Early XL Cuman Expert Campaign

[Digital]

I just started the XL Mod Cuman Early Expert campaign. I notice that the Cuman has no armour piercing troops, besides Woodmen. It also does not have swordmen. I hope it is for the early part of the game and as I teched up, I'll get to build them eventually. Their strength lies in the Cuman heavy cavalry, Spearman which can throw javalins and Cuman warrior archers. You get a bonus for Cuman heavy cavalry if you build them in Levida. Someone please prove me wrong in that the Cuman can build swordman and good axe wielding armour piercing troops. Below is a map of my campaign. The Polish is destroyed by me. I am presently at war with the Danes and the Bohemians.

[Kavhan Isbul]

I can prove you wrong easily - just conquer Kiev (or Novgorod, but Kiev is closer) and build a swordsmith's workshop. It requires a castle, but it is going to supply you with a pretty nice swords unit - Variangian Swordsmen, until 1204. Alternatively, you can try to conquer the Scandinavian provinces - Denmark, Scania, Sweden and Norway for the viking huscarles, landsmen and jarls. Finally, the Cuman Warriors are a hybrid between archers and swordsmen.
Generally when playing with the Cumans I first go for Carpathia and Hungary, as I later need the blacksmiths to give any bonus possible to my spearmen and bashkorts, then straight for Kiev because of the nice swordsmen there.

[Digital]

Thanks man! Any other province I can conquer in order to build armour piercing and swordman? You mean I can build the normal viking unit or just the huscarles, landsmen and jarls if I conquer Scandinavian provinces?

[Kavhan Isbul]

Thanks man! Any other province I can conquer in order to build armour piercing and swordman? You mean I can build the normal viking unit or just the huscarles, landsmen and jarls if I conquer Scandinavian provinces?

You would not be able to build the Viking unit, just the units that came in with Viking Invasion. For Variangian Swordsmen you need Kiev and Novgorod, and both will require a castle for the swrdsmith's workshop, so Kiev is your best option. Once the High period begins, you cannot build swordsmen any longer, which will make you rely heavily on your Cuman Warriors. Or you will simply need to master the use of horse archers and predominantly cavalry armies, which can be extremely fun.

[Digital]

Hmmm, no more swordmen once I reached High period? What about huscarles, landsmen and jarls? I don't think I can get them once I can reach high period ,right? I'll get Lithunia for +1 valour woodmen and Tuscany much later for +1 valour Urban Militia then for my armour piercing.

[Vladimir]

Don’t' forget to use your armored up step heavies. Their missiles are good against armor and they’re the best medium cav in the game.

[Digital]

Yeah, I am building a Master Horse Breeder in Poland for +1 valour Steppe Heavy cavalry. I already have a Master Horse Breeder in Levida for +2 valour Cuman Heavy Cavalry. They simply owned with the upgrade. I am mass producing +2 valour Cuman Heavy Cavalry in Levida every single turn so I need somewhere else to produce my +1 valour Steppe Heavy Cavalry.

[Digital]

Presently, the French sent a crusade to Tripoli through my lands and I let them pass. Although my religion is Pagan, some specialised troops of my Cuman campaign joined the crusade. I don't think those troops belonged to me, right? Unless my religion is Catholic, some of the troops under me will go over to the Crusade side depending of the Zeal of the province. Another thing, the command stars that an heir receive is a function of the father's influence and command star, right?

[Vladimir]

Good job on the expansion. Income doesn't seem to be as much of a problem as I anticipated. You should also have plenty of land to fend off the Mongols when they come. It seems like the Catholics are much nicer to you than they were to me. I'm sure those French are itching to cross the border. Is that a bridge crossing?

[Kavhan Isbul]

When a neighboring AI sends a crusade through your lands, it is a sure sign they will invade soon. They send a Crusade out in order to try to drain some of your troops. Hopefully once it reaches the Turks, the Crusade will fail miserably and with a few lost battles the French will fall apart in a Civil War.

[Digital]

I am sure the French are itching to attack me. They are the only thing that prevents me from annihilating the Bohemians in their last province. I have mostly allies in eastern Europe so I cannot take Kiev or Novgorod now for the moment. The English, who are neutral at this moment, is also starting to amass a sizeable force in Saxony. I am sure they are feeling the itch too! Hungary and my allies,the Byzantium, in the south are engaged in war. I have two less troubles out of my mind.

[Vladimir]

If the French do attack while their crusade is in your lands I recommend that you let it pass. If you destroy it as opposed to letting it die in its own you may get one called against you. That will seriously complicate things for a while. This campaign has got me really excited and I can’t wait to hear and see more!

[Digital]

As can be seen from the latest picture, my castle in Bohemia is 6 years from completion. Once it is completed, my entire force from Bohemia will invade Bavaria. I will just leave 60 men as garrison to Bohemia, likely to be Cuman warriors or Bashkorts. If the Hungarian decides to invade Bohemia when my force is in Bavaria, I will just retreat to the comfort of my newly built castle. For now, the peasants in the newly conquered Friesland has staged a rebellion. My Khan will deal with them!

[Digital]

Hehe, this is my first invasion with an ally. The Hungarians cannot match the Byzantium soldiers. It is left with Croatia which is under siege from Byzantium and Carparthia, where the Hungarian king is trapped. I decided to take Carparthia since it has iron deposits. I send a relatively big force to finish them off with my new 1 command star Khan. The Byzantium also send troops, led by an UBER 6 stars prince. Below is what happened:







After the easy victory, my Khan became 2 star general.

[Martok]

Very cool, Digital. It's always nice when ally helps out (intentionally or not).

[Kavhan Isbul]

I personally hate it when allies "help", because it is a sure sign the AI wants the province for itself. I am not even sure if it sends troops only because it wanted to conquer the province and the allied attack is therefore more of a coincidence than a coordinated effort. I make sure in such battles that the AI gets as many casualties as possible, my missile troops actively helping. As soon as this unit of katanks engaged the enemy, I would have sent a unit or two of bashkorts to help with their missiles, shooting of course behind the katanks, making sure the friendly fire hits home.

[Digital]

Yeah, agree with your views. I allowed the Byzantium to engage first before "supporting" them with archers, urban militia and Cuman Heavy Cavalry. The Hungarian are perched up on top of the hills, with archers and Jobbagy ready to rain javelins down on anyone who dares to attack up the hill. Of course I left this job to the Byzantium. Now the Byzantium empire bordered me from the south, but they are my allies, and are unlikely to attack me. Besides, they are at war with the Turkish.

[Bill Westwater]

Hi Kavhan Isbul, You say that Varangian swordsmen are available in Kiev or Novgorod, i must admit i didnt know that, but are they worth it? All that teching up for one excellent unit. But have you ever used them? Cumans are best when fighting fast and mobile with losts of firepower, wouldnt varangs spend all their time running around trying to get involved. It can be difficult to get Baskorts involved, and they are quick!

[Digital]

Hi,

The castle in Bohemia has finished building. My whole force from Bohemia invaded the Bohemians in Bavaria, leaving 60 men of Bashkort as garrison. The French are the allies of the Bohemians. Incidentally, the English invaded Flanders where the French had only a small garrison of less than 100 men. This is good as I will have less chance to be invaded by them.



Oh no, it is a bridge assault.



Bloody mess from all that fighting.



I lost about 700 men, about a full stack from that bridge assault.


My Khan has 4 princes about to reach 15 years of age, so I have to gain influence and command stars by invading other province. I may invade the Genose next. It will pave the way for me to take Tuscany where I can produce +1 Urban Militia. It has iron deposit and I can upgrade my urban militiamen there. I think this is the best armour piercing unit that I can produce for all periods.

[Vladimir]

Why are you still relying on Urban Militia? I recommend Cuman warriors over them any day. You should really use your missile advantage.

[Kavhan Isbul]

Hi Kavhan Isbul, You say that Varangian swordsmen are available in Kiev or Novgorod, i must admit i didnt know that, but are they worth it? All that teching up for one excellent unit. But have you ever used them? Cumans are best when fighting fast and mobile with losts of firepower, wouldnt varangs spend all their time running around trying to get involved. It can be difficult to get Baskorts involved, and they are quick!

I like the Varangians very much - in terms of stats, they are better than Chivalric Men at Arms when it comes to melee, and therefore they rule in Early and can easily destroy any enemy's infantry. I use them primarily in defensive battles, as flankers, but they are useful for charging the enemy infantry line in attacks, after the HAs have done their part. In cases in which the enemy puts its spearmen in the woods (lots of woods in the Eastern part of the map), these guys are invaluable.

[Digital]

Why are you still relying on Urban Militia? I recommend Cuman warriors over them any day. You should really use your missile advantage.

I do use them too. They have got good attack and defence, both 4, I think. When they finish shooting all their arrows, they are left with 2 bars, tired. Thats where Urban militia comes in, besides, they are armour piercing.

[Digital]

Haha, although the French are the richest, most advanced and has the most powerful army. It is at war with 5 faction and has no allies. I don't think it will attack me as it has too many enemies to deal with. It is also at war with the Genose, so I think I'll leave the Genose alone for now. The Volgar-bulgar are pretty strong in the east. They have forced my allies, the Kievian, into their last two provinces. If they lay siege to my allies, the Kievians, I will consider lifting the siege and declaring war on them myself.

[Kavhan Isbul]

Here is an idea - how about leaving the Volga Bulgars to actually capture Kiev, and then take it away from them? The province will be of much more use to you than a weak ally.

[Digital]

Here is an idea - how about leaving the Volga Bulgars to actually capture Kiev, and then take it away from them? The province will be of much more use to you than a weak ally.

I know I can build Varagian Swordman in Kiev, but I won't miss an opportunity to increase my Influence by relieving them of the siege. When my Influence reaches 9 crowns, they can conquer Kiev and THEN I can take it from them.

[Digital]

Now, I am actually wary of my ally, the Byzantium. It is no longer at war with the Turkish and has a cease fire agreement with them. Just now, the Volgar - Bulgar and the French sent their emiisaries to ally with me but I rejected them. Hehe. The Byzantium wanted Carpathia just now. I hope they don't break their alliance for now.

[Digital]

The Genose has married their princess to my prince. I think they know that they are about to be attacked by the French and wants me to help them.

[Kavhan Isbul]

It might be a good idea to deal with the Byzantines and perhaps the French now, before the Horde arrives. I would also watch out for the Novgorodians.

[Digital]

As long as the Byzantium remains my ally, I won't invade them. I don't want to lose influence. They are also pretty strong with many good generals with 5, 6 or 7 stars. I am actually tempted to invade the French in Swabi, because a Crusade, which is failing miserably, started from a Chapter House from there. If I do this and suceed, I will cause a French civil war, but the French are too strong for anybody right now.

[Vladimir]

I just noticed how good you are doing politically; but I think you'll reach critical mass soon so watch out.