How is it to play Norway

[Lone rider]

I`m thinking about staring to play SS, seems like a serius mod. So while I wait on my new comp i have decided to play the Norwegian faction (allot of spare time atm).

Is the faction`s unit roster much different from dennmarks? Is the starting position hard or easy and so on.

[Benyi]

I've been played with both and I think Norway is more "Viking" than Denmark, if you're looking for a "Norse-style" Faction. An army from Norway have a lot of Norse units like Huscarls (mounted and dismounted), Norse Swordmen, Viking Raiders, ¿Gotland Swordmen? (don't remember the name), and other troops with two-handed axe.

Denmark, has more "European" units than Norse units, I think.

[Byzantium]

Firstly,dont think about d/loading SSteel,just do it,it's an awesome mod.

I have only played around 100 turns with the Norse but i'll give you my observations.
They start in a financially poorer starting situation than the Danes but there are many provinces within easy reach.The Danes,usually slow to expand,can be beaten by the Norse to all the Scandanavian rebel settlements if decisive action is taken early on.Once this is achieved the money will roll in and this has the added advantage over the Danes in the form of a castle(Oslo).

The unit roster is similair as you can imagine with one or two differences.The Norse get Sami axemen rather than the Norse axemen.The advantage for the Norse here is that the Sami's come earlier in the tech tree and are of better quality and higher in number,150 men to 120.
At higher tech levels the Norse get Gotland footmen,a good quality two handed sword unit rather than the Obudshaer that the Danes get,both quality units it has to be said.
The main advantage of the Danes unit wise is the Mounted/dismounted War clerics.The danes can get them pretty early on and they are a quality unit.


Also,the Norse are safe from early attack,not having the HRE to deal with but i would ignore the British isles early on and remove the Danes to unite Scandanavia,then they are in an awesome position to expand - British isles,Northern Germany and all the lands around the Baltic.

[delra]

It's almost the same. Same cities, similar AP units, same crap archers.

Playing them for the first 100 turns is mostly waiting and building. After your cities reach port level your economy takes off and you're suddleny rolling in dough.

After that you can take northern Germany, England or everything around the Baltic.

But until that happens it's a long and boring struggle with
climate and low population.

Take Oslo as fast as you can, try to backstab Denmark in Arhus too. With those two whole Scandinavia will eventually be yours. After that build for 100 turns and then invade wherever your wish.

[Byzantium]

I agree with you about the archers ranged ability but being able to plant stakes and being pretty tasty in Melee compensates somewhat,especially when defending walls.

[Lone rider]

how about cannons and gun powder units`?

[delra]

Yeah, they are capable in that. But I still can't accept their missile attack value...

[Byzantium]

hehe aye and range

I remember my first battle with the English.I deployed in what i thought was a decent defensive position.All of a sudden my Vikings and Huscarls started dropping like flies from the English longbowmen,i had no choice but to close with them.
I only remember my infantry getting cut to shreds on the way in from missilie fire,painful day that.

[y2day]

First 100 turns is boring unless you ally with the danes, then invade the britsh isles, once you are totally commited to destroying the english, this is well after the scottish are gone, the danes will backstab you and you will really have your hands full. I really like the danes. usally i turtle building up economicaly but with them the whle viking raid spirit hit me and I couldn't help myself.

And the english get really pissed after you take London. between them and the danes you should have your hands full, unless you blitz either one and destroy them real early

[delra]

It's really shocking there are still people out there who haven't tried all factions. :-)

[y2day]

I've never played Poland, or the Turks, and I've had the game for over a year. I've only played a few factions once, like france, and the HR.
I've had kingdoms since christmas and haven't played any of the mini campaigns Installed SS same day i got it. Since Kingdoms I've played Norway and now Lithuania

[delra]

I have to know my enemies. So when I'm playing England, I like to know how it is to be Scotland, Ireland, France or Norway. What are their weak points, their strengths and so on.

This way when I go to England, I have a lot of cavalry with me, when I go to France I have spears and when I go to Norway I have bows.

I just know what to use, where to hit, who to kill first during a battle.

It's kind of hard for me to play without all this knowledge. I hate surprises.

[The Sweeper]

I have to know my enemies. So when I'm playing England, I like to know how it is to be Scotland, Ireland, France or Norway. What are their weak points, their strengths and so on.

This way when I go to England, I have a lot of cavalry with me, when I go to France I have spears and when I go to Norway I have bows.

I just know what to use, where to hit, who to kill first during a battle.

It's kind of hard for me to play without all this knowledge. I hate surprises.

Hehe, we've got an elite player here!

Nah, excuse the sarcasm, that's quality advice. I can't say I've played all factions, I really should so I can learn all about my opposition. One of my main weaknesses as a TW player is not countering my weaknesses and nullifying my oppositions strengths.

[Yelü Dashi]

I'm about 100 turns into my Norway campaign and really enjoying it. Couple of ways to enhance the fun:
-dl the mini-mod http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downl...o=file&id=1741
you might think its cheating but it gives norway more troops and invasion fleet giving you a kick start for invading the British Isles. Personally, I have destroyed England and Scotland and vassalized Ireland (Crusade on Nottingham/adopting William Wallace being the high points!). Allied with the Danes (thru marriage ) and have basically taken on the job of protecting them as my Norse brothers. Also allied with HRE who ceded me a castle and a settlement in return for tribute and help against the French. Just called a crusade on Paris ! woohoo!

-download the ornamentum skins http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...hp?t=136437and convert them for use with Norway (use Winmerge for the battle_models.db. A little complex but well worth it due their beautiful work. Danova is currently working on convering the Danish skins for Norway so i'm sure everyone will be able to enjoy them soon.

Other points:

-Norse archers, once armoured, are awesome and can hold an infantry charge.
-War clerics are solid but expensive so build lots of abbeys and cathedrals !

[Lone rider]

so Norway have war clerics? but still hows the side with the black powder? do they get the same as the danes or`?

[hylander25k]

I find that most of their exclusive units wear out really quickly...the huscarls seem to become outdone VERY easily (Feudal knights pwn them, and mostly everything else after about 1200. They lack upgradability, whic hwas realistic, because if I remember the huscarls were disbanded mid 1100s (correct me if im wrong). The swordsmen are the best cause they last you through most of the game.

[the42up]

they, like england, egypt and novogrod, make a good "turtle" faction. This is especially true if you knock out the danes in the first few turns.

Once you have all of scandinavia, you can sit and turtle 20-50 turns with little to no worries. Build up your economy peacefully and then decide where to invade.

Their unit roster is not the best, but it is unique.

England though is probably the best turtle faction if you enjoy that style of play.

My personal favorite factions are-
spain
byzantium
Turks
germany


Solid factions that are right in the middle of conflict zones from turn 1.

[Iscariott]

I cant stand germany because its got the great roster:terrible position thing going on. The rest on your list I like as well, though byz's roster got old for me. They have everything, but having 3 mid level sword/board troops and another 'knightly' s/b doesnt do it for me.

The egyptians are pure magic though. Late era they start with mamluk archers which are the most viable defense against the mongols i've found. Just slightly less capable than mongol heavy archers, but you've got an economy far and away superior to anything in the middle east.

OH and every cai i've used thus far with SS has gone for cairo 9/10 times with crusades, unless france is excommunicated so all of europe sends you stacks on stacks to level up your mamluks on.

[joewagner501]

I haven't played Norway. Just bought Kingdoms and immediately installed SS5.1. In fact, it was all the fun I had playing 4.1 that got me to buy Kingdoms.

This has been an interesting thread for Norway. I will have to try them out next.

ATM I am playing England and have already almost eradicated HRE. They only have two territories left in Northern Italy. In fact, I just took Venice so I can use it as a launching pad to conquer the rest of the HRE. I have found England to be an easy faction. A lot of empty territory to expand into before the real gaming began. I immediately took the islands leaving Scotland and Ireland in their original territories and even took territory in Scandinavia. I am actually spread out all over the map and even have Tunis in North Africa. The HRE and Venice have been the only factions to attack me so far.

Has anyone played Lithuania? I was debating on playing them next but maybe Norway will win out after reading these posts.

[Inhuman One]

If you dont like the position of the HRE but love the roster, just migrate them and give most provinces away to a faction you would want to see growing stronger.

I gave the upper provinces to scotland and focused on Italy first.