Tsar's of Russia!

[entwo]

This is my current game with Russia on M/M I was wondering what other people have gotten with such large spread out domains such as Russia. In this game I'm hoping to consolidate my empire before the Mongols get into Europe.

Thoughts?
-enTwo

[Laman]

Why don't you have Kiev? If playing the Rus it is the first and most important target, and what should be your capital (it is always the second city I conquer personally with Rus, first is Smolensk on the way)! Other then that nice expansion. My westward expansion doesn't tend to look like that, the Poles are way too honourable allies (never imagined I would say that about an ally in a total war game... ) unlike those ¤#" backstabbing Byzantines.

[entwo]

Oh well I don't remember exactly the circumstances but I think I was fighting off the Poles at the time and Hungary came up and grabbed it and I didn't want to make enemies of them at the time of course theyre my enemies now :S funnily enough that faction scroll is covering up the Hungarians siege of my castle of Halych and i still haven't finished off the poles(at least that is the poles in Europe-take a look at Antioch)

[Jasper The Builder]

I bet you used cheats didn't you

No one can say they've has such a huge domain as that before

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Except for lack of holding Kiev looks identical to mine. You might be able to buy Kiev from Hungary.

I played the chivalrous game. Made a few allies and got my rep up to trustworthy and then set about expanding by getting vassals and defending/assisting any allies against the mongols.

[Henry707]

Hello,

From a finance perspective, I was vexed to see that you 10 castles for 17 provinces. If I was your finance chancellor I would be begging to get them converted into cities & get that cash moving!

I try to manage with as few castles as possible because I love trade & money!!! I was just surprised to see so many. Even with the Mongol threat, if you have the cash reserves, you can hammer them into submission!

Henri

[Viking]

What I've gotten?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The spread out empire really isn't the worst part, but the crappy early units. And I can't say I'm too fond of the HA's, give the poor Russians some decent infantry.

[gibsonsg91921]

i got as far west as dijon and was confronting the almighty portugal.

[Rhedd]

And I can't say I'm too fond of the HA's, give the poor Russians some decent infantry.

You've got to be joking!

Man, what I wouldn't give to have Dismounted Dvor when I play other countries.

[entwo]

Hello,

From a finance perspective, I was vexed to see that you 10 castles for 17 provinces. If I was your finance chancellor I would be begging to get them converted into cities & get that cash moving!

I try to manage with as few castles as possible because I love trade & money!!! I was just surprised to see so many. Even with the Mongol threat, if you have the cash reserves, you can hammer them into submission!

Henri

Heh well yeah I haven't gotten around to converting some of the old polish castles into cities and such but meh still make 20k ish a turn anyway and plus if you have enough money you can up a castle and then convert it to a city and you get all that levels buildings without waiting for the pop to get there(cities have a much higher pop limit for upgrading tiers)

What I've gotten?
The spread out empire really isn't the worst part, but the crappy early units. And I can't say I'm too fond of the HA's, give the poor Russians some decent infantry.

Oh i couldn't agree more especially with two soon-to-be neighbours both with better missile cavalry

[ReiseReise]

True some of Russias units are totally craptacular, but defensively they are in one of the best positions in the game. besides being in a corner of the map, your homeland provinces are so spread out that nobody can pose a threat to them, they can't threaten more than one province at a time because they are so far apart. And to defend those provinces, you have the best defense - a good fast moving offense. Anyone attacking you with stacks of militia or any other infantry will get chewed up by your HA armies. All those crappy infantry you get in early game make taking enemy cities a chore, but I guess you can use the time honored Russian tradition of
MEAT WAVES!!!!!!

Woodsmen can take down any enemy with their armour piercing 13 attack, but take heavy losses. In a siege situation they are awesome against cav. They are cheap so who cares? Give them an armour upgrade, build a stack of them and send them charging. (In waves, you don't want them ALL routing at once)

Also, as Russia I find myself building more archers for early game sieges than when I play other factions, they are very good to weaken the enemy for your crappy infantry.

[Seabourch]

How about converting castle Thorn into a city, that way you'll make more monry.

[Abokasee]

Why don't you have Kiev? If playing the Rus it is the first and most important target, and what should be your capital (it is always the second city I conquer personally with Rus, first is Smolensk on the way)! Other then that nice expansion. My westward expansion doesn't tend to look like that, the Poles are way too honourable allies (never imagined I would say that about an ally in a total war game... ) unlike those ¤#" backstabbing Byzantines.

WHAT THE cup!?!?!? Everytime I play as russia, I ally with poland, then they make war for No reason, im still trying too stamp out those little sods, there almost deafeated, but a pain none the less

I do suggest getting Burchide Axemen as soon as possible this will give you good Heavy shock troops (Great against low armour peasent armies of eastern european factions, and they a get a bonus vs Armoured units enhancing them more, basically early and better Zweihandlers