Help me choose a faction?

[Chocolate]

Hi,

I've never played SS before, and am having some trouble picking a good nation. Here's some details:

i LOVE archers, they're definetly my favorite of all (but I don't want to play england)

I want to be a Catholic nation (I like the whole Pope Crusade thing)

I don't like to be constantly at war

I like being in Europe, but it doesn't matter as much


I was thinking of playing the Templar, but I figured that they won't have any good archers and would constantly be at war with the muslims. (thoughts?)

I was also thinking about the Teutonic Knights, but don't know anything about them (dont even know where theyre located)

So yeah, please help me pick!

Thanks!

[XICenturionIX]

If you love archers and you want to be Catholic, then go with England. Plus, they are on the British Isles so you really do not have to worry about war.

The Templars would not be a good choice for archers, because they specialize in heavy feudal units.

The Teutonic Knights are basically the same thing as the Templars, but I find them more interesting to play than the Templars.

[The Guy With No Imagination]

Aragon is meant for you,my son.. Good archers. is in europe. has plenty of ways to expand, etc etc etc

[Chocolate]

I guess I may consider England... what about Ireland? And can I please have some info on Aragon? (location? a map pic?)

[JorisofHolland]

Aragon is situated between the Pyrenees and the Mediterannean Sea, Northern Spain. Ireland sucks (I hope you know where it's loacted, right?) Teutons are a little to the east of Lithuania (only in late campaign, emergent in early)

Templars have quite good archers, IIRC. Those Muslim Archers and French Archers are devastating. The only thing is that you might go down the road of Total War, having not a moment of peace.

[DeMolay]

Aragon is situated between the Pyrenees and the Mediterannean Sea, Northern Spain.

It's true that Aragon in SS RR/RC are pretty neat for people who like to defend and love missiles units . Basques archers may only have missile=4 instead of 5 like English longbowmen , but they have pavise crossbowmen to compensate , but more importantly , the awesome Catalans (Almughavars) who rack quite some kills with their javelins when behind the spearmen , thus all in all , with an Aragon army , it's possible to build extremely deadly defensive forces around ranged units as well , especially when you look at the number of bridges and good defensive elevated spots in Iberia , lots of fun

[JorisofHolland]

number of bridges

You mean those uncrossable bridges?

[SoulBlade]

Crossbows > archers, go for Venice or Genoa.
or Scots, they have capable archers, not like english longbows, but they're pretty good in melee too.

[gluteus maximus aurelius]

I'd personally recommend the Teutonic Order, they're basic archer unit (Prussian archers) are pretty awesome. They're better than all the other archers that they can recruit but you get them at castle level, they can lay stakes and they've got a decent range too, perfect for mowing down all those lithuanians and russians you'll be fighting. You also get awesome heavy inf and cav, and you're only worry is money, but you'll have the same worry with most small factions

[PhilipO'Hayda]

I'd personally recommend the Teutonic Order, they're basic archer unit (Prussian archers) are pretty awesome. They're better than all the other archers that they can recruit but you get them at castle level, they can lay stakes and they've got a decent range too, perfect for mowing down all those lithuanians and russians you'll be fighting. You also get awesome heavy inf and cav, and you're only worry is money, but you'll have the same worry with most small factions

can't play as them if your playing from 1080.
I'nd say the french.

[PerXX]

can't play as them if your playing from 1080.
I'nd say the french.

The french are a good shout. Awesome archers in the Scots Guard, and equally strong crossbowmen, the Aventuriers. Both come into play fairly late in the game though.

You might want to have a look at Honga's excellent Unit and Building Database to get an idea as of how the various factions work.

[Lord Lancelot]

I think the Scotland is good game in SS,or Russians They have nice unit skins

[Gogolometro]

Ah, SS beginer. If was RR you will have archers like local units from everywere. Because is SS and want archer catholic factionswhat is not England I suggest you or France, they got extraordinary ones or Venice who get a colonial unit (pesante, venetian archers). Dont choose HRE becausethey got best infantry but are not fans of archery. Probably if yoy can manage a big kingdom I suggest you France. Both french archers and scots guards are killers. Plus their xbows units are good, late ones are the best. They got great late infantry and in cavalry they rule. Venice republic is great if you like a millitia faction with great boost of late colonial units. Ah, I miss the Sicilians mafioso. They got pretty good muslim archers, they are pope favored, and you have opurtunity to crusade moors and fatimids.

[Chocolate]

Hmmm... I looked at that link at it actually says that Ireland has very good bowmen. I kind of like Ireland because I'm from Irish descent I think I've narrowed it down to the Tuetons or Ireland. Which should I go for?

[PerXX]

Give the Irish a try. They're also isolated on their island, so you'll mostly be able to chose your battles, rather than being overrun. They could give you a good into to SS
Also, they're often replaced with other factions in many submods, such as Point Blanks Real Combat/Recruitment compilation, which I think is what most people are playing now.

[Silhouette]

Hungary boasts excellent mounted and infantry archers for sure. Especially those bulgarian brigands which just make me laugh.

[Tyrenia]

Between Teutons and Ireland, I would say Ireland. In spite of the Prussian Archers, the Teutons are much more Heavy Infantry focussed. Hungary have some good archers, as do Venice in the Late period, and so may be worth considering.

[meese]

Venice would be my pick though it could be difficult depending on what you're used to and how you play your diplomatic cards.

[ShockBlast]

If you haven't played SS before i suggest you play without RR first.
I suggest playing with England.It has one of the best positions.From the start you can give up on Normandy,that way you will not get into conflict with France, and taking the entire British Isles then you can try to set out colonies all around the map.Keep an eye out for Norway and Denmark,they might try some naval invasions.

Hmmm... I looked at that link at it actually says that Ireland has very good bowmen. I kind of like Ireland because I'm from Irish descent I think I've narrowed it down to the Tuetons or Ireland. Which should I go for?

Ireland is unfinished as a faction but if you like then go for it.Use the same tactics,take the entire British Isles and have fun after.You might want to consider Scotland also.

[Ichon]

Venice is fun if you don't mind waiting long time to get the nice archers or play Sicily and get decent archers in large numbers right away but you'll be stuck with them all game which is good and bad since they are decent and can gain massive experience and full upgrades but still won't quite match some other factions top archers.

Otherwise the western Catholic nations have the best missile units overall- England, France, Scotland, etc. If you don't mind using some javelin infantry which can be quite devastating in some situations more options are available with other factions but otherwise stick with main archers where it just depends on map position. Ireland or Sicily probably the most likely to be left alone longest.