Spain help

[D.B. Cooper]

I'm being crushed in my starting Spain campaign. It's Very Hard/Medium, and the biggest problem is I don't have enough money to keep enough armies afloat to deal with all these factions which declare war on me within a few years. First the Moors, then Sicily sails over and hits my right side, second playthrough they were accompanied by Milan, and I only have King Alfonso with a small mercenary army to fend them all off. Also in my second playthrough, England wanted some of the pie and came down to attack my north. Even though I keep two towns for economy and Toledo for troop support, I can barely break even because I'm always raising men in anticipation of a coming siege. Just get pwnt every time.

Advice would be appreciated.

[Viking Prince]

I usually ally with Portugal and it will hold until the Portuguese discover that they are hemmed in and then it will not matter. The key to the deal is to max the florins to Spain so sell trade, sell alliance, etc. Ask for nothing but the cash. I march a diplomat ASAP to the Pope for alliance, trade, gift access, gift map, gift 100fl/turn -- the usual and all as single deals within one session. This puts the rating high enough up to crusade on Cordoba. Before Cordoba I will usually take Zaragosa and Bordeaux. If I am lucky, I will march on to Rennes, but it is not important. It just helps to complete the Bay of Biscay Empire and prepares for a future grab at Angers.

This means one at a time for the Moors and then Portugal. I usually sit for a while now and let France fall apart. I will pick up Toulouse if France is irretrievably weak or if Milan has snagged it or if the owner has been excommunicated.

I am happy to get peace with the Moors once they are out of Iberia -- I think I have had too many bad things happen with the Italians without the Moors. I try to keep the Italians at a distance and also at peace. With the alliance with the Pope this usually works -- if you lose the alliance, watch out.

At some point the navy just grows a bit -- first to keep the straits blocked between Iberia and North Africa. The next is to block the English Channel. I usually never attack other naval units -- I think the anger that results is not worth the victory -- especially with rebel navies.

My next task is usually into Dublin or Nottingham and then a compete conquest of the Isles. I never start this without being at peace with the Italians and the French. Sometimes this means a more Mediterranean campaign to help the Pope and establish peace.

If I can control the Crusades and keep the action close to Spanish interests, fine. I do not head to Cairo, Antioch, etc.

Well, that is my approach. I take my time and always eliminate a faction or get a ceasefire before moving on. I keep the Pope happy and I will respond if the Pope is at war. Time also gives you the resources to build up the economy before grabbing more. Geographic expansion is really expensive since this means more troops in the field, more naval units, more base level barracks and other non-economic buildings.

The really nice aspect to the Spanish is the Jinettes for open field operations. Never allow the enemy to lay siege to your settlements -- your advantage is in the open with missile cavalry that are strong enough for melee to the flanks. A general, Jinettes, and the best available infantry is all that you will ever need. This will mean starving out the enemy when besieging enemy settlements, but this again is ok. I am not in a hurry.

[Silent Assassin]

[D.B. Cooper]

Yes indeed, thanks.

[Muagan_ra]

Unless you have the time to turtle and build up your economy - your only recourse is to quickly take an enemy settlement. There's really no other way to improve your economy to the point of being able to support multiple armies.

What you might try is turtling several fronts with Forts - garison lines of forts at various chokepoints on the map with peasants to slow down enemy armies, while you move to quickly snuff out the Portugeese. Sack the cities you conquer to give quick boosts of cash for Mercenaries. You could even split your main army into two, and trust in your command skills to overcome larger enemy forces - possibly laying ambushes to even the playing field.

Situations like this get worse until they get better, so even if you have to sacrafice one city to an enemy faction while you completely eliminate another, you will be able to deal with them all in the long-term. You can always reconquer whatever settlement the Sicilians or whoever capture once you've secured one strategic flank.

[Conquistatore]

Convert Leon into a Castle if possible, convert Toledo into a city. Take Zaragoza and Valencia immediately. If you want to be rich, establish trade rights with Portugal, the Moors and France a.s.a.p and build up ports and markets in all of your provinces. It's too bad that Toleda starts off as a castle because it can grow to be one of the richest cities in the world due to mining, trade and farming. Once you have your trading empire secure you need to commence the Reconquista and absorb Portugal and the Moors into your mighty spanish empire. Once you destroy Portugal and kick the Moors out of Iberia and back to Africa you can try and make them your vassal if you are wanting extra money. Keep eastern and northern Spain fortified to defend against those pesky Italians and the troublesome French/Scottish/English. From there you can either sail across the Mediterranean sea and begin the conquest of Italy (starting with Sicily) or you can push north into France and easily take Tolouse and that other castle on the coast.

Basically, secure the Iberian peninsular and form your trading empire. Then expand through aggresive conquest!

[Viking Prince]

@Conquistatore

Interesting if expensive idea to switch Leon and Toledo castle status. Why did you decide to do this? Toledo is much more centrally located to defend Iberia from rebels and invasions later in the game after the area has been secured.

Not saying no to the idea. I might even try it myself. Just a bit concerned on throwing so many florins early when cash is really tight. I agree with trade though. I doubt that Portuhal will remain neutral long after the rest of Iberia is Spanish though. I do not seem to recall Portugal remaining passive in my campaigns beyond about turn 40 or 50 if I did not take them out after Cordoba.

[Conquistatore]

It is expensive but not that bad. If you have the spare cash and your enemies don't seem to be doing much then it is a worthwhile investment because you will reap the rewards in the long run Zaragoza is a good city to turn into a castle to make up for Toledo as that is not too far from Toledo and you get a castle on the border of southern France.

[Inmisericorde]

My early moves on the Spanish campaign are:


Secure an alliance with the Portuguese, use one of your princess to marry the Portuguese heir. That way your will concentrate on the Moors. And send the other one to Rome and try to get as many trade agreement as possible.


Send your spy to Cordoba and your general with a field army I think is Vasco with whatever you have in Toledo and left the king to produce some units.


Send your faction heir from your capital to Zaragoza, just left the weakest unit as a garrison and start constructing a small navy, two ships will be enough for now, this navy will go to block the Gibraltar strait and prevent the Moors to reinforce they position in Spain. Wait with your faction heir for the Portuguese assault to fail, then get some mercenary and siege Zaragoza, wait until they sally out, an easy pick.


The Moors will move they army to Valencia, so take your chance and siege Cordoba with Vasco, and assault the next turn. Usually the faction leader is here, so kill the old man.


Cordoba will be your richest city early on the game. The take of Cordoba and the death of they faction leader will sure catch the attention of the Moors, strength your position with some mercenaries and defeat the army that they will send you retake Cordoba. Then move on to take Granada, turn Granada into a city, you don't need this castle is way south.


Then you have all the time to move a take Valencia from el Cid, don't assault the castle unless you want to have a lot of causalities, the Cid's army is quite an opponent for a direct assault. Turn this castle into a city.


At this point you have one castle and five cities. So it should be plenty of cash to start developing your empire. You can push south to take Marrakesh and the Moors are as good as death, use a Crusade with your faction heir so it can take some chivalry points they are pretty useful, try to keep your faction heir as chivalry as possible it will help to have a high growth rate when is garrisoned in a city or castle.
And then wait for the French to attack you. Aim for Toulouse and Bordeaux, if Bordeaux is French ,they are easy to defend. Toulouse is key target it will pretty good developed and could quickly develop to a Citadel with your high chivalry general. With the the Moors death and a strong defense in the north you only need a navy in the Mediterranean near Zaragosa and another north you capital you are in a strong defensive position to move whatever direction you want.

[France]

The worst thing in M2TW is a two faced war. And you're fighting like a four faced war o.O How can it get any worse?