Chapter 3 marks the first time you can choose to deploy additional units. Make sure to send off all your recruits to get them some battle experience, albeit with caution if playing with perma death.

You won’t be able to reach the crossbows on the walls immediately, so either counter with your own archers or ensure you don’t leave squishy targets like mages in crossbow range. Ensure you are ready for the cavalry charge on enemy phase & the crossbow unit off to the right.

Enemy morale is extremely low this fight, so you should be able to put the newly available surrender command to good use. If the enemy surrenders, you will take no damage as well as receive more faction points and gold. You still receive xp, cp and have a drop chance as well, so you really only lose out on a chance to heal your squad.

Don’t miss the bazaar (purple tent) where you have a higher chance to find rarer mercenaries like dragons and unique named characters. Hopefully you saved a bit of gold and/or you can wait to seize targets for gold in this stage. I picked up a dragon and and a soldier with garrison (+50% damage reduction from terrain effects) to lead a new squad. Note that +50% damage reduction from terrain sounds way better than it is: most terrain is 10% damage reduction.

Interlude

Uh oh. This is a bit of a shakeup instead of the usual army reorganization scheme. This ends the prologue and leads us to the true beginning of the campaign!