abusing jihad: does everyone do this?

[HamerD]

I just wondered if everyone else makes jihads just so they can get the holy recruits?

And are there any other nice, pernicious little tactics one can use to prize victory out of the hands of fate? I have a bunch but I doubt no one else came up with them so I wonder if there is a thread for this?

thanks for being patient if there is already a thread for this.

[Saibot]

I use Jihads sometimes when the enemy wanders around with a bigass army I couldn't beat with my normal army in that region. So then I just call a Jihad recruit some cheap fodder and own the hell out of the enemy.

[Miraj]

A great way to abuse a jihad is to call it on a inner city of your rivals. Then watch as the jihad armies from other factions descend upon that city carving destruction through the faction's lands. This is especially fun if you do it during/after the mongols have invaded. Because they usually send a pretty sizable and experienced force. The jihad itself distracts the targetted faction a lot and if the city is taken they get distracted trying to take it back.

Of course this is a pure exploit, cheating pretty much.

[Mythre]

A great way to abuse a jihad is to call it on a inner city of your rivals. Then watch as the jihad armies from other factions descend upon that city carving destruction through the faction's lands. This is especially fun if you do it during/after the mongols have invaded. Because they usually send a pretty sizable and experienced force. The jihad itself distracts the targetted faction a lot and if the city is taken they get distracted trying to take it back.

Of course this is a pure exploit, cheating pretty much.

Not true... it is politics. If a ruler had that option against an enemy he would take it in a heartbeat.... All it is is distracting and weakening your enemy through political and religious means.... completely valid.
Although if you want to just get the units.... well just play a faction that has good units so you don't need to call one!

[gornison]

There is nice abuse about crusades, and I think its about jihad too. When U have crusade and U are about to conquer target city in one turn you should join in crusade/ jihad all the army you can from all the empire. then when you conquer the city lot of your units gest exp, and you gain a lot of cash. I tried that with crusade, it should work with jihad.

[Fafnir]

Hell yes I do, no enemy's capital is safe from my hordes of practically free infantry.

I'm just wondering how it chooses which cities you can Jihad against, I thought in the original MTW you could only Jihad against cities that have been taken by Crusades, but in this I've called a Jihad against Novgorod, wayyy out of my way.

[Snoopy]

If you ask me, Jihad units stink ( I have only seen two... ever.) but, if the Mongols have arrived, well... Lets just say life sucks for the enemy.

[mbchudno]

One of the requirements of Jihad is certain level of Islam. I know there are more factors because i can call it on some places with no Islam it all, but if city does not show in the list, simply stick couple imams there, call jihad on someone else, in 10 or so turns you will be able to call Jihad on that city as well.

And hell yes i am abusing the hell off Jihad. All of your early foot soldiers are spearman with low offense value. Jihad units are nothing to be exited about, but they are much better then anything you get early on for taking walls with high offense and they almost free. So they cover that little hole you have in your roster.

And most of all, Jihad gives your leaders great Chivalry, bonus exp to all jihading armies (join all your forces into Jihad just before taking over the city with your main force), extra money...etc. Whats not to abuse.

[Oploc]

Yea Jihads are good for holy warriors, taking settlements e.g constantinople; BEFORE you take any other byzantine settlements, so that their trapped XD XD