My oddest campaign yet (long)

[NewJeffCT]

Well, I have played close to 20 single player campaigns, if not more, all starting on early. Usually, what happens is that if I am a Catholic factions, the Islamic ones get severely weakened in Early and are usually no match for the top Catholic factions by the time the High period rolls around. If I take an Islamic faction, the Catholics are usually severely weakened by the time High rolls around, as I try to stay on the good side of fellow religious factions.

Other things that usually happen – the Almos usually go down fairly quickly, as do the Turks. The HRE is strong early and then suffers a civil war. The French wipe out the English and become pretty powerful, as do the Byzantines by wiping out the Turks and getting a few of those rebel territories to their north. The Danes usually just sit in Denmark and may launch an ineffectual attack into the HRE only to be wiped out quickly. The Sicilians or Hungarians usually do pretty well in Early as well. Not both, as they usually go to war with each other.

But, this time, things are a bit strange. I selected the Polish on early and struggled to make money even though I quickly snagged Pomerania, Prussia, Sweden & Norway, as well as Moldavia to the South.

However, this time around, the Almos were not wiped out. In fact, they are showing signs of becoming a massive threat to all Catholicism. The Early period is almost over now and they have wiped out the Spanish, Aragonese and French. They have also taken Wessex and have pushed into the HRE as well. I was a bit taken aback when I started moving some Catholic bishops through local territories to keep an eye on them and I saw orange in Ile de France. I was shocked, as I did not even realize that the Almos were the ones that wiped out the French.

From there, the other odd things is that the Dutch have taken advantage of the ensuing chaos and have snagged 3 territories to their south from the weakened HRE, as well as Mercia from the English.

Top to it off, the Turks now have a big empire and are on the verge of wiping out the Byzantines. They hold Constantinople, Greece, Khazar and a few surrounding provinces. The Byz only have one landlocked province in Russia and one of their original 3 islands,

The last strange this is the super-aggressive Pope. He controls the whole Italian peninsula now, except for Sicily.

I am doing okay, but do not have a lot of money, and I see all these 8 star Almo generals close to my borders now.

Anybody have this odd a campaign?

[-Amon-]

Quote[/b] ]But, this time, things are a bit strange. I selected the Polish on early and struggled to make money even though I quickly snagged Pomerania, Prussia, Sweden & Norway, as well as Moldavia to the South.

However, this time around, the Almos were not wiped out. In fact, they are showing signs of becoming a massive threat to all Catholicism. The Early period is almost over now and they have wiped out the Spanish, Aragonese and French. They have also taken Wessex and have pushed into the HRE as well. I was a bit taken aback when I started moving some Catholic bishops through local territories to keep an eye on them and I saw orange in Ile de France. I was shocked, as I did not even realize that the Almos were the ones that wiped out the French.

From there, the other odd things is that the Dutch have taken advantage of the ensuing chaos and have snagged 3 territories to their south from the weakened HRE, as well as Mercia from the English.

Top to it off, the Turks now have a big empire and are on the verge of wiping out the Byzantines. They hold Constantinople, Greece, Khazar and a few surrounding provinces. The Byz only have one landlocked province in Russia and one of their original 3 islands,

The last strange this is the super-aggressive Pope. He controls the whole Italian peninsula now, except for Sicily.

I am doing okay, but do not have a lot of money, and I see all these 8 star Almo generals close to my borders now.

Anybody have this odd a campaign?


you're so lucky http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

i have played about 15-20 times,but everytime happened as you say :

Quote[/b] ]Usually, what happens is that if I am a Catholic factions, the Islamic ones get severely weakened in Early and are usually no match for the top Catholic factions by the time the High period rolls around. If I take an Islamic faction, the Catholics are usually severely weakened by the time High rolls around, as I try to stay on the good side of fellow religious factions.

Other things that usually happen – the Almos usually go down fairly quickly, as do the Turks. The HRE is strong early and then suffers a civil war. The French wipe out the English and become pretty powerful, as do the Byzantines by wiping out the Turks and getting a few of those rebel territories to their north. The Danes usually just sit in Denmark and may launch an ineffectual attack into the HRE only to be wiped out quickly. The Sicilians or Hungarians usually do pretty well in Early as well. Not both, as they usually go to war with each other.

[Jxrc]

Since I installed VI, I have never seen the Almo steamrolling across Europe as they used to in the unptached original. The other usual all-powerful faction in early seems to have become the Byz. Unless they get smashed by the Turks early in the game, they are quiet difficult to stop since a few Byz infantry with slav warriors becomes a theat with a 8-stars general.

The French do well but get civil wars because of too many failed crusades. HRE has a good starts but civil wars break sooner or later.

The Pope has become much more aggressive and it is not uncommon to see him reach Austria after a few turns (especially once he has re-emerged with three stacks of good troops).

Last w-e, I witnessed a weird thing. The Egyptian empire had a civil war a five years later all the rebels had been bribed by the Sicilian. Another ten years or so and they had acquired an empire going from Algeria to Antioch and Syria, 99% of their army (about 10,000 men at first glance) being made of Muslim troops ... I had never seen such mass-bribery before.

BTW, merry christmas http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/santa.gif

[Voigtkampf]

Much of this depends on which faction you play with. Play as HRE and confront the French in a battle for survival, and they will never rule the world, even if you can't beat them. Decide to go east, Almohads will become strong, go west and the Egyptians will knock on your back door as they suddenly appear in Croatia and Hungary. That is one of the great things of this game, the outcome is always different due to your interference.

In my own experience, I've always had strong Muslim factions against me, especially Egyptians, but Almohads and the Turks as well. The last game I was playing as Spanish, I've eradicated the Almohads and share the world mp with the strongest English and also a very strong Turk faction.

In my experience HRE and Byzantines are the greatest losers when controlled by AI, and almost never live up to real glory, while the Muslim factions are fairly dangerous. I guess each game and a different approach will give you a distinct experience.

[TheSilverKnight]

Quote[/b] (NewJeffCT @ Dec. 22 2003,11:24)]From there, the other odd things is that the Dutch have taken advantage of the ensuing chaos and have snagged 3 territories to their south from the weakened HRE, as well as Mercia from the English.
There is no Dutch Faction http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/flat.gif

[NewJeffCT]

Quote[/b] (TheSilverKnight @ Dec. 22 2003,14:23)]
Quote[/b] (NewJeffCT @ Dec. 22 2003,11:24)]From there, the other odd things is that the Dutch have taken advantage of the ensuing chaos and have snagged 3 territories to their south from the weakened HRE, as well as Mercia from the English.
There is no Dutch Faction http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/flat.gif
Sorry, I meant the Danes.... It was a long weekend.

[Simovek]

I've had a few games like that. One game I was playing from Early as English. Anyway, I get into the usual war with France and spend years fighting them, finally defeating them. I sit back from my years of war ready to enjoy the peace. But, of course. The dirty muslim dogs have taken the Iberian and are pushing into the southern france area. So, being the good savior of catholicism that I am I spend years not to mention tens of thousands of florins pushing the Almohads back into Africa. I then place a large army in southern Spain so that the Almohads, who still have massive armies will stay away. I sit back again ready to enjoy the peace. My emisarries then report that the Egyptians have crushed the Turk's, the Byzantine's the Hungarians, the Russians, the Polish, and are now pushing into the HRE and Italy. They're armies are enormous. I begin building and strengthen my borders against the Egyptians, meanwhile I make an Alliance with them to keep them off my backs for as long as possible. Finally, the map is split in half. My English Empire holds western Europe, the Egyptians holding Eastern Europe. The Line is cut straight down Germany. Eventually war breaks out between England and Egypt. I spend alot of time fighting back the Egyptians. Many long hard battles slowly pushing them back. The war continues until the Golden Horde explodes onto the scene crushing whatever Egyptian resistance was in the way. I make peace with Egypt so that they will act as a buffer between the Mongols and Me. Then the Almohads attack Spain again. I spend many lives invading them and crushing them so small so that they cannot attack again. Then I focus on the Mongols. I begin fighting them back and it was suprisingly easy. They had spread themselves out too far. At the same time I march through the Muslim lands. By this time the game is nearly over. The game ends with me controlling the entire map save three provinces held by the Mongols and Rebels. If I had a few more years to play I would have had 100%.

Was a fun game none the less.

[Hetman_Koronny]

Quote[/b] (NewJeffCT @ Dec. 22 2003,11:24)]But, this time, things are a bit strange. I selected the Polish on early and struggled to make money even though I quickly snagged Pomerania, Prussia, Sweden & Norway, as well as Moldavia to the South.

However, this time around, the Almos were not wiped out. In fact, they are showing signs of becoming a massive threat to all Catholicism. The Early period is almost over now and they have wiped out the Spanish, Aragonese and French. They have also taken Wessex and have pushed into the HRE as well. I was a bit taken aback when I started moving some Catholic bishops through local territories to keep an eye on them and I saw orange in Ile de France. I was shocked, as I did not even realize that the Almos were the ones that wiped out the French.

From there, the other odd things is that the Dutch have taken advantage of the ensuing chaos and have snagged 3 territories to their south from the weakened HRE, as well as Mercia from the English.

Top to it off, the Turks now have a big empire and are on the verge of wiping out the Byzantines. They hold Constantinople, Greece, Khazar and a few surrounding provinces. The Byz only have one landlocked province in Russia and one of their original 3 islands,

The last strange this is the super-aggressive Pope. He controls the whole Italian peninsula now, except for Sicily.

I am doing okay, but do not have a lot of money, and I see all these 8 star Almo generals close to my borders now.

Anybody have this odd a campaign?

*bows

Yes http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I had an almost exactly the same game about a year ago (M:TW only) and I remember fighting the enormous Almo armies in Saxony, Franconia and Austria. The Turks were also strong but they would not attack me before I had manage to push the Almos back to Iberian peninsula (when it was all over). I don't really remember about the pope (like I said it was long ago) but the other stuff I just can't be mistaken about.

*bows

[NewJeffCT]

Quote[/b] (Hetman_Koronny @ Dec. 23 2003,04:56)]*bows

Yes http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I had an almost exactly the same game about a year ago (M:TW only) and I remember fighting the enormous Almo armies in Saxony, Franconia and Austria. The Turks were also strong but they would not attack me before I had manage to push the Almos back to Iberian peninsula (when it was all over). I don't really remember about the pope (like I said it was long ago) but the other stuff I just can't be mistaken about.

*bows
Interesting, like I said, I have played close to 20 campaigns now and have very rarely seen the Almos do well. The only time was when I played the Egyptians and I really nursed them along so I'd have somebody big to fight in High & Late - I would send a load of spies into territories on the Almo borders, attack factions that were a few territories away from them, etc. (I do not have VI)

Usually, the Spanish & Almos weaken each other so much that either the French of English come swooping down, or else Spain gets sliced up like swiss cheese between the Italians, Sicilians, French/English winner and maybe the expanding Egyptians.

[Ashen]

I got my backside handed to me today starting as Byzantine. I snapped up a few provinces, thought everything was going well, up pops the little thing to say "The Egyptions have the mightiest military" and 5 turns later I had Trebizond left. Ow :/ 7 FULL stacks inside about 50 years of an early start. I still sting :/

[NewJeffCT]

wow, quite an advance. I'm afraid my Poles will be going down to my first loss ever as well. My expansion is going fine - from my original 2 provinces, I have captured Moldavia to my South, Bohemia to my West, Prussia, Pomerania Sweden & Norway to my North, Lithuania & Livonia to my Northeast (and that one long & thin territory in between) However, the Almos now control EVERYTHING to the West of me save the Papal States, Naples, Portugal & Scotland (the last two which they take and then lose to rebels all the time) and have these many massive stacks with 8 & 9 star generals. Ireland has yet to be invaded...

They are also the first faction that I have seen attack the Pope (I have seen wars with the Pope, but no outright invasions of Rome&#33http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

The Egyptians have their original territories and some islands, and the Turks have expanded North to hold everything and have wiped out the Byz. The Novgorads hold 3 territories, the Turks everything South of them.

The only Catholic factions left are me, the Pope with the Papal States & Naples and Sicily with Sicily.

[The Wizard]

Well.. usually I have something very different. It's always a contest if the French or English win, the HRE is sometimes (60% of the times since the VI patch) ripped apart in a central European feeding frenzy, the Danes always go for Sweden and Norway, and sometimes even the people of Novgorod go for all of far eastern Europe The Egyptians always join in the war between the Byzantines and the Turks, but it's never sure what they're gonna do, the Byzantines start off strong but usually go downhill from there, and the Turks usually don't make it.

[Phatose]

I've seen that pattern too. Anymore though, I mostly play as the spanish, and because of choices I'm making, I see a distinctly different pattern. Almost always, the aragonese die to an early invasion from the spanish, then the almohads are pushed back and then eliminated, putting a spanish/egyptian border at egypt. Novgorod expands in the north, France and England go back and forth at war for years. (primarily because neither has enough forces to wipe out the other and keep men in the south in case the spanish decide to rename Frace and England Spain). The HRE, Poland, Italy and Hungary fight a big 4 way war in the center. Byzatium deals with the Turks, but then gets washed away when a tidal wave of egyptians swing to the north. And usually, the egyptians end up doing real well, controlling huge parts of the east right up until I do something, or the mongols do something.

[bighairyman]

yeah i had campiagnes(sp) like them. in one hard campign, i wa the horde, and i steamrolled into western europe. only to be stoped by the Almos. they gained comtrol of the entire inberia pensuinaler(Sp?), wiped out the french, english germans, itlians ,and the pope and gained control of all thier terriories. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif

so you have this huge mongol empire of lands everything east of germany and north of constaniople. VS the huge emprie of Almos of everything west of germany. i feeled sorry sorry for thsoe germans. they were wiped out by me and Almos in 3 years. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif .

so in the end, when the mongol armies and Almo armeis were going back and forth over germany. the world suddenly ends and crashed. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pissed.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pissed.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/flat.gif

[mercian billman]

I played a campaign as the english and, chose to turtle and trade I was doing fine until Spain had conquered France and I had 6 Full stacks Armies invade Flanders. I repelled their first attack but, they came back 3 years later with 6-7 stacks.

I've come to the conclusion that the 3 most important provinces (geographically) are Constantinople, Toulousse, and, Aquitane. If the Almos or Spanish control Toulouse and, Aquitane they will push deep into Central Europe and if the Egyptians control Constantinople it will be very dificult to defeat them. Use spies to ensure these provinces do not come under Islamic control or if they are under islamic control make them pay with rebellions.

Here's a link where I described how I defeated the Almos in Castile by bribing Valencia, Cordoba, Portugal, and, Leon forcing 3000 Almos into decisieve battle with 5000(at least half of them were muslims) of my troops. Im quite proud of it

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

http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin....t=13492 (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=7;t=13492)

[Jxrc]

50% World owned by one faction ...

Four possible solution for not being crushed ...

1) if you and them are both catholic factions, a few inquisitor should do the trick.

2) build a few ships and start "doing the Sicilian", attacking a ship here and there and with luck you will trigger rebellions or a civil war in the provinces that are no longer connected to the king. (it can easily backfire if your ships get destroyed before causing any disruption)

3)take your best general and try to force a battle with a huge stack (preferably commanded by the 0 start coward). Sometimes a massive loss seems to trigger a civil war.

4) if you have ships and they do not. Produce a few basic units (or hire merc) and land them anywhere where no substantial garrison is stationed (does not seem to work with VI since the IA has become much more cautious on that point).

Not walktrough ... merely suggestions to get out of a desperate situation ...

BTW, I forgot solution number 5 : get the other 50% and kill them all.

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