? Offer to help them stomp their enemies. Are they broke? Offer them a hefty sum of denars. Are they just bored? Well, offer them a hefty sum of denars anyway! It's almost always about the money, honey.

Pro-tip: Check their relationship with other kingdoms. If they absolutely loathe the Northern Empire, offering them a chance to smack those imperials around might be more tempting than just a pile of gold. You want to appeal to their grudges, their ambitions, and their crippling debt.

Step 3: The "I Swear I'm Not a Tyrant" Pledge

So, you've offered them a boatload of cash, promised them endless glory, and sworn that you'll never, ever make them pay taxes (liar!). What's next? Well, they'll probably hem and haw, and bring up some "concerns" about joining your kingdom. Maybe they don't like your policies. Maybe they think your haircut is weird. Whatever their issue, you gotta smooth it over.

Assure them that you value their input, that you're a benevolent ruler, and that you'll totally listen to their ideas (again, probably a lie, but hey, all's fair in love and kingdom-building). Make promises you can (maybe) keep. For example, promising them a fief (a town or castle) is a great way to seal the deal. Just be prepared to actually give them one. Nobody likes a kingdom leader who reneges on their promises… except maybe other kingdom leaders, who do it all the time.

Step 4: The Waiting Game (and the Inevitable Betrayal)

Okay, you've done everything right. You've bribed, charmed, and promised the moon. Now, you wait. The clan leader will "consider" your offer. This usually involves them wandering around for a few days, thinking deep thoughts about whether your kingdom is more likely to survive than their current dumpster fire of a situation.

If they accept, congratulations! You've just added a new clan to your ranks. If they reject your offer... well, don't take it personally. Maybe they're just playing hard to get. Or maybe they genuinely think you're a terrible ruler. Either way, there are plenty of other clans in Calradia. Keep trying!

And here's a little secret: Don't get too attached. Inevitably, some of those clans you worked so hard to recruit will eventually betray you, declare independence, and try to carve out their own little kingdom. It's just the circle of life in Calradia. But hey, that just means more enemies to crush and more clans to recruit! So grab your sword, sharpen your wit, and get out there and build that empire!