How to Get Warriors in Norland

When I first started playing Norland, one of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to build a strong and reliable army.

Sure, having farms and fancy buildings is great, but none of that matters when your kingdom is under siege and your enemies are at the gates. I can’t count how many times I was caught off guard, desperately trying to recruit warriors at the last minute.

Let me tell you, scrambling to build an army right before a battle isn’t fun—it’s a recipe for disaster. So, how do you get warriors in Norland and, more importantly, how do you keep them battle-ready?

Why Warriors Are Essential in Norland

In Norland, having a solid group of warriors is vital for defending your kingdom and launching attacks against rival factions. Without them, you’re just sitting on a pile of resources, waiting to be plundered.

My first experience with warfare in Norland was brutal—I hadn’t invested in a standing army, and when I got attacked by a neighboring kingdom, I was left defenseless. My peasants didn’t stand a chance against well-armed soldiers, and I lost half my territory in a matter of minutes.

It’s safe to say, getting warriors early can save you a lot of trouble down the line.

Recruiting Peasants Into Warriors

One of the main ways to get warriors is by converting your peasants into soldiers. Early in the game, most of your people will be farmers, craftsmen, or laborers, but with enough training, they can become warriors. However, don’t expect them to be skilled fighters right away.

Here’s a mistake I made: I assumed I could throw some tools at a few peasants, hand them swords, and they’d be ready to go. I was wrong—untrained peasants are pretty much cannon fodder. They’re weak, disorganized, and lack the skills needed to hold their own in battle. But with enough training, they can eventually become strong warriors.

It’s all about investing in training camps early, which allows you to turn your basic workers into soldiers who know how to fight.

I set up a barracks and started training them in small batches, and after a few seasons, I had a capable fighting force.

Occasionally, you can also hire bandits to fight for your cause, but be careful. This extra influx of soldiers come at the cost of lowering your relationship with your neighbors.

Using Mercenaries for Quick Results

If you find yourself in immediate need of warriors but don’t have the time to train your peasants, mercenaries are your best bet. This happened to me during a particularly rough game when I didn’t have enough soldiers to defend against an invasion.

My neighbor had been eyeing my kingdom for a while, and before I knew it, they launched an attack. I panicked and hired mercenaries on the spot.

Mercenaries are skilled warriors for hire, and they’re available almost immediately once you have the gold to pay them. However, they come at a high price. I remember thinking I’d solved all my problems by hiring a mercenary band, but after the battle, I realized how expensive they were to keep around long-term.

They’re great in a pinch, but you’ll want to rely on them sparingly, using them only for urgent battles while you train up your own soldiers. Plus, if you don’t pay them on time, they’re likely to turn on you—something I learned the hard way when my unpaid mercenaries decided to join the enemy.

Training and Upgrading Your Warriors

So, you’ve recruited some peasants and hired a few mercenaries, but what’s next? Training. This is where a lot of players, including myself at first, drop the ball. In Norland, an untrained army is just as bad as having no army at all. I learned the importance of upgrading my barracks and continuously training my warriors to make them more effective in combat.

You can’t just leave your soldiers idle between battles.

They need constant drills and exercises to improve their strength, defense, and teamwork. The more experienced your warriors become, the more likely they are to survive tough battles and keep your kingdom safe.

Don’t neglect this—it’s tempting to think your soldiers are fine once they’ve survived a couple of fights, but if you don’t invest in their ongoing training, you’ll be in trouble when a stronger opponent shows up.

Equipping Your Soldiers Properly

Another important lesson I learned the hard way is that your warriors need good equipment to succeed. In one of my earlier games, I had a decent-sized army but lost a battle because I didn’t equip them properly. I thought basic swords and shields would do the trick, but they got absolutely wrecked by an enemy force that had better armor and weapons.

To avoid this, make sure you’ve got Armor and Weapon forges in your kingdom who are producing high-quality weapons and armor. Better gear gives your warriors a significant edge in combat, allowing them to withstand more damage and deal stronger blows.

Plus, having a variety of weapons—like bows for ranged attacks or heavy swords for close combat—will give your army flexibility.

Using Religion and Loyalty to Build an Army

Interestingly, religion plays a role in Norland too. One trick I’ve learned is to use religious fervor to my advantage. If your kingdom has a strong religious foundation, you can actually rally citizens to join your army through religious motivations. I once built a temple, and soon after, my kingdom’s clergy began encouraging people to fight in the name of the faith.

These religious warriors were highly motivated and fought harder than my standard soldiers.

However, this strategy has its own risks. If you lean too heavily on religious recruits, it can backfire, especially if they’re zealous to the point of becoming hard to control. I once had a group of religious warriors who didn’t agree with some of my political decisions, and it led to internal conflict within my kingdom.

So, use religion wisely when building your army—balance loyalty and faith to ensure your recruits stay aligned with your goals.

The Importance of Army Morale

Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of morale. Warriors in Norland aren’t just mindless pawns; they need to be motivated. If your kingdom is in chaos—poor economy, unhappy citizens, or constant unrest—your warriors won’t fight as effectively. Keeping your population happy and ensuring there’s enough food, gold, and entertainment will improve overall morale, which in turn makes your soldiers fight harder and more loyally.

In one game, I ignored morale, thinking my soldiers were just there to follow orders no matter what. But when morale dropped, I saw soldiers abandoning the battlefield and even defecting to the enemy.

After that, I made it a point to regularly hold festivals and keep my warriors fed and paid. Happy soldiers are loyal soldiers, and loyal soldiers are the key to victory.

Conclusion

In conclusion, getting warriors in Norland is more than just recruiting bodies—it’s about training, equipping, and maintaining a loyal, battle-ready army. Whether you’re converting peasants, hiring mercenaries, or tapping into religious fervor, your army needs constant attention and care.