Quote Originally Posted by Gilrandir View Post
Not me. It is not bad for a change (from MTW) but the unit roster is too limited and I usually get it over about a hundred years before 1066. Yet there are some factions I never played, so with them it is likely to last longer. The Welsh, for instance. Still afraid to try them - too powerful neighbors with huscarles up the sleeve and the Welsh have only those half-naked guys with fragile morale to counter them. But anyway sooner or later I will pluck up enough courage to give it a try.
What I found out during my last campaigns (Picts and the Irish) is the possibility to avoid Vikings' raids. In the first three turns you gotta send a priest to make alliance with them. They are usually good at honoring it. And this is true for VI anyway - in MTW alliances are broken more easily. At least this is my impression.
AFAIK the Vikings never attack allies. However, if two factions which are allied to the Vikings fight each other, then the Vikings are forced to ditch one alliance or the other. So if you are counting on a Viking alliance, you have to pick your fights, and take advantage of the early years when your natural enemies probably haven't had time to ally with the Vikings.

IIRC the key with the Welsh is to be very agressive before the Saxons and Mercians get huscarls. I don't think you get a priest, but maybe you can get the Vikings off your back with a marriage. They tend to be open to that. I definitely advise you to try the Welsh. It doesn't always work out well, but they are fun.