Quote Originally Posted by sapi
I loved playing byzantium - it's really a balancing act to stay alive with everyone out there hating your guts


Depends on your definition of entertaining. If you like battles instead of economic managament, Egypt is easy because you're rolling in money from the opening turns, after you sack Jerusalem. Still, it's my favorite because of the big fights with invading Crusades, Mongols and Timurids. Crusades start about turn 20 but are not that tough, frankly. A few good armored units surrounded by untrained, unarmored easy meat. Mongol invasions don't start until about turn 70. Then the Black Death hits, then the Timurids.

So, if you hate being strapped for cash, like blitz openings, big cavalry fights, battles against Timurid elephants and having all of Christendom hate you, Egypt is your faction. You can also revenge yourself against the Pope by conquering Rome for Islam.