Are retinues good? If so, what can i do to get the most out of them?

[a gamer]

Just wondering

[BetonToni]

get enough money to get 24 of them (its a steamaward too) and upgrade them all.
with this u can delete the militia as they are much weaker then your knights

[Eltoron]

Most powerful unit in game. Keep them full and with upgraded armor.

[Mechanique]

Full 24 man retinue with plate armor will kill anything (except other retinue) with little to no casualties. But buying 1 guy and upgrading armor 1 time costs ~84, while 3 units of 36 mercenaries each cost 90, so it is not so cost efficient early on and more of a money sink because you cant spend treasury money on anything else anyway