which faction and mods?

[macsen rufus]

I generally agree with most of the advice given here. My very first game was with the Almohads and managed to win. I do really like the English and the Turks, and the Russians were fun (despite the Horde!) I'm trying HRE/early for the first time (I've had the game 3+ years now, BTW) and it is by far the hardest campaign I've played so far. Admittedly I now play on 'expert' setting whereas I started my first Almos on 'easy' just to learn the ropes.... Being HRE almost inevitably means conflict with the Pope every time you sneeze, and the neighbours hate you from the start.

I've not tried the Italians, Sicilians, Hungarians, Poles or Danes yet. I think I did the French once..... unmemorable if I did

Definitely recommend VI for a change of scenery, where I've played everyone but the Saxons - the Vikings themselves being quite easy as long as you work out their economic model. VI gives the option for lots of mods too. Can recommend Hellenic, Napoleonic, Pike and Musket and Samurai. The different eras give very different tactics etc, and as they say, a change is as good as a rest (as in "No, dear, I'm not still playing 'that silly Mediaeval game'...." )

Of course, you can always start more than one campaign and compare different factions straight away. I'd suggest one Catholic and one Muslim faction, in early era so you work your way through the tech tree from the bottom up.

Let us know how you get on. Enjoy.