Self imposed restrictions to make the game last longer and make it more epic...

[bretwalda]

As lugh said in this post there are ways to "hold you back articficially" so that you don't win too fast and too soon and you can enjoy an epic historical game.

Let it loose: what are your house rules for that? What code of conduct do you obey? How you do it? I am curious and also would like to get ideas to take some for my own usage...

[Procrustes]

There's a bunch, but here's one: I severely restrict my use of inquisitors against fellow catholics. It's just too easy to burn all their generals and then wipe them out - the AI just can't stop them. I still use them to preach and get the zeal up before I crusade, but I only occasionally let them try a heretic.

Good topic - looking forward to some ideas I can adopt.

[BAD]

Normally I try to limit the number mercenaries that I hire as some are just too Uber. Amd just kind of make some units redundant. But I still take em when I am hard up . . . Also I normally only build ships to defend my coast line. So I don't have a colossal income from trade. Also just attacking the strongest Country at that time is sure way to even the playng field for everyone else, as rebeliions occur, old nations re-emerge it is very fun.

Oh yeah and never assasinating your own ruler because he is lame I just play with what I got. Hehe always have the king try to take out the other king thats just for a laugh, like to make my kings feared even if only its in my own eyes . . .

PS - I h8 the Spanish ATM , damn their navy. . .

[Pureblade]

Yeah, I pretty much just cut down on the mercenaries. The first time I ever played, I was very confused, and ended up spending all my florins on a massive army of mercs.

[Don Corleone]

I usually start out with it in mind that I won't actually take territory away from a faction that shares my religion. For example, when playing the English, I don't take Flanders from the French. It must rebel for me to take it.

There's one big problem with this approach... it doesn't serve it's intended purpose. I replace on consistent problem (grinding everyone into dust) with another... continuous attacks from neighboring factions. Eventually, their rulers get nasty vices and the rebellion happens, but it can take a LONG, LONG, LONG time.

Other things I do: 1) I never, ever allow my armies to retreat. If I go to the battle entry screen and the AI 'peeked', and now I'm down 3:1 and have inferior troops, tough... I play it out.

2) I make myself fulfill every crusade request the Pope puts out.

3) I never fight offensive naval battles. If I get blockaded, I have to suck up the loss of income until the AI is dumb enough to try to attack my fleet.

4) I go for the 'good ally' approach. If somebody invades one of my allies provinces, I lift the siege for them. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hate it when the ally ransoms my army back to me if it's a remote invasion, but I do it anyway. I usually assasinate 2 princesses and an heir in retaliation.

That last one alone will really keep things even, believe it or not, because you're fighting battles all the time and not getting rewarded for it.

[Zarax]

My favourite one is to play into evening the field for the weaker factions.
I've modded the game and i'm currently playing as the English and nurturing the Danish AI in order to have them grow enough to launch a crusade...

[bretwalda]

What do you think about sticking to the GA homeland territories and some objectives there and only getting 1 province thick defensive perimeter around it. Then another circle of wasteland (barren provinces). A win with GA points through driving and manipulating other nations do disappearance...? Is it feasible?

[Don Corleone]

For that matter, has anyone played a GA game all the way to 1453 without giving up and going on the rampage to conquer the world? I feel like I'm sucking a toostie roll pop... I get so far, and then I just can't take it anymore. :)