Expansionist or Devout??

[Cid]

Which setting in the Startpos file makes Muslim AI factions harder? I'm playing as Aragon and the Almos (setting Expansionist) keep building sissy troops! Never see Gahzi Infantry for example, Jihads, etc. which require a Mosque. I've given them a bigger starting infrastructure, twice the starting florins and they're still building AUM's and a few Ghulams at best...I feel bad for them! I was thinking that the Devout setting might encourage them to build more/better troop types, but will they just sit their being devout?

Thanks.

[NodachiSam]

Maybe play around with different types, like catholic expansionist. I don't know how well that would work but it is worth trying. You could also give them better starting provinces. Maybe make those provinces have a little more info and a few more buildings or starting units. There is a lot you can do. I assume devout would just make them make more religious units.

[Weebeast]

I don't think they're different that much except the ones with the word "naval" which basically makes them make more ships. I've read somewhere around here that people mod the unit_prod/building_prod files to make the AI's build better. There's a column in the unit_prod11.txt where you can set units' priority or whatever. Of course units are tied to buildings so you probably have to mod the building_prod13.txt as well.

I'm no pro to assist you any further lol.

[Cid]

Thanks,

Seems as though Expansionist makes them more aggressive so I gave them all a Mosque or two. IMO one of the flaws of MTW is that the Muslim factions are just too weak. Historically they had a great deal more manpower to draw upon than the Europeans (particularly the Turkish faction) and this isn't modeled sufficiently in the game. Just out of curiousity, has anyone ever seen an AI Muslim faction (unmodded) run the board? I haven't. Usually the Spanish and Byz take care of them in short order, at least in Early/High periods. Haven't played Late.

I'll tinker around a bit more. Build up their starting infrastructures to a ridiculous degree or something. Poor Muslims!

[NodachiSam]

They don't do that badly in my games. Maybe it is because just have fewer factions and are more likely to get beaten by a non-muslim. The two sides arn't equally represented but I suspect they are balanced.