Cheap Granaries Beat Grand Banners During Bad Weeks

Let us begin with the number everyone has repeated incorrectly, grand banners do not save a keep when the stores are empty. I once spent through a bad week reinforcing appearances, expecting prestige to steady the realm; instead, my granaries ran thin and every levy cost more than the last.

Since then I build the cheapest stores first, then war seats, and only raise banners when the ledger permits it. You can call that timid; I call it cheaper than repairing a splendid mistake, preferably with a vodka beside the accounts.