Quote Originally Posted by [b
Quote[/b] (Brutal DLX @ Feb. 19 2003,03:16)]
Also, another point, you should especially ransom back prisoners in the first battles, because if you kill them, chances are the AI faction (being in the southeast and very rich) will build newer and better units than it had as part of its standing army. So by all means sell them back the peasants and general light stuff, that will handcuff him some more. Once you gained a relatively secure foothold in that area, you can start executing the prisoners if you feel like you will get overwhelmed otherwise (eg. when you have trouble reinforcing your own army down there...)[/QUOTE]
I still disagree for a number of reasons. My experience is you can't bankrupt them in the first wave by ransoming unless you capture the king (highly unlikely in the first wave), so you will still be facing some upgraded troops produced in later rounds. I blitzkrieg the AI and select a mix of provinces to divide up the AI's territories and take out high value provinces if reasonable. This often leads to rebellions/civil wars for the AI in cut off regions. Plus I try to knock out 1-2 of the more fearsome unit producing/money making provinces in the first wave. If I kill 500 prisoners the AI will have to build at least 5 units to make up for it, and they will be spread out. By getting rid of the 500, I put the AI on the defensive and in reactive mode. As long as I have the initiative, the end is a foregone conclusion. By spotting the AI 500 troops for example, and knowing that the AI will STILL build more on the following turn (because my experience is that they won't be bankrupt that early) I would be vulnerable to a stronger counterattack (I know there will be a counterattack, but I want it to be smaller.) So my strategy is based on retaining the intiative. I'm not claiming other strategies are worse, but I'm staying consistent with my strategy. One of the main reasons I try to maintain the initiative: powerful muslim factions that have survived late in the game typically have a number of "skilled/expert attacker" type generals and perhaps a sprinkling of "weak defender". I've been mauled by these attacker guys before...so I want to make it harder for them to assemble a reasonable sized force. In my experience, ransoming back large numbers causes my offensive to stall.

Every desert campaign is different and there are several themes that I use at different times, but not others, much of it depending on AI troop concentrations and general/king locations as well as ports/shipyards, and of course what units/generals/agents are available to me:
1. Carve up the AI provinces in sections to encourage rebellions/civil wars on following turns.
2. Trap the king (encourages civil wars or a sudden end to organized resistance if he has no heir.)
3. Target a specific low income, low upgrade province to draw in attackers, realizing that it will probably be lost in the counterattack, BUT it will expose surrounding high value targets to attack.
4. Be careful not to lose a high upgrade/high income province to counterattack (that would lose high value buildings). For example: Sometimes it is best to attack such provinces early to hold them(and perhaps adjacent provinces simultaneously to produce a "screen" from counterattack.) Sometimes it is best to attack them as a follow up, when forces are depleted.
5. Hit one end of the AI's realm, then hammer the other end as the AI transfers its troops.
6. Keep in mind money will be gained from initial plunder allowing reinforcement production/upgrades for follow up waves, and denying the enemy income and reinforcements.
7. I do castle assaults whenever reasonable to a) get money/control earlier against a small garrison b) increase my general's stats c) prevent loss of a 1000, 2000, or 4000 florin structure that takes many years to build (if the castle has no defensive upgrades that will prevent it from dropping a full level) d) To start working on a port sooner e) to start local troop production sooner f) to improve loyalty so that troops can be freed for offensive operations in other provinces earlier g) to gain income/reduce the cost of the siege sooner
8. Use religious agents (ahead of the first wave) to begin converting populace and so that you can see throughout the enemy kingdom and know what forces you will face.