How to have fun with a boring faction

**Budwise** · 06-20-2007, 05:49

I love playing the English, although I have played other factions they mostly lose interest but I am sick of starting in England. Well, I packed up EVERYTHING and shipped out to Jerusalem. Well, after cheating just for some starter cash AND NOTHING REALLY EXTRA, I have made the middle east my home and am fighting a two front war. I almost lost my home twice because I gave all of Homeland England to the Papacy and the Turks love to hit me when I'm not ready. Well, I finished off the Egyptians and as soon as I do, the Mongols invade and I am totally screwed unless I pull a rabbit out of my A##. This is the best game that I have ever played and I wouldn't quit for any reason. Also, I pretty much own the Papacy because with my constant Priest making to keep everything on an even level and keeping my alliances to the Western world my relations is always on Reliable. Calling Crusades has been a huge help because when I am about to be attacked, I just ask for one (I always get it because my relations with the pope have always)

Try it, its fun and you won't have to worry about the Papacy too much.

**Sheogorath** · 06-20-2007, 08:14

Oh yes, random relocations are fun. I personally found loading the entire Danish faction onto ships and heading for the African coast rather entertaining.
Nobody expects the Viking Raiders!

Other fun combinations include Aztec England, Moorish Russia and Turkish Spain.

**trickydicky** · 06-20-2007, 12:49

Upping everything including the kitchen sink is always great fun.

I did that in my last campaign with Sicily, I got bored with the fighting in Italy (Again) and decided that Alexandria would make a nice new home

The variation is definitely worth trying once at least.

**sapi** · 06-20-2007, 13:45

Yeah, that's always good for a laugh.

I found Venetian Jerusalem to be different, if a tad easy...

**Monsieur Alphonse** · 06-20-2007, 13:45

I did the same as the OP did and relocated England to Alexandria. I took Alexandria and Gaza with my two starting armies and added Cairo and Jerusalem soon after. Jerusalem gives you a permanent public order bonus of 15%. Because the Mongols will always go straight after the human player I hastily conquered the entire Middle East and made sure that Sophia and Sarkel ware my border forts. Because between Cairo and Tripoli there is a lot of sand you only need three full stacks as garrison to defend your newly homeland. Very soon I was stinking rich. I play at a pace of 1 year/turn so I have all the time to prepare my cities for the Mongols. And of course I control the Vatican. Yes this is fun.

**Callahan9119** · 06-20-2007, 13:59

omg how funny, i just did this very thing this morning with portugal, i sold a city to the moors, made 2 jinettes, a few militia and bought 2 merc spearmen, then everyone went on the ships, 2 full stack and princesses etc

it was a hairy voyage to alexandria, had a few close calls with pirates, and both armies were on fleets of just 1 ship, 1 stack went to cairo, the other to alexandria, i quickly assaulted both and made up alot of my 32,000 dollar dept via sacking both. alexandria is now my capital, i have both bridges defended, am slowly making money and am about to head for gaza...then on to the holy land

prolly gonna take me 10 more turns to get out of debt, then when i sack gaza i should have a nice chunk of cash to fund my assault on jerusalem

this is on H/VH no cheating, its really fun, and i have the faction with the best units around...i feel sorry for mongols and timurids if they come wandering into my lands. adventuros, portuguese arbs, musketeers, jinettes, portuguese mounted and foot knights, conquistadors, almughavars (monsters on walls)...this is gonna be so great

i love this area of the map, but i always hated the crap armies muslims have, so this is great, cant believe i never did this before, WOOT