Some advice

**NodachiSam** · 08-06-2005, 00:24

I would go for Italy like the others say. They have good lands and are good for making a trading network too. I wouldn't touch the English if you are using that area that water to get trade income.

If you are feeling really confident you can try smashing a hungarian army up to weaken their lines and possibly get a nice ransom.

You'll get an excommunication warning so leave them alone for a while and maybe try to secure a truce. I would only do it if you feel confident about being able to set the hungarians back for a while. The following year invade Italy without getting another warning.

**Martok** · 08-06-2005, 05:29

Definitely, definitely, go for Italy.

Whether or not you attack another Catholic faction (like the Huns) first so that you can then take Italy without being ex-commed, is up to you. (You know best as to how many men you can risk losing, after all.) Even if you do ex-commed for invading Italy, however, it's still worth the risk. Here are the reasons why:

1.) As has already been pointed out, the Italian provinces will give you some very nice income, particularly Venice. It will also allow you to build up a trade network in the Mediterranean, which will improve your financial woes tremendously.

2.) Owning Italy will allow you to attack the Pope if need be, thus cancelling any excommunication you may be under.

3.) If I'm not completely mistaken, you'll need to take part of Italy anyway to help fulfill your GA goals.

In the end, taking the Italian provinces will allow you to kill 2-3 birds with 1 stone.

**dgfred** · 08-08-2005, 16:23

Well I decided to smack the English first

. I had enough troops available
that they retreated from all three provinces with me capturing several princes
in Aquitaine (with a healthy ransom

). I also knocked out about 4 of
their ships. I got no warning so 1 turn later I put the French away by attacking their last province in Brittany. Both Spain and Italy have current
Crusades going to Antioch and Palestine, so I had to wait a bit to keep from
being attacked by them. I now have 1 Crusade built and another just about
built and the year is 1165. I plan on hammering the Italians, and possibly the
Spainiards too in a couple of turns

. I'm still not doing too well
financially, but N. Italy and N. Spain sure will help

.

**dgfred** · 08-10-2005, 15:40

Update: I smashed the Italians in Milan, Genoa and Venice

and now my
money woes are much improved. During the assault the English tried to sneak
attack vs Flanders from Wessex across the so-called 'land bridge'

.
Although they lost badly, it did give me a suprise. I only found out about
the land bridge on the forum the next day

. So I returned the favor
and the English are just about done with. Next I need to pop the Spanish b/c
they have grown quite large and most of their uber generals are near Egypt.
I also want Aragon and Cordova

. I have 2 Crusades ready to go and my
ships reach from the Baltic to Antioch, but I don't have any in the Med. so
I have to be carefull of enemy interuptions. I'll let you know what happens.

**Martok** · 08-11-2005, 06:09

Glad to hear things have improved for you. Keep us posted!

**dgfred** · 08-15-2005, 18:15

Well it is 1183 and I have launched a successful Crusade to Palestine

, and have 3 more just about ready to go. The Egyptians are being pressured
by Spain in Egypt, me in Palestine, Byzantines and Turks around Antioch

. I see the end in sight for them.

Questions for you all: Do you ever launch Crusades after the point count
is over (1204)? and

Is it better to not launch a crusade than chancing a failure?

More ???s later.