

Maintain "catch and release" policy on nobles. To do: Like as a merc, but ultimately focus on getting your own castle/town where you can garrison ('bank') troops so you can field better compositions for training/field/siege, and stash prisoners. Continue building up relationships with everyone when possible. Stage 3 Lordship - Decide to throw in for the long haul for a faction, continue fighting and growing until you can readily capture a castle or town by yourself. "Catch and Release" policy on noble prisoners.

Keep building up relationships with villages and towns that you are at peace with during the meantime. Pick a long term enemy, and join in on the 'casual warfare'. Build up your forces to a full compliment, hire yourself some fighting heroes. Now is the time where you start rubbing up with the nobles, picking a side, and building relationships with the nobility. Stage 2: Mercenary - You should have enough 'profitable enterprises' to fund your army on a weekly basis, even if some get sequestered. Hire support heroes and start training them. Avoid anything that requires you to spend money besides food/troops. Keep your group relatively small (20-40). You always get a heap of nothing anyway). Gain levels, renown, and honor when applicable (such as never accepting rewards for saving villages from bandits. Stage 1: Freelancer - Make money, start businesses, work the guildmasters to bring up your city standings. It helps to do a LOT of groundwork early on.
