My first bash at MTW :)

[Zarax]

You just can't build or retrain it...
But since it's one of the best units all around it's a quite bad loss IMHO.

[sir_schwick]

The big problem with Byz in early is that most Byz units require a pretty good tech level. That limits unit production to Constantinople except for HA and maybe Byz Lancers. Also, the Turks early unit roster is pretty powerful in the hands of the right general. They also can produce most early units in most provinces fairly quickly. Add in Jihads, Syrian assassins, and AHC within the first 20 turns. The Byz also have to deal with Hungarian Szelskey if you are playing VI.

[sephirothno12000]

The Germans in my oppinion are the best in the high and late periods. byzantines are great in the early period. For the Germans, it's great because not too many other factions screw with you. Also, the centralized local in Europe may cause you to become surrounded easily, but, you can launch crusades, and the Orthodox nor Muslims will screw with you until you launch crusades. Also, I've noticed that with the French and English always fighting, and with rebels always rising up against Hungary and Poland, it's easy to unify western Europe, it makes it especially easy when the Pope excommunicates the French, Italians, or any of the Europeans, except the Spanish and Aragonese, less you have ships. Also, the Germans get some pretty decent units in the Late period.

[Kralizec]

Few? AFAIK the Byz keeps the same roster they start with minus VG in late...

They also lose the byzantine lancers. They don't gain anything but the gunpowder and the crossbow line of units, wich is what I meant.

[DisruptorX]

I would not recommend the "big" factions(byzantines, HRE), you end up with a great deal of micromanagement off the bat, and do not get to choose your fights as easily. Also, the Byzantines are just plain boring to play as/against period. The abiity to churn out hordes of Kataphractoi rather negates the fun and challenge, as well as their horrid purple colour.

[Ash]

The abiity to churn out hordes of Kataphractoi rather negates the fun and challenge, as well as their horrid purple colour.

The AI enjoys pumping out hordes of Varangian guards, Trabizond archers and Pronoiai Allagions.
Kataphractoi you get to see are mostly heirs.

That said, the Byzantines usually bite the dust in my games, although lately they're the ones becoming the superpower on the other side of the map.

[el_slapper]

Welcome Melbourne...

Easiest faction to really learn the game would be the English I think. This due to their tactical position on the map. Danes are pretty decent too.

seconded. I've always felt that the English are the faction the game is built around. If it is your choice, be sure to exterminate the french quickly(same goes other way : if you play the french, be sure England loses the taste for roastbeef - but French are tougher in the beginning).

Danes would be my other choice, because the computer NEVER attacks themas long as they've no grown a lot.(which makes them very strong, as you choose the speed of your expansion).

Byz have foes everywhere. Bwah!

[DisruptorX]

The AI enjoys pumping out hordes of Varangian guards, Trabizond archers and Pronoiai Allagions.
Kataphractoi you get to see are mostly heirs.

That said, the Byzantines usually bite the dust in my games, although lately they're the ones becoming the superpower on the other side of the map.

You are right about the Varangian guards, definately. Those things can beat any infantry unit you throw at them, except maybe Huscarles or something. I suppose I just had the luck of constantly facing large amounts of heirs in one battle, then. A good 30-40% of Byzantine armies I've faced have been Kataphractoi. The first time I played MTW I made the mistake of taking on the Byzantines in the Early Period. Needless to say, it isn't worth it, unless you are the Turks or Egyptians. They are beatable, but eventually one just gets infuriated at having to constantly face armies made up entirely of heavy cavalry and heavy infantry. I never take them on directly, but let the other computers do it for me.

Speaking of which, the Eygyptians are a great faction for beginners, they have great Early Period units, a great starting position, great trade provinces, and start off right next to the extremely weak Almohads. Easy pickings.

[Zarax]

The Almohads aren't easy pickings for the Eggys, a couple AUMs is enough to severely cripple the egyptian light inf and cav, especially without spanish help.

[DisruptorX]

The Almohads aren't easy pickings for the Eggys, a couple AUMs is enough to severely cripple the egyptian light inf and cav, especially without spanish help.

Really? What difficulty do you play? I play on Normal and Hard, and the Almohads are so weak that they often collapse by themselves! The Almohad territories bordering Egypt can't build urban militia, and are very poorly defended. I have yet to see Spain not drive them out of Europe, which deprives them of their best territories.

The Almohads are crippled by civil war and rebellion almost every game, I don't think I've ever actually needed to take them on directly.

[Zarax]

Really?
My strategy on normal is to quickly cripple the turks and then use the experienced troops plus reinforcements to take on the Almohads.
Usually cyrenaica falls easily but i find one or two AUMs defending algeria or tunisia with a lot of archer support and some muhawids.
Also in about 30% of my games the Almohads manage to crush or severly cripple the spanish while to the north the french becomes the superpower and finish them.

[ajaxfetish]

Actually it is quite easy to circumvent the pope. Pope can track only one warning at the time. So, let's say if you start war against France, Pope warns you and you cease hostilities as a good christian should do. But the next 10 years (the length of pope's warning regarding war against France) you can attack any other catholic faction without pope intervening (no excommunication).

However, you may want to avoid such strategy because it is unlikely the game was intended to work such way.

I've got to use this tactic recently for the first time in a German game. I started out forming alliances all around, but then everyone decided to join in the fun of attacking me, so one by one I was fighting the French, the Danes, the Polish, the Hungarians, and the Italians. Eventually the Byzantines and even the Pope himself decided to take me on. My armies were superior (mostly Swabians!!) but I had a lot of enemies and no friends. Whenever the Pope would warn me I'd decide who of all the others was the most troublesome and wage unrestrained war against them until ten or so years later I got warned about them. Meanwhile the only action I'd take against the enemy I was warned against was to defend my territories and raise sieges. I was constantly under warning, constantly aggressive, constantly shifting my focus, and always included among the faithful. It was a blast. The Pope didn't excommunicate me when he attacked me. Even though I was fighting Papal armies I guess he felt responsible as he was the aggressor and he let me continue communion!

[Don Corleone]

Melbourne,

I don't know if you're still looking for faction advice or not. I'm guessing by now that you've played at least one game, and by now you've discovered the hidden paradox in the game... even though it's a game dedicated to combat, that's actually the easiest part of the game. Diplomacy and economics are actually much tougher to manage.

In that vein, may I humbly submit my beloved Italians. Italy starts with a dockyard. There's rebel territories within reach. As you start building your fleet, you'll notice ports springing up all around the meditaranean... every one you link to is more cash

The Italians tend to generate a lot of princesses (though not as much as the Danes). They also have some great early units... Genoese archers are almost half again as fast as normal archers, and their moral is better. The UM coming out of Tuscany with +1 valor is a big help.

Plus, when you finally build a castle and a spear maker's guild somewhere (I'd suggest Milan), your enemies days are numbered because behold, the rise of Italian Light Infantry. For the next 50 years, you will OWN (or PWN as they say around here) all the AI cavalry. ILI are just too good for words. Look at feudal and chivalric sergeants. Each has their relative merits (CS are better defense & armour, FS have better attack and moral). ILI are the best of both. Quite simply put, they are a coup that are actually good enough to be used as an attack unit.

If you want to really drag the game out (I've never done it) the Italians are one of 2 units that get Gothic units. And their Knights Hospitalier are better than Knights Templar (French, English).

The only challenge to playing Italy is resisting the urge to start trouble with your neighbors. You have enough cash at hand (or will, once you build the farms & trade) to sit tight. Try to build alliances and wait for one of your neighbors to attack. If you repulse their attack, most likely everyone else will take your side. Then let 'er rip. By the way, this is usually the HRE, as they consider your territory upstarts and they want it back. But, France, Poland and Denmark all want a piece of them too. Be careful of the Pope. Even when allied, if you leave a neighboring province thin, he'll take the hit on influence and attack you as an ally.

[Melbourne]

Melbourne,

I don't know if you're still looking for faction advice or not. I'm guessing by now that you've played at least one game, and by now you've discovered the hidden paradox in the game... even though it's a game dedicated to combat, that's actually the easiest part of the game. Diplomacy and economics are actually much tougher to manage.

In that vein, may I humbly submit my beloved Italians. Italy starts with a dockyard. There's rebel territories within reach. As you start building your fleet, you'll notice ports springing up all around the meditaranean... every one you link to is more cash

The Italians tend to generate a lot of princesses (though not as much as the Danes). They also have some great early units... Genoese archers are almost half again as fast as normal archers, and their moral is better. The UM coming out of Tuscany with +1 valor is a big help.

Plus, when you finally build a castle and a spear maker's guild somewhere (I'd suggest Milan), your enemies days are numbered because behold, the rise of Italian Light Infantry. For the next 50 years, you will OWN (or PWN as they say around here) all the AI cavalry. ILI are just too good for words. Look at feudal and chivalric sergeants. Each has their relative merits (CS are better defense & armour, FS have better attack and moral). ILI are the best of both. Quite simply put, they are a coup that are actually good enough to be used as an attack unit.

If you want to really drag the game out (I've never done it) the Italians are one of 2 units that get Gothic units. And their Knights Hospitalier are better than Knights Templar (French, English).

The only challenge to playing Italy is resisting the urge to start trouble with your neighbors. You have enough cash at hand (or will, once you build the farms & trade) to sit tight. Try to build alliances and wait for one of your neighbors to attack. If you repulse their attack, most likely everyone else will take your side. Then let 'er rip. By the way, this is usually the HRE, as they consider your territory upstarts and they want it back. But, France, Poland and Denmark all want a piece of them too. Be careful of the Pope. Even when allied, if you leave a neighboring province thin, he'll take the hit on influence and attack you as an ally.

Much thanks mate.

Is there a walk though guide anywhere for the Italians?

Cheers.

[Zarax]

Look into the guides section, there are tutorials for every faction.

[Butcher]

You definately want to have Viking Invasion and the patch for it as well, just makes MTW that little bit better overall.