Why Turtle

[Proserpine]

There has been at least one thread of turtle vs blitz games. It seems that the blitz player will always win, even against a human opponent. A blitz campaign can be over in less than 30 turns. Other than play-style, why would (or should) anyone choose to go turtle?

[Tollheit]

-the game is too easy, therefore you have to turtle to get at least sa bit of a challenge

[PBI]

Also, with proper blitzing one can roll up the whole map with only spear militia. Turtling is pretty much necessary if you ever want to see any of the rest of the unit roster, or the Mongols, gunpowder, the New World, most of the game in fact.

And one could argue that blitzing is essentially an exploit, since you are taking advantage of the woeful inadequacy of the AI in the face of relentless aggression.

[Sheogorath]

What PBI said.
Spear-spamming might win the game, but I happen to enjoy watching the Aztecs route in the face of concentrated musket fire. Or ram themselves into walls of pikemen. Or be run down by conquistadors.

Nothing like a bit of a native massacre to get you ready for ETW ;)

[Askthepizzaguy]

I agree... I've tried to turtle, intentionally, and I keep finding myself looking at the enemy settlements next to me and thinking... why can't I just go kill them?

I have armies. And they aren't going to attack me properly. They aren't aggressive enough or committed to my destruction.

When I see them, I think KILL KILL KILL KILL.... I can't not blitz anymore. I can't.

Must.... destroy.... everyone.

[seireikhaan]

I'm still trying to get the overall hang of the game, but I've found myself still relapsing into my old MTW grand strategy of quick blitzes followed by long periods of peace, if possible. IE- I just started a Moors game with SS 4.1, and with the original faction Heir, I conquered all the rest of Iberia with spear militia, mercs, and 3 jihads. T'was a rather nice holy warrior Sultan by the time he was laid to rest. After I essentially knocked out the Portugese(they somehow ended up taking Cork in Ireland) and the Aragonese(still haven't figured out where they are, prolly have a family member wandering around), I basically sat down, with the exception of some conquests a bit later on in Africa, taking Tunis and El Qoed, then Timbuktu and whatever that tiny, worthless village in west Africa is. Of course, not continuing my conquests into Europe seems to perhaps be coming back to bite me. As of now, its about 1255, and I'm at war with France, Hungary, England, Poland, Milan, the Papacy, Portugal, Aragon(bearing in mind those two are moot points), and the HRE, after his Holiness called for a crusade to take back Tunis from me. And of course, nearly all of Catholicism banned together to come after me, with France, Poland, England, and the HRE sending full stack armies with 5 star commanders(including a two kings and a faction Heir), armed with light men at arms and oodles of various knights. I rather do hope a one or two of the crusades make it to Tunis, I would like to test out my shiny new citadel armed with cannon towers, defended by my shiny new dismounted christian guards.