Novgorod or Kiev?

[henyo10]

Which faction is more fun to play as overall?

[Tyrenia]

Novgorod IMO. A better roster, combined with a relatively poor starting position (the only advantage being isolation) makes a game with Novgorod more exciting than one with Kiev, which can become easy if you take out Byzantium relatively early.

Edit: POST 100!

[Kazuhiro]

Kiev would be my choice. I like their diverse units much better, and they're not as isolated from the rest of the world. I like building up an eastern empire, and then invading the west. Constantinople, excellent sacking target. Double team lithuania and poland with TO. Overall, a fun campaign imo.

[Caesar Clivus]

I like both factions a lot and I have fun playing both. But if I had to choose one, I would go with Novgorod

[Byzantium]

Spooky i was just thinking about this for a new game i'm planning.

I have never played as Novgorod but i have spent a long time with the KievRus.

I would say that RepNov probably have the strongest army overall and the better starting position.Lots of cities/castles near to Novgorod and a capacity in militia production to besiege them.Same with Moscow and the other one nearby i forget the name of.They can just out produce kiev at the beginning.

Kiev's position is less well developed at the start and rebel provinces that are immediately attainable are few and far between and not all that exciting to begin with.While Novgorod are ramping up production in smolensk you have a family of four living in Iasi.

What Kiev lacks in some areas it makes up for in others.Their flag and unit skins are fantastic and the campaign is a more interesting one imo.

Both quality factions - cant go wrong with either.

[OneArmedScissor]

I started a Kiev campaign recently and it has been pretty fun.
Just work on consolidating your position and then steamrolling a faction.
I don't think prolonged wars favor Kiev, etc.

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

Novgorod or Kiev?

Kiev - In the middle of the action and starts with nothing..... if you want a challenge from the start this is the way to go. Overall one of my favorite factions. Their rooster is really nice. Please consider....

1. There is a castle to the NE of Kiev with a grain resource {helps population growth} grab it and put a chivalry Governor for fast growth.

2. The Cumans get their 2nd tier spearmen and horse archers before you and their on their way...

3. Ally with the Byzantines and be prepared to take "The Great City" after the Jihads.

Novgorod - The choice to make if you really need time to prepare. They start isolated and can choose their enemies.


So my input....Go Kiev... matter of fact I go start a campaign now...

[Deadly Rabbit]

I've found Novgorod is able to build a strong economy, and is easier to defend with... I think Kiev often gets sandwiched between agressive neighbours, and has some extremely long borders with few natural barriers.

[JiangZiya]

I generally like playing nations that generally continue to exist throughout the campaign timeline, or have some sense of national identity throughout the game. (i.e france, england, norway vs countries like aragon, genoa and the cumans.) nation building and role playing aside, the novgorods have a more appealing aesthetic to me along with their history.. but kiev's ideal position as the backdoor into europe, and it's position to be put into checkmate by the eastern hordes make it an ideal faction to play as for a decent challenge and sense of nationhood. you really do have the best of both worlds with kiev.

P.S - Here's a glimpse of one of Kiev's new banners in SS6.3!!!


"Greetings, comrades! Why unicycle-riding bears, you ask? I will tell you why, mishka. Circus gives chance for glorious Russian peoples to see glorious Russian entertainment.
What is entertainment? Jugglers are entertainment. Clown is entertainment. But bear on unicycle is fine entertainment, most entertaining of all entertainment.
For glory of Russian worker, bear rides unicycle around ring! Ride, bear, ride! Ha ha, what lusty fun! People cheer, and people clap, full of patriotic pride and joy. The Motherland salutes efforts of bear on unicycle, riding around ring.
Good bear! Later, bear will get single pickled salmon. Not two pickled salmon, single pickled salmon. It is delicious bear treat, treat for riding unicycle so well, made locally at Livotsk by robust state-run Pickled Salmon Consortium as part of mananged economy!
Everyone has job. Pickled Salmon workers have jobs - bear has job. His job is to ride unicycle, and he does it well.
Ah, ruinous black fortune! Bear fall off of unicycle. See heroic trainer spring to action! Children shriek - "get bear back on unicycle, ride unicycle for great glory and entertainment!" Ah, what dark calamity is this! Bear does not want to go back on unicycle, and takes swings with claws.
One, two, three! Is there doctor in house? Bear trainer is bleeding badly!
Bear mauling trainer is fine entertainment that epitomizes classist struggle between furry, muscular masses and lazy, whip-wielding bourgeoise! See heroic struggles of bear-trainer to survive fury of bear forced to ride unicycle!
I think crowd roots for bear; he has upper paw, ha ha! I must remember that one if heroic and honest state-run Russian Free Press comes to interview circus staff after trainer loses heroic struggle with angered bear.
Trainer is not moving - see how bear beats him with unicycle! Now this is circus! This is Russia!"

Taken from http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/U...e-riding_bears

[Trinity]

I like Kiev more b/c it starts on the Black Sea, but I always saw the Novgorod being able to dominate the Baltic and then focus on the Black Sea region. Playing as Kiev, I never wanted to go North (except for Novgorod itself) as Constantinople was a stones throw away. I guess I'm torn between both but I would play Kiev in Early era, and Novgorod in the late.

[StyggeKrumpen]

I tgink both are gret. Novgorod starts rel slow but cen become an powerhouse with nice cavalry and the bltic sea region to pick on. Kiev has nice infantry with good viking units and an nice interesting starting position with a lot of possibility,

[JorisofHolland]

Novgorod is, as said already, if you need (or want) time to prepare, Kiev is if you like quick action and to be sandwiched between Cumans, Novgordian (only sometimes), Byzantines and Hungarians.

[seregras]

Kievan Rus are without a doubt my FAVORITE faction. They start with very little but with some shrewd economic management and rapid expansion across the plains they can become powerful. I find it most helpful to secure alliances with poland and the byzantines, powering up my economy and keeping the greedy hungarians at bay.
If you desire to end the era of two russian nations forgo trade with novogorod and force them into playing conservatively. They are the easiest immediate enemy because of the similar religion. However it would be most wise to blitz atleast two of their eastern cities at the same time, when they over correct and send reinforcements from novgorod it is then proper to assault the city from your hidden position in the trees. With the jewel of the north and yaroslavl now within your possession watch in amazement as your forces absorb all of the novgorodian republic into your empire! hmm where to go now-lithuania? hungary (they will likely be preoccupied with the byzzies making a two front war all the easier)? Poland (a shattered alliance will lead you into europe)? across the baltic there is lots of opportunity and easy pickings in the danish and norwegian lands. If you go west make sure you seek an alliance with the cumans. Because nothing is more annoying than to have them popping up on your eastern front raiding every few turns when you are trying to launch mass invasions on your western borders.
Despite lacking true professional armies or the heavy units of novgorod; the kievan rus are very mobile and their armies flexible. Once they are producing from multiple population centers they can make good use of fairly decent and diverse militia grade units, or the more powerful and exceptionally unique creations that can only come from a viking/steppe hybrid like druzhina, boyars, scandinavian guards, varangian archers, and heavy cavalry archers wielding war axes. The units are deadly, effective, and beautiful.
PS-Caesar, I am dying to play with the revamped Kievans from the battle for the baltic 2, on the grand campaign. They are magnificent.