which faction and mods?

[Sensei Warrior]

I think I jumped in too late to give a vote, but what the heck I'll throw in my 2 cents anyways. The best starting factions in order.

1. The Spanish. They have good units, good income, really good income when you figure out trade, nice starting location, and a built in enemy to whomp. You can go the Almohad, Egyptian, Turkish route for years and never ever hear a peep from the Pope.

2. The Byzantines. Incredible money (think of being the medieval version of Bill Gates), great units and no Pope to worry about. These guys would have gotten the top spot if it wasn't for the units half-life. The units become outdated after awhile. I would think that even a beginner would end the game way before this becomes a problem, but it has the potential to become a problem. The Spanish don't have this problem, they continue to get great units all the way through.

3. I know this is going to throw a couple of people. The Italians. These guys are another great money-maker, they have some great units (Light Italian Infantry), but their position is only so so. However, if you become a great naval power that won't really matter. These guys might take a little planning but I believe they are the next easiest.

After that, I would say the English (they are my fav Catho faction), the Danes (who get even better if you have VI), and any of the Muslim ones. I seemed to have a natural aptitude for the Turks, but you may not.

A couple of stay away froms. The afore mentioned HRE. These guys are the toughest faction to play, evryone wants to have a piece of the HRE puzzle. Stay away from the Russians in High. With the Mongols breathing down your neck it takes alot of planning to survive the first 30-40 years.

[Shaun]

Actually, the Byzantines arent a good starter faction.
They have quite powerful enemies all around them, and only thier elite units are anything to shout about, Byzantine infacntry are crap!

[Sensei Warrior]

Actually, the Byzantines arent a good starter faction.
They have quite powerful enemies all around them, and only thier elite units are anything to shout about, Byzantine infacntry are crap!

If your refering to the Byz in Early, then I will respectfully disagree. The only nearby powerful enemy is the Egyptians, who have the tendancy to spam camels and peasants. The Turks have the potential to be powerful, but are rather small at this point, and easily handled.

All of the Byz regular units (not elite) are slightly more powerful in Early than the other factions counterparts. Byzantine Infantry, statwise are on par with FMAA, except there are 100 of them, which means alot more killing power. There is also a large amount of tactical flexibility. You have the ability to tailor armies to a more Catho or Muslim style or a mix of the 2. And if that wasn't enough the Byz spawn some of the highest star generals I have ever seen. Even if the Byz units leave a little to be desired, being led by a 6* or 7* general will more than level the playing field.

Military aside the thing that makes the Byz easy is money, your provences are all rather good, cash-wise. Lots of cash means the ability to generate and maintain large armies if needed. You also have quick access to the majority of the richest provences in the game.

The Byz downside of their military becoming outdated is somewhat overrated. Whenever I have started a campaign (domination, I have yet to play a Byz GA game) in Early I have finished somewhere soon after the appearance of the Horde. The Byz was the 3rd Campaign I ever played (the Almos and Spanish being the first 2) and I didn't have any trouble beating the game at all.

Now outside of Early, I'm not sure how the Byz will perform. I've never played them outside of Early.

[littlebktruck]

Another thing in the favor of England and Spain is that they have decent melee cavalry immediately available. Cavalry aren't as powerful as in RTW, but their speed gives you great flexibility early and can mask some of the inevitable inexperienced errors.