What are some good early backgrounds?

[Amnekian]

Also do backgrounds have different stats?

[The Duck Knight]

first: everything you can afford
second: yes.

[oldboys]

Farmers are usually the most cost effective and common option, they can also come with a very useful pitchfork. The top tier early game are caravan hands and militiamen if you come into a cheap enough one, they have average stats but the equipment they carry might be worth more than their upfront cost, and good early armor is rarely affordable, especially if you try to get a full warband as soon as possible.

[Amnekian]

Another question, when do you usually drop spears in favor of, say, flails and swords?

[affairs most succubussian]

when the brother doesn't need it anymore - level 70 / 80 melee attack.

[Lampros]

Check this thread:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/365360/discussions/0/135512931365407703/

Also, pay attention to the "stars" next to the more relevant stats. Fatigue is very important for everyone except maybe crossbowmen; Melee Skill and Melee Defense for melees obviously (Hit Points, too, for tank melees); and Ranged Skill, Ranged Defense, and Initiative for ranged characters.

Originally posted by Amnekian:

Another question, when do you usually drop spears in favor of, say, flails and swords?

It is advisable to have some dedicated spearmen even for end-game parties to hold flanks. So you never completely drop them.

[Amnekian]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Check this thread:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/365360/discussions/0/135512931365407703/

Also, pay attention to the "stars" next to the more relevant stats. Fatigue is very important for everyone except maybe crossbowmen; Melee Skill and Melee Defense for melees obviously (Hit Points, too, for tank melees); and Ranged Skill, Ranged Defense, and Initiative for ranged characters.

Originally posted by Amnekian:

Another question, when do you usually drop spears in favor of, say, flails and swords?

It is advisable to have some dedicated spearmen even for end-game parties to hold flanks. So you never completely drop them.

Isn't this before the latest patch?

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Amnekian:

Isn't this before the latest patch?

I don't know what the latest patch did, as I left the game during mid-beta and just came back about two weeks ago. How would the latest patch change the basic Background dynamic though?

[Sathra]

It didn't do much in that respect, though Resolve is more important now and income is a bit lower on average.

Good early backgrounds are: Farmer, militia, poacher, wildman, brawler (I always hire these guys), messengers, caravan guards. Squires too, if you can afford them.
Butchers, tailors, bowyers, gravediggers, thieves, cripples, etc (the really cheap ones) can be good, but don't be surprised if they're crap. As bodies holding a spear and shield they do fine.

Cultists are so random in their stats its hard to rate them. I've got a highly skilled and effective cultist archer (he's better than the witch-hunter archer), a Cultist 2H hammerer, then 2 more asthmatic ones who are barely capable at lvl 20.

[Mr.Toad]

Originally posted by Amnekian:

Originally posted by Lampros:

Check this thread:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/365360/discussions/0/135512931365407703/

Also, pay attention to the "stars" next to the more relevant stats. Fatigue is very important for everyone except maybe crossbowmen; Melee Skill and Melee Defense for melees obviously (Hit Points, too, for tank melees); and Ranged Skill, Ranged Defense, and Initiative for ranged characters.



It is advisable to have some dedicated spearmen even for end-game parties to hold flanks. So you never completely drop them.

Isn't this before the latest patch?

Those numbers are definitely from before change to backgrounds. They more or less hold true though but dont work based on that mechanic anymore. All professions have their own range of potential statistical starts for each attribute rather than just tacking on a fixed increased. This leads to greater variance in statisitics across the board but on average, the better quality backgrounds still make the better recruits.

[Amnekian]

Do you use brawlers for their h2h skills? Or the stats?

[Sathra]

Stats. Their background perk is basically useless (extra damage with bare-hand punches equal to a wooden stick). With time and effort most of them can make for decent melee infantry. Some can even be exceptional.
They usually cost 110 crowns on veteran too, since they don't have any gear either :D.
There's a few events with them too, bad and good.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Amnekian:

Do you use brawlers for their h2h skills? Or the stats?

You never intentionally use the unarmed mode.