Finally Finished

[Henry X]

I finally finished my HRE campaign. Now, all things considered, I need help deiciding which faction to play in the early campaign (I take my time when building an empire). Personally, I'm thinking about either the English or the Templar Knights.

[Echad]

Well, as English you should get to fight with Mel Gibson, but the game will be much easier... At turn 40 you can own the whole western Europe, and no one will pose you enough threat, just make sure to bring a lot of cavalry when you are going to Iberian peninsula... Their javelinmen die after a single charge and jinetes are a pain in the ass if you haven't any horses. Be sure to wipe out Ireland and Scotland before building an Empire, as they can ivade you when all your forces are on the mainland... You'll either got BIG troubles with the Pope, excommunicating you, or a good friends with him, excommunicating all your enemies, both ways are good. The Templars, on the other hand will not pose so much threat to excommunication, but much harder enemies... And a much bigger difference to vanilla, as England is mostly the same in the SS.

Personally, I think the Empire building would be easier as English any way, but you may set a difficulty higher... Non-stop war game as English is safer due to your important cities/castles being on the island, and there are good chances to be at war with half of Europe, if you want a tougher campaign, that is.

[Landwalker]

Any particular characteristics you're looking for in a new faction?

I personally find England a little boring, both in map location and in unit selection, but other people might find them more appealing.

Cheers.

[Henry X]

Any particular characteristics you're looking for in a new faction?

Cheers.

Well, I'm mean land position, unit composition balance (do they have pikemen and good archers?), late game troops, surrounding rivals, ease of money earned, nonstop warfare, crusade/jihad vulnerability.

That's why I'm sticking to the Knights Templar or England. I might play as the Byzantines though.

[Echad]

Well, I'm mean land position, unit composition balance (do they have pikemen and good archers?), late game troops, surrounding rivals, ease of money earned, nonstop warfare, crusade/jihad vulnerability.

That's why I'm sticking to the Knights Templar or England. I might play as the Byzantines though.

England has Billmen instead of spears/pikes other than Armored Sergeants, BUT you can hire Pike Mercenaries once you conquer the Redheadland... Good Heavy Infantry, average Knights, I think it is pretty understood about the archers. England got surrounding rivals in the Early Era due to them owning Normandy from the start... Conquering France/HRE would make you surounded by enemies even more. The Templars are surrounded from the start, but don't have the option to back off... Not remember their unit roster.

[delra]

Byzantine. :-)

[Landwalker]

Well, both England and the Knights Templar lack pikemen, and off the top of my head, the Templars don't have the greatest archers, either. Byzantium has Guard Pikemen are a solid, strong pike unit, they have a good second-tier foot archer (Trebizond Archers) and an outstanding third-tier archer (Byzantine Guard Archers).

I don't know what you're looking for in land position, but they are sitting on arguably the wealthiest part of the entire map, so earning money isn't too problematic. They obviously aren't very prone to being targeted by crusades, but they can certainly garner the ire of jihads, especially once you get into Syria and start grabbing places like Antioch and Jerusalem.

As far as late-game units go: Guard Pikemen, Byzantine Guard Archers, Kataphractoi (and whatever the next step up is--I forget their names and am not at school to access my desktop), strong heavy infantry in Latinkon, Varangian Guard, and Alamanoi (trainable in cities), and, of course, Greek Firethrowers.

Of course, there are plenty of other solid options. If pikes and good archers are your goal, though, I can't imagine the Templar would be the ideal option.

Cheers.

[Echad]

Another idea would be to start as Scotland, conquer England and you're off to the world counquer. That way you will have good position, decent Archers and pretty good Pikemen... It will also offer a greater challenge than England.

[cheqmate]

I'd say give the Templars a try. It's extremely challenging on vh/vh and quite a bit different than HRE from a location standpoint.

[Kyias]

I personally love Portugal. Their starting position and their nieghbors make expansion a painful task at times...but their roster makes for a fun time.

[whhyy]

Byzantium is overpowered. Play as the Turks.

[delra]

Like they weren't...

[whhyy]

What I'm saying is anyone can win as Byzantium in SS. They have it all, the best roster in the game, and there only weakness is a lack of cannons. A lot of there super-units that make them the best are complete fantasy.

• Vardariotai
  
• Flamethrowers
  
• Super heavy pikemen
  
• Gunpowder infantry

That ain't realistic.

[Echad]

What I'm saying is anyone can win as Byzantium in SS. They have it all, the best roster in the game, and there only weakness is a lack of cannons. A lot of there super-units that make them the best are complete fantasy.

• Vardariotai
  
• Flamethrowers
  
• Super heavy pikemen
  
• Gunpowder infantry

That ain't realistic.

Yeah, with such units they do not get destroyed so fast and easily as in real life...

[delra]

Oh dude. I wouldn't say so. If Hungary, Kiev, Turkey, Egypt, Templars, HRE, Venice and Sicily gang on you... you're screwed.

This is how I earned my chevrons. :-)

[Echad]

Oh dude. I wouldn't say so. If Hungary, Kiev, Turkey, Egypt, Templars, HRE, Venice and Sicily gang on you... you're screwed.

This is how I earned my chevrons. :-)

Turkey? Like this? How can a bird screw the Byzantium, I don't understand? =\

[delra]

Just count on Cannakkale become a citadel? :-)

[whhyy]

That would be an extremely unlikley turn of events, most of those factions don't even border you in the beginning. Hungary, Venice and Turkey may gang you but the other factions (if you even go to war with them) would only ever harrass you as they do not share a major frontline with you.

You should never be in that position if you rush the Turks to the east,
defend from Hungary with Sofia and defend from Venice with Ragusa (or just camping a nearby hill with mass archers).

You don't need super units to win. Byzantium was playable before, why would it be any different if they where normalised?

[delra]

There's still jihad...

[Echad]

Jihad goes only on Constantinople? =\ The Byz without the gunpowder would be far more realistic - they were dominating before the greek fire became obsolete...