So many Factions + Indecision = FORUMS!

**Kiljaden** · July 17, 2008, 02:23 AM

Decide my next faction for me, because apparently I can never stick to ANY campaign more than 10 turns unless it's the English. I have SS 6.1, so Aragon\KoJ\Templars\Lithuania\etc are a solid option.
I have never played a non-catholic faction and dislike horse archer-based armies (though they are great supplemental units). Solid Heavy Infantry and capable Archers are basically a must - I also don't care much for gunpowder. Also, decide Late Era or Early Era for me as well

-The first faction to get a 3-vote consensus wins.
-Majority rules on Late Era\Early Era (excepting TO\Templar\KoJ for obvious reasons)

**Thompson45cal.** · July 17, 2008, 02:51 AM

Maybe you could create a poll of your desired choices for users to choose from. Just a suggestion.

Sorry I don't have the SS mod installed yet.....

"crying" I can't help you much there.

**Leutrim** · July 17, 2008, 02:56 AM

Dont really know what the big deal with these mods is. They feel very weird and a tiny bit slow. I suggest just playing the retrofit mod if you have the same feeling as I did.

**Kiljaden** · July 17, 2008, 03:08 AM

No, SS has all the factions that vanilla has. All SS really is, is Retrofit with a few extra features like the army supply system, region title ancilliaries, new factions, more balanced and unique faction rosters. I also enjoy the slightly slower campaign style.

I considered a poll, but I wanted this to be more of a "I LOVED THIS FACTION, PLAY IT!" kinda thing. You don't have to have played any of SS's new factions to recommend your favorite vanilla one.

**Viking Prince** · July 17, 2008, 04:11 AM

I give up. Iwill download SS this weekend and see what all the fuss is about. Not holding my breath though.

**aarons got funky fresh** · July 17, 2008, 04:36 AM

Most people will probably say Teutonic Order/Byzantine Empire.

I dont like the Byzantium, and Im not too much of a fan of the sloooooow moving Teutons.

My favourite faction to play with is the Seljuk Sultanate. Great unit roster, especially when you take Constantinople, and lovely starting position.

Not many people are fond of the Turks though, personally I love em.

Also, Late Era is best. I cant stand Early Era where youre soooooo far from gunpowder and the whole map is basically Rebel.

Scotland are fun too. Brilliant pikes and infantry.

**pwijnands** · July 17, 2008, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by aarons got funky fresh

Most people will probably say Teutonic Order/Byzantine Empire.

I dont like the Byzantium, and Im not too much of a fan of the sloooooow moving Teutons.

My favourite faction to play with is the Seljuk Sultanate. Great unit roster, especially when you take Constantinople, and lovely starting position.

Not many people are fond of the Turks though, personally I love em.

Also, Late Era is best. I cant stand Early Era where youre soooooo far from gunpowder and the whole map is basically Rebel.

Scotland are fun too. Brilliant pikes and infantry.

I can second the Turks, or Seljuk Sultanate (I'm not a big fan of fancy names). Once built up properly they have the best unit roster in the game, only lacking a pike unit.

The only problems I have with the Turks is that they are weak to begin with and can take a while before you get decent troops. I also find diplomacy very hard when playing the Turks, even with other muslim factions. I haven't played them in SS 6.1 yet, so don't know if that makes islamic factions like eachother more.

**chapman104** · July 17, 2008, 05:32 AM

I recommend the Teutonic order because carving out a baltic empire against heathens is just classic

**Xamt** · July 17, 2008, 05:48 AM

hmmm let me get this straight... you to play a faction that:

a. is non-catholic
b. has solid heavy infantry
c. good archers
d. dont like mass horse archers
e. dont care about gun powder

sadly the only nations that have solid heavy infantry, good archers and arent horse archer dependant are catholic factions :/

of the non-catholic factions my choice would be
a. Egypt
b. Moors
c. Lithuania (pagan)

Egypt has good archers (desert archers), and its late infantry is quite good featuring dismounted arab cavalry (spearmen), tabardariya (2h axemen) and good cavalry (even horse archers as support)

Like Egypt the Moors have good archers (desert archers), above average spear militias, dismounted christian guard (heavy infantry) and good cavalry. In addition they get camel gunners, but they lack in ap units

Lithuania on the other hand has a good overall roster with 2h axemen and the like, but im not sure how good their spearmen are :/

anyway - if i were you, i would play a catholic faction since then you have a great deal of choices at your disposal (HRE, France, Spain -aragon and leon-, KOJ, Teutons etc)

**Dewy** · July 17, 2008, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by Xamt

hmmm let me get this straight... you to play a faction that:

a. is non-catholic
b. has solid heavy infantry
c. good archers
d. dont like mass horse archers
e. dont care about gun powder

sadly the only nations that have solid heavy infantry, good archers and arent horse archer dependant are catholic factions :/

of the non-catholic factions my choice would be
a. Egypt
b. Moors
c. Lithuania (pagan)

Egypt has good archers (desert archers), and its late infantry is quite good featuring dismounted arab cavalry (spearmen), tabardariya (2h axemen) and good cavalry (even horse archers as support)

Like Egypt the Moors have good archers (desert archers), above average spear militias, dismounted christian guard (heavy infantry) and good cavalry. In addition they get camel gunners, but they lack in ap units

Lithuania on the other hand has a good overall roster with 2h axemen and the like, but im not sure how good their spearmen are :/

anyway - if i were you, i would play a catholic faction since then you have a great deal of choices at your disposal (HRE, France, Spain -aragon and leon-, KOJ, Teutons etc)

Read it again, he said i havn't played a non-catholic both, not i want to play a non-catholic

**Xamt** · July 17, 2008, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by Dewy

Read it again, he said i havn't played a non-catholic both, not i want to play a non-catholic

imo its open to interpretation.... he wants to play something new... so having played only catholic factions its reasonable to assume he'd much rather play a non-catholic faction than a catholic one

besides, if religion wasnt an issue i dont think he would have mentioned it...

but thats just me

**The Noble Lord** · July 17, 2008, 11:08 AM

Try Fatimids. They have everything that you want plus the beautiful architecture.
And they are so fun to play.

CHEERS

**Kiljaden** · July 17, 2008, 06:52 PM

Clarification: religion of the faction doesn't really matter to me, but the idea of not relying on the pope every 2 turns is appealing

Originally Posted by chapman104

I recommend the Teutonic order because carving out a baltic empire against heathens is just classic

I love the TO's roster and starting position, I just get confused on figuring out who the wub is going to be my next heir (counsillor). Also I'm not able to marry anyone (marriage alliances ;-

or have kids and predictable heirs and there's no faction tree - it's just weird to me.

Thanks for all the replies so far!

**Thompson45cal.** · July 17, 2008, 07:02 AM

I was under the impression there was a lot more factions then just the vanilla factions in the SS mod.

After reading the rest of the posts.... I can say in multi-player I do love them egyptians with their tabardariya, sud tribesmen, and nasty lil nafta throwers. One of my favorites to play.
But I've never played them in a campaign.
Good luck on your quest for your next campaign.

**Sargon_of_Akkad** · July 17, 2008, 08:17 AM

Lithuania is a very hard faction to play, simply because your only allies are to the east, so your only room for expansion is to the west, and the Catholics stick together like glue against the might of Dievas.

**jonny duck** · July 17, 2008, 08:38 AM

Venice! A reasonably good starting position with plenty of room for expansion into the med, coupled with a reasonably good roster. Their archers are mediochre but capable (and come with heavy armour in the later turns) and they have the typical strong italian militia units.

**Wizzerdrix** · July 17, 2008, 08:38 AM

I think you should give Denmark a try, their heavy infantry is kickass and their archers are good for shooting as well as punching things. Play from the early era as well, take things from the beginning.

**LionQ** · July 17, 2008, 07:34 PM

Ze Kaiser rules.

**Eupholi** · July 18, 2008, 02:54 PM

I would use the Seljuk Sultinate, they have in my opinion the best unit roster outside of the catholic kingdoms and probably at least top five of all of them. Janissary units are amazing.

Another good choice could be the Byzantine Empire amazing archers, heavy cav and heavy inf, only lacks decent gunpowder units.