The Kingdom of Leon Thread

[Espadas:Benson]

The Kingdom of Leon, some of us love them, and some of us hate them. I created this thread to see how many love them or hate them, and also what your strategy is using them. I personally love the Kingdom of Leon for 3 reasons

1. Nice starting position, to the east and west, friendly christian nations which make great allies. To the south, great cities for the plucking!
2. Since the Southern enemies are heathens, Leon can capture vasts amount of land, and be rewarded by the pope!
3. The Late armies of Leon are unstopable. If you adopt the army set up from empire (4 cav, 12 line inf, 4 cannons) or adopt pike and shot (3 cav, 10 line inf, 4 pikemen, 3 cannon) you can DESTROY all that oppose you in an array of fireworks and death.

There are some drawbacks though,

1. Islamic priests constantly bombard your lands with unrest and rebellion, and can be a pain to get rid of. Assassins only delay the problem, in the next couple turns they come back. (it is a good way to train your priests and assassins)
2. In the early game, you are bullied by the Moors, and once you start to push them back, they might call a Jihad on you, which could be difficult (But adds to the challenge)
3. Portugal might betray yuo when all your armies are in Africa, but is only a small headache.

All in all, the benefits far outway the difficulty, and the factions proves to be a great campaign maker! What are your takes on it?

[Disregard]

Usually after kicking the Moors off of present-day Spain I would consume Portugal, by that time they have done plenty of city building. Less work for me... though I try to keep Aragonese as my ally since they are a good buffer against France and Genoa.

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

SS6.3 adds the spice since Leon is the stalwart ally of the Portuguese from the get go. My initial Strategy was to Ally with the Moors and let them eat my scumbag ally while I sent Arragon floating down the River Styx....



"Look Mommy...a butterfly"

[Espadas:Benson]

SS6.3 adds the spice since Leon is the stalwart ally of the Portuguese from the get go. My initial Strategy was to Ally with the Moors and let them eat my scumbag ally while I sent Arragon floating down the River Styx....

The problem with this is that the Moors become to powerful. Aaragon creates a great buffer for france and genoa ^^ and also Portugal is a nice trading partner. Im curious how your late game works out

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

The problem with this is that the Moors become to powerful. Aaragon creates a great buffer for France and Genoa ^^ and also Portugal is a nice trading partner. Im curious how your late game works out

The thinking is to absorb Christian Spain then eat the Moors via crusade trying to emulate the Reconquista... Never to fear I think the Moors took a swipe at me as well and I gave them a bloody nose. That steers them back on course to take out Portugal. I was hoping to set up the great Leon-Moorish struggle. In eating Arragon Leon usually ends up with Aquitaine and Toulouse. Those two Fortresses form quite a bulwark against the rest of Christendom. With paved road each Fortress supports the other.

As to trade, Burgos becomes a city and also Pamplona {spelling} when the time is right. All those coastal cities = the big bucks, $$$$$$$$$ Cha Ching $$$$$$$$...

Im curious how your late game works out

Hopefully I can overcome my usual turn 60-100 Boredom cap and stick with it...

[Espadas:Benson]

Nice, I try to have my own Reconquista, exept with alliances not absorbing the other kingdoms. Once i push the moors back, Then I absorb then (once they attack me, which will be sooner than later since there is no common enemy) and once I have all of Iberia, I create a vast Spanish Empire MUHAHAHA..

I also play Late campaign, so I can get to gunpowdered units faster.

Also, rename Toledo to Madrid, make it a City, and thats my capital! (its a good capital because its in the center of Iberia, spreading the distance from capital out.

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

Nice....Screenshots get ya Rep... I really wish I had the skills to make them...

[Disregard]

Nice....Screenshots get ya Rep... I really wish I had the skills to make them...

"Print Screen", paste to MSpaint to adjust at your leisure.

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

"Print Screen", paste to MSpaint to adjust at your leisure.

That simple????? How do ya upload it to the site?

[Disregard]

That simple????? How do ya upload it to the site?

Save it in the picture format container you want it to be, usually JPEG/JPG. Then upload it via imageshack.us, tinypic.com or whatever else you think is good.

[Disregard]

Ive recall while playing Spain that the English out of nowhere would ship stacks over above Burges and proceed to attack me. Actually... Not sure if that was when I was playing Moors or Spain, but its strange, though I am positive there was no Crusade.

[IvanIV]

Nice, I try to have my own Reconquista, exept with alliances not absorbing the other kingdoms. Once i push the moors back, Then I absorb then (once they attack me, which will be sooner than later since there is no common enemy) and once I have all of Iberia, I create a vast Spanish Empire MUHAHAHA..

I also play Late campaign, so I can get to gunpowdered units faster.

Also, rename Toledo to Madrid, make it a City, and thats my capital! (its a good capital because its in the center of Iberia, spreading the distance from capital out.

that's exactly what i did in my Spanish empire before. and turning Toledo into a city is a great deal + making it the capital.

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

On turn 37 early era, M/M {SS6.3}, the Moors have Valencia as a Fortress. Somebody pass me somema dat "Miracle Grow".....


Warning: You'all can't handle the truth...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

This stuff faster than the Crusader Chivalry Expliot ...yo!!!!

P.S. I'm playing Leon, so it is OT>...

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

Warning: It's a mural, and it's big...No really big...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Alfonso X el Sabio y su corte

Reinforcing what I said in another thread. The reconquista was complete by turn 76, early era M/M, gracul AI.

Now as to why is Leon-Castile one of my favorite factions...

1. Re playability. Spain and Italy are two places where you will always be in the thick of things from the "get go". No two campaigns should be the same.

2. The unit rooster: If you include mercs and AOR Locally recruitable} units permanently into your armies, Leon's got it all. A Heavy javelin battle line combined with Jinnete flankers and Heavy horse Obliterates everything in it's path. Heavy jav units often log 100+ kills without ever being given orders by me. A matter of fact my battle line never been broken and I've never had any of my units rout off the board. Yes, admittedly a shameless personal plug....

3. Economic Base: Once your core center is established the vast amount of coastal cities gives you an unsurpassed economic base. Except perhaps say maybe Italy or the Levant.

4. Owning the Papacy: This can be done with any Catholic faction but making Leon you're Pope making city makes controlling the Papacy "extra" easy....

I do encourage anyone who hasn't yet tried Leon-Castile, to give them a go...

[Tears of Destiny]

Massive Self Promotion

Warning: It's a mural, and it's big...No really big...

Massive Self Promotion

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:  Alfonso X el Sabio y su corte Reinforcing what I said in another thread. The reconquista was complete by turn 76, early era M/M, gracul AI. Now as to why is Leon-Castile one of my favorite factions... 1. Re playability. Spain and Italy are two places where you will always be in the thick of things from the "get go". No two campaigns should be the same. 2. The unit rooster: If you include mercs and AOR Locally recruitable} units permanently into your armies, Leon's got it all. A Heavy javelin battle line combined with Jinnete flankers and Heavy horse Obliterates everything in it's path. Heavy jav units often log 100+ kills without ever being given orders by me. A matter of fact my battle line never been broken and I've never had any of my units rout off the board. Yes, admittedly a shameless personal plug.... 3. Economic Base: Once your core center is established the vast amount of coastal cities gives you an unsurpassed economic base. Except perhaps say maybe Italy or the Levant. 4. Owning the Papacy: This can be done with any Catholic faction but making Leon you're Pope making city makes controlling the Papacy "extra" easy.... I do encourage anyone who hasn't yet tried Leon-Castile, to give them a go...

You sir finally convinced me to play them again.

[Espadas:Benson]

WHO ON EARTH WOULD WANT THE KINGDOM OF LEON TO BURN IN HELL? may the cur burn there himself >=)

[Black Knight]

WHO ON EARTH WOULD WANT THE KINGDOM OF LEON TO BURN IN HELL? may the cur burn there himself >=)

The Moors, the Portuguese, the Aragonese, the English, you tell me.

I never played with them - I prefer Portugal or Aragon - though I imagine it would be just as fun a campaign and those two. It has the additional chalange of England having a tendency to send a few stacks via boat into their territory, for some reason. And you end up facing Jinetes when a eventual war with you christian neighbours takes place, which is quite a headache. They also start relatively small, which is important - I really hate playing with big empires from the start.

[PerXX]

This thread inspired me to start a new Late Campaign as the Castilla y León. Looks like I'm going to fight the Reconquista alone, against the Moors on crack! I started out slowly, taking the rebel castle, Sevilla, as well as the Pamplona Fortress before Aragon got there.
30 turns in, and the Moors have wiped Portugal out! The French have conquered Barcelona and made Aragon their vassals, so they won't be of much use.
The Moors have now targeted me, and for once it doesn't look like the Sicilians are interested in annoying them, as they're busy taking over the Italian Mainland.
The Moors sieged Sevilla, Toledo and Salamanca in the same turn. Managed to keep the two castles, but the militia forces in Salamanca was no match to a fullstack of Silver-veteran units from their Portugal campaign.
This looks like a tough game - should be fun!

[Espadas:Benson]

This thread inspired me to start a new Late Campaign as the Castilla y León. Looks like I'm going to fight the Reconquista alone, against the Moors on crack! I started out slowly, taking the rebel castle, Sevilla, as well as the Pamplona Fortress before Aragon got there.
30 turns in, and the Moors have wiped Portugal out! The French have conquered Barcelona and made Aragon their vassals, so they won't be of much use.
The Moors have now targeted me, and for once it doesn't look like the Sicilians are interested in annoying them, as they're busy taking over the Italian Mainland.
The Moors sieged Sevilla, Toledo and Salamanca in the same turn. Managed to keep the two castles, but the militia forces in Salamanca was no match to a fullstack of Silver-veteran units from their Portugal campaign.
This looks like a tough game - should be fun!

Nice, im doing one campaign aswell. However, I am gaining the upperhand, but lack the firepower to give the final blow! Keep us posted on how your campaign goes! also, and strategy tips you would like to share?

[PerXX]

So far, I feel like the Crusader States.. I'm low on money, low on troops, and low on allies. Plenty of enemies though
Pamplona looks like an important capture. Not only is it far enough from the fighting to be able to slowly build up troops, it also provides me with Basque Archers, which are very helpful against the Moorish hordes.
Also, Lusitanian Javelinmen = WIN, in a siege defence. Create the usual U formation around the gate with spearmen and the likes, and then put two units of Javelins on the sides, like this:


=====|GATE|=======
--J--SS-----SS---J-
-------SSSS


The formation will keep the enemy bunched up in a large group, making every volley the javelins fire very deadly. They'll rip through everything, even the dreaded Muslim Bodyguards. Even after they've spend their javelins, they're still efficient to throw into the melee, especially against the now tired enemy. The Javelinenmen are usually the ones that end up with the most kills.

Also, since the Moors seem to bring loads of artillery when they come to visit, having a Trebuchet to return fire is also nice.

Trying to take to the offensive a bit - Troops arriving from Pamplona will meet up with Prince El Cid () to attempt to reclaim Salamanca!