The Big Cheese!

[PershsNhpios]

Interesting replies!

XL 3.0 was eventually boring for the reason that in an estimate of 30 Early games; in 1 France was the sole superpower; in 29 was Danemark.

And no Danes are that headstrong!

Before Tyberius 2.0 I found myself attempting to form a league of nations which could stand against the inevitable Danish onslaught. To no avail.
Tyberius Mod has given some variety, but there are still always a top 5.

I understand that there must naturally be an imbalance to begin with - but that is an imbalance of arms, territory, wealth and population - not necessarily of willpower and opportunity!
It is the latter which keeps the little AI from becoming larger.

In Vanilla I found either England, France or Spain to crusade successfully, and thereafter rule the world with armies built on Palestinian income.

In XL, 'twas Danemark.. Tyberius I have explained.

In Pike & Musket, unfortunately the three superpowers who began with strength in the campaign only became stronger.
The Ottomans, Spanish, and Russians simply divided Europe between them and no middle-class power ever had a chance.
That ruined the mod for me, because not only did these three factions rule the world with huge armies, but civil wars never occurred as in Vanilla and XL, and rebellions never allowed re-emergences to spark.
It was dull in this way.

And in NTW.. Well, I have not played very much of any campaign - but that is about to change!

[Fagar]

Surely it is a case of each to thier own here.
In one way or another every TW game or mod has some imbalances with unit strengths and AI abilities.

I would imagine most of us that have continued to love and enjoy these games naturally impose our own restrictions apon it.
I know most of us refuse to use inquisitors, we use very few mercs, don't spam crusades or Jihads etc, all in the name of keeping balance in the game.

I totally agree the game is better balanced if a player wins through the strength of his own wits and tactics and management of resources.
IMO most of us that still play the game do so with a sense of balance and fairness and will self limit by not building up uber trade or stacking armies with nothing but arbalesters and gothic knights.

In saying I liked an imbalance I was referring solely to starting position and treasury not gameplay.
In gameplay I like a balanced 'fair' campaign as much as the next.