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

[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. :)

[Procrustes]

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. :)

Boy, that's me. I play GA all the time and I have all sorts of rules, but try as I may I just can't keep myself from scratching the total war itch.

A lot of the rules I have are just designed to stretch it out - I can attack them, but I can't game the system. I mean, the AI makes limited use of inquisitors, so I do. The AI uses a mix of cheap and elite troops, so I do. (I mean, I tend to keep some militia and a peasant or two in my stacks, and I take them into battle with me most of the time.) I'm carefull not to load up on mercs. I don't park my cav on their reenforcement hex. I try not to mass my assaults. I try to avoid excommunication, and I don't get the pope to give me a warning so that I can attack someone else.

It's so hard, though. I'm always breaking or stretching my own rules, and sooner or later I just open up a can of whup-ass and nuke my neighbor, which of course sparks world war. I've never even made past high from early, much less to the end of late.

[desdichado]

haven't played mtw for a while but heres my list.

1. MedMod (or other mod to toughen AI) - can't play vanilla anymore
2. no seaborne trade except for incidental income that occurs from having fleets protect my coastlines. land trade ok.
3. Generals only have 16 units to play with. No reserves, nothing.
4. units can only be retrained, not merged unless under 10% strength.
5. units must stay within one province of their general when retraining (means you can't bring back every unit to 100% real fast)
6. must help allies no matter the cost.
7. armies must consist of at least 4 (preferably more) spear units whenever possible.
8. units must stay with their general, they cannot be swapped with another unless original general kicks the bucket.
9. no destroying ai buildings in captured provinces.
10. generals must be from noble units - no spear, milita or other peasant crap.



this made the games much slower and made me plan my attacks with more detail. Spies became much more useful to monitor enemy strength. No willy nilly invasions as I didn't have the troops and took too long to recover losses.

I also liked the fact I had specific armies ie. my western army, northern armies etc. Not just a mass of troops in that province there. helped give more charater to my campaign.

AI frequently gave me much more trouble than if I just blitzed it like normal.