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List what you consider to be the key provinces for each province. You know, for either places to concentrate on when you're the faction. Or places to target if you're taking down an enemy faction.
I'll start.
France in Early: Flanders, due to its amount of trade goods (Grain, Silk, Wool, for a total of 50 base from basic trade) and level of farm income (670 base). Ile de France, for its farm income (450 base), it's small amount of trade goods (Grain, 15 base from basic trade) and the fact that it starts out able to make many units (Peasant, Urban Militia, Archers, Ballista, and Emissaries). [I forget which provinces provide what valor bonuses.] Take those two provinces early on, and you've crippled France.
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This is a no-brainer: When playing the Byzantines, take away Rum from the Turks ASAP. It brings in lots of Florins, is build up pretty well and is the best province the Turks have at that point. Take it and they are crippled.
Also, a couple more key-provinces to get early when playing Byzantines: Serbia (if you don't, either the Italian or Hungarian shall get in round 2-4 - and you don't want Italians as neighbours or too strong Hungarians eiher) and Khazar (for it's wonderful steppe cavalry and the good growth potential).
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As Egypt, capture the following regions for a good start:
* ALL the Almohad provinces http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif. They're annoying so pushing them out of Africa to the coast of Spain is a way to deal with them.
* Syria, because of the gems there.
* All nearby island in the mediteranean, fot otherwise the Byzantines, Germans, Italians, Turks or Sicilians will get them, having a nice springboard to your front door!
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I think that it's essential for pretty much any faction to grab all the Almohad provinces early on... http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif
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No matter what faction you are grab constantinople!
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well, as any faction my priority goes to iron producing provinces, that I make my army making provinces : there are 4 in the spanish peninsula, + Tuscany, Walachia (or close to it), etc.
Obviously the ones with mines bring a steady income so are a must, and about Serbia, it also has the advantage of bringing a title with +1 in command. Trebizond brings +2, for that alone it's a must. Then of course Trade monsters as Venice and Constatnt. are fairly enticing if you're in the trade/build strategy (which I always do).
Last point of interest : startegic position, as Morocco to keep entrance to spanish peninsula, and of course flanders
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Actually Antioch is more valuable for trade than constantinople. Personally though if im playing northern or western nations I like to leave the eastern med alone cos it often seems to have the highest concentration of ports to trade WITH. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif
hrvojej
"I think that it's essential for pretty much any faction to grab all the Almohad provinces early on..."
...and while you're there you may as well take the Spanish & Aragonese Iron deposits too! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif
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for HRE I would say Switzerland, Franconia and Bohemia to produce troops, while I usually take Flanders and Denmark/Sweden early for income.
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as spain valencia and el cid are a powerful tool early on in the push for morocco to cripple the almohad horde
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As an Italian, I have to focus on trade. So Venezza(not sure of spelling in english), Constantinople, Antioch & Sweden are mine.
But taking Sweden was an error : it forced Danes to attack me, & I've lost many ports to trade with.....
I loooove Antioch. Every turn, the egyptian attack, lose 400 to arb fire & flee. I call it "the heir training ground"...
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War is not about who is right, only about who is left
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Flanders is great for the English, and is the main route to the British Isles, so it's worth blagging early for security reasons alone.
Sweden and Norway are good to get for the English too because the AI Danes suck and can be taken out pretty easily.
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for every faction i jsut aim to get all the proviences, as then i can win the game
