Venice

[Mek Simmur al Ragaski]

This is what i reckon somebody playing Venice should do

Expansion
Exterminate the people of Zagreb and Durazzo, and consider taking Flourence and Rhodes. I would not suggest attack the Byzantines as they are actually a decent ally, and wont stab you in the back like Milan regularly do. Your next goal should be to eliminate Milan as early as possible, so they are not a pain later on. I also suggest taking Ajjacio and Cagliari, both south of Genoa on the two islands, as the AI never attacks them and they are good for trade as they are right in the middle of the sea.

Trade and diplomatic stances
Seens as though you are places crash bang in the middle of italy, many diplomats will come down for alliance, trade rights and map info, the trade rights will gain you much money. If you have taken Florence, gift it to he pope, as many factions will attack florence, and it is a waste of money. This will also put your papal favour near the top, so its a good thing to do.

Navy
Venice has possibly the largest navy in the game, you should exploit this by blockading enemy ports, destroying their navies, porting units to their countries. Or you could simply dispand it to lower your upkeep, although i dont suggest this.

Units
I cant think of any, but people say they have some very good unique soldiers

Well, thats what i think you should do whilst playing Venice

[kitbogha]

My Plan:-
1)Trade money for Bologna, a good investment as once you take Florence too, you hold the keys to the peninsula and have options to expand east or west. Ally with everyone (ask for money to do so-they will usually pay for the priviledge). You can manipulate the Pope far easier if he is your ally, and if Milan (for instance, the treacherous snakes!!) decide to attack you and break your alliance the Pope seems to take this more seriously and it makes the whole Crusading for gain thing much easier.
2)Take Zagreb, before too long it expands to a nice little earner and also links up with Ragusa, somewhat unifying your empire.
3)Take Ajaccio. Keep it as a castle as it a) is handy for building troops for your expansion into Iberia and North Africa, b) It is tougher for when other factions (Milan again?) decide they want to risk your wrath and attack it. It is a great way station for expansion south and west. You can also take Cagliari (unless as in my campaign Sicily got there first-I am still being freinds with everyone but the Muslims and the Rebels).
4) Get some priests over to southern Iberia and North Africa to smooth your way with the locals and boost their credibility for when Pope Electing time comes.
5) Being the most popular faction with the Pope you can now commission a Crusade against Cordoba and get a toehold on the peninsula.
This is as far as I have got (turn 28) but I am nicely set up for a nice little war against the Moors.
More Later.

Later-
Turn 68 and the Moors are no more. Their empire fell with surprising ease (thanks to 2 handy crusades) and I now have substantial holdoings in Iberia and North Africa, including the king of all moneymakers Timbuktu. As planned the Pope is now Venetian. Milan, as expected betrayed our alliance, so I had to relieve them of 3 provinces. I was casting around for a legitamate enemy and Lo and behold Spain backstabbed me, so now the war is on, Spain have been excommed and I am rushing over to Rome with my diplomat to gift the Pope some florins and a map to push my love just that little notch higher to allow my planned crusade against Toledo (although the most popular of the Catholic Church's son's my faction is marginally short of the level to activate that particular crusade).
Once I have dispatched them (or maybe at the same time!) I aim to take out those Byzantines who have been raiding my Easternmost provinces...
It is good having a widely spread empire, allowing opportunities for action in several directions at once.