CountMRVHS
04-20-2007, 14:57
Hi all,
Been having fun on the VI map, and I've been again thinking about why it is that the Vikings always fizzle out as a threat quite early in any campaign. From my position as the Northumbrians, I was able to watch some interesting Viking behavior recently and I thought I'd submit it to see if anyone has any thoughts.
The first Viking attack (that I could see) was on the Mercian province of Lindissi. This is unusual, as it is normally the Picts who suffer first. It could have been that the Vikings were raiding the rebels in the SE of Britain, but of course that wouldn't show up on the diplomacy and I had no agents down there to see.
Well, Lindissi eventually ended up in my hands :yes: but the Vikings decided to give up and started striking at the Picts and other rebel regions. They took the next region down from Lindissi (East Engle), but left it lightly garrisoned so I was able to take it in a few turns.
I was pleased, however, to see that the Vikings had a formidable stack roaming around, led by their king. I saw it jump over to Wales -- very unusual in my experience -- and get into a war with the Welsh, then hop up to Manau and the northern Islands of Domon and Orcades, as well as Cait. For several years the Vikings shuffled back and forth between the provinces of Guined and Defet on the NW and SW of Wales, respectively - experiencing frequent rebellions in these provinces, which the Vikings would defeat, only to leave another tiny garrison which would lead to another rebellion.
The height of ridiculousness was when the Vikings repeatedly attacked Reget -- which was led by a 6-star Rebel general and hordes of Armoured Spearmen. Needless to say, it took them several years and repeated attacks before they even managed to drive the rebels back to the fort, but when that happened -- you guessed it -- another rebellion drove the Vikings out. :wall:
So I was sadly watching the Vikings squander some excellent troops and waste endless time grinding down their forces over rebel provinces which had already been torched (by the Vikings themselves) many times over, or, in the case of Reget, throwing themselves at probably the most deadly army on the map at that time while the riches of Ireland and England lay within their grasp. I make it a policy to never ally or ceasefire with the Vikings, precisely because I want to *fight* them -- but that very rarely happens.
I wonder, then, what can be done about this. The Vikings seem predisposed to attack Rebels, leave, and attack them again when they lose control of the province. Is this due to their AI behavior as "BARBARIAN_RAIDER"? Would "CATHOLIC_EXPANSIONIST" lead to more successful conquest for the Vikings?
Earlier I had modded my VI game so the Vikings started out with a lot more money and about a dozen ships -- but now I'm wondering if that extra money and navy simply encourages them to sit still. Would it be more productive, instead, to give them the normal amount of money and boats but a slightly larger army, forcing them to attack and giving them the ability to attack with a bigger force earlier in the game?
I'm curious about what any of you have done -- or thought of doing -- to make the Vikings more of a challenge in VI. It would be great to see the Vikings actually carve out a kingdom for themselves that consisted of more than just Domon, but that never seems to happen. Any thoughts?
Been having fun on the VI map, and I've been again thinking about why it is that the Vikings always fizzle out as a threat quite early in any campaign. From my position as the Northumbrians, I was able to watch some interesting Viking behavior recently and I thought I'd submit it to see if anyone has any thoughts.
The first Viking attack (that I could see) was on the Mercian province of Lindissi. This is unusual, as it is normally the Picts who suffer first. It could have been that the Vikings were raiding the rebels in the SE of Britain, but of course that wouldn't show up on the diplomacy and I had no agents down there to see.
Well, Lindissi eventually ended up in my hands :yes: but the Vikings decided to give up and started striking at the Picts and other rebel regions. They took the next region down from Lindissi (East Engle), but left it lightly garrisoned so I was able to take it in a few turns.
I was pleased, however, to see that the Vikings had a formidable stack roaming around, led by their king. I saw it jump over to Wales -- very unusual in my experience -- and get into a war with the Welsh, then hop up to Manau and the northern Islands of Domon and Orcades, as well as Cait. For several years the Vikings shuffled back and forth between the provinces of Guined and Defet on the NW and SW of Wales, respectively - experiencing frequent rebellions in these provinces, which the Vikings would defeat, only to leave another tiny garrison which would lead to another rebellion.
The height of ridiculousness was when the Vikings repeatedly attacked Reget -- which was led by a 6-star Rebel general and hordes of Armoured Spearmen. Needless to say, it took them several years and repeated attacks before they even managed to drive the rebels back to the fort, but when that happened -- you guessed it -- another rebellion drove the Vikings out. :wall:
So I was sadly watching the Vikings squander some excellent troops and waste endless time grinding down their forces over rebel provinces which had already been torched (by the Vikings themselves) many times over, or, in the case of Reget, throwing themselves at probably the most deadly army on the map at that time while the riches of Ireland and England lay within their grasp. I make it a policy to never ally or ceasefire with the Vikings, precisely because I want to *fight* them -- but that very rarely happens.
I wonder, then, what can be done about this. The Vikings seem predisposed to attack Rebels, leave, and attack them again when they lose control of the province. Is this due to their AI behavior as "BARBARIAN_RAIDER"? Would "CATHOLIC_EXPANSIONIST" lead to more successful conquest for the Vikings?
Earlier I had modded my VI game so the Vikings started out with a lot more money and about a dozen ships -- but now I'm wondering if that extra money and navy simply encourages them to sit still. Would it be more productive, instead, to give them the normal amount of money and boats but a slightly larger army, forcing them to attack and giving them the ability to attack with a bigger force earlier in the game?
I'm curious about what any of you have done -- or thought of doing -- to make the Vikings more of a challenge in VI. It would be great to see the Vikings actually carve out a kingdom for themselves that consisted of more than just Domon, but that never seems to happen. Any thoughts?