Money issues

[DevrimJan]

The ayyubids are a mysteriously poor faction, you would expect them to be wealthier

Indeed. It says that the Ayyubids have wealthy regions, but they are rather poor.

[Totalwarplayer96]

Indeed. It says that the Ayyubids have wealthy regions, but they are rather poor.

that is what caused me to choose that faction.

[Yesman101]

Ayyubids are poor in 2.3 because they don't have Damasque, don't have Gaza to help facilitate trade to the Hijaz, Start with nearly three expensive stacks at the beginning, and have few, if any, roads. Basically, 2.3 took an ENORMOUS **** on the Ayyubids.

But, IMO it does seem historically accurate. If you think about it, Fatamid Egypt was already in decline from terrible rulers, and Salahuddin's army definately must've caused damage, despite the Fatamid's quick surrender. The Ayyubid is brand spanking new, just formed, with a new head of gov't, and with the Zengids still alive around this period, they would focus heavily on military structures and armies, since they were ready to go all out with Nur-ad-Din.

[Rat-tail]

Keep only a small standing army in your cities and focus on your economy