Whatever suits you... Depends on what/how you want to play... If you want a big map, I'd go for LTC Gold (which resembles Vanilla but much less buggy..) or SS.
As to factions, I'd go for almost any but I'll admit I'd be more at ease with Sicily, France, England or the Mongols/Timurids...
Too bad, the team behind Dominion of the Sword hasn't released it yet... It could make for a very exciting experience...
If you're looking to a smaller map/number of players, any Campaigns of the Kingdoms expansion could be fun (though I can't think of a Big Bad faction in the Crusades unless you place Antioch and Jerusalem under joint command or scratch one and give its territory to the other...)
In the Britannia campaign, you could give a buff to the Norse and unleash them on the Isles (though I saw you already have a Britannia hotseat running, so it may not be quite as fun...)
In the Teutonic Campaign, The Bruders come foremost to being the Big Bad with the Mongols as close seconds, provided the latter are given a buff both in units and King's Purse (and General's Loyalty...)
Anyway, I'll bow to your/our collective wisdom when it comes to selecting both mod and faction, with the purpose of creating the most fun for all involved.
[EDIT] I've also already played the Big Bad Wolf in a few campaigns (Crusades Hotseat 2 as KoJ lost at 1v3, Teutonic in the Teutonic Hotseat won at 1v5 or Norse in the Britannia Hotseat lost at 1v4...) so I know a bit of what is required of me, if you finally decide to give me the role...
And I won't be too aggravated if I lose as long I can give a good fight... I'll fight tooth for tooth... Like an Armenian (at ATPG)
[EDIT2] Another idea which comes to mind reading Phonics post about Victory Conditions is creating two sets of victory conditions : one public and one secret for each faction.
It would each faction to pursue clear goals to the eyes of the beholder , while all the same trying to attain those secret goals that may require the treason of an ally or the capture of certain provinces of no particular interest to the faction but capital to the opposition...
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