Bandits not so bad

[Mangudai]

I noticed that devastation caused by bandits does little to reduce your income. Playing as Russia I noticed that bandits usually reduce income by 24f or so when they are standing on my farmland. They also cause some unrest, but this is only about two icons worth, not a serious problem. The only real threat I've encountered has been bandits ambushing me when i move family members about.

I conclude from this that it is not worth recruiting troops just to take out bandits. And, if you have the troops it is usually not worth using them to beat bandits.

Bandits help your defense. If someone invades you, bandits will get in their way. The AI seems drawn to bandits, it almost never bypasses them. On a cost basis this is the best deal in defense when there is any chance of an enemy faction going that way.

I'm still fairly new at this game so I'm not sure if bandits sometimes inflict more serious damage. Has anyone seem them interfere with ports or mines? Or do anything that causes >100f of damage per turn?

[Nikos_Rouvelas]

When they stood on my road in Constantinople province my income went fro 3800 to 2300. I guess it depends.

[Midnight]

No idea, really - I generally ignore them, unless they're directly blocking my path. I'd rather kill the troops of another faction than bandits and rebels, since I'll lose a few of my own men in the process (most of the time).

[icek]

i always kill them, your general may think that by doing this hes more important to you and gain loyalty bonuses. armies without generals can produce addoption option also

[WhiskeyGhost]

I think the income hit from having devastation is based on how many soldiers are present too. I had a single unit of rebel peasants only hit me for about 1 florin, while that mean stack of about 3 DCK's, 4Longbowmen, a General, and 2 or so Chivalric Knights was making my territory damned near unprofitable.....

may just be a personal observation though, also, don't forget to add in any factors like hidden armies, i think they still devastate even though they are in an ambush....

[Zarky]

As said, rebels are good practise to generals, good way to get either BattleChivalry or -Dread.
And that they will stand on your roads blocking trade, they will also take over your watchtowers if one is nearby, and they mostly retreat if too strong AI attacks, and sometimes their retreat might be little weird (like go to other side of river, when there´s no crossing point for example)

[Ramses II CP]

It's fun to smack the bandits, but if they're out of the way I usually leave 'em too, or send a fast general to buy mercs once he gets into their area.

[phonicsmonkey]

likewise I generally whack 'em on my way to and from other engagements

but I like to keep one little stack around for the purposes of assassin training....those bandits really need to learn how to set a watch on their leader's tent at night....mwuhahahaha

[ReiseReise]

I usually destroy them.
1) The worst thing they do is block trade on roads, even though you don't see it, they could be causing a LOT of lost trade. This is sort of the historical aspect of them, they are basically robber bandits. I am not sure, but having rebels running around might cause your governors to get "lawless" traits.
2) They are good for building experience of generals/troops. Don't attack 3 rebels with a full stack though, try to use even odds so your general can get some good traits.
3) They tend to make it difficult to move around small groups of units, for example lets say you have 1 Fortress making Superknights, and you desperately need 3 of them at the front line, if rebels are blocking your path, the knights either have to take the long way around and arrive several turns late; or fight them and take losses, arriving at the front understrength; or fight them, go ALL the way back to the Fortress, repair, and head out again 3 turns later. I would rather fight them when I have the time and units free.

[Philbert]

When it's a small group, I enjoy sending a general on his own. It's a challenge but you get impressed with how tough a unit generals really are. Plus it will usually get you some good traits.

[Zasz1234]

I agree that they are great training material. And they mostly hide on you anyway and there is nothing worse than moving your faction leader to another front when he gets ambushed by a big ole stack of rebels.

[hoetje]

Indeed,it's smart to keep one/two rebel stacks alive for assassin training.Killing their leader 3,4 times should give you an assassin with 5 subterfuge (sp?),at this point being able to take on REAL targets :=)

[icek]

Indeed,it's smart to keep one/two rebel stacks alive for assassin training.Killing their leader 3,4 times should give you an assassin with 5 subterfuge (sp?),at this point being able to take on REAL targets :=)

Later assasins guild give additional bonuses and you can concentrate on killing emisarries or enemy capitans.

[Didz]

I tend to deal with bandits only if it looks like they are going to cause trouble.

Bandits blocking trade routes or army movement get driven off, though I don't always destroy them if they retreat into the hills or woods etc. and are out of the way.

The other main benefit of bandits and rebels is in the training or new generals as they do give useful expereince, and of course they are useful training dummies for assassins.

[Slug For A Butt]

As mentioned above, I use rebels to facilitate the training of my assassins. They really are invaluable.
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