Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's narrative centers on Henry's efforts to expel Sigismund of Luxembourg from Bohemia. This typically involves intricate quests of conspiracy, assassination, and sabotage. However, one player discovered a more direct approach: assembling an army and storming the city.
Raising an Army
The game's core mechanics do not natively support Henry leading a large warband. To achieve this, the 'Companion Squad' mod by Steam user Triget is employed. This mod allows players to summon mercenaries with unique appearances, forming an army ready for deployment.
Calling in Favors
Beyond generic mercenaries, the mod also enables players to summon key characters from the game. By accessing a 'Heroes' section within the mod's menu, allies such as Hans Capon, members of the Jan Zizka crew, Godwin, Erik, Istvan Toth, Radzig, and Hanush can be summoned to join Henry's cause, swelling the ranks of the assembled force.
The Siege of Kuttenberg
Upon arriving at Kuttenberg's gates with a bolstered army, the initial confrontation with the city guard proved brief. The mod's "Companion Squad" can be set to either defensive or offensive stances. The "murder clump," as the assembled forces were nicknamed, initially acted defensively, only engaging when Henry was in combat. Switching to an offensive mode allowed the army to advance independently, overwhelming the city's defenders.
Unintended Consequences
Despite the overwhelming force, the mod's behavior led to unexpected outcomes. The army, set to a "Bandit mode," began ransacking civilian establishments and attacking non-combatants, turning the military operation into a destructive rampage. Attempts to control the army's aggression by switching stances proved difficult as the forces spread out and sometimes ignored commands.
Victory and its Price
By nightfall, Kuttenberg was subdued, though at a significant cost. Key allies were lost, and Henry himself sustained injuries, partly due to a bug where his leg armor did not transfer to the save file. The primary antagonists, including Sigismund, had apparently fled upon witnessing the scale of the assault. Henry ultimately claimed control of the city, taking a seat in city hall.
While this direct approach to conquering Kuttenberg is significantly faster than completing the main story quests, it comes with severe consequences. The widespread killing of NPCs, including quest givers, has rendered the player's save file potentially unplayable due to hostile reactions from NPCs in surrounding towns and cities. This method offers a rapid conquest but is not recommended for players seeking to preserve their game progression.