Quote Originally Posted by Lukasa
Points 6 and 7 seem to be unfair criticisms. If you read the description for the Russians it does justify why they begin with Novgorod and not Kiev - it seems a little weak, but at least the reasoning is there. As for the cities vs. castles, the reason for having castles is because that's the way the game has been set up, and it makes no sense to change that for a single faction.

Then explain why egyptans can build mamluk cav, arab cav, there 2 handed axe men, scracens and halberders all at the large or huge city level relativly early. Clearly the OP has some valid points about being able to recruit some units at the city level.