Wow. A really great campaign so far.

**Kennylz** · May 09, 2008, 12:41 AM

I'd like to start off by thanking everyone who reccomended taking a shot as the Abbasids. It has been an even better campaign than the Ghords! The position is incredible and the units are pretty fun. I've been playing a very diplomacy heavy game, and the merchant wars have been furious. Curiously, Christianity is really breaking out everywhere in my campaign. The Crusaders have all but won their war vs Saladin and every Christian faction is doing well. I've decided that since I've had such great success early on, have nearly every Islamic faction as an ally, have gotten the ability to recruit Imams much earlier than any faction, and probably will have it for many years, and have did my best to maintain an Immaculate reputation, that I will try and to be to Islam as the Papalcy is to Catholics.

First thing I did was to use my sway to end the ganging up on the Seljuks. I was guilty of taking a huge swath of their land, but they were getting out of hand in their power and definately were not team players. I also have to admit that I bully the hell out of the Omans. I often threaten them to give me money just for fun, but hey, I have more political power in this game as the Abbassids than in any other RTW game I've played. Things I demand are hardly ever turned down.

I plan on sending a couple of my most capable generals over to brutalize Armenia then gift all the land taken to the Turks, all the while capturing the rest of Arabia up to the Ayyubid borders. When the Mongols come I will do my best to aid the Kwar Shah as best as possible. I have perfect relations with them thanks to our allying up against the once massive Seljuks.

The two ultimate goals are to get an Imam up to Jihad level and declare one against KoJ and liberate the oppressed Muslims in the holy land, then I will fight with my Turkish brothers to put an end to a still Imperial Rome which has power that rivals my own.

Needless to say, this will make for a DAMN fine campaign, with much more to it than slash and burn conquest thanks to the great diplomacy I've been experiencing.

I would do an AAR, but I haven't been taking many pics so far and everytime I start an AAR it has been a curse for my campaign which runs into an inescable CTD, or something else as bad happens.

I roleplay all my campaigns regardless, though. If you have your own campaign in progress to show and compare then I am more than happy to see it.

Thank you, BC team. Best. Mod. Ever.

**zznɟ ǝɥʇ** · May 09, 2008, 02:23 AM

Good to hear your Abbasid campaign is going well. Mine's going..wellish. It's heaps of fun but I'm worried the Georgians are going to break through. The Ottomans are actually winning a war vs Ayyubids, ERE, and Georgia. Like really winning. Like ERE has two cities left winning. I'm really excited, maybe then they can turn their attention towards Georgia and help me.

I also helped destroy the Seljuks, the Rajputs are on track to wiping the floor with the Ghorids and Ghazni, Oman is content to chill, as are the Kpychaks and everyone else not mentioned. The Caliph is enjoying success as a very pious man (who has 9 command stars). The next in line is even more pious and has 5 stars.... can't wait to see where it goes.

I'll edit in some piccys after the next time I play.

**Kennylz** · May 09, 2008, 04:55 AM

Well, in my game I was in a frenzy of conquest to keep the Turks alive. I pretty much slaughtered Armenia down to two provinces and kept funneling the cities to the Turks, but they lose some thanks to aggressive Crusaders and Romans. I am paying the Kypchaks to turn their growing snow-ball of a war machine towards the ERE while working with the Kwar to soak up the rest of the Seljuks and begin on the Gazni so they will have a big enough empire to fight the Mongols when they arrive. I kicked Oman from Arabia and have taken Arabia up to Mecca, where I am digging in. I gave the three regions that make up the southern tip of Arabia to the Ayyubids as a safe place for them.

Things are getting crazy. ERE might as well be the old Roman empire of old for all the massive armies, wealth, and land they have. The Crusaders look like they are ready to stay in the middle east for a few hundred years, but I have another thing in mind for them. Two full stack, high quality armies are heading on a path of destruction towards Egypt with convenient routes right through Jerusalem and Damascus. One led by an old 7 star vet, the other some 2 star Junior. We'll see who gets the best of it.

Oh, still immaculate reputation with plenty of diplomacy! Though, I won't be able to talk the KoJ and ERE into turning back home. They have made an alliance and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to fight both of them, though I hope not at the same time, and by the time I have to throw down with ERE I'll have the Kypchaks splitting them to other fronts.

**locc2** · May 09, 2008, 06:00 AM

Your reputation is "Immaculate". First time I see that. Coolio man.

**zznɟ ǝɥʇ** · May 09, 2008, 06:25 AM

Here's my campaing.. enjoy

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**Samariten** · May 09, 2008, 09:17 AM

I love when you have a mad family member or general.

**ShayanMirza** · May 09, 2008, 09:24 AM

My rep is always despicable. How do you get and maintain the immaculate one? Never attack anyone except in defense?

**Kennylz** · May 09, 2008, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by ShayanMirza

My rep is always despicable. How do you get and maintain the immaculate one? Never attack anyone except in defense?

Well, first of all I'd say it is a roleplay thing. You won't keep a high reputation if you don't care about having a high reputation. It is far more effective to throw reputation to the wind and slay everyone around you, but I like it because it adds another dimension to gameplay.

Before you do anything else, the easiest way to get a high reputation quickly and vital for keeping it is to get as many strategically chosen allies as possible that you know you won't fight for a long, long time or if you do you can take half of their country and then get a ceasefire. It is important that they be of the same religion as well, or atleast of a neutral religion like orthodox if you are Catholic, because the longer you are allied with a Muslim faction the more Christian factions begin to hate you and vica versa. Pagan seems to be neutral as well.

When you have a nice pool of allies to make sure a world war doesn't break out then it is best to soak up as many rebel settlements as reasonably possible before even thinking of attacking another faction. If you are shooting for immaculate always release prisoners and occupy settlements. Get trade rights from everyone, trade map information and pretty much just play it smart. Never go to war with more than two people at a time, and when you do go to war don't sack their settlements unless you are prepared to have to make up some lost reputation. Exterminate is never an option.

If your reputation is always high and you don't want to enemy to keep getting away after battles, the ransom option is fine since it is perfectly neutral. No rep bonus of penalty. Also, don't destroy factions. Get them weakened and then offer protectorates with plenty of benefits or offer a ceasefire and then alliance. Not only have you bought more diplomatic sway for just one or two provinces, but you can use them in proxy wars by taking settlements in dangerous locations and then funneling them to your 'allies'.

Stuff like that keeps the campaigns from two different kinds of sudden endings.

!. Finishing way too early because you were just far too effecient and didn't even get to use all your best units.
2. Giving up once the campaign becomes one big cluster-**** with everyone sending stacks at you because you were such a reckless warmonger.

I don't know if it matters, but I also broke all alliances/trade rights with a faction then waited a turn before I attacked. I also threatened them beforehand by demanding money or I would attack.

**mastaace** · May 09, 2008, 11:22 AM

phew +8 hitpoints, that makes 10. DAYUM
HE is truly mad

**ShayanMirza** · May 09, 2008, 03:15 PM

Thanks for the great answer! I'll go start a new game and try that out. My Seljuks are "despicable" right now. Maybe because I attack all my neighbors...

**Kennylz** · May 09, 2008, 05:07 PM

As Seljuks I would focus on blitzkreiging rebel settlements, then going to war with Georgia and then the Kypchaks. You might be able to take all that land before the Mongols arrive, because once they do they will probably be your main focus, and when they take over all of Persia you have a great excuse to go to war for a massive amount of territory.

I'd make sure I made strong alliances with the Turks, the Abs, the Ghorids and the Ghazni, as well as Ayyubid and Oman. I'd not make alliances with the Kwar since they are just so eager to expand south once they reach your borders. You might get into a small war with them a few years before the Mongols get there.

But with the Seljuks I can see you making a very wide empire right through the Christian and Pagan lands. Your high reputation and alliances should keep the Turks and Abbs from backstabbing you. I keep decent border strength as a deturrent regardless.

A couple of 'opportunities' would be if the Turks get destroyed by Armenia and ERE, then you have a chance to expand into Anatolia without much of a rep hit. If the Raj dominate the far East you get another chance to stomp ass. As it is, I would leave Arabia be as the Seljuks, along with the Abbasids. The Seljuks just have so many more important focuses. While I think it is important to take out the Seljuks as the Abbasids, I think that is lower on the priorities on the Seljuks list thanks to other safer wars to get into.

But hey, if they still attack you even with high rep and alliances... Cut out their juciest cities from Baghdad to the left and right and then sue for peace. They will be crippled. Don't sack/exterminate! Occupy and lower the taxes then build some happiness/order/health buildings!

**Kennylz** · May 09, 2008, 11:03 PM

I've taken the Turks fully under my wing and have brought them back up to a respectable strength. A ton of conquering and killing with little to show for myself, except for the survival of my close allies.

I'm probably going to keep Acre to myself, along with Damasc. A large city and a citadel to show for my troubles and a staging point for any further crazyness. After that, I'll probably be returning the rest I conquer to the Ayyubid Sultanate. They've suffered enough in exile. Looks like I'll be setting things right just in time to greet the Mongols with a unified Islamic front!

The ERE are tough, but the Crusaders are about to sack Constantinople and the Kypchaks are gearing up for invasion. I just hope I don't create monsters with any of these factions I've been so generous with. Got military access from Turks and Yubbies!

**~~Miraj~~** · May 09, 2008, 11:48 PM

KoJ sure kicked some Egyptian butt! It's funny how they are isolated to Yemen, which is historically where they had planned to escape to if ol' Zengi or the Latins defeated them.

And great job on the immaculate rep, I've never achieved that ever. Too tempting just to break treaties and take advantage.

**Kennylz** · May 10, 2008, 12:00 AM

Yeah, the KoJ really got serious on them. They were actually far enough up to be taking territory from the Turks before I intervened. If I had waited a couple more years both factions would have been eleminated. Johnny on the spot with the immaculate reputation. I'd probably have already reached 60 provinces by now if I hadn't been focusing on the greater good. It really does make things a lot more fun an interesting when you don't follow the simple conquest goals. Needless to say, the advantage is that I can get pretty much whatever I want done through diplomats and I never get overwhelmed by a world that is pissed off at me. I'm puppet mastering the entire Middle East. By the way, h/m. Hard campaign and medium battles. I don't like the moral penalty you get, and the stamina bonus they recieve.

**BS Melee** · May 10, 2008, 03:23 AM

I love the way you've transplanted the Ayyubids.

Seeing your example gets me in the mood for a Turkish or Abbasid campaign of my own.

**Kennylz** · May 10, 2008, 05:21 AM

Check out this picture and tell me it is not beautiful...

A picture is worth a thousand words, so here are those words.

1. See the red banner above Jerusalem? See Richard marching towards it? Yeah, the Christian alliance is about to be over with. The Caliph gives the holy city to the Emperor as a marriage gift at the last moment and then...

2. After taking a few more Latin cities the Caliph bargains hard with the Crusaders with armies on the door-step of Egypt. He proclaims that the Christians have fought hard and won their land, but they must submit to Islamic rule. KoJ = Protectorate + No longer warring with any Muslims.

3. Three regions given back to the Ayyubids, one of them being the citadel of Acre. With the Crusaders subdued they are no longer required to remain in exile.

4. STILL- Immaculate

5. Kypchaks can not be trusted. Notice they allied with the ERE after they promised to attack them for me. Perhaps they are wise to my mechanisms! *Chin stroke.*

6. I've had the omnious 'No diplomacy diplomats' waving their hands at my cities from the Kwarz, one sign that war is usually on the way. Hopefully my dear friends will not lose their honor before the Mongols arrive and provide a true challenge where they will need my help.

My next move is to probably gather about 5 stacks, all lead by up and coming generals, and then take the fight to the ERE. My goal is to be greedy and take some land for myself, but also to soften them up so that the resurging Turks will be able to recreate history by conquering them.

Ofcourse, once the Mongols come I'll have to get a ceasefire and leave the fighting to the Ottomans. I'm washing my hands of the Holy Land, except for Mecca. No matter what happens there now I can not leave such a place in the hands of the incompetent!

**Kennylz** · May 10, 2008, 07:33 AM

Had to go on and do a new sig in recognition of this campaign. Thanks for the quote, Mr. Wright.

**~~Miraj~~** · May 10, 2008, 12:48 PM

Great sig!

And I must say you ran a spectacular campaign there. It really highlights the innovative aspects of GrandViz's diplomacy scheme. If you're careful and protect your reputation and take diplomacy and your actions very seriously you can indeed bring youself to a much stronger negotiating positions and actually create protectorates and such.

Great Job.