Crusader Kings II

[Myth]

OK i decided to put Antioch on the backburner until I get the hang of CK2. I started with the count of Vestland (the province in Iceland which has Reykjavik). I discovered the joys of the ruler builder, which is paramount when starting so small. I managed to conquer my neighbour in Iceland mainly because of my ruler having 22 combat, and my marshal having >14 at the start. I reformed the duchy - Petty Kingdom of Iceland, and started my raids.

My two sons - Ragnar and Thorkel (whom I personally named and discovered how much more immersive the game becomes when one name's one's sons) became great warriors and leaders (it helped that they had a Genius father). Ragnar won fame and fortune with the Varangian guard, and Thorkel was sadly denied his chance when he asked, because he at the time had 21 combat and was the realms marshal.

With just the troops from the two counties we raided Ireland every summer. The fleet of 7 longboats soon become larger, as we managed to conquer two independent counties in Norway, as well as the Faroe islands. The old king died at age 79, leaving his sons a raiding navy of 30 longships and a 1500 strong army of mostly upgraded heavy infantry. Naturally, Ragnar returned from Contsantinople a few years before his father died, and even though he was the son of a concubine, he managed to keep his kingdom. Throkel, who was the more capable leader, never did manage submit, and so was beaten with the help of the levies in Norway. He was then released from prison (after his title was revoked), and was reinstated as Marshall. Sadly, Thorkel lost his life at age 52, and will be remembered as the most fierce fighter and general Iceland had yet born.

His half-brother Askelad was given reign in Norway, while King Ragnar continued consolidating his position and raiding. At the peak of his reign, he would haul 340 units of gold and valuables per trip, and so gradually the capital of Iceland became a flourishing castle and had a sturdy foundation of military and civil infrastructure.

Ragnar's son had to deal with the rising threat of a petty kingdom in Norway, which had an ambitious ruler who had managed to conquer almost all of the necessary counties to form the Kingdom. Had it not been for the vast treasury accumulated from raiding, Iceland would have been subjugated. The petty Kingdom was neutralized but the garrisons proved too firm to be broken by the battered remains of the Icelandic army and the Scottish Band company of mercenaries. By the time we returned next year, our good friend and father in law the King of Sweden, had conquered all of Norway. Despite numerous key marriages, it seems that sooner or later we will have to deal with the larger duchies of Sweden (as the old king is 74 and his heir has not reached manhood yet).

The path before Iceland is now to continue with the yearly raids on Ireland, Wales, England and France and consolidate the young King's fresh rule (especially preparing for Askeladd's departure from this world, as his son does not have as much respect for his King) and then attempt to hire mercenaries and transport them to reclaim the Norwegian counties from the greedy Swedish dukes. It appears though, that transportation is the bane of Icelandic expansionist desires, as not being able to move our full force in one fleet severely hinders our mobility, and we don't have the capacity to fight a combined Swedish army.

For Antioch, swearing fealty to the Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire might indeed be the way, but the new factions feature chops the game up with faction announcements and it's really annoying. Also, the first thing to do is restart until the Pope calls a crusade for Alexandria and not Andalusia. The former means blessed respite from the Abassids, whilst the latter means one has to endure the onslaught of a (mostly) unified Islamic world.