Getting food into settlements

[Philippe_at_bay]

There may be something about this that I don't understand.

I have a castle that is very close to the war zone. It is built up and fairly strong, but if an enemy army shows up it will crumble quickly because it is almost out of food.

There doesn't seem to be any connection between the castle's stash and the garrison. The stash should be what feeds the garrison, and now I'm hearing that militia doesn't even consume food.

I've maxed out the granaries, reduced the size of the garrison to dangerous levels, and concentrated on promoting village growth.

This is absurd. I've gotten the food levels higher in the castle by running around to the dependent villages and selling them large quantities of grain, but frankly that makes no sense whatsoever. This is what happens when a wargame gets designed by a computer programmer rather than a wargamer. As far as I can tell, the tail is wagging the dog.

Am I missing something? Is there a simple and direct way to get food into a settlement so the garrison doesn't starve ?

[GIJoe597]

Stash is only storage for you. It affects nothing. I have read selling quantities, around 100 of food to the town will help. I cannot confirm as I have never noticed a difference.

There is a perk or two which increases food production but what kills it the most, in my experience is prosperity.

[RJboxer]

The game is designed to BE LONG.

That isn't a joke, or a TROLL, or something to misdirect you. I say it because as you keep playing.. you will see that answer really does "answer" quite a few things.. Albeit in a very general sense.

So for castles, They don't "flip" from rebellion like towns do now. They do suffer from the "militia" and low loyalty issue (i.e. they wont fight)... so that the ai can fight and take it, then lose it, then retake it, then lose it again etc.. over and over and over. (if diff cultures).

As for "food". There are lots of variables in food, and starvation. In TOWNS and CASTLES your "stash" does not come into play. (though many people request that it did... sadly, it does not currently).

Food is from the "partys" in the fief (i.e. you.. if u are in it.. and you ONLY FEED YOU.. no other partys or garrison etc)
Food is from the Granary where it is stored, Prior to the siege... etc.

Now food is replenished if a caravan sells some to that town (which doesnt happen in castles), or you sell it to town (which again, u cant in a castle).. OR THE VILLAGES CONNECTED to it.. can send the food there (this is invisible, and doesnt really happen that u can see..). So your villages are either LOOTED (highly likely) or super low prosperity (and thus have very low food)... or Other partys are BUYING all the food from those villages.


In other words, there is lots (and more I didnt mention) that go into food/starvation.

But I'd bet your villages are looted or OTHER party/armies are near by and buying all the food from all the villages. etc

Dont worry u cant lose the castle due to starvation (rebellion) and your Garrison is probably garbage anyway (most garrisons/militias are).. so if you NEED to protect it, you will have to hang around there anyway (with your party).. until the "action" has moved away..

and once the villages are no longer looted, you should start getting POSITIVE food numbers (assuming u have orchards, and granary built etc)

[Clovis Sangrail]

How big is your garrison? You probably need to reduce it.

Did you develop orchards and granary? If not, do so.

Are you developing your militia? Did you develop militia grounds? Militia is is part of the population and does not consume additional food.

Otherwise, you are right. There's really nothing you can do to directly give food to the garrison.

[Philippe_at_bay]

Militia SHOULD consume additional food. It's absurd that it doesn't.

This part of the game is very badly designed.

[GIJoe597]

I think the the rationale behind militia not eating the common food is they are citizens of the town. They have a family/home and eat there. They are citizen soldiers called upon to defend as needed. Garrisons are professional soldiers placed in the town by the lord. They have no roots within the town nor any method to acquire food.

[Lord_Amber_1985]

The "militia" rating on your settlement stat sheet represents people who live in the settlement and immediate surroundings and have been trained to fight as well in an emergency. They don't eat any EXTRA food beyond what is represented by the prosperity cost.

Troops with the militia NAME (usually from freed or converted prisoners) are full time soldiers that you pay to be there and DO eat extra food because they're not included in the background numbers.

So, yes, the militia are "Free" because you're already paying for their food elsewhere. Taleworlds was kind enough not to make you pay for their food and upkeep twice.