*Sigh*

[Dingler]

Im in the year 1245 in the early era campaign as Kieven Rus. It sucks, all i have going for me is numbers. The black plague wiped through as usual which was fine, but then the teutons that now emerge come right after it as do the mongols...both armies in MY territory. I have about 32 territories at this point and have been growing my settlements as fast as possible, but castles do not grow nearly fast enough, i dont have 1 fortress. The units i have are all crap, i have to rely on numbers.

Sure, eventually ill swamp the mongols and teutons with just numbers but it annoys the crap out of me. I took on 2 of the elite mongol armies with 5 of my own. Thats 15000 vs 4000. They killed over 10000 of mine and i only killed about 1000 of theirs..and i lost. The teutons destroyed another 3 armies of mine with their 2 elite armies and i barely hurt them. Anyway, its frustrating. Just wanted to rant a little.

[Caesar Clivus]

That would have to be absolutely the most historically accurate campaign report I have ever read!

[Landwalker]

Other than being terribly outclassed down the line, how are you finding the Kievan Rus? I've just downloaded SS, and am pondering which faction to take for a spin. I have a historical interest in the Kievan Rus, and was wondering if you might be able to give them a bit of an evaluation.

Cheers.

[Caesar Clivus]

Kievan Rus has a very strong roster overall in SS. A great range of awesome looking units. They also have a great starting position, being sandwiched between some very powerful factions: Byzantium, Hungary, Poland, Novgorod, the Seljuks. Plus you then get the Mongols thrown into the mix just to make things fun

[Dingler]

Kievan Rus has a very strong roster overall in SS. A great range of awesome looking units. They also have a great starting position, being sandwiched between some very powerful factions: Byzantium, Hungary, Poland, Novgorod, the Seljuks. Plus you then get the Mongols thrown into the mix just to make things fun

Hey dont forget the teutons that come in at the same time as the mongols on the opposite side of your empire!

Ive enjoyed the kieven rus quite a bit in this campaign until now. I think I'd even be fine now if i had a fortress or two to put out better units. This is my first 5.1 campaign and i have to say its MUCH different than any other ive ever played... pleasingly so though. Lusted's Ai is really good. There is actually more than 1 AI faction powerhouse. Egypt had 28 territories after almost wiping out the seljuks but the seljuks are starting to come back now. Templars got wiped out in the beginning. Hungary has all but wiped out the byzantines and has atleast 15 territories. Moors have killed off portugal and half most of Iberia. Sicily sacked rome and cairo. England has taken scotland and ireland and parts of norway and france for itself. Ireland lives by having 1 territory in Iberia..quite funny seeing them take on the moors and win. Holy Roman empire and france are mostly the same as they usually are..they expand out to their "natural" borders and kinda stop... although HRE did viciously attack EVERY provence that venice had and destroyed them. Poland, denmark, novgorad, lithuania, Templars, portugal and scotland are dead. Its very interesting. Im loving 5.1

[Iscariott]

I dont know how poor they are early on. But in the late era campaign i find they do pretty well for their starting size. However I'm almost willing to bet a lot of the problem stems from how UTTERLY USELESS horse archers are after armor goes beyond mail, or the enemy picks up a shield. "heavy horsearchers" are a serious joke. I wish they werent taking space in the edu

Also, 2h 'shock troops' dont seem to do all that well vs knights. In fact I want to pose a question: Other than pikes/billhooks has anyone had much success with 2h weapon troops? Be it axemen of any flavor, even varangian guard, or 2h swordsmen I've just never had much success with them except for hacking through extremely overmatched foes. Most of the time a half decent fuedal knight will just block whatever super charge attack comes at them maybe 5 guys will die.

Anything i'm missing?

[whhyy]

Wow that really sucks OP