Crusades Campaign: Byzantium

[Sheogorath]

Funny story, guys.
Venice arrived as per schedual, and in an attempt to throw them for a loop, I sent an assassin after their leader. Well, that guy failed, got himself caught and ended with a declaration of war.
I'd been busy in Constantinople, though, and the city was full of Varangians, archers and all sorts of nasty fellows, as well as an armour factory.
Funny thing. The AI refuses to siege it. So I'm using the Venetian royal family as assassin practice now, although they all seem to have the 'overly cautious' trait when they spawn new fellows.

On that subject...the Venetians seem to get a LOT of free generals, IE: Every time I kill one, a new one spawns the next turn.
Funny, aint it?

AS to troops...I've noticed that Byz horse archers chew through Hasham like theyre nothing. It took a full thirty seconds for five units of various HA's to wipe out a unit of Hasham. DISMOUNTED Hasham are a bit more of a challenge, but seem to be very vulnerable when it comes to attacks to the back. Especially after being prepared with a nice arrow bombardment.

The old RTW 'Shoot them until you run out of arrows and then retreat' tactic works quite well for a Byzantine army. Five or six units of HA's (or as many as you feel like micromanaging) and you can take out a lot of your foes before you crush them with superior numbers.

[TheLastPrivate]

It's not just the venetians, it includes you.

If your royal family is dwindling for whatever reason (just started campaign, all became homosexual, assassinated, black death, etc...)
you get the "Candidate for adoption" window at new turn. same thing is happening for the venetians and it doesnt' cost money to adopt either.

Of course the geenrals bodyguard has like 450gold upkeep or something..but anyway...