In my first game I was the turks(listed as harder then then the setting but I do not think they are)/early/expert and went full out conquest. By 1180 I had reached a point where it was obvious I was going to win easily and the game was getting very boring. It asked me if I wanted to stop at 60% of the provinces or some such number and be acknowleged as the winner so I did. I used pause in battles and did all the amazing things you can do if you play that way. I auto resolved castle assaults etc. etc. I never even had a bad setback.
In my second game I decided to be the spanish and to Role Play as much as I could. Early/Expert/GA. I have never attacked fellow catholics unless attacked first. I always agree to offers of ceasefire if asked. I have been as obiedient to the Pope as possible to the point of actually taking care of his rebellions etc. I never auto resolve a castle assault (that is cheating I feel). I never hit pause in a battle. I ignore obvious weakness of my neighbors and instead focus on the crusades and other GA objectives.
Still too easy.
I have resorted to just playing with the other factions using spies etc to manipulate them while I sit and slowly build my provences etc to see what units come when and look like what.
I have read several other posts like this over the last few weeks. Yes, I could set the game on auto so the AI could build me bad armies to use and Poor building choices. I could also let or help one AI faction become huge and powerful enough to challenge me. I could set all kinds of false handicaps on myself. I would rather not handicap myself in a non-roleplay fashion though
What I really want is for the game to be hard because it is HARD. I want to sweat and worry that I am going to lose despite that I tried has hard as I could (without useing cheap tricks) to win.
I guess all I am really asking is what is the hardest Faction, timeperiod, etc.?
P.S. and no, I am not going to do the Multi Player. I just cannot twitch fast enough to enjoy it anymore. Maybe if they come out with a multi player strategy version one day.
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