Who's still playing?

[edyzmedieval]

Well, yes. Norway is more for spamming +1 valor vikings. Sweden is more for top tier troops with iron. The only drawback I find with Sweden as a military base is that it is so valuable economically, and you forfeit economic development for years if you decide to build up its military tech.

True.

Perhaps Denmark in this case? Norway is still the best alternative until Sweden is teched up economically.

[Brandy Blue]

Well, yes you could tech up Norway to start with and then switch your military base to Sweden later. That would leave Denmark free to produce longboats. Don't they get a bonus there?

Actually, I don't think high tech units are the key when playing Denmark in early. Nice to have sure, especially if you are playing XL and get access to huscarls, etc. However, Viking units are adequate against most enemy infantry in early and you can produce them so easily and cheaply that you can overwhelm your first targets before they can tech up. Not to say that you won't want better units eventually. But you can carve out quite a nice empire with a mostly viking force before you need anything better.

[edyzmedieval]

Those Viking Huscarls pack a serious punch, use one or two of them in each army to turn the tide of the battle.

[drone]

My usual tactic with the Danes is to expand by sea, leaving Eastern Europe to loving caresses of the Horde and taking the British Isles, France, and the Iberian Peninsula. You can do a lot with many Vikings, a sprinkling of Feudal and Mounted Sergeants, and your many RK units in Early. Once I unite Scandinavia, I will usually crank out Longboats from Denmark, Vikings from Norway, and FS/MS from Sweden. Getting Sweden running financially is key at the start, but you need to get the basic troop buildings in place so the recruit queue doesn't sit idle. The special Viking style units are not necessary (although fun) for Early, but you want to be able to crank out high-tech upgraded units once High comes along. Early is all about the Viking rush, archers are for the weak and you just need a few spear units to pin cav with. You can even get away with Horsemen to run your opponent's archers off the field if you can't get MS. Vikings will take care of the rest.

[caravel]

To add to the above, direct your resources towards securing Sweden first. IIRC Norway is more rebellious and will take too large a garrison to hold down, while giving little income. The other benefits of this approach are explained above. Heading for British isles is the easy option - in fact the campaign is quite hard if you choose to take on the HRE, Poles and rebels in the east. Pomerania and Prussia are pagan and will also need larger garrisons, so it's wise to leave those alone until you're strong enough.

[gollum]

It can be hard as hell indeed if you head east. I remember the first time i played it, i took over Novgorod and then in the steppes. By the time i had finished an epic war with the Byzantines the Horde appeared and i was nearly broke and had very little naval safety in my core Scandinavian lands as the seas were dominated by the French, teh Spanish and other superpowers. I left the campaign as i was in a stagnant position and it didn;t seem i was getting anywhere anytime soon.

The next time i took over Britain and then i saw the light... :)

[caravel]

It can be hard as hell indeed if you head east. I remember the first time i played it, i took over Novgorod and then in the steppes. By the time i had finished an epic war with the Byzantines the Horde appeared and i was nearly broke and had very little naval safety in my core Scandinavian lands as the seas were dominated by the French, teh Spanish and other superpowers. I left the campaign as i was in a stagnant position and it didn;t seem i was getting anywhere anytime soon.

The next time i took over Britain and then i saw the light... :)

Too easy though, I wanted a challenge so I took on the filthy pagans, novgorod, the poles, etc... it was a horrid experience. My pathetic, bankrupt faction of pervert princes was "relegated to a footnote of history" time and time again. Eventually I managed it a few times, but it's a huge struggle just to keep afloat. You really have to get trade up and running fast if you go that route.

[gollum]

Yes, too easy indeed. This is why in the Caravel mod Vikings are made available from the swordsmith in Keep level - can't spam them anymore ;)

And also probably why nobody will play Denmark in it... :)