High Period - Sicilians

[Jxrc]

Having played the Early period inside out (and being a bit bored of the battles with the Horde and the uber-Byzantines general) I tried to give my first serious shot at the high period (crippled Byzantines, smaller horde ... Sounded good to me ).

Picked the Sicilian in order to have a secured location to start with. Was quite amazed by the higher tempo of the whole thing ... Everyone at war, crusades sent every five years, Italy taking Scotland and Wales before the English... Even the Danes actually doing something else than getting large army of knights for no purpose

Made what I tought to be a decent cautious start (keeping my homeland, adding Egypt, Antioch, Tripoli, Crete and Syria in about 100 years, two ships in each square, 400,000 florins). Was doing ok in GA point just behind most factions other than the Hungarians who had already a substantial lead. When the game reaches 1320, new GA points calculation for me: 1 for keeping Malta (only homeland), 1 for 3 additonal provinces. This basically means that I am screwed except if can conquer all the non-catholic factions, and burn all other catholic factions with Grand Inquisitors (which is a bit too easy given the AI inability to defend against that ... but already did it to the Italians ... shame on me) ...

A combanition of all-out conquest and cheesy tactics that I do not enjoy too much (but conquering as much as possible with high tech unit could be fun) and I was wondering if anyone (i) could tell me if there is some turn of event before the end of the game that I can expect regarding the calculation of the Sicilian GA points ? or (ii) would have any suggestion for a faction in the high period that would be less at a disadvantage than the Sicilians?

[Deus ret.]

I was wondering if anyone (i) could tell me if there is some turn of event before the end of the game that I can expect regarding the calculation of the Sicilian GA points ? or (ii) would have any suggestion for a faction in the high period that would be less at a disadvantage than the Sicilians?

(i) I'm afraid that since the Sicilian dynasty died out sometime towards the end of the 13th century and the kingdom passed inzto Aragonese hands subsequently, there is nothing which will help you in terms of GA points in the late period. If you look at the faction selection screen in "Late", you'll notice that there are no more Sicilians and that Sicily belongs to Aragon. The only thing which can help you win now is the elimination of factions leading on you in GA points supplied by a decent conquest spree to somewhat alleviate your dire GA point situation.

(ii) basically all which are still there in Late. If you want a safe GA win, take the Russians. You'll have a hell of a time fighting off the horde in High, but once it's done and you're in possession of the steppes you can lean back and rake in GA points. Works even better if you start in Late with them, when the Horde is not as strong as several decades earlier.

[Jxrc]

(ii) If you want a safe GA win, take the Russians. You'll have a hell of a time fighting off the horde in High, but once it's done and you're in possession of the steppes you can lean back and rake in GA points.

Sounds tempting. I will just give it a go (I hate boyards and all horse archers, but trying my luck with halbardiers only could be fun). I think that rus spearmen are no longer available in high but those cool guys who can dismount as feudal knights (Druzzsomething) should be !!! Will probably not have enough cash to buy many of those unless I let rebellions happen every year

[Empirate]

Sorry, no Druzhinas for you in Late... go on a recruiting spree as soon as you can build them, is my advice.
Boyars are one unit that simply has no decent counter, except for dense formations of polearms plus Arbalesters. Use them all you can. They can shoot, don't get too tired, and can easily go mano-a-mano with all kinds of heavy cavalry, as well as Chivalric Knights (just don't let them get charged). They are very, very powerful heavy cavalry, and being able to shoot means there is no part of the battle in which they can't contribute. Don't use them as horse archers - they pack too mean a punch in melee for that.
Steppe Heavies are also very good. They don't kill quickly, as their attack stat is a bit low, but they have some very decent armor on them. Against most infantry archers, these guys can actually win a missile duel (counting out stuff like Turcoman Foot or Longbowmen, as well as everything with a crossbow). They're very sturdy, so don't be afraid to send them into melee: They will be able to hold against most everything except anti-cav or the best of knights.
Halberdiers will be the staple of your Russian armies. A unit that you need to recruit in masses, and one that should always come from a province that has at least a church. Build everything you can to increase their morale.
Pavise Arbalesters in numbers are often considered a little cheesy, but against the Mongols, you just need them. The Mongols have almost no troops that can't shoot, but all they have is bows. Arbalesters have them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with the occasional snack in between...
Hold that bridge in Kiev/Crimea, let everything east of that go to the Horde when they first appear. You can whittle them down in several successive bridge battles in Kiev. You must also hold Muscovy, of course. After decimating the Horde in defensive battles, you can wipe the off the eastern plains forever, or leave a remnant as a buffer against the Turks/Egyptians/Whoever dominates in Asia Minor.

[Jxrc]

Sorry, no Druzhinas for you in Late... go on a recruiting spree as soon as you can build them, is my advice.

Bankruptcy ahead but I do like those guy. Only unit I keep even as mercenaries...

Boyars are one unit that simply has no decent counter, except for dense formations of polearms plus Arbalesters. Use them all you can. They can shoot, don't get too tired, and can easily go mano-a-mano with all kinds of heavy cavalry, as well as Chivalric Knights (just don't let them get charged). They are very, very powerful heavy cavalry, and being able to shoot means there is no part of the battle in which they can't contribute. Don't use them as horse archers - they pack too mean a punch in melee for that.
Steppe Heavies are also very good. They don't kill quickly, as their attack stat is a bit low, but they have some very decent armor on them. Against most infantry archers, these guys can actually win a missile duel (counting out stuff like Turcoman Foot or Longbowmen, as well as everything with a crossbow). They're very sturdy, so don't be afraid to send them into melee: They will be able to hold against most everything except anti-cav or the best of knights.

Will try but I will probably suck at this since too used to cavalry with good charge and average melee.

Halberdiers will be the staple of your Russian armies. A unit that you need to recruit in masses, and one that should always come from a province that has at least a church. Build everything you can to increase their morale.
Pavise Arbalesters in numbers are often considered a little cheesy, but against the Mongols, you just need them. The Mongols have almost no troops that can't shoot, but all they have is bows. Arbalesters have them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with the occasional snack in between...
Hold that bridge in Kiev/Crimea, let everything east of that go to the Horde when they first appear. You can whittle them down in several successive bridge battles in Kiev. You must also hold Muscovy, of course. After decimating the Horde in defensive battles, you can wipe the off the eastern plains forever, or leave a remnant as a buffer against the Turks/Egyptians/Whoever dominates in Asia Minor.

Should do ok here. Once I tried in an early campaign (earthquake had destroyed my only facility producing arbs while the constuction of the cathedral was on its way ) I had to stop the Horde in Khazar with just about eight unit of arbalesters the rest being harlardiers and chivalric seargeant. It was the most boring battle ever (waiting in the woods for their MHA to run out of arrows ... ) but in the end time was on my side (killing 50% of the horde, rest ran away, almost no prisoners but try chasing fleeing horses with halbardiers ).

Anyway thanks for all the tips. Something I will definitavely try next week-end. Will post the result for my greater shame or glory .... (probably the former the first time I try bu what the heck )

[King Kurt]

I have been doing a High Sicilian campaign for some time - see
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=65937

and "Pics and history of your empire"

I have found it a real challenge and great fun - why are you worried about attacking Catholics? - I tend to have a rule of only attacking those who attack me or those who are excommunicated - but the game has been great. The GA points are a bit of a pain, but, once that had sank in, I have been slowly building an empire. Because of your small beginings and the fact that the High period seems more free wheeling ther are a succession of challenges to get through.

So have a look at my campaign - the key was grabbing Constantinopole early and hanging on. I have come close to oblivion a couple of times, but have won through.