First short campaign done :)

[Grimmy]

Dayve:

The only thing I can think that might have made any difference is that I did not attack anyone anywhere once I got the islands secure up until I went for my end game land grab. Maybe that gives the AI time to work itself out?

Or, maybe it was just dumb luck. Anyway, I was much impressed by the change from my days of fighting endless waves of peasants and warbands or low end spear units and light cav hords from RTW.

The AI armies I ran into seemed pretty well put together and had troops at the same tech level as my own.

[Dayve]

I've been playing peacefully though... 80 turns and all i have on the continent in Caen, which i have defended from 2 full stacks of French rabble in the last 5 years... Apart from that i've just been building up and defending what i started with and conquering rebels on Britain itself, until the Scots declared war on me 10 years ago, i've had to invade them, but all they can throw at me are highland archers and highland rabble...

[Grimmy]

Going off memory (which aint that strong anymore) but the only time I remember running into siege gear heavy enemy stacks was when they were approaching my cities/forts to attack.

The enemy that engaged me in ambush or at bridges was usually a bit heavier in ranged then I would be in my army, but didnt strike me as silly in numbers. There was always plenty horse and foot with those enemy stacks when they initiated the assault or were defending chokepoints such as bridges.

I do hope I just didnt get lucky. Seeing decent enemy field armies was really enjoyable.