Oh, finally someone is playing it!

BTW, were you able to build custom units in scandinavia? Only the danes should be able to get viking units...

Watch out for the pesky French as if they tech up to FMAA they can give you some pain, even though MS should give you some decent counter...

Finally, as the Italians you should get the whole Italy + Malta (to get the Hospitallers) except the papal states as you get some kind of bonus in every place (emissaries in venice, priests in rome, spys in sicily) plus milan is the best place for ILI while Tuscany should be your militia hub (all militia units)... Naples will be useful in late to get some heavy cav (gendarmes) while Genoa is good for the ranged units.

That said, central europe will give you good infantry, look to the steppes for cavalry...

BTW, which version did you download? If you got some crusader units in Venice looks like you got the last one