Playing as Egypt is Actually...Fun!

[Vaxholm]

First, let me say that I know that Egypt is probably the easiest faction to play with. They are relatively isolated and have tons of money and regions to start. In fact, I've been avoiding them because I like a challenge. However...I think they're a lot of fun to play with now that I've tried them. Let me explain.

Reasons they're fun:
-Extra money allows you to find alternative ways to win. For example, I've purchased about 15 regions from the Turks and Knights Templar. I avoided combat altogether for probably 50 or so turns.
-Isolation allows you to build unhindered. Since I was avoiding battles, I was able to send my diplomat all over the map getting trade rights and alliances, while simultaneously building my cities and castles. When war came, I was very prepared.
-Troops are "different". After having played campaigns as France, Spain, and Novgorod, I must say that the troops are very different from the ones I'm used to. Since they have essentially no decent heavy infantry, I've had to rely much more on javelinmen and naffatuns. By the way, the naffatun is one of the coolest units to play with. I've beaten much stronger forces by manuevering my naffatuns behind the enemy front line and ravaging them in a fiery sea of death. It's great fun!
-Crusades provide some challenge. While the crusades are supposed to be for the Catholic faction, I think they're a lot of fun to play against, because the enemy sends some of the best troops to fight. Since I don't like sieges that much, I try to intercept the armies on land to have open field battles.

Like I said, I know they're easy, but in this case they're also fun. After having played a very difficult campaign as Novogorod where I felt like I was constantly being attacked and couldn't rest for an instant, Egypt has been like a breath of fresh air.

[gr33kp1mp777]

Interesting......I think you have me hooked!

+rep for a great review!

[Ryoken]

Egypt is also a great candidate for "migration" play. You can load all your units except a couple defenders, sail across the mediterranean to your desired location, and then start playing there. I find that Egyptians in Italy is fun. Once you take Rome, the Catholics go crazy.

[Queen Annes Revenge]

I think they're kind of challenging actually. While expanding west into Africa is a cakewalk, and you're generally rich, you have the Crusades coming against you, the Turks will inevitably attack you, plus (most importantly) the Mongols and the Timurids invade your territory... and usually all this stuff comes upon you at once!

[Kawligia]

Egypt IS fun and I think its pretty tough in the end. You have lots of money and some relatively secure borders, but you need that to defend against the constant crusades and Mongol/Timurids...also their infantry suck so assaulting settlements is tougher for them.

I prefer to migrate with the Turks since their lands totally suck.

[Bluice]

Playing as Egypt is Actually... Fun!

Till the Mongols and Timurids rock up

[Renco]

I must admit, my main reason for staying away from Egypt is Mongols/Timurds.

[Sher Khan]

In fact, my main reason for never expanding into the Holy Lands is just to stay away from the imminent Mongol invasion!

I think I'll try and relocate next time with Egypt. Probably to Sicily.

Now... if only there was a mod that gave Egypt some respectable archers!

[Pivra]

I played as Egypt and my empire stretched from Baghdad to Granada conquering Timbuktu and Arguin. I also launched attacks into Italy, conquering as far as Bologna (not Florence) and Sardinia before being pushed back to limit of Rome again. Now Milan is emerging as a unifying force in Italy and the Reconquista Italiana is happening but I keep launching attacks to take Bologna so they wont attack Rome Naples and Palermo which are all huge middle eastern cities, probably the best cities in Europe right now since my Jihad attacked Milan, which was a huge city then I exterminated it, and destroyed everything then left it for Milan lol. In Iberia I am replacing the Moors because they are losing to the Christians. I am at war with both Spain and Portugal now lol.

[Vaxholm]

Now... if only there was a mod that gave Egypt some respectable archers!

I agree that the Nubian Archers and Desert Archers are basically the same (DA have slightly better defense, I think). But I've found them to be surprisingly accurate and they have good distance so they can start firing pretty quickly. In fact, in a siege, I have placed them on the inner wall of a fortress and shot the enemy coming through the gates and on the outer wall. I was shocked!

[Yogol]

The main weapon of Egypt are the Hanthasi (sp ?) : you can get them very early with the right guild and they win against everything : archers, cavalry, spear, sword, they just kill e-ver-y-thing !

The crusades are doable.

But the invasions make the Egypts hard to play on long campaign. By then you should have several full stacks of Hanthasi and several generals with 7+ command points : but even then they're though...

[gr33kp1mp777]

lol that would be the Hashashim

lol

[Sher Khan]

They do not come in great numbers, however, as they are restricted to half unit size. Not a crippling flaw, but all the more problematic as Egypt suffers from heavy casualties when facing European nations.

[Vaxholm]

The fact that they suffer such heavy casualties also makes them fun/difficult to play with. It's hard to send your troops far away, because they need to be replenished so much. You can't ravage from city to city. Also, you don't get many heroic defeats so you have to assume that you're going to take casualties and just decide where you're going to take them.

Hashashims aren't really a saving grace, because you can only get them from a guild, and they are so limited in supply. Not that they're not powerful, but they have their weaknesses as well.