tips

[kamazamiko]

I'm starting a new campaign of spain after hre betrayed me at my last campaign so can anyone give me tips for spain???
i would appreciate it

[PJAB]

Conquer the Iberian Penisula with haste.

[eXistenZ]

You'll get betrayed by a lot of factions. not only with Hre, it's just like that in the game

[Psychonaut]

Get rid of Portugal and the Moors fast, take over all of Iberia and take North Africa. I usually leave Egypt alone, but that's up to you. I also reccomend invading England and destroying the English ans Scots.

[PrestigeX]

use jinettes as much as possible. If you have 6 or more in an army, they can just devaste everything in their path. Make sure you take them off 'fire at will' or they will waste ammo on peasant archers etc. Try to ride them round the flanks or even the rear, and when they're close to infantry and the enemy Family Member then launch Javelins. Use them to harrass enemy archers, with fire at will off, just make sure you save their ammo for the good targets.

You can train lots of spear militia and jinettes in the early period - I would advise against training foot javelins, unless you're a confident commander and know how to use them to deadly affect -- they take more practice than most units.

[Somerandomdude2]

Don't expect an alliance to last with anyone (except Papal States) who you share a border with.

Expect them to betray you.
Ally with the faction on the other side of your enemy's lands, keep in mind though if you take all of those lands and share a border, then your ally will betray you (not entirely a bad thing, but you may want to avoid it to maintain the alliance).

[romanlegion13th]

get ss make the game so much better

[Blaze of Macedon]

Spain? I don't think that's a beginners faction. You'll need to relly on javelin infantry for a while and for those you'll need good micromanagement in important battles.

Their jav cav is great though and with time they evolve probably one of the best and most versetile rosters in the game...

[Avatar]

Use a princess to secure a marriage alliance with one of the main european nations (not portugal) because marriage alliances DO last, at least while the happy couple are alive. That can secure you from attacks from a certain direction allowing you to expand safely in another.

Good options for a marriage alliance as Spain would be Sicily or France. Eventually when you expand they are sure to have borders with you.

[shikaka]

1
The global reputation is quite important, and it can be secured with 3, but preferably 4 alliances.
As Spain, you should ally: Pope, Scotland one from Portugal/France and one from Poland/Hungary.

2
Use crusades against muslims whenever possible. (good traits for family members and free upkeep during crusades)

3.
send lots of priests into muslim/pagan africa, so that you will have a spanish pope in the long run (from the lots of high ranking priests who made it to the council)

4.
in general, don't keep lots of castles, convert - at least the ones with port - to cities. Keep 1 castle for every 4-5 city.

5.
you can block the strait of Gibraltar with a navy, and you can block the alps with building wooden forts into the passes (and manning them with a cheap upkeep unit)

[Blaze of Macedon]

1

5.
you can block the strait of Gibraltar with a navy, and you can block the alps with building wooden forts into the passes (and manning them with a cheap upkeep unit)

[The Kybrothilian]

If I'm correct, usually allied factions that share a border with you will only betray you if there is no enemy/neutral factions sharing borders with them.

[Somerandomdude2]

If I'm correct, usually allied factions that share a border with you will only betray you if there is no enemy/neutral factions sharing borders with them.

This isn't correct.

Share a border with them and they will start looking for any and every excuse to attack you. You may be able to hold them off temporarily by leaving them other directions to expand in, having a marriage alliance, by keeping your border settlement(s) well garrisoned and by keeping a powerful fleet near any of your docks that their ships have access to, but at the end of the day, they will find a reason to attack you.


Edit: Also, I think keeping an army in their territory will make them more placid. Assuming you have military access and some disposable income, build a fort in their territory and keep it well garrisoned. This actually seems to make a big difference.

[In3x]

Another thing to remember, when you convert a castle, destroy everything within except roads, farms and ports. If you need to maintain relations with the Pope it is also recommended that you do not destroy chapels.

Get an alliance with the Pope ASAP, this will enable to to go on crusade and really take the fight to the moors.

Destroy Portugal, then France and Sicily simultaneously.

If you get excommunicated, sack Rome and kill the Pope. NEVER get excommunicated while crusading.

BOATS BOATS BOATS, they are your friend.

[TWWolfe]

perhaps he meant the Pyrenees?

[shikaka]

hehe, true. Crosses through the Pyranees.

[simontemplar]

great tips here, even for factions other than spain. I found this thread helpful.