
Originally Posted by
Kavhan Isbul
Generally, when playing with the Turks I try to produce huge numbers of turcoman horse, ghazi infantry, ottoman infantry as archers (in Rum), Armenian Heavy Cavalry in Armenia and saracen infantry.
It's been some time since I last played the Seljuks in XL, but I would probably go for Armenia initially, as the Armenians have a tendency to attack Rum sooner or later, and this can be painful if it coincides with fighting with the Fatimids and Byzantines. The Fatimids (Egyptians) tend to have poor troops (lots of nubian spearmen, desert archers and camels) and little with which to counter horse archers. I will try to hit them early and establish a one-province border with them at the Sinai before they can start transferring Saharan Cavalry. As for the Byzantines - simply wait for them to be at war with Sicily and the Cumans. If you get to Nicea and your fleet protects your borders, then the only way the Byzantines can invade will force them to fight a bridge battle and then even the katanks are easy to deal with. The Seljuks initial strategy should be to get a nice Empire with only three borders - Egypt, Georgia and Nicea or Constantinople (Nicea is easier to defend). Then they can build up their navy, get all the income from trade and slowly expand in whatever direction they want (North Africa is perhaps the best choice military wise and economic wise) while defeating an occasional Crusade in Nicea or Constantinople (if they ever cross).
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