Effects of Expert setting?

[Sir Price]

Hi all,
I'm in the beginning stages of my first campaign on Expert, with the Egyptians, and was just wondering if I'm beeing terribly unlucky, or the game does these things in a misguided attempt to make it harder. The thing is, every single general or heir I've had above 3 command, either gets the drinker or chinless wonder vices, and develops it into the ones where you get 2-3 less command, along with penalties to acumen. I actually hope for the alcoholics to get severe alcoholic, as that is only -2 to command, compared to -3 as an alcoholic.
Also, every time I get a ship in the same zone as ANY other ship, be it ally or enemy, my ship gets attacked and sunk.
So what is up with that? Is it going to be like this the rest of the game, because then I'm going to go back to playing on hard, this is just too unrealistic and aggravating. Sure, it's harder, but in the wrong way.


John

[ichi]

IIRC on Expert you start with 4000 florins, and the AI gets an +4 morale

I've seen posts by GilJay about troop tactics on the various settings, but never heard anything about V&Vs at the different levels.

ichi

[Sir Price]

I did a search, but couldn't find answers in other topics, so maybe I'm just unlucky with these things. It just seemed too much to be random.

The florins and morale bonuses I can handle, but the ships getting sunk by everyone, even allies, is just ridiculous. My very first ship got sunk by a Sicilian ship right of the coast of Egypt, 2-3 years after they asked for an alliance, and I agreed. And the V&V's are annoying, but not insurmountable obstacles. All put together though, it's just not funny. Leading a nation of inbred alcoholics with the naval capabilities of, I don't know... weasels, to glory? No thanks.

[Voigtkampf]

Another mention worthy effect of expert setting is that you will be much more often besieged by the AI, meaning that they will attack your castle more often rather then just sitting around it.

[Sir Price]

Great, I'm looking forward to that voigtkampf. I so rarely get to see my fortifications in action.
I actually started a new campaign, same settings (Egypt/expert/early/GA), and this time around it is going swimmingly! Guess I was just unlucky with the first try. I'm still getting some bad vices, but at least my best generals has only gotten some valour-decreasing ones. And noone is attacking my ships either. Maybe it has something to do with my nonaggressive start (just had my first battle in 1131, invaded Cyrenacia).
Thanks for the info guys.
Most get back to the desert know...

John