MTW vs. VI AI/gameplay differences

[Servius]

I just (finally) got the VI xpac a few days ago. I've realized several changes to the game.

a) Germany is more competant/lasts longer
b) Italians and Byzantines expand navaly much sooner
c) Crusades only include Fanatics (in Early so far at least)

It's especially that last part I wanted some more reflections on. So far in this game I (England) and Germany have each launched 2 crusades, both of which included only Fanatics. Where are the OFS, Templars and Teutons?

Lastly, other than the new units and playable factions, are there any other tweek CA made to the AI with the VI xpac?

[Servius]

And another thing...

Not associated to the first post, but just another question about governors.

I usually develop a front line of provinces, with a big army on each of the front line provinces, but behind them each province only has 1 peasant in it, who I've made governor. I keep making peasants until I get one with 4 or more Acumen, who I make governor.

But I've read that some folks make heirs and such governors of provinces. The reason I adopted this style of governorship is because
a) you get an anti-revolt bonus if you have 100+ men in a province
b) I think your governor has more impact on your province if they're actualy in it

Are there some disadvantages to my style? Am I right that governors have less effect on their provinces if they are not actually in them?

[The Witch-King]

Regarding your governor questions:

Well, some provinces confer a general's star, so giving your best generals a title can be pretty useful. While it is true that they can get the pretty nasty Absent Landowner vice if they stay away from their province for too long I've never had that happen in all my games, though I too usually keep my governors in their province. But if a province gives you a bonus star I'll usually give it to one of my frontline generals. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Brutal DLX]

There is nothing wrong with your style of management, other than for the command star bonus that was mentioned before.
you can leave your governours in their homeprovinces and use whatever units you want as garrison, the acumen is the most important stat of a governour unit.
But keep in mind that should a revolt occur you can't put it down with your peasant units, so you should have a somewhat better and bigger force in your main provinces that you tech up the most.
As for the crusades, a lot units are added at a random level, but overall the structures in the provinces the crusade starts and passes through affect the quality of the joining units. You will see better units in the crusades once the factions have teched up a bit, whcih isn't the case at the start of the game (at least for AI factions).