Banner of Calradios - the most powerful item in the game

[TruXurT]

I have been playing the Bannerlord for a really long time and had great fun with the game.

Up until last night I did not bother with finishing the main quest and didn't realized how powerful the Banner of Calradios really is. The consensus on this forum was that the banner is garbage and main quest a waste of time.

What I discovered last night after finishing the main quest, was that the banner has indeed an extreme power.

During this playthrough I created my own imperial faction. I destroyed Southern Empire very early on (they were on the brink of extinction anyways and decided to attack my fledgling kingdom). In retrospect I regret that I did it, probably keeping them as a token faction would have worked better in the end, as so many of its clans got destroyed.

I advanced the main quest by capturing enough of Imperial settlements. I managed to do this without destroying Western and Northern Empire.

When I finally defeated each of the Conspiracy factions and completed the main quest, both Western and Norther Empire joined me. All their clans joined my kingdom. I did not paint the whole map, so all other factions are still in existence (although Sturgians down to one castle), so now I can have a multi-generational playthrough that I wanted, but with the entire Empire united.

So the true value of banner of Calradios is that indeed, once you prove you are are "the true son of Calradios" by defeating the Conspiracy, you get all the clans from other imperial factions join you and there is only one, united Imperial faction.

Funny I didn't know it until now. I also wonder what is the comparable result on the non-imperial side.

[Action Man]

I don't think there's anything comparable. In the times I have completed the campaign on the non-imperial side, any remaining Imperial towns are given to your faction and the Empire is destroyed, but not the clans. I could be misremembering.

Getting all those imperial clans is kind of a reward for unifying the Empire by destroying your enemies AND keeping the Imperial factions alive. Out of the two, restoring the empire is more difficult than destroying it, IMO.

[The Mau Corporation]

Had a thought: Does the completed banner add hidden weight to our calculations in persuading clans to join us?
I always assumed it was my growing kingdom power/clan strength. But maybe there is something else at play to make endgame cascade so effectively.

[TruXurT]

Originally posted by The Mau Corporation:

Had a thought: Does the completed banner add hidden weight to our calculations in persuading clans to join us?
I always assumed it was my growing kingdom power/clan strength. But maybe there is something else at play to make endgame cascade so effectively.

I haven't noticed anything like that. It is a quest item and obviously main quest revolves around it, but the only real benefit of it seems to be coming after the quest is complete. And being able to get all those clans to join you is quite a reward.

The only thing I would say, it is beneficial to keep all other Imperial factions alive if you are planning to complete this quest, to get the full benefit. (This is obviously only applicable if you side with Istiana and went on re-unite empire path).

In addition, it also seems like recruiting other imperial clans is kind of counter productive as you will get them anyways. The only exception here would be if one of imperial factions is destroyed (which you should avoid doing). But if that happens, try to get leftover clans quickly, if you can, as most of them will be lost forever.

Of course that also depends what is your object and how far do you want to go. I can tell you that now, after all of those clans joined me, the game became much, much easier. I am not sure how long it can hold my interest, but we'll see.

[TruXurT]

I also wanted to add, since it came up on a different thread, that thanks to the banner and finishing the quest, I also gained lots of fiefs:

I went from 20 Towns, 23 Castles and 14 Clans to 30 Towns, 40 Castles and 32 clans (plus 3 mercenary clans) for a total of 35.

So the clans that came over did so with their fiefs (only one didn't have anything, not counting mercenaries of course).

[Ruffio]

Originally posted by TruXurT:

I also wanted to add, since it came up on a different thread, that thanks to the banner and finishing the quest, I also gained lots of fiefs:

I went from 20 Towns, 23 Castles and 14 Clans to 30 Towns, 40 Castles and 32 clans (plus 3 mercenary clans) for a total of 35.

So the clans that came over did so with their fiefs (only one didn't have anything, not counting mercenaries of course).

Gratz, you won. Start a new game.

[TruXurT]

Originally posted by Ruffio:

Originally posted by TruXurT:

I also wanted to add, since it came up on a different thread, that thanks to the banner and finishing the quest, I also gained lots of fiefs:

I went from 20 Towns, 23 Castles and 14 Clans to 30 Towns, 40 Castles and 32 clans (plus 3 mercenary clans) for a total of 35.

So the clans that came over did so with their fiefs (only one didn't have anything, not counting mercenaries of course).

Gratz, you won. Start a new game.

I could, but this is a perfect setup for multi-generational playthrough:

Vlandian's have most of their territory plus some Battanian lands,

Khuzait have most of their minus few fiefs here and there,

Aserai probably to 2/3 of what they start with,

Battanians and Sturgians are pretty beat with 1 town and 1 castle each, but still there kicking.

There is still action going on, border skirmishes. Most of the time fighting 3-4 factions simultaneously, so this is far from boring. Yes, I could have just finished it, but I'd rather keep it in this perpetual state and play.

Now I can focus of taking my character into twilight years, see how far I can level him (My goal is to reach at least lvl 45, but let's see if I can stretch it).

I am taking care of all my clans, making sure they survive and don't die off, manage my family marriages etc.

This is what I played for. It actually is quite fun.

[EmotionallyBroken]

Originally posted by TruXurT:

I

When I finally defeated each of the Conspiracy factions and completed the main quest, both Western and Norther Empire joined me. All their clans joined my kingdom. I did not paint the whole map, so all other factions are still in existence

How is that joining your kingdom then? xD

[TruXurT]

Originally posted by EmotionallyBroken:

Originally posted by TruXurT:

I

When I finally defeated each of the Conspiracy factions and completed the main quest, both Western and Norther Empire joined me. All their clans joined my kingdom. I did not paint the whole map, so all other factions are still in existence

How is that joining your kingdom then? xD

Which part you don't understand?

[Ruffio]

Originally posted by TruXurT:

Originally posted by Ruffio:

Gratz, you won. Start a new game.

I could, but this is a perfect setup for multi-generational playthrough:

Vlandian's have most of their territory plus some Battanian lands,

Khuzait have most of their minus few fiefs here and there,

Aserai probably to 2/3 of what they start with,

Battanians and Sturgians are pretty beat with 1 town and 1 castle each, but still there kicking.

There is still action going on, border skirmishes. Most of the time fighting 3-4 factions simultaneously, so this is far from boring. Yes, I could have just finished it, but I'd rather keep it in this perpetual state and play.

Now I can focus of taking my character into twilight years, see how far I can level him (My goal is to reach at least lvl 45, but let's see if I can stretch it).

I am taking care of all my clans, making sure they survive and don't die off, manage my family marriages etc.

This is what I played for. It actually is quite fun.

When you so OP, you a walking god that can stomp anything.... it become a bit like Alexander the great did weep when there was no more challenges left.

[The Mau Corporation]

Originally posted by Ruffio:

Originally posted by TruXurT:

I could, but this is a perfect setup for multi-generational playthrough:

Vlandian's have most of their territory plus some Battanian lands,

Khuzait have most of their minus few fiefs here and there,

Aserai probably to 2/3 of what they start with,

Battanians and Sturgians are pretty beat with 1 town and 1 castle each, but still there kicking.

There is still action going on, border skirmishes. Most of the time fighting 3-4 factions simultaneously, so this is far from boring. Yes, I could have just finished it, but I'd rather keep it in this perpetual state and play.

Now I can focus of taking my character into twilight years, see how far I can level him (My goal is to reach at least lvl 45, but let's see if I can stretch it).

I am taking care of all my clans, making sure they survive and don't die off, manage my family marriages etc.

This is what I played for. It actually is quite fun.

When you so OP, you a walking god that can stomp anything.... it become a bit like Alexander the great did weep when there was no more challenges left.

It doesnt have to stay like that tho. RPers can relinquish lands and stay small defending neutrality and maintaining balance. Clan growth and other creative endeavors can take over. There is always challenge available, its just a disciplined choice away.
Abandoning all that unfinished clan progression makes little sense. Still fun starting again eventually, just not so quickly.
The game only gets better at late late stages with really rich enemies.