The Turks in Lands to Conquer mod

[Unhinged_Loon]

You'll be fine with Turkish Archers and Saracen Militia. They are a solid backbone for your armies for a long while.

I think your main problem was initially not targetting the richest provinces. I've completed 4 Turkish LTC campaigns and think they are the most fun around. There is little profit in going north, the towns between the Turks and the Russians are no use to anyone. However, both the Egyptians and Byzantians have rich cities.

1. Egypt are the more dangerous long term if allowed to live in peace. I always agressively expand against them early. You should set your sites on Acre and Damascus as your early southern border...keeps them away from Antioch, which can be a hugely profitable city. I don't think there is any real answer to their fleets except build you own. Fleets get experience quickly with a few wins and then can safely keep the Eggies in port. If you've started late you have a bit of a hill to climb as the Eggies might have an experienced fleet. I find the Byzzie ships easier meat so you could try targeting them first.
Once battered back beyond...say Gaza, the Eggies can be comfortably left to their own devices. Even if they get jumpy, they'll probably bash their heads against Gaza...which is fine.

2. Byzantium are a paper tiger. As you have found, take Constantinople and they fade to mere annoyances. I've often tried to limit myself to Anatolia, leaving the Byzzies a strong base in Greece as a buffer against the Catholic nations...but they simply won't have it. Even if you don't want it long term, take the city and then give it back. It puts them more in the mood to talk peace. Or, take this gem of a city, fortify it heavily. Place a fleet at both ends of the Bosphorous and build a merchant's guild there. Your money worries are over. Plus, of course, you can block the crusade route with a few spare ships and force them through Russian lands.

Don't forget to use Jihads...especially against the damned Byzzies. The Ghazi infantry are excellent for taking walls (there won't be many left though!) and stops you having to camp your horses outside while they starve.



On a down note...it sounds like you may have left it too late on this campaign. The Mongols may have gone North (they NEVER do that with me!) but the fancy Elephant riders will not.

[Yesugey]

Uhm, Turkish are one of the hardest faction to play, because of limited income issues.

But Horse Archers are most devastating units in the game, and my advice is disturb the enemy stacks every turn with them. If you face with long range archers, charge them, but stop before hitting, that will distrubt their position, so they will stop firing. Also, you can chase down any routing units.

That way, even you lose the battle, enemy will suffer casualties but you will not. And sieging with Horse archers can be good, courage the enemy to sally and crush them with encircling them.