Estimated Faction Difficulty in BI

[andriejj]

Am I the only one who thinks the one estimating was some half-brain? Recently, I started playing BI again, after many years. First faction I chose were Goths. Estimated difficulty: Easy.

So here I start, with one province, and some small one to the west to conquer. I do so. Trade rights with Lombards and Burgunds to have some income, also with Eastern Empire, who soon betray me. But that's later. First off, I have to face the Vandals, after they conquer Sarmatian capital. They decided to camp at my new province to the West, I barely defended the capital by exploiting the AI dumbness (spear units at a narrow slope, attack from behind with cavalry, when first units start routing). Vandals kept on sending some troops from their new capital, but not big threat. But now Eastern Empire wages war against me. Fortunately, they're more busy with Sassanids, so it's not that bad. Guess who came next - Huns. What's worse, they finished Sarmatians, who, after a while, rushed on me. Someone conquered Burgundy's province, and their hordes also went in my direction. I gave up.

Now Saxons. Estimated difficulty: Moderate. Damn, now that's going to be hard. Alliance with eastern neighbours and Franks, trade with Rome, started with rebel provinces. Next, I attacked Rome. Fighting on many fronts, they weren't much of a challenge. Conquered one region after another, always had a proper income, and if I didn't, that was because of armies prepared for next regions. Destroyed Alemmani, got first settlement behind Alps, I'm also pushing in Iberia direction and preparing to invade Britain. That's the easiest BI campaign I've ever had, till now.

What are your feelings about the difficulty estimation?

[Xavier Dragnesi]

I don't know how accurate estimated difficulties are, because I judge a faction on the how interesting its position, units and culture is, not usually how hard it will be. But usually when I actually look at what rating is given, they are reasonable accurate

[Selifator]

As every campaign is different, the factions make different choices depending on each others and your actions, the difficulty can of course change in each game, but still, some factions are indeed harder than others.
WRE I find very difficult while the ERE is far easier.

[andriejj]

I'm talking about the labels given. Saxons are obviously easier than Goths and still, Goths were marked easier than Saxons.

[Selifator]

I'm talking about the labels given. Saxons are obviously easier than Goths and still, Goths were marked easier than Saxons.

Depends on how you play them as well I think, like Scutarii said, you need to use hording to your advantage.

[Scutarii]

Goths can be extremely easy if you do it right. Horde of the bat and move into Italy; tons of cities close together for some quick conquering and money. Saxons are definitely easier though, just invade south, you only have a few borders to defend...

[Al Merko]

If you stay stationary with Goths you get destroyed by Vandals and Huns. Horde and move to Italy and Iberia

[htismaqe]

I'm beginning to dislike the whole horde concept. I want to play as the Goths, but I don't want to settle in Italy or the Middle East.

[Doctor]

I'm beginning to dislike the whole horde concept. I want to play as the Goths, but I don't want to settle in Italy or the Middle East.

Then don't the game is meant to allow you to have fun. So settle in England or the steppes and only accomplish the objectives when you feel like to.

[htismaqe]

The thing is I want to settle in DACIA.

There's no way to survive the Roxolani, Sarmatians, Vandals, AND Huns.

It sucks because the only viable strategy for the Goths is to pick up and leave at the beginning of the game.

[Scutarii]

The thing is I want to settle in DACIA.

There's no way to survive the Roxolani, Sarmatians, Vandals, AND Huns.

It sucks because the only viable strategy for the Goths is to pick up and leave at the beginning of the game.

Which is accurate, given history. The Goths had to flee and settle in Roman lands. They eventually invaded Italy itself when Rome mistreated them.

[Ali G]

I'm beginning to dislike the whole horde concept. I want to play as the Goths, but I don't want to settle in Italy or the Middle East.

horde concept is innovative and new. try it again and you going to like it.

[htismaqe]

horde concept is innovative and new. try it again and you going to like it.

I've tried it many times. And I can guarantee you I'm not going to like it.

Like I said before, I've gotten used to the mechanics of dealing with hordes. But that fact that they can be formed in a vacuum is pretty freaking ridiculous.

[Roman_Wolf]

yup its all about hordes for the goths.

but still the difficulty labels are messed up.

[Al Merko]

So? destroy ERE and all annoying steppe tribes and then return to Dacia. You will have fun

[marxist]

So? destroy ERE and all annoying steppe tribes and then return to Dacia. You will have fun

And if that does not make for fun roleplaying then I do not know what will. A mighty quest to retake your homelands...

[htismaqe]

Yeah, I ended up hording on the 1st turn and heading straight for Constantinople.

The ERE just didn't have enough forces in the area and ended up taking Constantinople, Thessalonica, and Athens before I ran out of horde troops. My family is huge, though.

I settled and put my capital in Thessalonica, and now I'm back to playing the basic build and conquer game. Just raised my first full stack of spearmen and archers and took Sirmium from the rebels.

I want to start the reconquest of my homeland now, but my allies the Roxolani have settled there. They don't have many troops, but they have both Campus Iazyges and Colonia Dacia. I'm gonna have to raise another army so that I can take both cities in the same turn and prevent them from hording in my front yard.

[htismaqe]

OK, it's official, I bleeping hate hordes.

Constantinople got over 35K people, there was nothing I could do to keep it from rebelling.

And of course, since I'm the Goths, it doesn't just become a rebel city - the Ostrogoths appear. No biggie though, they only have a couple of crappy general and large peasant army.

So I siege Constantinople and wipe them off the face of the earth. What happens?

Yep, they've now got an unstoppable horde with 7 full stacks and 4 good generals. This is so bleeping stupid. I razed the city to the ground - the remaining population was 4400. There wasn't any population base to draw the horde from, yet they magically appear.

BS.

[Roman_Wolf]

OK, it's official, I bleeping hate hordes.

Constantinople got over 35K people, there was nothing I could do to keep it from rebelling.

And of course, since I'm the Goths, it doesn't just become a rebel city - the Ostrogoths appear. No biggie though, they only have a couple of crappy general and large peasant army.

So I siege Constantinople and wipe them off the face of the earth. What happens?

Yep, they've now got an unstoppable horde with 7 full stacks and 4 good generals. This is so bleeping stupid. I razed the city to the ground - the remaining population was 4400. There wasn't any population base to draw the horde from, yet they magically appear.

BS.

agreed. the horde system is very poorly made and it harms gameplay rather than enhance it

[htismaqe]

agreed. the horde system is very poorly made and it harms gameplay rather than enhance it

Honestly, I had almost gotten used to the mechanic.

But when a civilazation only has a few hundred members left, hording should be impossible.