I noticed I can't do the Sicilians (I'm playing vanilla MTW) so I actually started a fast play with the Polish (I promise, the Turks are next). Had one quick run through where I took over Pomerania and with a rebellion chance of 5%, the next turn I had 5000 againist my small army of 200 something. Even though it was mostly peasants and fanatics, I went down in utter defeat. Then when I got the ransom screen, not thinking about it, I refused, and watched the fade out screen come as I had just signed the death warrant on my only heir!

I tried another time, not bothering to save and flew through a few years building up a nice income from farming on my properties. Took Pomerania, bribed Sweden, everything was fine.

I forgot about the Danish for a while and perhaps got lulled into thinking I didn't need to build up a bigger deterrent army. Or I should have bribed Norway as well, and just moved the troops there to Sweden.

The Danes soon got big ideas and invaded. Couldn't quite pull it off as my peasant general flinched first when faced with the Danish king's might. If I could have taken Saxony earlier, I could have attacked Denmark and probably taken it or weakened it enough, but the HRE, who I didn't want to risk a battle with, were holed up there in Saxony.

Oh well, third time I'm sure will be the charm, and a little bit slower at that, might even save every other year, which is my usual, instead of going some 10 or more at a run.

I love this game, and I play it off and on. With my Thief II CD literally going to pieces, and not having figured out how to make more money with the current economy, I need MTW play to keep my sanity (what little I have left, that is). Some of you guys are more familiar with a lot of little tricks in this game, but I certainly know some ways to manage the game, and that's what cool about it, there are many ways to hoist that victory flag. The pleasure is finding what works for you and enjoying the play!

I think an approach for the Poles is getting to the sea. Getting coastal areas Pomerania and Prussia, as well as Sweden and possibly Denmark if you can knock their RKs for a loop with your own vikings and maybe some mercs. I think this next time I need to quickly build an inn in Denmark and hope for the best (as well as bribe Norway to get extra piles of wood between the RKs and my general).

Be back soon,

GA