Holy Roman Empire

[ShadesWolf]

I currently creating my online guide to the HRE, So far im working my way through the early era.

HRE early era campaign (http://www.shadesmtw.com/gaminginfo/hre/germanfaction.htm)

For more info please take a look

[econ21]

Interesting page, Shadeswolf. I've read the recommendation to crush Italy before and it is probably a sound one. But I think MTW loses something - as a historical war simulation at least - if you try to aggressively crush other factions very early like this. Depends on gamestyle, I guess. HRE has some of the most varied and interesting great achievements for those who prefer a slower style; but typically your neighbours (note the plural) will invade you fairly early on. In my experience, 30 years as HRE on early takes as long to play as around 100 years as England

One pure gameplay point - are you sure it pays to wipe out the Papacy? In my experience, the Pope just respawns within about ten years with a powerful army. It seems much better to contain him. An alternative strategy my predcessors as Almohads tried in the Entrance Hall VI campaign was to wipe out the crusading factions rather than the Pope. After that, excommunication loses much of its sting (I guess there is still an unhappiness penalty but at least there are no crusades).

A couple of unit tips:
1) the HRE on early benefits from the Swabian swordsmen, but these have a fairly stiff tech tree so need prioritising early.
2) Also I just found out from the ongoing HRE PBM that you can get Huscarls in Sweden (with just a swordsmith and armourer). Not sure if they are also available in Norway and Denmark.
3) The HRE get mounted crossbowmen early - these are pretty useful units - can shoot heavily armoured units well and can run down routing units. I always like getting a province to have a master horse breeder for these.
4) Like all Catholic factions, it pays to work towards knights - Saxony is as good as any for this, at least if you plan persevering until the late period.

Province tips:
1) HRE has a lot of economic potential - many mines and some rich farming lands (esp. those bordering France).
2) Conversely, it has to work hard to build up a fleet - I usually devote Friesland, Saxony and Pomerania for this; but also Provence.
3) I usually devote Franconia and Bohemia for core unit building due to the iron. A subjugated Sweden is good for this too, but often I went for the economy there (farms+trading) - this was before I knew about the Huscarls, though.

Loyalty can be a real issue for the HRE on early - a few early victories and taking care over the loyalty of generals can avoid troubles.

I noticed that the WesMod makes HRE even more challenging than it already is (your neighbours usually build good armies - I was even invaded by Poland last time round; the indignity of it - such a thing is unheard of in my standard campaigns&#33http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif.

[thrawn]

In my limited experience playing the HRE on Early (two campaigns worth, both on Normal) immediately crushing the Polish is a good launch point. Poland is rich and the other province is OK, but the Poles have an Inn (on occasion)there so that turns into a good merc farm. It reduces any threat to your eastern border. This also allows you to expanded north and east into Pomerania, Prussia, Lithuania and the like without getting excommunicated. War with poland will get you a warning but they only have two provinces so as long as you take their respective forts right away the Pope wont get his underwear in a bundle. Get to Kiev before the Byzantines do and you will be in fine shape. It is a good launch point for trade with Constantinople and it hampers Byzantine expansion into all those rebel province you want for yourself. Leave Hungary alone since they buffer you from the Byzantines (which is a good thing). Then go after France or Italy depending on how the English are doing. After that you will be in fine shape to subjugate the world.
-thrawn-

[Knight_Ni!]

I've played a lot the HRE and I can say I've learned a couple of things.

Attacking Poland early on is not advisable. Eliminating the Polish so quickly ain't easy, thus you risk being excommunicated and attracting crusades just a few years later.

I would go for Pomerania and Prussia firt, not just to block the Polish from the Baltic but to establish a way to the easy pickings of East and, if lucky enough, to find a way to the Black Sea.

The French is the major enemy againt the HRE and will attempt a full-scale war even within the first 10 years. Just make some extra archers to kill off the low-quality army of the Early period and some spearmen to protect against Royal Knights.

Afterwards, Italy is an interesting target. It's rich provinces and geographical position is a must for a Holy Roman Emperor.

Once you've conquered these two, victory is certain. The Byzantines might be a little tricky, but can always start crusades against them Also, don't forget the Spanish, don't go too East or they'll stab your back

Muslim factions won't be a problem cause by the time you will confront them, ze germans will be able to produce superior catholic troops.

Just don't forget to trade HRE can trade both in the North and the Mediterranean, you get cold

I think i should write a guide for them, I've played SP with the HRE more than 20 time


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

[Pitt_Slayer]

cool http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif thanks for the info http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif

[o_loompah_the_delayer]

I think Thrawn means taking out Poland within the first two/ three years, beofre they have time to build up. Keep taxes low and you get an extra castle, and Poland is a fairly productive province that you can use as a base to expand east, while still keeping an eye on the french.

[o_loompah_the_delayer]

Of course Shades has gone for the Italy first route, but that leads to too excitement http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif for my liking.