Hard game

[BAD]

I never lose.

*gives you a gold star*

[Matty]

But I'm still too chicken to get my ass handed to me on MP.....

[NodachiSam]

Yea this game is usually a challenge. Sometimes the game takes perseverence to get you through. Even with a lot of land your empire can be ruined by a mixture of misfortune. Weak heirs and civil wars mixed with decent foes can be dangerous. Usually after a certain point you know victory is inevitable. I always play it out from that point unless I am happy with 60%

[Ciaran]

The starting period is the hardest part, depending on your faction. Once you have established decent border armies, a couple of fleets and have built a working economic infrastructure about the only thing that can really threaten you is a Civil War, or the Golden Horde invasion, if you´re playing with one of the eastern factions.
I suppose if you´re playing as a Muslim faction Crusades directed at you can provide a challenge, too, as they come with a lot and quite high-quality troops.

[caravel]

Crusades are usually alot of fragmented units such as peasants and UM and a few Order Foot Soldiers and maybe Order Knights, plus alot of slav warriors and javelins that they pick up on their journey east. They rarely pose much of a threat and can be regarded as "training". In one memorable campaign as the Turks I defeated 2 french crusades that were sent at Constantinople and watched the french desintegrate into civil war. The following year an Italian and German crusade were declared and they too were sent home. Crusades are not as dangerous as people assume. It looks bad having that huge army und the cross heading towards you, but when you actually face them they're not much of a threat, especially in the desert.

[Ciaran]

I didn´t know, I´ve only played with Catholics so far (I love the clanking sound of my marching army ;) ). I though Crusades were more of a challenge when you´re on the receiving end, what with the high-morale, heavily armoured Order Knights and foot soldiers.

[MuseRulez]

It looks bad having that huge army und the cross heading towards you, but when you actually face them they're not much of a threat, especially in the desert.

True, the AI doesn't handle crusades very good. In most mods it's a little beter because the AI builds less low-level junk units like peasants or militia. Personally I don't use crusades very much, just for GA points. Most of the time I just make some huge stacks and kill everything in my path , not very efficient but alot of fun

[Ironside]

Haven't lost one in years, except when shifting factions for fun. Some factions does require speciffic openings though.