Crusades Campaign: Turks

[frogbeastegg]

This topic is for the Turkish faction in Kingdoms expansion's Crusades campaign.

[YAKOBU]

Hi everyone ~:wave:

Each time I come and look at the guides I can't help but notice that no-one has done a guide for the Turks in the Crusades campaign. I am not a big fan of horse archers (due to micro-management) or blitz strategies but I found it tempting to see if I could complete all the campaign goals in 30 turns (which is how long you have to hold Baghdad for).

Well I managed to do it successfully and here is my walkthrough along with the victory screen. I played on M/M with no reloads (apart from at the start of each session) and with FOW on.

I have other photos that I will add later.



Turn 1

A Jihad is called on the Principality of Antioch (POA) capital of Antioch.

Militia units are recruited in all settlements. Low level economic buildings are started in all settlements.

West

Qilich Arslan builds a watchtower on the border west of Doryleum.

Lachin Kavur moves nearer to our settlement of Amorium with his army.

4 spare units from Ankara set off to reinforce Doryleum.

4 spare units from Kirsehir set off to join our force in Iconium.

3 infantry units are recruited in Iconium.

A spy is recruited in Amorium.

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5326/0014rd8.th.jpg (https://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0014rd8.jpg)

East

Jalal al Rashid joins the Jihad with his army of 11 units. Crown Prince as Salih steps outside Raqqa with 4 infantry units and recruits 4 infantry mercenaries and joins the Jihad. He joins up with Jalal al Rashid and they move west along the road and lay siege to the POA settlement of Aleppo where the faction heir resides. Work is started on building a ram and 5 ladders.

Sultan Nur and 7 infantry units step outside Mosul and after recruiting 3 infantry mercenaries he joins the Jihad and heads northwest along the road. Whilst passing the border he builds a watchtower.

https://img363.imageshack.us/img363/9749/0015gf2.th.jpg (https://img363.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0015gf2.jpg)

Ekmel Erkal and spare units from Takrit lay siege to the rebel settlement of Kirkuk. The 6 best units from Baghdad set off to join the siege.

https://img363.imageshack.us/img363/2821/0016di0.th.jpg (https://img363.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0016di0.jpg)

An imam is recruited in Mosul.

Turn 2

2 armies of religious warriors join us near Antioch.

West

The spy in Amorium sets of down the path to the border. Lachin Kavur follows him with his army.

Mustafa with 4 units from Iconium and the 4 units from Kirsehir moves south to the border and builds a watchtower.

Another spy is recruited in Amorium.

https://img363.imageshack.us/img363/2190/0018ku9.th.jpg (https://img363.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0018ku9.jpg)

East

Crown Prince as Salih takes Aleppo from the POA and occupies the settlement. In taking the settlement he defeated 6 infantry and 2 cavalry including the faction heir. Leaving Jalal al Rashid in Aleppo Crown Prince as Salih sieges the POA capital of Antioch where the faction leader resides. Crown Prince as Salih is reinforced by one of the armies of religious warriors. Work is started on building a ram and 5 ladders. The second army of religious warriors joins up with Jalal al Rashid outside Aleppo and after rejoining the Jihad they move back into the settlement.

https://img363.imageshack.us/img363/4099/0019da0.th.jpg (https://img363.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0019da0.jpg)

Sultan Nur sieges the POA settlement of Diyabakir.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5539/0011yx4.th.jpg (https://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0011yx4.jpg)

Ekmel Erkal and his reinforcements take Kirkuk and occupy the settlement.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7536/0012hs0.th.jpg (https://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0012hs0.jpg)

Trade rights are agreed with the Kingdom of Jerusalem (KOJ).

Turn 3

West

Our spy spots a Byzantine army near Amorium. Lachin Kavur destroys the army and executes the prisoners. He then builds a watchtower at the border and heads towards the Byzantine settlement of Laodiciea.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8400/0023td0.th.jpg (https://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0023td0.jpg)

Mustafa sieges the rebel settlement of Alanya.

Another spy is recruited in Amorium.

East

Crown Prince as Salih takes Antioch from the POA and exterminates the prisoners. In taking the settlement he defeated 9 infantry and 5 cavalry including the faction leader and a family member. The POA are now destroyed. Crown Prince as Salih then heads for Krak de Chevaliers with reinforcements from the army of religious warriors. The remainder of the army of religious warriors garrisons Antioch.

https://img363.imageshack.us/img363/6273/0020gp7.th.jpg (https://img363.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0020gp7.jpg)https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1102/0022bx2.th.jpg (https://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0022bx2.jpg)

Jalal al Rashid sieges the rebel settlement of Homs and spare units of the army of religious warriors are split between Antioch and Aleppo.

https://img250.imageshack.us/img250/7533/0024ng6.th.jpg (https://img250.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0024ng6.jpg)

Sultan Nur takes Diyabakir which is now rebel-held after the POA were destroyed and occupies the settlement. He then takes the spare units and moves on to siege the rebel settlement of Edessa.

https://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2284/0026ym5.th.jpg (https://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0026ym5.jpg)

Ekmel Erkal heads southeast.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6474/0025bq4.th.jpg (https://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0025bq4.jpg)

Turn 4

Merchants are recruited throughout our empire.

West

Mustafa takes the rebel settlement of Alanya and occupies.

Lachin Kavur lays siege to the Byzantine settlement of Laodiciea.

East

Sultan Nur takes the rebel settlement of Edessa and exterminates the population. He then sets off to reinforce Antioch.

Jalal al Rashid takes the rebel settlement of Homs and occupies.

Crown Prince as Salih lays siege to the rebel settlement of Krak de Chevaliers.

Turn 5

West

Lachin Kavur takes Laodiciea from the Byzantines and occupies.

East

Crown Prince as Salih takes the rebel settlement of Krak de Chevaliers and exterminates the population.

Ekmel Erkal seiges the rebel settlement of Kermanshah.

Turns 6 to 10

On turn 9 a Kings Crusade begins led by Richard the First.

West

Mustafa takes the rebel settlement of Attaleia and occupies.

Lachin Kavur sets off to the Byzantine settlement of Symrna.

Qilich Arslan takes the Byzantine settlement of Nicaea and occupies it.

A ballista maker is built and a catapult maker is started in Iconium.

East

Sultan Nur takes Adana from the rebels and exterminates the population. He then sets off to garrison Iconium.

https://img250.imageshack.us/img250/5933/0027uj9.th.jpg (https://img250.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0027uj9.jpg)

Ekmel Erkal takes the rebel settlement of Kermanshah

Crown Prince as Salih takes the rebel settlement of Ballbek but dies in the battle.

A ballista maker is started in Krak de Chevaliers.

Turns 11 to 15

4th Crusade called.

West

We declare a Jihad on the Byzantine capital of Constantinople. Both Sultan Nur and Qilich Arslan join the Jihad and Qilich Arslan arrives first and lays siege.

Lachin Kavur takes the Byzantine settlement of Symrna and occupies.

East

Jalal al Rashid retakes Diyabakir from the Byzantines after they had taken it from our militia troops.

Crown Prince Gunduz sails to the KOJ settlement of Arsuf and takes and occupies it thereby starting a war with the KOJ. Crown Prince Gunduz then lays siege to the KOJ capital Jerusalem which is garrisoned by 8 infantry, 3 cavalry and a catapult.

Turns 16 to 20

West

Qilich Arslan takes the Byzantine capital of Constantinople and exterminates the population. Building of a Dar al-Imara is then started in order to recruit the legendary Janissary Heavy Infantry.

The Byzantines manage to take Nicaea from our small militia garrison.

A Venetian crusade of 3 stacks nears Constantinople.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5793/0032zq8.th.jpg (https://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0032zq8.jpg)https://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3191/0035wb5.th.jpg (https://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0035wb5.jpg)

East

Crown Prince Gunduz takes the KOJ capital of Jerusalem and exterminates the population. 84% of his forces were lost in the victory. Reinforcements quickly set sail to ensure we hold Jerusalem. Building of a Dar al-Imara is then started in order to recruit the legendary Janissary Heavy Infantry.

https://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9029/0037dr1.th.jpg (https://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0037dr1.jpg)

Turns 21 to 30

West

Sultan Nur manages to defeat the 3 stacks of Venetians before they reach Constantinople with the help of mercenaries and night attacks.

https://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4343/0038za4.th.jpg (https://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0038za4.jpg)

Lachin Kavur takes the Byzantine settlement of Palaeokastron and occupies.

The Byzantines manage to take Doryleum from our small militia garrison.

On turn 30 our victory message appears.

https://img250.imageshack.us/img250/8826/0042rn5.th.jpg (https://img250.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0042rn5.jpg)https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2456/0043kv5.th.jpg (https://img515.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0043kv5.jpg)

[Shahed]

I LOVE posts like that. Great work YAKOBU !

[YAKOBU]

Thanks Sinan :2thumbsup:

I did wonder if my efforts were in vain after no comments before yours :sweatdrop: .

:charge:

[wumpus]

I'm surprised. Good post, akeh! Nice to learn ideas from a lot of people like you. Keep up the admirable work!! Hawooh!

[S.Selim_1]

thanks for the guide..i always found the turks hardest faction to play with since they have 2 seperate locations in the map and they start with a real bad economy..then u have to deal with the mongols coming straight at u.

i thought about taking constantinople finishing of the byzantines taking all modern day turkey then going to south.. that way u end up with with some cities giving u a good income from trade and by that time u are ready for the mongols. in the crusader campaigne i believe turks are the hardest and egypt definetly the easiest.

[TheLastPrivate]

For some reason if you are unable to finish off Antioch fast they will become a real nuisance. Make Antioch your primary and fastest target.

[Robespierre]

the Turks!

as sultan, you will need to play an aggressive and fast-moving early game to get your books into the black. fight like a horde with religious convictions. wage holy war for the profit.

there is more than one way to play the turk, and this is especially true on harder difficulties. the forces in Asia Minor add up to more than two stacks. these could be used to blitz the byzantines; to overpower the principality; or to secure the Northen hills.. i favour the last choice- there is gold up in the north. antiochs' hill outpost could be over-run simultaneously. if you bring the troops south, the byzantine boys in blue may expand to fill the mountain vacuum. secure those mountains.several of the easterly provinces have gold or otherwise rich mines.

The principality can be easy meat. in my recent game they disappeared after a big fight at Aleppo in the early turns. Sultan Nur mustered a full stack, while the free warriors layed siege to Antioch (except HAs which double back to join up with the princes besieging to the east.). he declared Jihad and in the two turns it took to get across the map the besiegers built engines. he then took over the leadership of the siege-force for the assault. left a good garrison and led on into battle at Aleeppo where the principality tends to muster. after that battle, all the damsons go grey. hurrah!!!! this is on h/h. however there is unfriendly jostling with Jerusalem, has already seized Krak Des Chevaliers, to fill the power vacuum. an unseemly landgrab may follow if the damson crusaders are vanquished early.

consolidation. once the hill provinces are secured, you dig gold mines. Damascus also has fine mining. turk faction thrives in cities: they can produce units like Janissery Heavy Infantry and Archers. everywhere else in the syrian countryside, go for population! shuffle chivalrous govs into towns that need to grow. if you have one gov for some nearby towns, shuffle him to be in each town when the mosque-building is completed. thus he gets chiv points, which aid pop growth. don't sack if you don't have to; never xterminate. manage your characters for chiv points. you can afford to express the dark side when all your cities haver paved roads in between. keep the taxes at normal or less. let it grow!

i find there is an unending supply of Byzantine blue holy-wallahs to train my assassins on.help those reverends on the road to martyrdom. compared to islam, orthodoxzy converts 'em quick.

trade and guilds. the map has some good oppurtunities. perhaps refuse some hashshashins guilds so as to get merchant ones. is a fruit monopoly really worth it?



when it comes to medium infantry and horse skirmishers, man! what a line-up. in my opinion the Turk has the finest roster in the game. the infantry is solid, flexible, aggressive. saracen militia/ sipaha lancers can back up the flanks for ottoman infantry, protecting them from hostile knights. horse archers skirmish, encircle, and pursue. see how they run!

i am now wondering if and when any hordes from the east may arrive, and how shall i defend if they do. the turk has ideal types of units to combat the threatening horde. lances and janissary heavy infantry are good , but best of all are Janissary archers. azabs and hasham are also useful, in lesser numbers. you cannot really out-horse the first mongol wave; cavalry are for emergencies, to eliminate any HAs that make it round your flanks, and to chase cowards.

later in the game, janissary musketeers are perfect for shooting your enemies.

[kitbogha]

Thanks to everyone for their interesting comments. I am just about to start a campaign as the Turks. It is a really interesting time in their history, just as they rise as a people and start influencing things. Although I have played as all the other factions in this campaign, for some reason they did not immediately appeal to me. Now, their strategic isolation and lack of immediate allies, seems to make for something of a challenge. I'm tempted to start with the hills to the North and make them into my pre-industrial powerhouse and moneymaker then take on the Byzantines, and wipe those indolent scum from the lands which are rightfully mine....

[kitbogha]

Well, it hasn't quite worked out like I planned, but it's going pretty well.
I have expanded to the west, and taken Krak De Chevaliers, Antioch, Aleppo and Damascus-virtually rendering the POA a spent force. I am in no hurry to finally wipe them out. Their time will come...
My alliance with the Egyptians was predictable but effective and has given the KOJ plenty to worry about as they become more isolated.
The Byzantines are a irritating thorn in my side as I have consolidated and made small gains in Anatolia. They send large armies to besiege my settlements in the west from time to time, but are always wiped out. I have a full stack heading for Constantinople right now (two turns away and closing). I must say they pose little threat at all when besieging your settlements, and I am regularly capturing several hundred of their troops as they rout-then executing them for having the temerity to attack me.
In the east I am slowy shutting the map down, but the Mongols are due to arrive soon, so I am needing to arm and stock up for them. I am leaving them a rebel city, in the hope that they will settle their instead of attack me. Perhaps they will ally with me?
I allied with the Venetians early on but they stabbed me in the back (for no clear tactical or logical reason) and are now holding Nicaea (?). They are my next westerly target, when Constantinople is taken.
It has been fun, but the challenge has been mainly financial. The money ticks down very quickly, and it's difficult establish any real money making settlements.

[Mount Suribachi]

Playing as the Turks atm - one thing is pretty obvious, they are not a turtle faction!!!

You start out with a large number of troops. They have a very large wage bill, and your income is not enough to pay them all! You must invest your initial cash in roads, markets etc - basically nothing but financial improvements, no new troops! At the same time as raising your income, you must lower your costs and the only way to do this is to get some of your soldiers killed! Gather your armies and attack Antioch and/or Byzantium straight away and take as many cities as you can without overstretching yourself. Don't be too afraid of heavy casualties to achieve your objective, every city you take, your costs go down and your income goes up.

Use the Jihad, and use it often! Troops in a Jihad are free, you need to lower your costs!

You also start off with a lot of Merchants, send the 2 outside Baghdhad directly south, there are 2 Gold resources there which they will quickly gain acumen on and will give over 200 per turn income.

Obey the missions you get - usually take a rebel city and get 5000 florins (plus another city of course and lose a few troops). I have 1 stack I use just for these missions - the quicker you complete them, the quicker you get another mission and more money...

I didn't realise initially how parlous the Turkish finances are, and before I knew it was in debt, but I quickly turned it around by doing the things listed above. By turn 16 my income is +8000 per turn and rising.

And don't forget! Your troops are a tool to be used and MUST be used if you are not to sink into debt.

[aimlesswanderer]

The Turks turned out to be quite easy. My HA armies wiped out the Antiochians (killed family in battle) after a few turns, then moved on to vacuum the Byzantines. At turn 18 I am way ahead of everyone else. The pesky Venetians have turned up, but after an initial scramble they got wiped out by night attacks by HAs and finally some heavy infantry, but not before providing me with lots of cash, ransoming their King and troops several times.
This is one of the few times I have actually remembered to take a pic.

https://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd112/somewanderer/Games/Turks.jpg