Starting first campaign ever - what now??

[Zarathustra]

I went thru the tutorials and everything was fine, and then I started a new campaign. Early era, Byzantine empire. So, tada, there I am...clueless. I did queue up a few forts in the outlying provinces to train troops, but there's emissaries moving around and all kinds of stuff. I *did* train some spearmen in Constantinople...

So any help is cool. Also, if I should start out by playing a different type of game, let me know. I assumed the campaign would kind of build up over time, but it sorta throws you in the middle of everything with no orientation or linear process.

Right on. Peace.

J.

[Surak-nar]

Hello http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I had the same feeling actually when starting MTW.

So what i did was to start a Late era with Byzantium, it is their weakest period and it gives you an Incentive to start by conquering their lost lands.

By that time you are familiar enough with the game mechanics to go back and start an early era campaign.

This, althought Historical, debut to medieval is what prompted me to create a Mod where all factions start at a single territory and you build from there. It should be relased in a couple of days under the What if? name.

As for the official campaigns, think of it as you just inherited the Empire. First you would prolly like to start by consolidating in its defense. Build up some Forts or other things and bolster the local armies. Consolidate on what you already have. Send some emmissaries or princesses to visit the souroundings forge a couple of alliances, If you can souround yourself with allies it would buy you time to build up. Because one way or another at one point everyone will want your lands, your people, and your Head.

Once you have established defense, and good infrastructure of suply, you may start making your plan of expansion, will it be the East or the West?

On the West you have several Factions which are interested in liberating conquering the Middle east, so if you ally yourself with some crusading factions expect them to send Crusaders through your borders, that once in will loot your every provence until their destination, if you refuse they attack you. So if you are not ready losing alliances and prolly fighting on several fronts let em through.

Now the East is in turmoil, the Ottoman Empire will cope with what they have up to a sertain point, however their expansion goal is West, and you are their first wall to bring down. So a good strategy would be to insure Allies to the west and mount a war to the east eliminating the closest threat.

After that point, your immagination and ambitions are what you make of em...

Best of Luck in your campaigns...(Being familiar with Shogun, I never played less than the Hard setting...in any case, you going to need the Luck)

[Rob The Bastard]

Prepare to die

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif

It does take a while to get up to speed. Be prepared for defeat,for it will probably come. Look upon the first few campaigns as a learning period. Don't go antaganising your neighbours, but build up both men ( try spearman and archers) and upgrades to land (revenue). Once you find you can hold your own against your enemy you can restart a new campaign and kick butts

[Elwe]

I started by playing the English on easy. Once I got the hang of the way everything works, I started again on hard for more of a challenge (after about 100 years).

Now I'm playing the Byzantines on Early/Expert for my third campaign... and it's a nice challenge.

Cheers.

[Alrowan]

i actually think that the campagin tutorial is quite a poor effort, as it only covers the army aspect and not the subterfuge aspect

[el_slapper]

Suraknar : I uploaded such a campaign, with 1 province for every faction, called reb987... but rebel feeling is very high in that one, so I won't advise it to any beginner. With rebellions stronger post-patch, it's really tough.

If your one does NOT increase rebel feelings, it should be advised to beginners.

[bakdal]

Hi Z.

I've had the excact same start as you, only I've played Byzantines for about a week now.

Here's a little advice, that only apply for Byzantine, and which is limited by my very tiny amount of experience:

- As others have said, seek alliances with the neighbours, primarily Hungary, Turkey and Italy. Perhaps also the Almohads, as they can be useful later on, when Turkey have finished off Egypt.

- Build about four forts. Check with a right click on the map which bonuses the different regions have, and select a few planning for well trained cavalry, infantry and archers. There're lots of great units available, but it will take some time. Plan future buildings in these regions carefully. I choosed Bulgaria (inf.), Lesser Armenia (cav.) and Georgia (archers), and a few more later in the game.

- Build up a significant economy. Agriculture +20 on the best 4-5 regions, and build ships, ships and ships. Then docks and traderutes (see elsewhere how it works). Byzantine have a great economical potential, with tradeable goods in many regions, and both Sicily and Venice to trade with. Also note Serbia. Easy to conquer, and it holds the ressource of gold.

- When this is done, the Turk has surely already finished off Egypt. Try to take him out when you can, but do it with great forces, both in number and superiocity in types of units.

- Be aware that muslim influence is rising in the regions near Turkey (why that, by the way? No turkish mullahs or anything, yet % of muslims keep rising). Place your priests there, or adecuate buildings.

...and that is as far as I have got

Good luck

[Hold Steady]

Hey,

Best start imho would be with a faction in a somewhat comfortable position (the english, italians or the danes, or perhaps the muslim factions) in the EARLY era. It means a lot less different troop and building types. You get the chance to get to know the game and its dynamics in a more dosed manner. Anyhow: have fun

[y2kBug]

Starting out, I've had good success with getting to know the Danes. They start out with a single province, relatively easy alliances and mostly free from the cherry picking crusades (until you've expanded further into Europe). Sweden can be easy pickings from the rebels. Once established and stable, you can build up a good (cheap) merchant fleet of longboats to shore up your economy while you're still limited to a couple (few) provinces.

Once you've got your ducks in a row, you can consider taking out some of the stronger rebel factions, or consider raising a stink with whatever European faction has been giving the others a lot of grief...that way, you'll have a bunch of folks on your side of the conflict.

The Danes can't crusade, so you only need to worry about keeping the Pope happy (so that you don't get excommunicated and have others crusade against you).

The viking units are pretty strong out of the box. Add in a few Royals and some spearmen and you've got a good early fighting force.

Just don't marry your sister. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

Good luck

[Hold Steady]

Quote[/b] (y2kBug @ Jan. 09 2003,06:44)]Just don't marry your sister. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

Good luck
LOL http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Could ruin your campaign for ages

[Gregoshi]

Also, if you need more focus, play a Glorious Achievement game. It will give you some specific things to do besides conquer everything. Uh, except for the Byzantines, that is.

[Gaius Julius]

Welcome http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif Zarathustra
You should also check out the newbie guide topic started by alby. Some very good advice.

[Zarathustra]

Thanks much for all the replies and helpful info. It sounds like the areas to focus on first are economy, diplomacy, and defense. I don't know anything about economic improvements or income yet, so I'll have to read up on that. Come to think of it, I'm entirely ignorant of diplomacy as well.

I'm not tryin to throw down with the Turks right off the bat, but that's the direction I'm thinking of going first. Rather than expanding north and west into the Balkans and western Med, I'd planned on hitting the Turks to the east and then working my way south and eventually west along northern Africa. Ideally, that would put me in control of the entire eastern Mediterranean, with lots of sea power and access to important trade routes.

Thoughts?

[Naagi]

Well your plan is sound, though getting rid of all the muslims might be a bad plan financially. Take out the Turks, but leave the Egyptians and Almohads alone and trade with them, watch your border with Egypt though, they are kinda shifty. After the Turks, I'd work on the other orthodox faction, Novgorod, they dont have many sea ports so wont mess up your trade to bad. Also after you get ships everywhere, I'd go for bribing some far off rebel provinces. I had Ireland, Sweden/Norway, Lithuania and Livonia, since rebel generals cheaper than normal factions. Greece and Nicea(sp) both pretty good trade places as well.

Naagi http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif