Strategically, HOW do you play the slow game

[dopp]

I agree with Blademun. Select a suitable chunk of territory and biltz your way through the first 50 turns, then slow down and start teching. 15-20 regions is a good figure to aim for. Expand too fast and you'll find yourself spending more money building up the outlying provinces than they can generate for you, plus you risk becoming over-extended when the big three events turn up (Black Death, Mongols, Timurids). Once you have established your superiority beyond question, you can slowly grind forward again until you win.

[Aelwyn]

Pretty much the same for me as the other people. I am playing as Russia, 1 turn = 1 year. I'm at about turn 70 or so, and am only at war with the Rebels. Even Poland has backed off of me after I killed their king in battle. His heir apparently didn't want to go to war with me, and after killing their King, we were no longer at war for some reason.

The trick is to expand enough to get a few good provinces that either have good resources, or nice land that can be upgraded for farming.

I do this by keeping only the forces that I need (plus a little more in case of a large attack). At that point I start building an infrastructure. Roads, farm upgrades, try to get as many coastal provinces trading as possible...all eventually.

Also another thing that works well, especially with Russia...is have your landlocked provinces be castles (as many as you think you need, I only have 3). Each region capable of generating an impressive income should be a city. All my coastal regions are cities, so I can meddle with the taxes, and other buildings that will generate income that aren't always available to castles.

As Russia, taking (Helsinki I think it is? the one across the sea from Novgorod) helps, as I'm making almost 3k per turn there, not including the 2-3 merchants in the area making 150 each per turn.

[katank]

You probably mean Stockholm. That city is the jewel of the Baltic in terms of trading. You should absolutely try to beat the Danes there.

[Aelwyn]

Yes, Stockholm, thx. Couldn't think of it.

[The Stranger]

i usually built up a good navy, good army, good economy... taking only necesary cities... defending necesary chokepoints, exploit diplomacy as good as possible... than train a massive army and mount a massive invasion... like i train 10 full stacks and attack spain and france taking it over in like 10-20 turns... I also like to make an island empire... taking italy that 3 islands under anatolia, malta and sicily, sardinia and that other one...

[Tristrem]

personally I like to choose a short campaign. This way I am not pressured to conquer the whole map. It's easier to play slow when you don't have to take over the whole map. While it may easy to get te 20 regions, I won't destroy the factions needed for victory. Then, when i am ready to start a new campaign I just eliminate the faction needed. For example, as the moors take over a majority of spain and leave portugal with only one settlement. This way i can continue playing, but can also win when I feel like it.

[katank]

You know that you can choose to play on after victory, right? That means you don't have let the faction just sit there while you take territories that are further off just to play longer.