Is releasing prisoners worth it?

**PunchDrunk** · August 19, 2011, 05:13 PM

In my campaing with Scotland I currently have all of the catholic nations in terrible/ abysmal relations with me... both from being excommunicated and from executing any prisoners of war that I get after a battle. So, I'm just wondering if releasing prisoners are worth it? If I release a crap load of prisoners they could could come back and bite me in the ass later.

**The King of the Fairies** · August 19, 2011, 05:18 PM

If depends.

If there aren't too many prisoners, ie heavily damaged units, the AI won't retrain or disband (and they'll have lost all experience). So, the upkeep will still bite them. And it makes you look nice.

Having a chivalrous leader should pump up your reputation quickly too.

**danny X** · August 19, 2011, 05:26 PM

it depends which direction you want to go really, release them for chivalry, execute them for dread or offer them for ransom with a chance of getting some florins

**PunchDrunk** · August 19, 2011, 05:28 PM

Will releasing them give me better relations with other countries?

**danny X** · August 19, 2011, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by PunchDrunk

Will releasing them give me better relations with other countries?

afaik no! although having a chivalrous fl may!

lol, beating their armies and then offering the defeated soldiers back is not the best way to work on good relations!

alliances and money are generally the best way to maintain any relations

**ChivalrousKiller** · August 19, 2011, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by dannyxx30

afaik no! although having a chivalrous fl may!

lol, beating their armies and then offering the defeated soldiers back is not the best way to work on good relations!

alliances and money are generally the best way to maintain any relations

Yeah, you're right, my mistake. It does increase reputation though

**Wartoga** · August 19, 2011, 06:56 PM

In my opinion, no. It drags out the wars by making major victories less decisive. But asking for a ransom usually ends up with them being executed anyway without a Chivalry penalty.

**ChivalrousKiller** · August 19, 2011, 05:29 PM

Yeah, it will. And better reputation

**Avatar** · August 20, 2011, 09:58 AM

On the other hand, you should always have a general lurking around that executes everyone he captures, no questions asked. That way you have someone with high dread building up, who can do all the dirty work needed on campaign.

Personally I just release all the prisoners I take, especially because quite often they are the more rubbish troops anyway. If the enemy gets a couple of units worth of spear militia back, its no skin off my nose.

**ilmrik** · August 20, 2011, 11:28 AM

Cavalry generals go for executes every time, they take point in any invasion going for maximal destruction and blitz tactics and they need the dread anyway! During peace time they ride around slaughtering rebels. Every realm needs one of these!

Faction leader/heir and governing generals take up the second wave, releasing and sieging/capturing for the chivalry boosts. They usually don't take toomany prisoners anyway as they employ a more balanced infantry/archer force. The remains of the defeated army can just be destroyed by the cavalry army later anyway.

They take first row in defensive wars as well, always releasing as I usually want peace because war is annoying if you're not expanding