Ayyubid Sultanate vs ERE

**Coxy** · May 14, 2008, 02:49 AM

Hi guys

I literally get only an hour per week on the computer, so when I choose a campaign, believe me it lasts. Therefore, can I ask for advice for which faction to choose?

I've never played BC before, so I've been looking at the difference factions, and I can't decide between ERE and the Ayyubids.

Basically from what I can see ERE has better infantry and cavalry, whereas Ayyubids has almost as good cavalry, with far better archers as well (both mounted and non)

I started both campaigns last night just to get a feeler... and it seems like Ayyubids has far money per turn, and starts with a far larger army too.

So I am swinging towards Ayyubids... but can I ask for your advice on which to choose? I want a challenge, but I also don't want it to be a slog

**Heinz Guderian** · May 14, 2008, 03:02 AM

Both are on of the "easier" factions to play(still pretty hard if you set difficluty H/VH). But i think playing with the Ayyubids will offer you more opportunity for entertainment if you're bored of vanilla M2TW. But then again, i like the ERE units.

But to get the full flavour of BC, you could try playing someone like the Ghaznavids or Khwarezms.

It has a flava. I would post a lolcat, but Miraj may playa-hate me for it.

**redz27m** · May 14, 2008, 03:55 AM

nah... play with KOJ feels like your in the movies

**TheG** · May 14, 2008, 03:57 AM

Hi

I have just started my first campaign in BC as Ayubids (VH/VH) and it's fun. Expect KOJ to attack you very soon (20 turns). They put me in big trouble at the start but then I took some of their cities and they each give 10k+ cash when sacked. After that it's a piece of cake. Next up those pesky Makurians!

If you want a fun campaign with lots of battles and Saladin vs Richard (RIP) then try Ayubids!

**Ahiga** · May 14, 2008, 04:03 AM

Cavalry wise: ERE if you want to focus exclusively on melee cavalry. Ayyubids if you prefer a mix of melee & HA.
Infantry wise: ERE for defensive purposes by and large, Ayyubid's for offensive.

Both are similar in that your best troops come late (Unlike the KoJ, whom their best is earlier).

**St Naffatun** · May 14, 2008, 07:18 AM

An hour a week! I smell female involvement!

Anyways - While the Ayyubids might seem easier they're not if you attack everyone.

EVERYONE! DIE!!

**Coxy** · May 14, 2008, 07:49 AM

indeed my friend, female involvement! She lets me on the 360 for a bit longer, but I prefer RTS games so...

Well sounds like Ayyuibds sounds easier then, I also had a quick skirmish last night, and noticed their infantry seemed better (1 unit actually seemed to be even better than the vangarian lot from the ERE?) but I do kinda feel for the ERE as they remind me of byzantium empire from kingdoms..

arrrgh undecided!!

**Heinz Guderian** · May 14, 2008, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by Coxy

indeed my friend, female involvement! She lets me on the 360 for a bit longer, but I prefer RTS games so...

feel you ya bro (*Heinz makes a fist and punches his chest twice with the thumb facing towards himself).

**boerekovic** · May 24, 2008, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Coxy

indeed my friend, female involvement! She lets me on the 360 for a bit longer, but I prefer RTS games so...

Well sounds like Ayyuibds sounds easier then, I also had a quick skirmish last night, and noticed their infantry seemed better (1 unit actually seemed to be even better than the vangarian lot from the ERE?) but I do kinda feel for the ERE as they remind me of byzantium empire from kingdoms..

arrrgh undecided!!

so your talking about your Mother?

**The Cobra** · May 24, 2008, 06:33 AM

Look at my sig.
if you played the Ayyubid's i think you should destroy KOJ as soon as you can as they will attack you soon.
If a man does not strike first, he will be the first struck.
after destroying them head for africa exterminate the Makurians and send a fleet to the north-west of the african shore till you find Siwa's Port that's if you have BC 1.5 (i Don't know and i haven't tried it on other versions).
Capture the holy land, Syria ,Antioch and secure your borders.
Heading to Yemen is a sound plan at the moment but try to take many generals as their lands riot a lot (San'a-Ta'iz-Aden) then head for the imamate of oman.
as for your economy you should focus on trading silk -gold-spices-ivory(merchants).

**zznɟ ǝɥʇ** · May 24, 2008, 12:40 PM

Ayyubids, more diverse enemies!

**mastaace** · May 24, 2008, 02:04 PM

i play the ayyubids and i have a hell of a funny campaign with them"

Originally Posted by thecobra007

if you played the Ayyubid's i think you should destroy KOJ as soon as you can as they will attack you soon.

thats not true, i wasn't at war with the KOJ until the year 1215, and they simply didn't have the power to attack me over the years, they captured no single region because of me being quicker. i steamrolled them as i went to war with ERE, i needed their rich harbour cities to take funds from.

**The Cobra** · May 25, 2008, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by mastaace

i play the ayyubids and i have a hell of a funny campaign with them"

thats not true, i wasn't at war with the KOJ until the year 1215, and they simply didn't have the power to attack me over the years, they captured no single region because of me being quicker. i steamrolled them as i went to war with ERE, i needed their rich harbour cities to take funds from.

What i meant is that if you didn't capture the settlements around them then you should destroy them from the beginning so that you don't have to deal with their late troops.

**Cayo_Julio_Cesar** · May 24, 2008, 03:34 PM

Actually the Ayyubs, have the best everything, yeah they are oerpowered, xept for the "spearmen" , but seriously guys the mamluks troops are such a pain in the arse! if you do not rush that is. the ERE and Ayyubs, and Georgia are TOO strong compared to basically all the eastern civs, balance should be made!!!

**Lupu** · May 24, 2008, 06:08 PM

With the balance that is now ERE is overpowered, but ayyubids, really?

My favourite faction for army compositin are the abbasids, why? Because they've got everything, not the best at everything, but medium for everything, the abna are a perfect infantry selection with spearmen that with support frontally can hold up varangians(they seem to actually win at the start, but loose in outdrawn mellee) and kill cataphract cav, javelin/mace hybrid infantry, and faris axemen, also an elite caliph's guard in for the most crucial position, or where you want to break through.
As archers they've got a good hybrid archer unit that can double as a good(if not 1 of the highest) mellee infantry, and some lighter archers, but no good selection for archers.
For cavalry they have got a nice mix, of ghulams, faris, and even catapracts, horse archers are limited to one unit, but the perfect one unit, no expenise, "if i'm rich enough I might afford it" unit, and no light crap unit, just a very nice, versatile horsearcher. The coolest part is that the BC team planned on polarizing couched lance chargers,(mostly arab, and european) with other cavalry, cavalry, and abbasids will be one of the only (3?) factions that combine couched lance chargers with other cavalry(together with ERE, and ayyus?)
They are not the faction for the player that wants to spam thousands of light horse archers, etc, but for the player that invests in good army compositions, and with the army compositions that can be made with the abbasids almost every fation's military can be countered.

The other comparable factions are Ghazni, Khwarezm and Sindh.