Mount and Blade: Bannerlord, the sequel to the cult classic feudal wargame, is a massive hit. The game features the same core setup from previous games. You are a pauper lord, just trying to survive and thrive in the medieval nightmare of Calradia. Your goal is to gain influence and build a true kingdom of your own. More ambitious leaders might even seek to unite the land under their banner.
But before you can do any of that, you actually need troops and allies. As a poor knight at best, you have precious few resources and potential recruits to draw from. You will be fighting many wars to take and hold territory on the map. That means you will constantly need to make and break alliances, take resources, and rebuild lost armies. All this is done with the goal of carving out your own kingdom. This guide will show you how to recruit lords from other kingdoms to your own, so that you may grow that kingdom. That’s where your new friends and companions come in. As you win battles, your fame will grow. With that, comes new recruits. Completing missions for other kingdom’s nobles is another great way to bring new companions to your side.
Companions are different from the traditional rabble that you fill your army with. These are basically the officers of your army, and can even have their own special equipment. This guide will show you how to equip weapons and armor to your companions for battle.
How to Equip Companions in Mount and Blade: Bannerlord
To equip a companion with some new gear, just open up the inventory with the I key to bring up the full menu. you will first see your main character. If you use the drop-down arrows on the top-right you can also choose to equip companions in Mount and Blade: Bannerlord.
You can go through the inventory of each companion you have in your army, giving them their own loadout. As you get new members of your band, make sure to give them the best gear you can. This will help protect them in battle. And since you have to spend a lot of time questing to fulfill skill requirements and unlock them, that’s a savvy investment. Now, the question remains, what gear do you give them?
First, open up your Character menu by pressing the C key. This will bring up the skill overview, showing you what skills your main character has unlocked. By using the arrows in the corner, you can also cycle through the skills of your character. Each companion will have their own unique perks and skills just like the MC. And just like the MC, companions gain skills and perks as you play. Choose gear that aligns with the perks they have. You can also help plan ahead by using the table on the Bannerlord Wiki to see the skills for each companion.
Other things you might want to learn are how to properly manage your party’s size and movement speed. No use building a massive army if it’s too slow to fight. Smithing and other crafting disciplines are key to outfitting your troops. And knowing how to deal with rival lords and vassals is key to actually building that army.
The skill system in the sequel is also much more complex. The act of engaging in everything from trade to diplomacy depends on the skills you bring to the table. You might also want to manage caravans and trade goods to help grow your economy.
