Small is beautiful - and potentially fatal

[Adrian II]

My decesion to attack a province usually depends on whether I can move my whole front forward to minimize the number of border provinces I have.

Yup, there are several of these strategic lines on the campaign map. There is the Pyrenees, useful if you want to hold Iberia c.q. defend against the dominant Iberian power. Another one would be Lithuania + Kiev, a line that is useful for keeping the Mongols at bay.

The central European line you mention has the advantage of minimum numbers of borders + possession of iron-holding Franconia.

@ gaijinalways, good to hear everything went smoothly. Your description suggested that Almohads were ready to devour you, hence my prediction that you would have a tough time. I agree with your small is beautiful approach. Those oversized nonsense empires are boring..