Fief Management and Prosperity

Managing a fief in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is one of the most rewarding yet complex aspects of the mid-to-late game. A well-managed town can fund your entire army, while a neglected one will drain your coffers and eventually rebel. This guide covers the essential pillars of fief management: Prosperity, Security, Loyalty, and Food.

The Pillars of Fief Management

Your fief's health is determined by four interconnected stats:

1. Prosperity: Determines tax income. Higher prosperity means more taxes but higher food consumption.

2. Loyalty: Critical for construction speed and preventing rebellion. If loyalty drops below 25, the town stops building and may revolt.

3. Security: Affects loyalty and tax income. High security comes from garrisons and clearing nearby bandit hideouts.

4. Food: The lifeblood of the town. Starvation kills the garrison and tanks prosperity.

Building Priorities

When you first acquire a fief, your build order is crucial. Do not auto-build "Castles" or "Towns" indiscriminately.

1. Fairgrounds (Loyalty): If the town is of a different culture, loyalty will drift downwards. Build the Fairgrounds first to passive level 1, then consider the "Festival and Games" daily project if loyalty is critically low.

2. Orchards/Granary (Food): You cannot support high prosperity without food. Upgrade Orchards to increase production.

3. Workshops (Prosperity): Once stable, build workshops to increase construction speed and prosperity.

4. Walls: Important for defense, but only after the town is loyal and fed.

Managing Garrisons and Militia

Defending your fief requires troops, but they come at a cost.

• Militia: These defenders spawn automatically based on prosperity and policies. They are free but generally lower quality.

• Garrison: You manually place these troops. They cost wages.

  • Tip: In the Clan > Parties > Garrisons tab, uncheck "Unlimited Wage" and set a cap. A safe backline castle doesn't need a 2000 denar/day garrison.

The Governor's Role: Culture and Perks

Assigning a governor is the single best way to stabilize a town.

• Culture Match: Always try to assign a governor of the same culture as the settlement. This removes the -3 Loyalty penalty.

• Key Perks: Look for perks in the Steward, Medicine, and Engineering trees that grant bonuses to loyalty, construction speed, or tax income.

Food Supply Balancing

Prosperity consumes food. As your town grows rich, it eats more. If you hit a food ceiling, prosperity growth stops.

• Villages: Protect your bound villages. If they are raided, food delivery stops.

• Market: You can manually dump grain into the town market to temporarily alleviate starvation, though the town consumes it quickly.

Prosperity vs. Security

High prosperity is the goal for taxes, but it attracts enemies and requires higher security to maintain order. Ensure your garrison is sufficient to keep the "Security" stat positive, as low security drags down loyalty.

Conclusion: Maximizing Income

A fully upgraded town with 5000+ prosperity can yield thousands of denars daily. Be patient, prioritize loyalty first, and protect your food sources.

See also:

• Town Management & Prosperity

• Sieges and Castle Warfare

• Steward Skill Leveling