Ok, so bugs and patches aside. Some of which make it harder and some easier.

Does anyone else think this game is far too easy? I've been playing since Shogun, pretty much hardcore, completing every campaign on every side in every game. You know the story.

But seriously, after the logistical nightmare that was the western Roman empire campaign on RTW:BI, where you had to micromanage every city just to get a positive income. This game is pathetically easy.

On my first game, VH/VH with England, i completed the campaign within 120 turns. Ok, so this probably could be done far quicker had i mastered the new religious and mercantile aspects of the game, as well as stopped bothering with alliances and all that, since the computer breaks them when you're fighting less than two factions.

But seriously, i like finishing off everyone, i have 40 turns remaining (to complete the original 50 or so provinces mission), and i have conquered the entire world, all that remains is a couple of Timurid provinces (the only significant challenge encountered, simply because all their units are 3 gold chevrons and artillery elephants appear to be made of titanium), and a few Inca? provinces further up.

Yeah, by the time you can attack the Incas, they're pretty wimpy in comparison. 3 silver chevron fully upgraded hospitallers seem to smear the floor with their best units.

Everyone used to hate that thing in MTW1 where the provinces kept respawning, but at least it kept you on your toes. Right now i can wipe out an entire faction in about three turns with about 6 well placed armies.

Timurids are the only real challenge faced thus far. The mongols were irritating due to their ability to spawn units from nowhere when facing annihilation. Dropships maybe? Yus.

I have to say, beautiful though it is, it looks like they've chucked out an unfinished product this time.

And why do besieging AIs line all their units up outside your front gate? I've actually had to leave the room and wait for the timer to run out because they just sit there. Retarded. I've had to leave most of the battles to the auto calculator because i just can't be bothered with their tactics. It's the same everytime, they move their missile troops FAR too far forward, get wiped out by my overpowered cavalry, and then the rest of their army converges in a mass in the middle. I could fight these battles with my eyes closed.

Okay, question/rant over. Flame away my friends. Flame away. :)