Realism

[aleh]

Alright, so I quickly ended my previous English campaign with some ease, the Sicilians' massive stacks of weak armies were no match. Seriously, 6/7+ -full or nearly full- stacks were wiped out by an army of 300Chivalric Sergeants<dudes with spears), 180 halberdiers, 180 billmen, 60 royal knights, and about 320 Feudal Knights.....Anyway, throughout that campaign, things seemed too easy. Except against the English, and the Almohads, everyone basically just crumbled when faced against me.

So, I'm gonna try another campaign. Early English, Hard setting...So my question is, what are your directives to make this one as realistic, and accurate as possible to what might have happened in real-life. Both in the strategy map, and the battle field...

Right now it's about somewhere between 1110 and 1115, I'm allied with all the Christian factions, I broke off an alliance with the Almos when the Spaniards attacked them. And I'm planning a massive crusade(a-la First Crusade) against the Egyptians in Palestine....I'll go from Wessex, Western France, HRE, Northern Italy, Serbia, Bulgaria, Constantinople, Nicaea, Antioch, Tripoli and then Palestine....Or at least hopefully that's the general path I'll try to follow.

So anyway, any and all recommendations you may have to make this as real and accurate as possible, please give em to me.

[aleh]

Alright, so I quickly ended my previous English campaign with some ease, the Sicilians' massive stacks of weak armies were no match. Seriously, 6/7+ -full or nearly full- stacks were wiped out by an army of 300Chivalric Sergeants<dudes with spears), 180 halberdiers, 180 billmen, 60 royal knights, and about 320 Feudal Knights.....Anyway, throughout that campaign, things seemed too easy. Except against the English, and the Almohads, everyone basically just crumbled when faced against me.

So, I'm gonna try another campaign. Early English, Hard setting...So my question is, what are your directives to make this one as realistic, and accurate as possible to what might have happened in real-life. Both in the strategy map, and the battle field...

Right now it's about somewhere between 1110 and 1115, I'm allied with all the Christian factions, I broke off an alliance with the Almos when the Spaniards attacked them. And I'm planning a massive crusade(a-la First Crusade) against the Egyptians in Palestine....I'll go from Wessex, Western France, HRE, Northern Italy, Serbia, Bulgaria, Constantinople, Nicaea, Antioch, Tripoli and then Palestine....Or at least hopefully that's the general path I'll try to follow.

So anyway, any and all recommendations you may have to make this as real and accurate as possible, please give em to me.

[BAD]

Maybe up the difficulty setting? If it was low. Also try downloading a mod, they get rid of the AI's need to build naff troops all the time and the morale has ben increased. Well that's for XL mod anyways.

[Odin]

XL is a great mod. Got around to playing the Bohemians and through some poor steward ship of my Polish neibhor gaines his lands. The problem was I didnt pay much attention to the west....

The HRE, for the most part held together but France took out North of europe straight up to sweden ! Maybe it isnt realistic as it didnt happen this way in history but the french are assualting me with very good armies with quality generals.

The battles have been pretty spectacular thus far and its draining my smaller kingdom of resources (quite realisticlly I might add). If England (which has no continental holdings at present) or the HRE dont open up and hit France I am pretty much toast.

In the end I wont loose due to inability to out general the AI, I will loose because my kingdom dosent have the resources to combat France one on one. Fairly realistic IMHO, and as I sit at 1195 even if I survive the onslaught of france the Mongols should be pressing west soon.

[yesdachi]

Add some self imposed “Iron Man” rules. Like no attacking unless attacked, limited number of ships, blindfold, etc.

[Azi Tohak]

XL is a great mod. Got around to playing the Bohemians and through some poor steward ship of my Polish neibhor gaines his lands. The problem was I didnt pay much attention to the west....

The HRE, for the most part held together but France took out North of europe straight up to sweden ! Maybe it isnt realistic as it didnt happen this way in history but the french are assualting me with very good armies with quality generals.

The battles have been pretty spectacular thus far and its draining my smaller kingdom of resources (quite realisticlly I might add). If England (which has no continental holdings at present) or the HRE dont open up and hit France I am pretty much toast.

In the end I wont loose due to inability to out general the AI, I will loose because my kingdom dosent have the resources to combat France one on one. Fairly realistic IMHO, and as I sit at 1195 even if I survive the onslaught of france the Mongols should be pressing west soon.

I sympathize. If the diplomatic model was what it could be, then I think you should be able to lure the HRE or England in. But I don't lose battles either. The AI is superior to RTW (no generals impailing themselves on 18' pikes here!), but I know how to work the system. I don't know about you, but I use the same strategy here as in STW. Take a province, let my foes break themselves on my defense. Then mop up.

As in: I retake Milan with a very good army of Italians. HRE counter attacks with 2600 targets (peasants and Urban Militia). I hold my ground with my Italian Infantry, Feudal Men at Arms, rout the infantry, butcher 2000.

However, but for my strong foreign policy, I would be toast. I started out taking the Balkans (still at war with the damned Hungarians), and now I am in the Levant (from a crusade), but I totally own Trade. Had the HRE attacked me early on... eww... that would have been ugly. Part of the fun of being the little guy right?

Azi

[Odin]

I sympathize. If the diplomatic model was what it could be, then I think you should be able to lure the HRE or England in. But I don't lose battles either. The AI is superior to RTW (no generals impailing themselves on 18' pikes here!), but I know how to work the system. I don't know about you, but I use the same strategy here as in STW. Take a province, let my foes break themselves on my defense. Then mop up.

As in: I retake Milan with a very good army of Italians. HRE counter attacks with 2600 targets (peasants and Urban Militia). I hold my ground with my Italian Infantry, Feudal Men at Arms, rout the infantry, butcher 2000.

However, but for my strong foreign policy, I would be toast. I started out taking the Balkans (still at war with the damned Hungarians), and now I am in the Levant (from a crusade), but I totally own Trade. Had the HRE attacked me early on... eww... that would have been ugly. Part of the fun of being the little guy right?

Azi

Hey Azi,

Couldnt agree more with the diplomatic model, you would think that England would be chomping at that bit to launch an attack into Flanders or Normandy given the circumstances. Like you I know how to work the AI as well from years of playing this game, still at harder levels I have close calls and have been defeated more then once.

France seems to love to try and out flank with thier cavalry units, problem is the AI rarely takes in any support units for them. Throw a spear unit into a few horse units and sit back with your ranged units and widdle them away.

Yeah you loose the spear unit, but they are cheap and certainly expendable. I like playing small kingdoms to see how long I can last, but in doing so it makes the diplomacy shortcomings glaring.

cheers