The Vikings

[Aurelius Maximus]

I just started a campaign (hard) playing the vikings. I usually play very agressive and the Vikings are excellent for that style.

I started by sending out my ships to the british shore, building my economy in the viking homelands. I invaded and conquered the two richest pict regions on turn 2. I built an inn in 1 of them, continued to eliminate the picts entirely using some mercenaries and holding on to all of their territory using peasants as garrison troops. Also, I build a pagan shrine asap to convert the population. All this in the first 6 or so turns, mind you.

To make sure I didn't get into money problems I then started to raid some of the other coastal regions using a "mini-group".

With all of the pict regions in my hands, my economy stabilised and money in my coffers I continued my conquest by taking Macau. Now I'm poised to strike into Ireland next...

[Adrian II]

I continued my conquest by taking Macau.

Now there's a Mod I'd like to play. They say it's the hottest place in China.

[King Edward]

And also the only place you can leagally gamble! I was there in April this year. its not that nice a place, Hong Kong is much MUCH better! (IMO of corse....)

I assume Maximus means the Isle of Man i think its called Maneu or something like that.

[katank]

Manau is the correct one.

settling in Ireland is good as taking them outfast would make their javs not a threat. Similarly, it's rich.

Manau is a good naval base and has iron.

picts should be wiped out due to their x-bow ability but still it's better to perhaps do such things after an abbey raiding tour. This is since once ou have land contact with a faction, you can't autoceasefire as easily and this hurts the trade very badly.

[Poised]

I just finished a revised Abbey blitz with the Vikings on hard.
Starting with the Orcades abbey, taking all abbeys on the east, south and then the west coast abbeys up to Reget (Reget is a nice battle), across Manau to Ireland, finishing in Brega ready to settle.

I did it with absolutely minimal army numbers, just my King solo the first few years, then adding his heirs as they were churned out, at one point I added a unit of surplus peasants to soak up arrows, The final Irish battles was fought in numbers though, Kerns really are a pain in the behind :)

I now stand firmly in Brega in Ireland, ready to set down my first watch tower, and I accumulated the following goodies:

40056 florins, 4 heirs with 4 to 8 in command, and a lot of V&V for the King.
Mighty warrior +10 health +2 valor
Builder +10 happy
Secret rough justice +1 dread
Specialist attacker +3 command
skilled assaulter +1 command
No mercy +2 dread -1 morale (oops)
He has 5 command stars (9 when attacking) :)

I only had to wait 1 turn for a boat from Jutland, I went straight for boathouse there, no towers or anything, that kept me raiding all the abbeys non stop except for 1 turn.

I decided to quickly build for huscarls in Nordland again, but I should prolly have build for a little trade instead, I never really used any of my army, so Im not hurting for a strong unit just yet.

[katank]

good job.

shouldn't it be 8 when attacking though? only specialist attacker adds to regular stars and it's +3.

trade is important as whomever you don't raid, you can trade with after a turn.

if you leanr to abbey raid, the viks really aren't very tough.

[Poised]

Vikings are easy, but no other faction starts out quite like them, not even in STW (dont have RTW yet), they are both scary and funny, but also quite unique, raiding abbeys with a huge grin on the face is excellent :)