Quote Originally Posted by Caravel

My advice is this. Put together a cavalry based force of 3 or four units of Hobilars and some Fyrdmen or Feudal Sergeants led by an heir or Royal Knights general (not your faction leader or sole heir). Also prepare an occupation force of peasants or UM. About 4 or 5 units should do it (depends on your units size though). Then simply invade with the first force, fight it out and start building the port. Find a suitable governor with high dread and/or piety. Drop in the occupation force, build watchtowers and town watch then pull the invasion force out. Watch the provincial loyalty (happiness level)! You can start disbanding part of the garrison as the province accustoms to your rule and new happy buildings (watch towers, border forts, town watch and upgrades, church, brothel etc.) are built. When you have teched up to spies, a spy in each provinces does alot to improve the loyalty there.

Thanks for the advice, Caravel (and everyone else). I sent in two units of Royal Knights, 2 Hobilars, 2 Clansmen and 1 Armored Fedual MAA. My footsoldiers fought it out with the Gallowglasses in the forest and my horse annihilated the Kerns. Still getting the hang of battle manoeuvres. I find it difficult to manage all my units when they get spread out. I can't imagine not using the "pause" button (as some experts do) !

I don't seem to be able to pull off victories without taking significant casualties.

Strategic managment is complicated too. Here is one classic newbie mistake I made today:

I have been trying to get 3 shipbuilding provinces to grow my trade empire and I have 2 producing regularly now. But it still seemed like it was taking FOREVER to get my ships out. I was also re-loading a lot when my assassins failed (yes I know its lame, but I couldn't bear to let my 3 star guys go down after slaughtering all of those peasants to get them there!). So anyway, I am thinking "damn, why the hell are my ships taking so long?" And then I click my ship off the coast of Brittany and what do I find?

FOUR FREAKING SHIPS SITTING THERE STACKED! ARGGHHH!!!

Oh well, guess I have to pay more attention!

I love this game.

Take care all of you.