Favorite Faction...& Why?

[ViRus]

Basically i'm interested with which factions do many of you people play as...and why? I want to start a new campaign with a relatively new faction so thats why i made this thread..

[Irishmafia2020]

I love playing with Denmark and Venice. I like to have the option of creating an amphibious empire, and both of those factions are well located on the sea. Additionally, I think that they both have strong unit lists, and especially good heavy infantry. I didn't like sicily because I felt their (vanilla) units were too weak. I don't like the Kievan Rus for the same reason, although the mercs help a lot....

[Rex Inanimatus]

1. Al Muribitun : starting location cheap units like desert horsemen
2. Abbasid caliphate : great units and poorer lands than your neighbours, dislike the fact that you are abit far out of the center of the world
3. Kievan Rus : your enemies have all adifferent background so very different battles
4. Basileia ton Romaion same like 3 though dislike the fact that jihad is called against capital very soon and in history it only fell in 1453 after it other lands were taken.
5. Krolestwo polskie : like 3 ,dislike the long distance between thorn and Riga

These campaigns were my fav have played as well fatimids (too much desert) khwarezmids (only a lonely stretch of lands and than overrun by mongols) Danmark (played in other mods too much) france (might look at them once more) Novgorod (boring until mongols) Sicily ( a bit too easy smashing muslim factions in Nothern Africa and a nagging pope if you want some real fights against Catholics)

[headsh0ts]

The Holy Roman Empire.

Starting from a position of strength is harder than it seems. Pick the wrong enemy and the whole of europe betrays you.

That and the have loads of units with massive 2 handeed swords

[ciciocle]

hmm...Denmark, because of their many unique units, but tends to become boring after a while.
Byzantium, or the Turks. I really like Eastern Roman Empire area, and i either recreate the empire starting from the west or starting from the east. I wish, thou, the Sultanate of Rum to keep their unique units (sipahi, janissary and ottoman infantry), rather than sharing them with other muslim kingdoms.
Poland, because of their amazing cavalry and difficult starting position.
France, for no reason.
And Scotland, for noble pikemen and noble swordsmen noble pikemen absolutly kick ass!!! In spearwall formation, and set on defensive stance, they are invincible. Not a single unit breaks their line.

[Freedom]

If you rush Syria from the get-go after getting at least Arab Cavalry/ good mercs and taking provinces like Ayla, Qulzum and Gaza, the Fatimid caliphate is a very fun faction to play, as you get all of the Levant, can take the Greek islands, get all the regions normally captured by the Fatimids (south of Cairo) and also control the left half of the Arabian peninsula. I've never gotten as far in Fatimid as I have gotten w/Moors.

Moors have to be my fav faction for a number of reasons:

1: I intensly dislike the Reconquista. When the Spanish finally took Grenada, they shortly thereafter started purging all the "heathens" in their territories (Jews and Muslims) via forced conversion, exportation or simple execution. This is made all the worse by the fact that for the most part, Muslims had let the Jews and Christians in their lands free to do and worship as they please, except for in some areas levying a "head-tax" against non-Muslims.

2: Their starting position is one of the best in the game. If you make sure to take the castles of southern and middle Iberia as your first priority, you have a nearly impenetrable northern border. Like all Islamic factions, they do have to deal with Crusades, but with castles surrounding Cordoba owned by Moors on all sides, even the largest computer crusader army will eventually be pushed out as long as you make taking back Cordoba your #1 priority. Or you can simply be lefthanded and assassinate the generals as they come to Cordoba. >: ) Another thing that is nice about their starting position is N Africa itself: as long as you hold S Iberia tightly and keep people off of Africa (mainly Sicily and westward expansion by the Fatimids) N Africa can serve as you warchest, providing large amounts of revenue without much investment in the form of protecting armies.

3: Great units. The Moors are one of the most under-rated factions out there: their early spear infantry may suck vs Western knights etc, but once you get units like the Urban Militia and use them in concert with Arab and Desert Cavalry, it's pretty much over for the computer as far as winning battles go. Also, I have to say that I like jinetes better than horsearchers: javelins have much more punch than arrows, and you can charge the enemy right after throwing them, usually resulting in a rout. The best way to use them is to turn autofire off, get them almost within range of the enemy, turn back autofire and "strafe" with them sideways from behind, making sure not to touch the enemy unit (which can be harder than it sounds due to dodgy unit AI), then run away and charge back in from behind. I've gotten ransom values of troops (not paid, of course, because the AI's economy sucks ><) of 25k using tactics like this on large stacks before. If you're adept enough at cavalry tactics, you can send 2 units of Arab Cavalry or higher and 3 units of Desert Cavalry or higher through you enemy's territory, acting like brigands and capturing troops as they move around for ransom, all the while having a low upkeep. One time I got 2 heroic victories doing that within 2 turns (no marker, unfortunately ).

And that's just early on... later, they get the 2 Christian Guard units, mounted crossbows and despite lacking advanced cannons, their gunpowder troops are definitely more than a match for their Christian counterparts. I've never actually gotten to use the Camel Gunners, but in vanilla campaigns have used Sudanese Gunners extensively.

[Americanus Supremus]

I have to say that the HRE is my favorite. I like there units and there starting position. Its in the middle of the map, or close to it. And surrounded by potential enemies. Ive also plaid a bit with Venice as well. Good unit roster and starting position as long as you grab your share of Italy. Then you can pick your targets, either rebel Islands, Byzantium or go crusading. I want to try out Byzantium once 2.1 comes out due to there unit rebalancing and the fact they are a constant target for the muslim factions. Tons of battles Im hoping.

HC

[Irishmafia2020]

@freedom - You've sold me on the moors... I'll have to try them out in the future...

[Fargham]

1) Spain - I'm a bit biased here, because I'm named after its patron saint, and I enjoy a strong navy, especially late game when the AI has boats all over the place.

2) Basileia ton Romaion - The spirit of the Roman empire may be flickering, Catholics and Orthodox might not get along all that well - but lets face it they have a lot of unique units, and every battle you just 'need' to win. Plus lets face it... the damn computer gives Constantinople up way too damn early in the game.... it needs a player to protect it!

3) Scotland - FREEEDOM!!!! Ever seen hordes of scottish highlanders storming the gates of Jerusalem? Well, neither had I, but damn it was fun trying to pull victory out of a hat with such rabble.

4) England - Longbowmen