Hello,

Sorry I haven't had a chance to post yet Carl -- been quite busy with work recently and just today got the chance to dig into PF a bit. Anyway, started a campaign as Portugal (short victory conditions) on VH/VH. A couple initial observations / questions.

- The zero starting cash is interesting. My understand was that it (along with the large garrisons) was meant to slow blitzing, but in the case of Portugal (income starts in the red even with max taxes), it has almost the opposite effect. You have lots of troops and little money -- you have to throw them at something immediately. The rebel garrisons are certainly buffed however, though that may have two unintended side effects:
a) The rebel AI seems much more prone to sallying (because its generally better than my initial forces in the strength calculator). This actually tends to speed up initial territory acquisition, as the player can often beat the sallying rebels (player has a general to help with morale and has calvary for formed charges in the open plains in front of the walls). Consequently, I found myself getting towns on the turn I siege them, without having to contend with the towers or starve the AI out. On the first turn, for instance, I sieged Zarazoga and the AI immediately sallied, leading to a heroic victory for me (700 killed, 90 dead). Maybe giving each rebel town a rebel general would help?
b) Because of those big rebel garrisons, the other factions are much more tempting targets for early warfare. While its not great for diplomacy, I'd rather hit Cordoba and fight 2 units than Zarazoga and fight 12. Is there any way to encourage the AI to garrison better?

- Did you change the mechanism for unit experience? After my first battle my general and 2 units of Jinetes were at 3 bronze chevrons each with only light casualties (both Jinete units were around 35/40 men left). Seems a bit excessive, I'll keep an eye out to see if it recurs.

- Diplomat/princess movement speed is wonderful.

- Spy/merchant speed seems excessive -- spies can now scope out 1-2 provinces in a single turn, and merchant "knockoffs" are now much more common (I use the ter, "knockoff" to describe the situation where a merchant is ordered to move onto a resource that is covered by fog of war at the beginning of the turn. If the merchant can reach the resource in the turn and it is occupied by an enemy merchant, the merchant "knocks off" his enemy and gets the resource without having to attempt an acquisition).

Anyway, having lots of fun -- great work!!! I'll keep you posted.