Easy-ish factions with lots of land and a need for named characters

Hello. I run an ice hockey video gaming forum, and am going to make a "dynasty", which I guess is similar to an AAR, with Medieval 2 Total War. I'm going to be creating the people on my site who sign up, and putting them onto a certain faction..

But I can't choose which faction to use! The majority of us are American/Canadian, and I really want them all to be the "knight in shining armor" type general, so no Arab factions, no matter how fun they really are (I love them, BTW).

But I kind of stink at the game, and don't want to lose right away. I want a somewhat easy faction, that has lots of territorries, so I can actually have all of my generals spread out.

Thanks so much!!

PS: If anybody knows how to create your own family members in the game, please, send me a link!! :D

What do you mean creating your own family members ? Use those in game but renaming them of creating new ones from scratch ?

I think I might help having done approximately the same for the KotF game held in the Throne Room.

As for your choice of faction, it depends on the game/mod you're playing : but if you stick with vanilla and want a european-themed faction, with the criterion you've set, I think you're prety stuck with either France or HRE.

The first fits your land requirements and is not immediately threatened if you manage to ally with HRE. The second is a bit more threatened but has also large tracts of lands including many castles that allow the recruitment of good quality armies from the start.

Vanilla France fits every criteria.

One of the biggest/most powerful faction at the start of the game, excellent expansion opportunities (which can be a vice at times). France has an absolutely fabulous unit roster - including the most formidable cavalry units in the game, which fits your 'kights in shining armor' perfectly. Morever they have some fantastic family members at the start of the game, they're just waiting to be developed into legendary generals. The Flower of Western Chivalry would be your choice. :yes:

Yep, I agree with France. HRE tends to be a little difficult with so many enemies.

As for 'creating' your family members I believe that it can only be done by editing the names files then the descr_strat. Even then you will still have the original avatars. Even then you have no control over adopted characters names and any which are born after you start the game. It is quite tricky modding, not for someone who is just starting to mod.