Hungry Hungarians

[Parmenion]

I haven't seen any threads regarding this faction (well, I've seen 1) so has anyone any advice for me when playing GA on early?

So far I've played about 40 years and have conquered most of the surrounding rebel provinces except for Bulgaria (damned Byzantines got that). I have 3 full stacks of troops guarding borders and have alliances with every Catholic and Orthodox faction. I currently have another stack led by a 3-star general which is travelling around the Russian rebel-states battling rebel armies. - I'm not developing any of these provinces, just setting the tax to max and increasing the status of my general by destroying single units of rebel archers or slavic warriors. I'm too worried about the Golden Horde arriving 100 years from now to develop these Eastern provinces.
I have 4 mature heirs who are all married to foreign girls and 2 immature heirs who I plan to wed within the next few years.
I've split my 5 main provinces to specialise in different unit training. 1 does spearmen/sergeants, 1 does archers/mounted archers, 1 builds ships for my trade network, another the shock troops (slavic warriors/swordsmen/MAA), and the last will build assassins and priests.
My main concerns are the threats from the Byz and the Poles. Both of these factions, whilst allied to me, have huge stacks on my borders that are looming menacingly. I plan to garrison these border provinces with mounted archers and that other mounted one that's unpronouncable. Thus if they attack they will face fast skirmishers and the time will probably run out before they can finish me off.

This is just brainstorming though, so any concrete and proven theories would be most welcome.

Ta.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

The poles should be taken out forthwith. The Byzantines will probably be busy with the Turks,so build up your forces and be ready to lauch an attack on the Balkans when it looks like the time is right,you may even try an alliance with the Turks. I Seize Moldavia. If Moldavia's seized by your forces,there is many rebel provences in Russia ripe for the taking and you can funnel your armies without interuption. After that,choose to launch an assault on the Byzantines or maybe the Rich italians but after the Mongols emerge i suggest to give up some of the Russian provences because they will always want to expand.
The HRE always needs to be watched because they can be really sneaky and if the Balkans are seized watch the coastal provence's because the Sicilians usually like the look of Croatia and Serbia.
I normally remember this info when being the old Hungarians.

[A.Saturnus]

Can`t wait to play the Hungarians, have to do a lot of modding before I start a new MTW campaign though. How are jobbagy doing?

[Nowake]

When the time si right, take Austria and Venice ... it's worth it.

[Parmenion]

I've only trained 2 units of Jobaggy so far and haven't used them yet. I prefer horse archers to be honest, especially the elite ones that I can't pronounce (the ones with excellent morale and an expensive upkeep) - they've rocked so far.

I've found that the tactic of having 3 Eastern provinces with no garrison and taxes set to Very High is an excellent way to get high rank generals. I have a stack of horsemen and slavic warriors in Kiev who wait patiently until a rebellion occurs and then move in to crush it. So far the rebellions have consisted of one or two units of archers or peasants (and even a single catapult once....?), so it's been easy pickings. My general is now 6-star and his unit of horsemen has 8 valour - unstoppable
I have no intentions of developing these provinces as the Golden Horde will nab them soon, so I reap the rewards of high taxes and easy victories. I don't have green generals set up either so when my top-notch general dies I'll have his adjutant as a replacement.

I'm a bit worried that the Byzantines are going to invade soon as they have 3 full stacks in the Crimea and in Bulgaria. Even though they are my allies I don't trust them as far as I can spit, so I think those Jobaggys will be seeing action soon.

I'll let you know how they go on.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Quote[/b] ]I prefer horse archers to be honest, especially the elite ones that I can't pronounce (the ones with excellent morale and an expensive upkeep) - they've rocked so far.

Szekely-Try saying that with a mouthful of prawns... And yes, they are good.

[kaaskop]

for the love of god man get moldavia and develop it
horse breeder+ armourer= Avar nobles ,if you get them with
a master horse breeder ( +1 val ) the'll chew up katasometings with ease . Great cav unit

oh get some heavy steppe kav too

[Znake]

I'm still in early era playing Hungarians, but i must say
i really love this Szekely's..my new favo unit http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[A.Saturnus]

Jobbagy aren`t what one would call an impressive unit, but they are cheap and definitely better than peasants. The good thing is their javlins can do heavy damage to armoured units. That means two volleys at knights and the costs may have been worthwhile.
Szekeley are great. In comparison with other special horse archers, they do better than Mamluk Archers, but are cheaper.
The Hungarians can have access to quiet some new units. Slav warriors aren`t very tough, but cheap and they have done quiet well for me so far against other low-level-units. Horsemen are usefull in the beginning when you don`t have any knights. I prefer armoured spearmen over F-sgts couse they are cheaper. Slav javelinmen are the same as Jobbagy but a bit more expansive.
Moldavia is essential, get it quickly before the Byz take it. You can build Szekeley there and you can get Avar Nobles and they rule They are much like Katas, only quicker. And that for the price of a medium cav. Kiev can also be usefull. You get Steppe heavy there, but I didn`t try them yet.

The bad thing is,I don`t have any good generals. My best non-heir general came with 1 star.

[LordKhaine]

All these new units... methinks I'll be doing a medieval game soon than later. Just gotta win VI with the Irish first http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Leet Eriksson]

szekley are pretty much the same as faris,but less defence(faris=3 szekley=2)

EDIT:szekley are faster too http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

[Parmenion]

I first saw 'Steppe Heavy Cavalry' when I was playing as the Turks and once I took Kazaar they bacame my most numerous troops - they seriously kick @ss
I've been developing Kazaar (and Kiev) as the Hungarians for a while now and I still can't seem to build them though. Can the Hungarians definitely build these troops?

I haven't got the chart with me to see what buildings are required, so if anyone can tell me it would be appreciated. Ta.

[GranCactus]

I had a really good Hungarian game going until all my kings dropped dead at 56. Anyway, Kiev saved me - it made some money (I was dirt poor), and the Steppe Heavy Cav made up 50% of my armies from then on. With them, Steppe Cav, Szeleky, and Avar Nobles, I had almost entirely cav armies, and they ruled. So my advice is to get to the steppe as soon as possible. Taking Venice takes the florin pressure off, too.

[A.Saturnus]

Hungarians can definitely build Steppe heavy, I think you need a horsebreeder guild and an armourer (don`t know what level)

[Hippolyte]

I just finished IV using the Hungarians.

By the mid 14th century I had controlled all of central and eastern Europe, much of western Europe, most of Asia, many islands in the Mediterranean, some of the Levant, and nothing in the Spanish peninsula or Almohad areas up to Egypt (which I controlled). I played for Achievements on Expert difficulty and found that the Hungarians are really stacked with the new units as well as access to the Heavy Steppe Cav. Indeed, while I was thoroughly disappointed by the quality and potential of both the "Slav Warriors" and the "Slav Spearmen" (less dissapointed by the spearmen), I was impressed with the relative balance of the newer units, though much of the new heavy cav found in
the east is a bit overpowered.

Feelings?

Hungarians are obviously the MTW faction that gained the most from the new new add-on/expansion. So many of the new units are available to them in one way or another to build or bribe. Iron deposits in Hungary are MUCH TOO advantageous considering thatthese mines relative historical importance. Unlike the mines in the Ruhr or Spain which were historically very, very pivotal. This is why I would , again, recommend specific grades be allotted to each geographically located iron mine. These relative grades would actually reflect the historical realities and importance and POTENTIAL of these mines. Not simply assume that all ironis of a uniform quality or has the same potential for steel production.

I found that the rebellion armies were much less insane in their composition--a good thing too. It is difficult to imagine a "rebel" leading 500 chivalic MAA.

The Pope is still duplicitous and is much more successful in obtaining and conquering land. Perhaps, this is because I eviscerated the Italians early on and virtually absorbed the Germans and the French rather quickly (by my 200 hundreth year). Unlike other players, I did not conquer Poland first but absorbes most of central and western Europe and allowed Poland to take much of the east to act a s a sponge for the imminent Mongol invasion. Of course after the Polish largely took the brunt of the Mongol push I attacked the important Asian territories, ie, Kiev.

By this time the Byz had dominated most of the southern and se parts of the map as the turks were largely nowhere. The competition for the Byz were the Spanish. But these two factions were still relatively weak compared with the units and numbers I had at my disposal. It was a short while before I had saturated most of the Med and other seas with my ships, and then came my absorption of the rebel provinces, tehn my attacks on Byz. I absorbedmost of its territories and with at least 3/4 of the map under my heavy hand I accepted the surender of my remaining opoonents.

I still wish that other states would attack you earlier on as you grow in size not simply after you reach that mammoth super faction level. This would make a huge difference to the game as it stands. Yes, it is important to ride out the favour of the Pope in the beginning but more is needed in the way of friction during the developmental, early expansion period. Attacks by neighbours who do not appreciate that you have just taken over 1/2 of Germany, for example, especially if they are allied to Germany and have you for a neighbour They should not simply plague you with a message saying they will not be allied with you anymore, but should suddenly attack you when you've forces in Germany

Perhaps this is a dream, and a small criticism, as the game still is tops in my books. BTW,I love the new organization/reups screen, but I am still most impressed with the representations of the units in the battles. I'll never get over the drama and awe these images inspire in me. I wonder, I saw Shogun in ain
bin the other day, and was breifly tempted to pick it up for 10$ Is it worth the ten bucks after
being spoiledon the superb action in MTW and the IV expansion?

[Foreign Devil]

For only 10 bucks? Go for it. I started out on Shogun, so I might be a little nostalgic, but I find it fun to go back and play it every now and then.

Its has a much different feel from Medieval.

[A.Saturnus]

I`m 1280 now with my Hungarians and I stand on the brink of a world war
I have been allied with the Byz for the whole campaign now. My empire goes from the East Sea to Venice and Greece in the South and to Kiev in the east. Everything east of me belongs to the Byz but the true superpower on the map is Spain. They have huge armies all over Europe and Africa, consisting mainly of Jinettes, Chiv-sgts and -MAA and pavese crossbowmen. They have a continous dominion on land from Scotland to Palestine and a continous dominion on sea from the East Sea to the Black Sea. They have fought the Byz almost a century now, but only by taking and re-taking Novgorod and Livonia. I thought my friends the Byz can handle this themselves. But now, the Spanish King has invaded Constantinople with 4000 men. As a good ally, I have to help the Byz, but that means my trade routes will break down and I`ll face the largest armies in the world. I have many border provinces and need good garrisons there, so my forces a bound. I`ll have to produce A LOT more to stand an onslaught from the whole Spanish army. What works for me is that the Spanish king is now trapped in Constantinople and in addition with his excommunication, his lands a quiet rebellious. Also, if I`m able to protect my coasts, the Spanish can only attack me via Saxony and Franconia. But if I dont manage to gain naval superiority, I`m in big trouble soon.
In any case, there are some huge battles coming in my direction

[Hippolyte]

Thanks for the tip Foreign Devil; I'll probably pick it up if it's still there.

Reading A.Saturnus reminds me of a very important bit of info on my successful Hungarin campaign. In my campaign I had trapped the Byz Emperor upon an island-lol along with most of his Varangians and Katakphractoi The blockade enabled me to vitrually walk right in to Constantinople. Still, this bit of luck probably should not be relied upon by others. Unlike Saturnus though, I focused my attentions early on not upon the east but upon the west, central and western Europe. My advice to those starting a Hungarian camp is this:

1-move west and don't compeletly eliminate factions you defeat, meaning you should leave them at least one territory (they'll keep other enemies busy while you expand) So knock out Germany, most of northern Italian territories, and most of France. After that you can focus upon: a-Monguls b-Byzantines and, finally, c-Spain/Papacy/England and what remains of French in English Isles.

2-develop your economy always--especially early on

3-focus the building of your "good" troops in territories (usually you only need to build them in iron holding territories (ie, Hungary, Carpathia and Bohemia/Franconia) Also a castle with armorer and master horsebreeder in Moldavia to take advatnage of those absolutely superb Avar Noblemen--wow are they ever awesome. The good thing about them is that even though when you pass to the High Middle ages and you can't build them anymore the old ones will remain in your armies-so use them selectively

I've begun a new campaign as the Polish and, yes, they are diffcult compared to the Hungarians. If you guys are looking for a real challenge try them. Next on the list will be Aragonese, and I still haven't given the Viking campaign a more than passing play as the Irish (who seem realtively easy once you get their econ going-that was on "hard" though). So, even if I get Shogun:TW, it'll prob. be awhile till I dive into it. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

[Hippolyte]

Almost forgot:

This is STILL the greatest game out there

Thanks for indulging me lads.

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

[Orda Khan]

It'll be fun crushing the Hungarians with the Horde

.......Orda

[A.Saturnus]

Quote[/b] ]It'll be fun crushing the Hungarians with the Horde

.......Orda


Ha It was fun crushing the horde with Hungarians http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
But now, it`s still the Spanish. I`ve driven them off from Constantinople but unfortunately their king died during the battle (otherwise, he would have been isolated from all his other provinces - I hoped for mass rebellion). There haven`t been much fights on land since then but the struggle for the Seas goes on and they are bringing armada after armada.

[Doug-Thompson]

Quote[/b] (A.Saturnus @ May 19 2003,06:19)]Jobbagy aren`t what one would call an impressive unit, but they are cheap and definitely better than peasants. The good thing is their javlins can do heavy damage to armoured units. That means two volleys at knights and the costs may have been worthwhile.

... Slav warriors aren`t very tough, but cheap and they have done quiet well for me so far against other low-level-units.

.... The bad thing is,I don`t have any good generals. My best non-heir general came with 1 star.
Playing a bloodly "attrition" game seems to work better with the Hungarians than with most other factions. I foolishly lost scores of Jobbagy to better troops in my first Hungarian campaign, but recovered every time.

Jobbagy don't produce many good generals, though, and neither do Slav warriors. They seem to get their share of high-acumen governor's candidates, but there are few stars in either bunch.

[Dr_No]

going to start my first hungarian campaign tonight- one question- do they get crusades?

cheers

dr_no

[A.Saturnus]

they got a lot crusades... from others All Europe sends it`s crusades through your high zeal countries and are eventually stopped by the Byz so they wait in your lands for ages But you get no crusades for yourself as Hungarian.

[Dr_No]

that must get annoying- as catholics i assume they get excomm'd as well if they don't let the crusades through

dr_no

p.s. saturnus what's the deal with the tank on your sig?

[A.Saturnus]

Quote[/b] ]
saturnus what's the deal with the tank on your sig?

Isn`t it nice??

[Dr_No]

indeed - what model is it?