Noob question: Why can't I raise armies?

[&rew]

I just started a campaign as Liu Bei, and now I need to start securing territories, including a specific one marked on the map. I really appreciate the changes made to the Total War campaign formula (I've only played Medieval II and a bit of a Empire), but how do I raise more armies? It says I'm capped at 1/1 and I can't raise more; I can only recruit more units for the 3 retinues I have already. The problem with that is that I can't leave units behind to guard the territory I've already taken and still have a sizable army, so I need to start making new retinues at the territories I already control, right? I'm a little unclear on how to safely move forward.

[ross]

You need to get your prestige-based faction rank up to second marquis in order to field 3 armies. You can check this rank by clicking the portrait at the top.

https://totalwar.fandom.com/wiki/Prestige_(Total_War:_Three_Kingdoms)

[Elite665]

It’s also in techs

[&rew]

Originally posted by vivolorosso:

You need to get your prestige-based faction rank up to second marquis in order to field 3 armies. You can check this rank by clicking the portrait at the top.

https://totalwar.fandom.com/wiki/Prestige_(Total_War:_Three_Kingdoms)

Thanks a bunch! I picked the tutorial option that said, "I've played Total War before", but maybe it should also ask, "How long ago did you last play Total War?". Haha

[ross]

Originally posted by gamelord:

Thanks a bunch! I picked the tutorial option that said, "I've played Total War before", but maybe it should also ask, "How long ago did you last play Total War?". Haha

I've played every TW since Rome 1, even the Warhammer games. This one is quite different and a fair bit more complex than the older ones. I played 60-80 turns or so with high advice to be sure I got everything down.

[archonsod]

Yep, upping your rank to get to your court allows you to field more armies, +1 army for each administrator IIRC.

You don't necessarily need to leave defenders in every settlement you take. The garrison will usually see off any smaller stacks and it usually takes the AI a turn or two to march across the territory in force.

[&rew]

Originally posted by archonsod:

Yep, upping your rank to get to your court allows you to field more armies, +1 army for each administrator IIRC.

You don't necessarily need to leave defenders in every settlement you take. The garrison will usually see off any smaller stacks and it usually takes the AI a turn or two to march across the territory in force.

Well, I just kicked Huang Shao out of one of his cities, and he's TICKED OFF, so I'm a little worried about leaving it undefended.

[AgentStanSmith]

Originally posted by gamelord:

I just started a campaign as Liu Bei, and now I need to start securing territories, including a specific one marked on the map. I really appreciate the changes made to the Total War campaign formula (I've only played Medieval II and a bit of a Empire), but how do I raise more armies? It says I'm capped at 1/1 and I can't raise more; I can only recruit more units for the 3 retinues I have already. The problem with that is that I can't leave units behind to guard the territory I've already taken and still have a sizable army, so I need to start making new retinues at the territories I already control, right? I'm a little unclear on how to safely move forward.

Work on building the territory you have and as you get more prestige from upgrading your building you will rank up and will be able to raise more armies.

[reevestone]

This isn't just a general thing with Total War experience or this game, it's more of a hidden limitation on Liu Bei. I presume as a balancing factor against his early-game economy due to his army(s) being so absurdly cheap and prevent him from just flooding the map with armies, his Army Limit in the early game is much more restricted than other factions'. Most factions have, I believe, an Army Limit of 3 at the base level, but Liu Bei only has 1. Now I believe this evens out as your Prestige Ranks increase, since I'm pretty sure Liu Bei and everyone else both have an Army Limit of 7 at King Rank, but it does mean that unless you use reforms, skills, ancillaries or just rush that Prestige as Liu Bei you'll be very limited in how many separate armies you can have on the field at once.