Rus in high: strategy and tactics

[Cyprian2]

Holding out in Khazar is a good idea which I still debate with myself. But I'm afraid I won't have time (and perhaps money) to fortify the fortress that much. Plus a big fortress will demand a large garrison which will provoke greater Horde's numbers at appearence. Time will be a crucial factor for me, I'm even not sure if I will have halbs - I don't know what the starting levels of fortresses in Rus provinces are. And I will set out with 4 000 florins in my treasury only. So I will have to build a port in Kiev (to attract mercs) and in Novgorod plus a trading post plus a ship (possibly more that one) to get the trade started. And think about army training and fortress upgrading and building errection expenditures! Well, I expect my subjects will have to give every penny to be well prepared for the Horde.
As for starting in early, I don't think one can do it with Russians (or People of Novgorod, as they are named) in my game, they are simply unavailable.
But thank you for expressing your views.

Good points, Gilrandir. I should have mentioned that my "epic" siege of Khazar was fought as the Byzantines, having migrated to that area after many years of empire building. I completely forgot that the PoN are not available in Early. I guess I've been spoiled by too many mods!

I think a war of attrition is the way to go with the Horde. Keeping your garrisons down in the emergent provinces is definitely a good idea. The nice thing about a citadel is that even a small garrison can stall (and do great damage to) an advancing host. You might also consider letting said provinces rebel after stripping them of military buildings (no armourer, obviously), which will prevent the horde from teching up too soon, and give you that much more time to create a bottle-neck in Kiev in which to face the initial onslaught. The bridge battle, even if lost, will be a way to defang the horde's largest armies. Keep an army or two (whatever you can afford) in reserve, so that you can counter attack if your forward army is defeated.

All of this talk of Rus in high has given me a hankering to try it myself, but I won't steal your thunder. (That is, I'll let you make a full report of your endeavour before I try anything myself.) Keep us updated, and good luck!