So, you're ready to dominate Calradia in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord? A huge part of that is knowing how to build up your settlements into economic powerhouses and strategic fortresses. Let's dive into the ultimate settlement build order to ensure your towns and castles are thriving!

Understanding the Basics of Settlement Management

Before we get into the nitty-gritty build orders, it's crucial to understand the fundamentals of settlement management in Bannerlord. Managing settlements effectively is vital for sustaining your war efforts, maintaining public order, and generating revenue. Ignoring these aspects can lead to rebellions, economic downturns, and ultimately, the downfall of your burgeoning empire. Efficient management hinges on several key factors: food production, security, prosperity, and loyalty. Each of these elements interacts with the others, creating a complex web of dependencies that you must navigate to ensure the long-term success of your settlement.

Food Production: A settlement without sufficient food will quickly descend into chaos. Starving citizens are unhappy citizens, and unhappiness leads to decreased productivity, increased crime, and eventual rebellion. Therefore, ensuring a stable and surplus food supply is paramount. Focus on constructing buildings that boost food production, such as farms, fisheries, and orchards, depending on the terrain and available resources. Also, consider the impact of sieges on your food supply; a well-stocked granary can be the difference between a successful defense and a surrender.

Security: A secure settlement is a prosperous settlement. Bandits, looters, and enemy raids can cripple your economy and demoralize your population. Investing in defensive structures like walls, guard towers, and garrisons is essential for deterring attacks and maintaining order. Regularly patrolling the surrounding area with your troops or hiring mercenary patrols can also help to keep the peace. Furthermore, consider the loyalty of your garrison troops; a loyal garrison is far more effective than a disgruntled one.

Prosperity: Prosperity is the lifeblood of your settlement. A prosperous town attracts merchants, increases trade, and generates more tax revenue. Focus on constructing buildings that boost trade and production, such as workshops, marketplaces, and breweries. Also, consider the impact of policies on your settlement's prosperity; some policies can provide significant bonuses to trade, production, or tax revenue. However, be mindful of the potential downsides of these policies, such as increased crime or decreased loyalty.

Loyalty: A loyal settlement is a stable settlement. Low loyalty can lead to unrest, rebellion, and ultimately, the loss of your settlement. There are several factors that influence loyalty, including the governor's skills, the settlement's culture, and the presence of enemy factions. To increase loyalty, consider appointing a governor with high stewardship skills, implementing policies that boost loyalty, and ensuring that the settlement's culture matches your own. Also, be mindful of the potential impact of events on loyalty; a sudden famine or a series of bandit raids can quickly erode public trust.

By carefully managing these key factors, you can transform your settlements into thriving centers of commerce, culture, and military power. Remember that each settlement is unique, and the optimal management strategy will vary depending on the specific circumstances. Experiment with different approaches, adapt to changing conditions, and always be prepared to adjust your plans as needed.

The Ultimate Castle Build Order

Castles are your first line of defense, so you need to make them tough nuts to crack. Here’s a build order that prioritizes defense and security:

1. Walls (Tier 1, 2, and 3): Get those walls up ASAP. Walls are the most fundamental defense against sieges. Tier 1 walls provide basic protection, while Tier 2 and 3 walls offer increasingly stronger defenses and more garrison slots. The increased garrison size allows you to station more troops, making it harder for enemies to breach your defenses. Furthermore, higher-tier walls often include additional defensive features, such as crenellations and murder holes, which can significantly increase the effectiveness of your defenders.
2. Garrison Barracks: A strong garrison is crucial. Garrison Barracks increase the size of your garrison, allowing you to station more troops in your castle. A larger garrison not only makes it harder for enemies to siege your castle but also helps to maintain order and prevent rebellions. Additionally, Garrison Barracks often provide training bonuses to your garrison troops, making them more effective in combat. Consider upgrading your Garrison Barracks as soon as possible to maximize the size and effectiveness of your garrison.
3. Siege Workshop: Turn the tables on attackers. The Siege Workshop allows you to construct siege engines during a siege, giving you a significant advantage over the attackers. Siege engines can be used to destroy enemy siege equipment, breach their walls, or inflict heavy casualties on their troops. Furthermore, the Siege Workshop can also be used to repair damaged walls and defensive structures, allowing you to quickly recover from enemy attacks. Building a Siege Workshop early on can deter potential sieges and give you a decisive advantage in defensive warfare.
4. Training Fields: Train your troops faster. Training Fields provide a bonus to troop experience, allowing you to train your troops more quickly. This is especially important for castles, as you will often need to replenish your garrison after a siege. Faster training times mean you can quickly replace losses and maintain a strong defensive force. Additionally, Training Fields can also be used to train new recruits, allowing you to expand your army and project your power across the map.
5. Granary: Stock up on food. A Granary increases the amount of food stored in your castle, ensuring that your garrison can withstand long sieges. A well-stocked Granary can be the difference between a successful defense and a surrender. Furthermore, a Granary can also help to prevent starvation during times of famine, ensuring that your population remains loyal and productive. Consider upgrading your Granary as soon as possible to maximize your food storage capacity.

The Optimal Town Build Order

Towns are your economic engines. Here's how to maximize their potential:

1. Walls (Tier 1, 2, and 3): Safety first, always. Just like castles, walls are essential for protecting your town from attack. While towns are generally less vulnerable to sieges than castles, they are still at risk from bandit raids and enemy incursions. Walls provide a basic level of protection and deter potential attackers. Furthermore, walls can also help to maintain order and prevent crime within the town. Upgrade your walls as soon as possible to ensure the safety and security of your town.
2. Militia Training Fields: A strong militia is vital. Militia Training Fields increase the size and effectiveness of your town's militia. A strong militia can help to defend the town from attack and maintain order. Furthermore, a well-trained militia can also be used to supplement your garrison troops during sieges. Invest in Militia Training Fields to ensure that your town is well-defended and able to protect itself from harm.
3. Workshops: Boost your economy. Workshops produce goods that can be sold for profit. Focus on building workshops that produce high-demand goods, such as tools, weapons, and textiles. A thriving workshop economy can generate significant tax revenue for your town and increase its overall prosperity. Furthermore, workshops can also provide employment for your citizens, reducing poverty and increasing their loyalty. Experiment with different types of workshops to find the most profitable combination for your town.
4. Marketplace: Trade is king. A Marketplace increases trade volume and attracts merchants to your town. More trade means more revenue for your town and more opportunities for your citizens to prosper. Furthermore, a Marketplace can also help to regulate prices and prevent shortages, ensuring that your citizens have access to the goods they need. Upgrade your Marketplace as soon as possible to maximize its benefits.
5. Granary: Prevent starvation. Just like castles, towns need a Granary to store food and prevent starvation. A well-stocked Granary can help to maintain public order and prevent rebellions. Furthermore, a Granary can also help to stabilize prices and prevent shortages, ensuring that your citizens have access to the food they need. Consider upgrading your Granary as soon as possible to maximize your food storage capacity.

Strategic Considerations for Both

• Governor: A good governor can significantly boost your settlement's prosperity and loyalty. Look for governors with high stewardship skills. Governors with high stewardship skills can provide significant bonuses to tax revenue, trade, and construction speed. Furthermore, governors can also help to maintain order and prevent rebellions. Choose your governors wisely to maximize their benefits.
• Policies: Policies can have a significant impact on your settlement's economy and stability. Experiment with different policies to find the best combination for your needs. Some policies can boost trade, while others can increase loyalty or reduce crime. However, be mindful of the potential downsides of these policies. Read the descriptions carefully and consider the potential consequences before implementing a policy.
• Culture: Match your governor's culture to the settlement to avoid penalties. Cultural differences can lead to unrest and rebellion. If possible, appoint a governor whose culture matches the culture of the settlement. This will help to maintain loyalty and prevent cultural tensions from arising. However, if this is not possible, consider implementing policies that promote cultural assimilation.

Adapting to Different Situations

No build order is set in stone. You'll need to adapt based on your situation. For example, if your settlement is constantly under attack, you'll want to prioritize defensive structures. If your settlement is struggling with food shortages, you'll need to focus on food production. Be flexible and adjust your build order as needed.

Dealing with Problems

Bannerlord throws curveballs. Here’s how to handle common issues:

• Low Loyalty: Implement policies that boost loyalty, appoint a governor with high stewardship, and ensure there's enough food. Low loyalty can lead to unrest and rebellion. Address the underlying causes of low loyalty to prevent these problems from arising. Consider implementing policies that boost loyalty, appointing a governor with high stewardship, and ensuring that there is enough food to prevent starvation.
• Food Shortages: Build more farms, import food from other settlements, and implement policies that boost food production. Food shortages can lead to starvation, unrest, and rebellion. Address food shortages quickly to prevent these problems from escalating. Consider building more farms, importing food from other settlements, and implementing policies that boost food production.
• High Crime: Build a prison, increase the size of your garrison, and implement policies that reduce crime. High crime can disrupt trade, reduce prosperity, and lead to unrest. Address high crime quickly to prevent these problems from escalating. Consider building a prison, increasing the size of your garrison, and implementing policies that reduce crime.

Final Thoughts

Alright, guys, mastering the settlement build order in Bannerlord takes practice and adaptation. Use these guidelines as a starting point, but always be ready to adjust your strategy based on your unique circumstances. With careful planning and execution, you'll be well on your way to building a thriving empire in Calradia. Now go forth and conquer!