Sandbox Challenges & Ironman Runs

Once you've conquered Calradia a few times, the base game can start to feel easy. That's where Sandbox Challenges come in. These are self-imposed rulesets designed to force you into new playstyles, making the game significantly harder and more rewarding.

What is a Sandbox Challenge?

A Sandbox Challenge is a run where you intentionally limit your options. By restricting yourself—say, by refusing to use cavalry or refusing to trade—you force yourself to master mechanics you might otherwise ignore.

The Ironman Ruleset (Permadeath)

The ultimate challenge is playing with Enable Birth and Death turned ON and resisting the urge to save-scum.

• Rules:

  1. Enable Death in campaign options.

  2. No reloading saves to undo mistakes. If you lose a battle, you live with the consequences.

  3. If your character dies in battle, the run continues as your heir. If you have no heir, it's Game Over.

Enabling death adds a layer of tension to every duel and siege. You aren't immortal anymore.

Challenge 1: The Loyalist (Single Culture)

This is a great roleplay challenge. You pick one culture (e.g., Sturgia) and you are only allowed to recruit troops from that culture.

• Difficulty: Medium.

• Why it's hard: You lose access to the "best in slot" units of other factions. If you play Sturgia, you have no horse archers. If you play Battania, you have no heavy cavalry.

• Goal: Conquer the map for your chosen faction leader.

A pure Sturgian shield wall is a sight to behold, but it struggles against Khuzait mobility. Overcoming that weakness is the challenge.

See our Troop Recruitment & Upgrades guide to plan your roster.

Challenge 2: The Merchant King (No Combat XP)

Can you conquer Calradia without swinging a sword?

• Rules:

  1. You cannot personally kill enemies (your troops can).

  2. You must acquire fiefs by buying them with the Trade 300 perk ("Everything Has a Price").

• Goal: Own 5 towns.

This requires mastering the Economy & Trade Guide to amass millions of denars.

Instead of painting the map red with blood, you will paint it gold with coin.

Challenge 3: The Bandit Lord (Crime Only)

• Rules:

  1. You cannot join a Kingdom or become a Vassal (Mercenary work is allowed).

  2. You can only recruit Bandit troops (Looters, Sea Raiders, etc.).

  3. You must rely on Roguery & Crime for income.

• Goal: Capture a castle and start your own Kingdom using only criminals.