The Best Province Thread

[Agent Smith]

Well, I haven't seen one of these threads, so here you go. Name your favorite provinces and why.

For me, it's kind of a tie. After decimating the entire Mongol army with two stacks in a tiny region, I'd have to say my first favorite region is Antioch. Besides being the home diocese of my favorite saint, it is one of the most profitable regions and one of the most defendable. To the west is the sea, and a river traveling across the north and then down south gives three natural barriers with only three ways of attack: across a bridge, across a river ford, or invasion by sea (which can be protected against by simply keeping a decent navy stationed in port). The only open area is to the south, but the area is small and a single fort can slow down enemy progress so defenses can be prepared.

The money is amazing as well. There are two sugar resources and two cotton resources that generate a lot of income, and other good resources are jsut a stone's throw away in neighboring areas. All in all, a great place to have a city that is near impenatrable and a huge money maker.

Besides Antioch, I'm growing rather fond of Bran. It is completely encircled by mountains with only a few narrow valleys to reach the middle. A few well placed forts and a missile stack could allow a player to hold out in there for years. If an enemy every did break through to the middle, just leave the missile stack right up against a mountain to taunt them. If they go for Bran, then your missile stack can harass them. If they go for the missile stack, then they are going to have to climb a cliff while you pelt them to death. It's a great little area.

Anyway, throw your favorites out there!

P.S. - I would have mentioned Kiev, but that is more sentimental than for any other good reasons

[IrishArmenian]

Bran is a great region. Whoever holds Bran has the Eastern Balkans and North Eastern Europe at his mercy.
Stockholm is a cash-cow and the economic decider for the early game playing as one of the Northern European factions.
Venice is a huge trade hub as is Genoa.
I hold the Mongols well with Adana, because that is my base for attack when I'm going to sweep into the Holy Land.
Caffa can become a great Black Sea port.
Constantinople is delightful.
Corinth is always a great early B.O.P.
Yerevan and Tbilisi, because it has sentimental value for me to hold the Caucasus as the last Christian Bastion in the east as it was.
Timbuktu is great because of the many resources, it is a great economic holding.
Vienna, like Stockholm for the North. is pivotal for Central Europe. As with Stockholm, the many mines make income flow in great numbers.

[Skott]

Hmmm... An interesting question. I've never considered which is my fav province. So many to choose from too. I think it'll be faction specific too. I'll have to think about this for a bit.

[Kobal2fr]

Venice is a sweet, sweet city. Not only is it a cash cow, but the city itself is surrounded by river tiles (to simulate the city's layout) and accessible only through one bridge, which obviously is an even better defensive point than the city walls themselves.

Cordoba is also good, for the same reason : it makes a lot of dough, and almost all the ways in are protected by rivers.

I also love Heraklion (sp ? basically, Crete) as it's a great spot from which to threaten pretty much the whole known world, and make a lot of money as well since it will receive trade from pretty much everywhere. Easy to defend too, being an island.

Lastly, Stettin is a great place, but not to own : to keep neutral and cleric free as your own little Pagan paradise so as to get those Teutonics all riled up and begging you for an HQ

[Fußball]

Hamburg because it is an early almost fortress-ready castle early on, it is rather rich for a castle province and it has a bridge protecting the western approach to the castle. Other than that my only quarrel is why it was not a city instead of a castle, which does not make much sense.

Lastly, Stettin is a great place, but not to own : to keep neutral and cleric free as your own little Pagan paradise so as to get those Teutonics all riled up and begging you for an HQ

In my current campaign, funny enough, Stettin was my first province to become 90+% Catholic. Because I situated several priests ( who are now long since cardinals ) in the region to sow the Catholic seed. And prevent those damned pagan magicians from finding refuge in the form of my general's curiosity!

And lastly Kobal, I blame you, for you are the French.
That is all.

Tschüß!
Erich

[darth_napo]

Antioch = trade monster, interesting position, great challenge to defend since mongols always attack it.