I don't want to conquer the world, I just want cool battles

**Quercia** · October 29, 2009, 01:31 PM

Blegh, this sounds like I'm ready for custom battles.

But really, I want to have cool battles without having to oblige myself to conquer the whole world. Because that ends up with me losing it to boredom eventually, because after you get about 20 regions, you're too big anyhow to lose the battle for the map.

The farthest I have come is with the Seljuk Sultanate, reaching the size of 37 regions and about to face the Mongol horde, which seems more like a pathetic, overrated bunch of Asian dudes (in other words, they don't challenge me either on the battlefield).

I've never had any real difficulty with the enemy on the battlefield, not even on very hard/very hard settings. SS 6.0 (I'm too lazy to download again) did surprise me though, from time to time. But the victory:defeat ratio is still on my favour big time. And most lost battles are from sea battles (which I don't care about).

This also includes playing as Templar Knights.

Maybe I might take a chance with arcade style battles. They certainly have their flaws, but it provides for a more slaughterous battle. And in turn, it means that I do lose a lot of men, which might make it more difficult for me.

Does anyone else have suggestions as to making the AI on the battlefield harder to beat? (usually they tend to run away very soonishly - and my generals don't have that much dread either... they're often very chivalric!)

**Knight of Heaven** · October 29, 2009, 01:54 PM

Did you ever try do play multiplayer battles, i can assure you they are chalanging, and most inportant of all, there isnt one equal batle ever.

**JorisofHolland** · October 29, 2009, 02:03 PM

Yes, and it's very funny to kill your foes general and ambush his army from 5 sides at the same time.

**JiangZiya** · October 29, 2009, 03:00 PM

Difficulties of SS versions/mods (From a TW, RTS and TBS Veteran)

SS6.0, + 6.1v on H/H (VERY EASY) VH/VH (PRETTY EASY)
SS6.0 + 6.1 w BGRIV VH/VH (MEDIUM CAMPAIGN, EASY BATTLES)
SS6.2 on VH/VH w BGRIV (HARD CAMPAIGN, MEDIUM BATTLES)
SS6.2 RR/RC Mod Compilation with Enh. BGRIV on VH/VH (HARD TO VERY HARD DEPENDING ON FACTION)**

** Assuming you don't

up the installation or edit anything.

**Knight of Heaven** · October 29, 2009, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by SeraphZ

Difficulties of SS versions/mods (From a TW, RTS and TBS Veteran)

SS6.0, + 6.1v on H/H (VERY EASY) VH/VH (PRETTY EASY)
SS6.0 + 6.1 w BGRIV VH/VH (MEDIUM CAMPAIGN, EASY BATTLES)
SS6.2 on VH/VH w BGRIV (HARD CAMPAIGN, MEDIUM BATTLES)
SS6.2 RR/RC Mod Compilation with Enh. BGRIV on VH/VH (HARD TO VERY HARD DEPENDING ON FACTION)**

** Assuming you don't

up the installation or edit anything.

indeed. playing with teutonic order in VH/VH is impossible. meaning no one last long.

**Hambone** · October 29, 2009, 04:35 PM

*snip*
-Caesar Clivus

You do realise that by admittting to and advocating piracy you are going against the TOS?

I suggest you edit your posts ASAP.
EDIT-Holy balls that was fast.

**Caesar Clivus** · October 29, 2009, 04:39 PM

Any talk about illegal copies will be deleted. It is expressely against TWC's rules of conduct.

**Vernah** · October 29, 2009, 05:44 PM

I recommend downloading RR/RC, it'll make u go wtf I R HAS TO THINK? and makes the game much more enjoyable on the campaign map. I have not yet moved to BYG or whatever its called as for some reason I cant keep track of my damn nobles (No idea why, i just dont give a crap, i think of them as any other unit LOL) but that will also give a larger challenge as well. If that still doesnt give a challenge, you could just piss off every single nation to hate u, then u got a challenge!

**vimy** · October 29, 2009, 09:15 PM

Quercia

My solution may sound odd, but I think I know how to give you what you want.

Fun battles only work when they mean something, custom battles are not rewarding, to me anyway, becuase they lack the context of the greater war.
What have found most fun, is to play the campaign, without the intention of conquering the world. Rather, I concentrate on capturing the nations historic border, and then keeping it.
Inevitable, I get invaded, fight a war and try to sue for peace, often giving back conquered provinces. Why, too stay small.

I found, this lets me keep a very modern, develope faction, with a crack army, but at the same time, lets the AI get powerful and thus gives it a fighting chance.
Nothing is more fun, to me anyway, than controling one faction, let say France, conquering all French Rebel teritories and makeing peace with everyone. Eventual, someone will attack, for example, Genoa, fighting a war with Genoa and winning several provinces, trading back Genoas lost provinces for peace. Genoa becomes strong again, France stays the same, maybe a little richer after plunder genoese provinces, maybe more developed, but essentially the same. You never allow yourself to become overpowered.

In the example given, Genoa may become a vassel of France, Genoa may turn south or east and become a great power, who knows. Point is, the AI keeps Genoa as a faction and you stay small.

**JorisofHolland** · October 30, 2009, 05:40 AM

That souns nice. I'll be trying that in my next campaign. If I remember, by then.

**Bosje** · October 30, 2009, 01:05 PM

that's the only way I ever play, lol

I second the recommendation. Play the Danes and leave the Norwegians alone
Play Byzantine and leave Hungary and Venice alone
It's loads more fun to carve out a fluffy little empire and then defend it against all those stacks

with RR/RC, you'll likely face one scary army of heavily armoured troops and after that it's mainly militia spam, so make peace and let em rebuild a feudal army if you want another decisive and tough battle a little later.