Spain has the best lands to start from?

[The Shaman King]

Hello to you all from up North

I'm playing now a campaing with the Dons and have taken whole spain (ink. Aragon, portugal & navarre), almoes and half of france (he started it by getting exed, and I'm popes friend so what can I say, a few crusades) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I noticed that I have four provinces (five infact if tuscany is taken in count) with a metalsmith. And fair trading provinces with a few boats.

Can you imagine my troops in lets say 40 years? I will be wiping the battle fields with them.

Ofcourse I have to take Sweden and Lithuania is already mine (crusade)

It is the time to deside what tactics I'm going to use? I think I'll stick to what I have now and build up my empire.

Then destroy others with burn and go home tactics http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Yes I know it is not the way of a moral man. But I notices that when you get too big you have only one ally the pope and suddenly even he attaks your boats.

Ofcourse my tactics include the use of high skilled assassins 8 stars is nice. They R handy when taking care of troublesome cristian brothers and the pope gets too big ideas of him self.

I have to get ready for the Horde ofcourse like in my Polish game.

It is a shame that somebody has the change to upgrade all troops with a metalsmith is'nt it?

WBR

Shaman

[Brutal DLX]

Yes, I agree that the Spanish provinces are surely of great value and would make for a great starting position, but alas, they are shared by three factions so starting-wise it isn't ideal. Once you conquer all of Spain though, you have a very sound base of power.
The Egyptian provinces are therefore a bit better, but you will come under pressure from just about anyone really soon.

By the way, I modded the game such as to add iron deposits in Tyrolia, Smolensk and Syria (to reflect the quality of Damascen Steel), it adds a bit more balance, I think, and more factions have at least a chance to get a province where they can build a Metalsmith.

[Jxrc]

Spain is really the best region to start from. It has iron, good farmlands, give you possibility to send ships both in the Atlantic and Mediterranea (I am not that sure that the valour bonus for caravels in Portugal works though) and allows you to train Jinettes. Furthermore, you only have three provinces to defend for a while (Navarre, Aragon and Morocco/Tunisia) and that makes things so much easier (compared when playing as the HRE when nearly all provinces need to be guarded)

The best feature when playing as Spain is that it compels you to crash the Almohads from the very beginning of the game. I hate it when comes I have to face those fives full stacks standing on the Spanish borders or when they start invading the whole of southern Europe without facing any actual opposition from the other IA controlled factions. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Portuguese Rebel]

PORTUGAL AIN'T SPAIN... GODDAMIT, SO MUCH WORK BEATING THEM ALL OVER THE MIDDLE AGE SO THAT IN 21ST CENTURY YOU GUYS STILL DONT GET IT RIGHT...

PORTUGAL AIN'T SPAIN... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

GODDAMIT http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pissed.gif

[Gregoshi]

Are we just a tad too sensitive Rebel? With all that http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pissed.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif you're gonna pop a blood vessel. I won't even mention high blood pressure. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[KukriKhan]

and California ain't Texas, carnsarn it.

I can relate: you sit on a coastline, with a proud history and economy 3x that of any of your neighbors...and by an accident of geography, people think you're part of the rest of your subcontinent. Gah It's enough to put you off your fine Portugese wine (or its Napa Vally substitute). http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Portuguese Rebel]

It's just bloody anoying too have to put up with beeing called a spaniard all the time hehehe. I can't understand this... It seems some guys never saw a map of europe... hey, maybe they didn't http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[Asimov]

Byzantine is the best. Highly developed and rich, even spain can't compete with the East Roman Empire. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[NewJeffCT]

Well, I have played 3 campaigns so far – my first was as the English, my second was as the Spanish and my third was as the Byzantines.

My impressions so far is that the Spanish were definitely the easiest. I won the game around the year 1350 and had well over 1,000,000 florins in the bank at the time. Early on, I kept launching crusades to conquer the lower half of Spain, and then marched right across Africa and the Middle East using the same method. Having metalsmiths was very nice. And, getting those nice Knights of Santiago was great early in the game. I probably had fortresses in 20 provinces by the time 1350 rolled around.

The English was tougher, as I was learning the game and also had to hang on to those territories in France, as well as consolidate the islands. I never had nearly the money I had as with the Spanish, though.

The Byzantines were okay. I loved the Trebizond archers and Bulgarian Brigands, but my heavy cavalry – Kats and Pronoi – seemed to be pretty lame compared to Royal Knights, Santiagos and Lancers. I had a good amount of money at times, but never got over the 100,000 florin mark. I liked the Byz cavalry, though. I had problems that everybody seemed to hate me, but love each other. Other than an English/French war, everybody was allied with each other the whole game, but at war with me. Several times, I had 3 crusades launched against me, but they all seemed to lose heart in Hungary. I would have 3 crusades sitting their losing men for a decade.

I am playing the English again this time around, and seem to be doing better than before, but have still struggled with money. I love billmen and longbowmen, though.

[Panther]

I can relate to you Rebel. I am from Northern Ireland which most people just say is part of a United Ireland but we have a different culture , religion everything but still. AND if they do recognise N.Ireland they think it is like bosnia where i have to run across streets dodging shell fire and mg bullets. SERIOUSLY it is more dangerous in USA where people have guns http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif .

Anyway Byzantines are the best. Loads of trade and good farmland

[Ckrisz]

Have to go with Egypt. You've got the weak Turks between the Byzzies and you, superrich provinces, and no southeastern border.

[SmokWawelski]

I think that England is good as well: separate from the main land, safe for some time from other nations and easy to defend. Spain is OK, I like their units a lot.

[LRossaRikimaru]

yes Spain is a good position to start http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif , in the high era they have Lancers (most powerfulk unit) also Danes if you want a pretty challenge http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif is a good faction, i like to start small and then extend http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

LRossaRikimaru

[Swordsman]

In Early, the Byzantines and HRE each start with provinces totalling about 4000 Florins (base worth)-- the Spanish only about 1160 Florins. The Spanish pretty much have to crush the Almohads quickly, but only have 2 provinces to defend. The HRE have a LOT of borders to defend and don't seem to be very well-liked by their neighbors. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif For my money, the Byzzies have the best starting position and potential. I am having a heck of a lot of fun right now as the HRE though-- control most of Europe but am being atacked by everyone everywhere. Oh the pain, the pain. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif