In “A Clash of Kings,” the mid-game is where you transition from struggling for survival to building a powerful army and ultimately, your own kingdom. A strong financial base is crucial for sustaining a sizable army. Leadership skill is vital to decrease troop wages and allow you to command more soldiers.
The foundation of your mid-game strategy involves becoming a mercenary for a faction. Essos is the best place to start, due to the frequent wars and peace treaties which provide you with “right to rule,” and the mercenary payment helps offset troop expenses. To become a mercenary, speak to a lord (not a king) of a faction at war and inquire about tasks. They will likely offer you a mercenary contract.
Once enlisted, you may occasionally be asked to participate in military campaigns. Ignoring these campaigns won’t impact relations with the marshall, however building good relationship with the lords could lead to them joining your faction later on. Completing assigned tasks also rewards you with experience points (XP).
When not actively engaged in a campaign, focus on trading and establishing enterprises in Westeros’ major cities. Trading salt at Saltpans for no more than 170 denars and selling it for at least 210 denars in other cities offers easy profit. Sell only a few bags per city to maximize gains as you move on. A high trade skill, or a companion with a high trade skill, is important for buying lower and selling higher. A high trade skill also allows you to assess local prices (“Assess the local prices” at the marketplace).
When setting up enterprises, choose towns that are rarely besieged to maintain high prosperity, boosting profits. Ironworks often provide good returns for a relatively low investment, but this depends on the city. If you are a mercenary in Essos, establish enterprises in Westeros, and vice-versa. Your businesses will be temporarily shut down in factions you are at war with.
Braavos offers another financial opportunity: the Iron Bank. You’ll receive 2.5% interest on your deposited funds. To maximize profit, deposit around 5,000 denars initially, and add more as your income grows. Letting money accumulate can be highly beneficial in the long run.
Prisoners are also a great source of income. Using blunt weapons allows you to knock enemies unconscious rather than kill them, enabling you to sell them to ransom brokers located in taverns throughout Westeros and Essos. A higher prisoner management skill enables you to hold more prisoners, translating to more profit.
By strategically combining mercenary work, trade, enterprises, banking, and prisoner management, you can create a strong economic foundation for your army and your future kingdom in “A Clash of Kings.” This approach to troop management allows you to build your kingdom with ease.
