Volga-Bulgarian ideal line-up

[Third spearman from the left]

Hey Phil,
I've played this faction in the same time period on expert and done quite well, so here are my ideas. SC are not that great unless teched up so I'd only use them to get routers or for quick flanking. BRC are you best weapon and using them after you have picked off the troops with horse archers is a great tactic. Numbers and combo's are hard to advise on due to your limited resources, but remember it's 1108 and the horde will be rising soon. Build jihads and plenty kanzchis, you will need them when they horde arrive.

I'll post a screen shot of my empire and army combo's if you like?

[Peasant Phill]

Those screenshots would be great.

I thought that the horde arrive somewhere around 1230 (so I've enough time to build up).

I have some screenshots of my own:

This is my khan Subudai I which I started with. He has the auyhoritarian virtue and has gathered some other nice ones (e.g. magnificint builder) along the way. His influence right now (1114) is 8 crowns.



His son and heir (15 years younger) future Subudai II (nicknamed the spare) wasn't bad but it could've been much better. By now he just earned his 4th star and is a great builder, natural leader, charitable AND skilled attacker. So I expect no problems when he takes the trone except maybe his offspring as he isn't married yet (31 years old) and will only reign for 20 years give or take.



This was my army movement the first couple of years with battles indicated on the map.



with this as result



I feared the rebels in Khazar as they were a decent bunch of soldiers. 2 units of Khazar royal cav, 2 units of spearmen, 2 units of vanilla HA and 1 unit of SC. I even hired some mercenary infantry to counter the spearmen and some disposable medium cavalry. It turned out to be a joke, after my HA fired there first shots (12 men died among them 3 KRC) they just turned 180° and ran. It earned Subudai II his skilled attacker vice.



I have expanded my empire further. Subudai II invaded Georgia and won but the Seljuks (allies) were also present and had a larger force. At present I control The empire below with addition of Lesser Khazar, Levidia and Crimea.



I have a shiplen to Constantinople for the extra income but due to my rapid expanding I haven't been able to build my desired defensive force. On the bright side I'm allied with most of my neighbours and I'm not in war with anybody. I gues it's time to consolidate a little.