Quote Originally Posted by Raz
As for a faction to play as, I recommend (for the first run through at least) the Vikings on the VI campaign. You'll have nice, strong infantry to help you get around the learning curve.
That's a superb suggestion, so obvious that it escaped my mind. The VI campaign is a simpler, shorter, scaled down version, much easier to cope with for a beginner. The Vikings might be too easy on Easy though, maybe play the Saxons or Mercians instead.