Why Form a Second Party?

[MrDeity]

I have the option to create a second party in my "clan," but I'm not sure I understand the benefit of it. I don't own any castles or cities yet so there's nothing to defend. It would be great if I could maximize the number of troops in my own and the second party, then combine them into a single army for increased military power, but I don't seem to have that communication option.

I don't seem to have any control whatsoever over the other party. What good is it to me if I can't even tell it what to do? Is it possible to have my second party join my first party to form one large army? I see the AI do it all the time.

I'm also curious about defending castles and cities. I don't currently have any because I was destroyed and had to reload an older saved game, but it seemed I was not able to control the leader or the units in the castles or cities when they were being attacked. Can I only ever control my main character or is there a way to allow me the ability to play as any of my hero characters? The game would be a LOT more fun if I could defend all of my castles by controlling the hero character I select as governor for each particular location.

[omar_uav]

Originally posted by SirDeity:

I have the option to create a second party in my "clan," but I'm not sure I understand the benefit of it. I don't own any castles or cities yet so there's nothing to defend. It would be great if I could maximize the number of troops in my own and the second party, then combine them into a single army for increased military power, but I don't seem to have that communication option.

I don't seem to have any control whatsoever over the other party. What good is it to me if I can't even tell it what to do? Is it possible to have my second party join my first party to form one large army? I see the AI do it all the time.

I'm also curious about defending castles and cities. I don't currently have any because I was destroyed and had to reload an older saved game, but it seemed I was not able to control the leader or the units in the castles or cities when they were being attacked. Can I only ever control my main character or is there a way to allow me the ability to play as any of my hero characters? The game would be a LOT more fun if I could defend all of my castles by controlling the hero character I select as governor for each particular location.

you can join them to create a army , but until now its useless to do a second party , they just roam around sometime dies ,acts stupid, but once you can make an army its useful.

[Chillum]

Originally posted by SirDeity:

I have the option to create a second party in my "clan," but I'm not sure I understand the benefit of it. I don't own any castles or cities yet so there's nothing to defend. It would be great if I could maximize the number of troops in my own and the second party, then combine them into a single army for increased military power, but I don't seem to have that communication option.

This.

Its in the kingdom panel I believe, create an army.

To defend a castle ride your army there and confront the army beseiging you.

[LiL_Penut]

Originally posted by SirDeity:

I have the option to create a second party in my "clan," but I'm not sure I understand the benefit of it. I don't own any castles or cities yet so there's nothing to defend. It would be great if I could maximize the number of troops in my own and the second party, then combine them into a single army for increased military power, but I don't seem to have that communication option.

I don't seem to have any control whatsoever over the other party. What good is it to me if I can't even tell it what to do? Is it possible to have my second party join my first party to form one large army? I see the AI do it all the time.

I'm also curious about defending castles and cities. I don't currently have any because I was destroyed and had to reload an older saved game, but it seemed I was not able to control the leader or the units in the castles or cities when they were being attacked. Can I only ever control my main character or is there a way to allow me the ability to play as any of my hero characters? The game would be a LOT more fun if I could defend all of my castles by controlling the hero character I select as governor for each particular location.

You can make armies with those parties for 0 cost of influence, it basically gives you 60 extra troops (or the max number of troops your companion can take). They are very beneficial

[MrDeity]

I don't want to have to send my main character to a castle or city to participate in its defense. I want to control my hero characters I have elected as governors. I know this isn't a Total War game but that level of optional player involvement just seems like common sense.

[omar_uav]

Originally posted by SirDeity:

I don't want to have to send my main character to a castle or city to participate in its defense. I want to control my hero characters I have elected as governors. I know this isn't a Total War game but that level of optional player involvement just seems like common sense.

you cant until now

to be honest i never played any M&B before this is my first,but played lot of Total War from Rome one to Three kinddoms.

[Move2Bastyon]

They are a good way to recruit men for you, that you can use to fill garrisons. I've been using them as recruiting agents

[Lord Lurk]

Created parties will also patrol around your settlements/faction territory, as well as do various quests with notables in the area, giving you reputation/renown/money at times.

They can be costly but a great way to build reputation honestly. I've been starting them after I get my first decent workshop income going, just to build all my rep up with my faction villages/towns to increase recruiting pools.

[ForwarD]

1. Second party is an additional lord for your kingdom. You make you kingdom a little big stronger.
2. You can steal good troops from your secondary parties from time to time. Or they can gather recruits for you garrison and so on.
3. 0 influence to call them to your army.
4. Somehow they even have profits, so they're cheaper then it looks.
5. They do quests(? or something like that) for you and you receive relation bonus with various NPC without bothering yourself.

[Plinto]

Companion armies cost 0 influence to maintain, so theyre basically a free army if you take the time to gather the money and troops. Go earn influence and then stack Lord armies on top of that and you've got yourself a formidable conquering force.

[Move2Bastyon]

I've just finally become independent Kingdom, Intending on doing just that. Should be fun.

[Lord Lurk]

Originally posted by Multifaced:

I've just finally become independent Kingdom, Intending on doing just that. Should be fun.

I'm so sorry for your future pain that you will experience.

[MrDeity]

Still trying to figure out how to form armies. I'm not strong enough to form my own kingdom yet so my Kingdom button is grayed out. Every time I capture a castle to try and form my own independent Kingdom, the enemy comes over with a huge army and takes it back. My party of 107 isn't large enough to hold any castles by itself. I might be able to do it only if I can somehow form an army with my other two parties. I'm clan Tier 3 at the moment.

[derpenstein]

Creating companion parties for armies is absolutely essential late game. I've got the BannerTweaks mod set up so at clan tier 4 I have like 16 companion and 7 parties available. Using this I can create an army of around 700 dudes (who are by now like 30% tier5/6, 50% midtier and the rest fodder), or have 7 parties roaming around my lands.

I'm pretty sure that each party involved in a battle gets a shot at loot/prisoners so the companion parties with you will get plenty of money from fighting battles with you. It would be nice if you were able to create armies without having to be part of a kingdom, though. There's no other way to really grind leadership early on.

also it seems like if you split your party up you go faster, two parties of 40 in an army seems to be faster than one party of 80 but im not entirely sure.

[[RK!!].Faith-K32]

best money maker in the game.
my others party get 1-5k daily for raiding village and killing armies (sometimes 10k++)
give em 20-40 decent troops and let them rampage

[derpenstein]

Originally posted by SirDeity:

Still trying to figure out how to form armies. I'm not strong enough to form my own kingdom yet so my Kingdom button is grayed out. Every time I capture a castle to try and form my own independent Kingdom, the enemy comes over with a huge army and takes it back. My party of 107 isn't large enough to hold any castles by itself. I might be able to do it only if I can somehow form an army with my other two parties. I'm clan Tier 3 at the moment.

are you a vassal of a kingdom? You can form an army by being a vassal(or having your own kingdom). first you should have around 30-40 extra troops to give to your guy, as they can't join any army with less than 40% of their max troops. Go to the clan screen -> parties, create new party. Give the person the troops. Then go to the kingdom screen -> armies and create an army. Filter by distance and add your companion for 0 influence.