The Turks

[misfits9]

Hey sooo, I generally play factions that start small and compact like Genoa or Aragon but I figured I'd give Turks a try on the new SS 6.3. But I get overwhelmed when I start in already expansive empires and seem to quit soon because of this, cept this time I'd really like to see the Turks through.

So I was wondering on how you guys play your Turkish campaigns.

Where do you prefer starting your expansion? Byzantines and go for Constantinople? Crusader States? Kwarez? or keep on expanding into the rebel territories while building your empires infrastructure?

Do you keep all of the provinces you start with or do some get traded for alliances, trade rights, monies, military access, etc?

I hear Turkish HA's are awesome units but do you keep to HA heavy armies or prefer more infantry and foot archers?

Meh bored and thought I'd ask. Thanks

[RollingWave]

1. generally go for rebels and Byzantium, going east have the problem of you needing to deal with the mongols in full, while going for the Crusaders means you'll get into a war with the Egyptians sooner rather than later. for the most part , Mongols and Crusades will likely cripple or outright destroy Kwarezm and the Fatimids.

2. try to get the basic economies going soon. but as a faction with so many settlements you need to set priorities.

3. HA armies are typically the best in the open field, at least cost effective wise. as the Turks basically just roam the field with HA armies to destroy other field armies, and then go in with a infantry heavy army to do the siege.

[Siddyus]

I try to overwhelm the Byzantines as soon as possible. Never let them become stronger or you'll find yourself in a pitch soon enough. The Khwarezms will also try to backstab you so watch out for em and maintain a good defense on your eastern borders. As for the Crusaders. Well, they'll be busy fighting against the Fatimids. but still keep an eye on em or you can destroy em as soon as you are done with the byzantines. Then take Fatimid lands if you are feeling lucky. PITA enemies would be the Byzantines, Khwarezms, and of course the Mongols. In my case at least.

[Kawee]

Personally, I try to hold the Eastern and Southern borders with well-defended settlements. I then expand into the West. Like Rolling Wave said, HA armies are very useful. They have high movement speed, so they always lead my other armies. You only need one "heavy" stack for taking settlements. If you're uncertain about moving into the West, take the castle west of Constantinople, and hold any advancing army there.

[Gogolometro]

I played them late campaign. I not like empires, except byzantines at late and HRE.
So in late campaign, leave the cities/towns near persians. Rebels will keep mongols at least a while. Keep the castles and try to upgrade them at full. Tbilisi won 4 siefes, was conquered, retake ot, and again won 5 sieges. Secret is few fari HA, few spahi mounted, sope spears 2-3 and all rest turkish archers. The long range and mass arrows help a lot.
Cesarea and later other will make otoman infantry. Trust tem. In west go crush fast the byzantines and rebels ( I use the latin empire submod, this mean drusader armys to crush). Go fat to Italy, the big cities will give you already maded jannisaries buildings. Dont go on HA, even all tell you to do that. Anatholia is full of hills and mountains. Byzantines, fatimids, mongols, hungarians have their own HA, most of time better than you except Fari and I'qtadar. You have bad cavalry, so is not an option. Force best sieges defence, spam foot archers, turkish and ottoman, and upgrade armors. Use saracen not spear militia in towns. Use magdonels, and wait 1300. Than you will explode.

[Byg]

... I'd give Turks a try on the new SS 6.3. But I get overwhelmed when I start in already expansive empires and seem to quit soon because of this, cept this time I'd really like to see the Turks through...

You should just try playing on as you have been, but don't quit. A whole new kind of enjoyment opens up when you are beaten back but struggle on. Subsequent victory seems more rewarding and losing nobly having fought to the last man is fun too.

[misfits9]

You should just try playing on as you have been, but don't quit. A whole new kind of enjoyment opens up when you are beaten back but struggle on. Subsequent victory seems more rewarding and losing nobly having fought to the last man is fun too.

Yeah definitely, especially when you take out a nice good bye chunk of the enemy.

Thanks all for your tips and strats, woke up fresh and inspired this morning and am stoked to start up a new game with the Turks.

[vtec.dominion]

I just started new late campaign with The Turks and its going well atm.
Your 1st priority should be elimination of Byzantines or at least get them off Anatolia.
I instantly took Trebzonid, Smyrna and Cannakale then launched the jihad on Constantinople.
Next turn took Nicea and left them only with Arta. Meanwhile, i tood Kutaisi and Quarisya.
So in turn number 8 i was making nice 7-8k profits. Then out of blue the Fatimitds attacked me
at Quaisya. Of course i smashed them there with my decent army made for operation Baghdad
and in next 2 turns i took Aleppo and Antioch off them! Next turn Crusader States besieged
Antioch...damn. I will smash them once i got back home.
I made alliances with Kwarezmians and Hungary. Im playing VH/VH btw (had to pay Hungary 10x1000 tribute for an alliance).
Im making good money now so im gonna take Greece, Levant and as much as i can off Egypt.
Mongols busy with Kwarezmians now.
I usually use cavalry army and some infantry following them (city garrison).
But ... taking on Byzantines you definiately need turkish javelinmens and turkish archers to reduce the costs of this war. Use javelinmens (loose formation) to kill their elite troops and tank generals, they work great with saracen militia. Leading HA army always extend the possible elevation advantage in battles.
Fari Cavalry and Sipahi Lancers are your best mounted units by now.
I can post screenies when i get back home from work.

[Medkirtys]

1. Spam HA
2. Create uncountable stacks
3 ???????
4. Profit!