England strategy.

[Haakon]

So I decided to start a campaign as England and been running into a bit of trouble at turn (ca) 30.
The beginning was incredible easy compared to playng Norway. In just a few turns I've taken all the English settlements and sucesfully defended York against Scottish invasion as well as fending off the French in Caen.

Then things started slowing down. Now I've sucesfully destroyed Scotland and I got a steady and secure income. I want to annex Ireland but the pope bugs me about stopping hostilities so nothing ever happens. France keeps attacking Caen with two full stacks every no and then so I'm forced to keep a full stack at Caen. I can still afford another stack, but I'm waiting for William wallace to return so I keep it in my homelands. Btw, taking more provinces from France is probably not going to happen as they got an insane amount of stacks walking about in their provinces.


So what to do next?




edit : Btw Ireland has to be the most Useless faction ever. They have never done anything, been at peace with everyone in all the campaigns I have played. If there is to be a new SS, I'd love to see Ireland be more on the offensive.

[JorisofHolland]

RR/RC has removed Ireland in the favor of the Timurids.

Wallace won't spawn if you have defeated Scotland (IIRC, but I'll have to take a look on the script to be sure). So that would free up a stack from Brittain, you can use it to fight the French.

[Enomine]

I sell Caen to the French early on for a huge fee and then use that cash to take out Scotland. Ireland isn't an issue for me since I use RR/RC.

[Haakon]

Whats RR/RC?
edit : nvm I know now. Ahh Timurids, my old nemesis. We shall once again cross swords. (THIS TIME YOU DIE!!!!)

[Callawyn]

Use the backstab and ceasefire strategy vs a strong opponent. Saves you from having to face their main strength.

Prepare 3-4 armies, each with siege equipment (at least 2 catapults or 1 trebuchet per army). Scout out enemy territory for weakly defended cities/castles. Siege and assault as many as possible on the same turn (using fleets to ferry your troops is very effective: fast and has the element of surprise). Have your diplomat offer ceasefire (the AI will often pay you, occassionally you may need to add some tribute, rarely may need to offer back one of the provinces you just took). Occassionally the AI will reject ceasefire on the same turn you attacked but will be more than happy to accept on the following turn - the AI will never assault on the same turn it besieges unless there is a gaping hole in the wall, so best destroy gates rather than walls in your assaults (cheaper to repair too).

Now, you've taken a few provinces in a single turn and the AI has had no chance at all to react due to the ceasefire. Ditto for the Pope, he may threaten excom on the following turn but you're already at peace. Even if the AI armies massively outnumber yours, this works very well, since you won't be facing their main armies in battle. You also don't need to play defence, so no worries about your weak garrisons that the AI might go for in an extended war.

Reinforce your armies, and reposition to backstab someone else.

This is a great way to expand a weak power against stronger neighbors, works equally well once you're dominant. Once you've gotten an AI faction down to 2 or 3 provinces, keep a spy watching them to see if they move their garrisons out into the field. Try to finish them off in a single turn - any remaining AI field armies become rebel armies but at much reduced strength. Its entirely possible to destroy most AI factions in your campaign without ever really facing their main strength in battle.

Try playing Ireland in Late Campaign: you start with only 2 provinces and strong neighbors and only a couple opportunities vs rebel provinces at game start. Worse, your economy sucks. This strategy works even with half-strength armies on offense, since you're deliberately targetting cities/castles with weak garrisons.

[Xx_Turk_xX]

I think its best to be very aggresive with England. If I was you Id wait till your king gets into his upper sixtys and attack Ireland. Wipe them out, you will get excommunicated but your King will die soon so that gives you time to start weakening the French.

My english campiagn is on turn sixty and i own all of the English isles and all of France, im at war with The HRE and am excommunicated but im pulling in 20,000 gold a turn. Anyways, its just an idea, thats how most of my English campaigns go. Good Luck!

[Callawyn]

I think its best to be very aggresive with England. If I was you Id wait till your king gets into his upper sixtys and attack Ireland. Wipe them out, you will get excommunicated but your King will die soon so that gives you time to start weakening the French.

My english campiagn is on turn sixty and i own all of the English isles and all of France, im at war with The HRE and am excommunicated but im pulling in 20,000 gold a turn. Anyways, its just an idea, thats how most of my English campaigns go. Good Luck!

They only have 2 provinces. Take both on the same turn and Ireland will be eliminated before the Pope can even send you a threat. You might lose a point of favor with him (he doesn't like it when a Catholic capital is taken), but that's about it.

[DeliCiousTZM]

where is RR/RC?

[meese]

where is RR/RC?

In the sub-mods section. It's got a really long thread name but you should see something like Real Combat blah Real Recruitment blah Compilation blahblahblah