What faction to play as?

[MongolWarrior]

Hey everybody I am a total noob(just bought the game) and was wondering, what are the four factions I should start out with? All help appreciated!

[Fragony]

Byzantines, they have good economy and awesome troops. Pretty easy faction to start with.

[The Grand Inquisitor]

The Danes on Early. You only have one border to worry about, and your initial direction of expansion should be obvious.

Danish battle tactics are straight forward too. Blokes with axes march forward and chop people up.

[YAKOBU]

Hi MongolWarrior

I may be being patriotic but I recommend England.

If you take Flanders and let go of Normandy, Anjou and Aquataine you only have 1 border. Also you can invade the 3 province island of Scandinavia which has good trade goods and only gives you 1 more border to defend.

With Flanders and Scandinavia intact you have great income flowing in once trade is up and running.

Also what troops, V2 Longbows in Wales and V2 Billman in Mercia in Late and Hobilars in Early.

[CherryDanish]

My first game was as the Danes and it was a fantastic learning experience (it was however somewhat simplified due to me improperly installing the VI expansion initially). As was said above, simplified borders, wide variety of early troop types (build LOADS of Huscarles in early while you can, you will not be able to build them anymore after 1205 (?)). The Danes teach you a lot about acting early, taking risks, building an economy, teching up, and even diplomacy (kiss the HRE's butt for a few years) without much real risk of losing. With the Danes it's hard to get rolling, but it's easy to draw a stalemate of sorts (if left on it's own, the AI never takes Denmark). There is a good tactic guide in the guides section. Personally I find an early aggressive stance against rebel Baltic states and an early drive to build Sweden into a troop building (melee troops and cav only)/money making power house is a very successful strategy. Loading up on cheap vikings from Norway is great too. Swarming an enemy with vikings and huscarles is a quick recipe for success in early. Lastly longboats = mucho love.

[Doug-Thompson]

Byzantines are a good start, mainly because you don't have to worry about inquisitors, Crusades and excommunication.

Of course, you don't get to learn how to use inquisitors or Crusades or how to avoid excommunication, either.

The difficulty ratings on the set-up menu in the Early Era are obsolete., mainly because people have come up with good opening moves that have been discovered since the game was invented. The ultimate example is the Turks. They're listed as hard, when the truth is that Katank's opening "Ransom Blitz" make them the easiest, most powerful faction on the board.

Spain is another faction that's described as hard but are really easy once you know how to open with them.

I'd go with the Almohads: Great early era units, decent navy, you get to use Jihads. You're on the opposite end of the map when the Golden Horde arrives.

Also, what type of units or faction do you like? If you're a horse archer fan, Hungarians are the best by far. If you like to just walk up and chop people up, follow The Grand Inquisitor's advice and go with the Danes and their Vikings. If you love cavalry charges, you might consider the French with their bonused Chivalric Knights. If you like early, lighter cavalry, consider the Spanish with their jinettes. If you have other units you'd like to use, let us know.

[Hetman_Koronny]

And if you decide you want some challenge try Turks in Early, France in Early GA or IMO greatest challenge Russia in High... Golden Horde battles are something you must experience

[Lonewarrior]

Italians, great economy, nice troops on early and high, the only faction you have to worry about is The Germans until you have a nice and strong army.

[Servius]

England

I agree with Yakobu. In the first two turns of Early, abandon Aquitaine and Anjou, moving thier forces to Normandy. At the same time, move the archers from Northumbria and Mercia to Wessex. On the third turn, invade Flanders from Wessex and Normandy. The French will retreat, you have only one front-line province to defend, you have THE richest province in Europe (I'm pretty sure) and you are free to take Wales, Scotland, and Ireland at your leasure.

Also like Yaboku said, you can eventually invade Scandinavia, take out the Danes, and push as far as Saxony all the while only having two front-line provinces (including Flanders). In early you get Hobilars (light cav), a discount on the cost of Archers, Fyrdmen (upgraded spearmen), Highland Clansmen, Gallowglasses, Kerns, and Irish Infantry. In High you get Longbows (who are badass) and Billmen who are cool too.

[Doug-Thompson]

England

I agree with Yakobu. In the first two turns of Early, abandon Aquitaine and Anjou, moving thier forces to Normandy. At the same time, move the archers from Northumbria and Mercia to Wessex. On the third turn, invade Flanders from Wessex and Normandy. The French will retreat, you have only one front-line province to defend, you have THE richest province in Europe (I'm pretty sure) and you are free to take Wales, Scotland, and Ireland at your leasure.

Sounds like a Blitz in reverse.

[Oaty]

Well I'd say Byzantines if you want tough troops but if you are looking for secure borders then England would be the better option. So the choice is do you wanna blitz eourope or just simply take it easy and learn a few things.

If you do start with Englang you may run into a bit of a shock when you run into the Byzantines as you may find yourself against tons of 8 stars and a faction that has the best overall troop selection for early.

In my first campaign when I ran into the Byzantines(played as Almohods) I had to lose territory quick to them to spread them thin and then march upon them. I gave them a good 6-8 provinces in 3 turns and even with them spread thin they were having pyric victories

[Lonewarrior]

In my first campaign when I ran into the Byzantines(played as Almohods) I had to lose territory quick to them to spread them thin and then march upon them. I gave them a good 6-8 provinces in 3 turns and even with them spread thin they were having pyric victories

DiD u try bribing?

[DisruptorX]

The Egyptians are easiest for a beginner. They can pump out troops like there is no tomorrow and have the richest provinces in the game.

When I was a n00b, I played as the Danish, Mercians, and Almohads. I lost my first games horribly. Almohads, despite what people say, are not easy for n00bs.

[Fragony]

Another suggestion, try the Polish! They may not seem like much but you can build a highly specialised army right away. You can make slav warroirs who are excellent in the first years, woodsmen that actually stay usefull because of their great charge and anti armour bonus, javelinman for general carnage and horsemen that are pretty decent early cavalry. You also get the best medium cavalry in the game with the retainer(you will have to wait a while before you can build them), and in moldavia you can build Avar Nobles who are unstoppable in early. To make it even more lovely, you get mounted crossbow that actually perform pretty well when used as light cavalry. If you like the battle aspect of the game the Polish are the one! Build a nice army and decimate the Germans.

[econ21]

OK, you asked for 4 factions. I would recommend (all on normal, early):

1st: England. This faction has a good strategic position, only really threatened by France. This means that you don't have to worry about too many things. Pump up your garrisons in France, try to get an alliance with her and you should be free to fight rebels (Welsh, Scots, Irish etc). Sooner or later war with France will come, but it should be later. The only hiccup is that you must build a fleet to link up your French lands asap, but building fleets is the key to victory in MTW (massive trade income). The advantage of England over Denmark is that your faction is big enough to build up economically without having to be overly aggressive. England is a good faction to play on glorious achievements, as they get some fun ones (as does France). Crusading is fun.

2nd: Byzantium. This will be fun after England because you have very different and arguably better troops (make Biz infantry + Trebizonds your core, leaven with VG and Kats), awesome leaders, plus you are right on the opposite side of the map. The strategic situation is more tense, with the Turks busting for a fight. But the faction has enormous potential.

3rd: Egypt: This will give you a taste of Muslim units. Pay special attention to Saracen infantry and Armenian heavy cavalry. Like Byzantium, you start off with a position of great potential - especially for trade. The Almohads are a good alternative Muslim faction - the Turks may be a little hard on early.

4th HRE: This is arguably the "ultimate" Catholic experience. The units are the same as the English ones (but pay attention to mounted crossbowmen) but your strategic position is one of being under siege - Italy, France, Hungary, even Poland and Denmark may want to take a bite out of you. I still find it the most fun campaign - just trying to keep my head above water.

If you play all four campaigns, you will be a MTW vet with a good knowledge of the game. (Don't be afraid to quit when you get too powerful - the end game is very hard work for little reward).

[Magraev]

Am I the only one wondering how a self-professed noob has over 250 posts?

For a start I'd suggest Denmark or England. The Danes can run into serious money-problems early though. Byz are a bit of a mouthfull for a noob (many provinces and armies to manage).

[DisruptorX]

Am I the only one wondering how a self-professed noob has over 250 posts?

For a start I'd suggest Denmark or England. The Danes can run into serious money-problems early though. Byz are a bit of a mouthfull for a noob (many provinces and armies to manage).

I assumed he was a shogun player.

[Hetman_Koronny]

Am I the only one wondering how a self-professed noob has over 250 posts?

Interesting, indeed. Perhaps the "noob" could explain it?

Tell us where you been spaming dude?

[Magraev]

Actually the STW-theory might well explain it. I'm just too nosey for my own good...

[Longasc]

I would start playing as the Byzantines.

Then I would switch to the High Era. You will have conquered Europe before you get to see the more sophisticated and cool High Era Knights/Units if you only play in the EARLY period.

[econ21]

The only problem with the Byzantines is that they start off rather "big" - quite a large number of provinces and units to worry about, rather a lot of decisions about what to build and where to deploy what. I recall firing them up for my first campaign as the Byzantines but finding it overwhelming, so I quit and restarted as English. Of course, it helps that I am English so the strategic situation was more easily comprehensible.

[Fragony]

With the Byzantines I only develope a few provinces for armies, farm upgrades for the rest of them for horse archers. I always invade sicily first turn and build ships in the meantime. By the time the ships reach sicily you got a 9 star general for life with all the vices you need to make the campaign really boring but I do it anyway. Byzantines are fun to command but lack a bit of flavour, they are just too good in early to have a nice campaign. Most of the time I end up owning the map WAY before the high period (I play very aggresive) and it kinda becomes a drag. Byzantines is fun for starters but once you know the basics they are just too good with their unstoppable cheap infantry. Even with the late period they hold up good enough to make your own jedi generals, the VG aren't even needed (and I think they are WAY to overpowered)

[Doug-Thompson]

Am I the only one wondering how a self-professed noob has over 250 posts?

I wondered that too, but Mongol Warrior's profile shows that he's posted heavily in the Shogun forums, which apparently are part of the total.

[katank]

I'd stick with Almos or Spanish.

both don't have many borders and securing an empire fromt eh Pyrennes to Egypt is 3 borders and hugely profitable.

by all means learn to throw your entire army at the enemy in the first few turns.

the AI cannot handle and early rush ad easily succumb.

the Spanish can wipe out the Aragonese, take Navarre, and preferably sack Toulouse with Aquitaine later while taking the 8 years necessary to get chapterhouse built and a crusade marker ready.

at this point, keep pumping crusade markers and rusade into Cordoba, Morroco, Granada, and all across North Africa.

this gives piles of cheap troops such as fanatics for grunt work as well as stronger troops like Order Foot and Knights of Santiago which are equal to chivalric units as well as tons of influence for your king and hence good heirs.

the Almos can similarly rush the Spanish and take over the nice iron provinces

buffed AUMs can take most things.

just pump out those little dudes and line em up and march up adn give the enemy a thrashing.

murabitins are also surprisingly good.

[MongolWarrior]

I assumed he was a shogun player.

That would be correct.

[MongolWarrior]

Alright, one last question, what are the advantages(or disadvantages) of the middle and late periods? And, is it possible to play as the Mongols?
Thanks!

[Marquis de Said]

I've never started a game in late, but my last game was as the Russians starting in high, and I found it very interesting because all the AI factions had better facilities and thus better troops. I don't think I've ever seen as many crusades in a game either. So for me, the more developed starting situation makes for a better game. And there's plenty of time for you to conquer Europe from 1205 to 1453.

You can play as the Mongols if you use the -ian command. Just switch to the Mongols the turn after they appear. You'll find information about it in one of the guides. I think frogbeastegg's Unit Guide had a mention of it at the end.

Marquis de Said

[Fragony]

Early is easiest and late the hardest. You will also have a different roster, for example the Byzantines, they get the great varangian guard in early and high, but cannot build them in Late. Some factions like the Germans/Turkish/Italians cannot build their top of the line units until late, I would start with early because it is more fun(for me) to build your own empire the way you see fit.

[Magraev]

The later eras have the advantage, that the ai builds better units.

You can easily extend the game after the usual enddate by editing the startpos-file, if you want a full game starting in high or late.

[Quietus]

Try out the Turks (early). Great units and starting position.

Or Spain. Just attack the Almohads as soon as possible. And don't underestimate the AUM (they are heavy infantry).