Aspects of the game you do not bother with.

[Chlox]

For example, I myself rarely use merchants. Seriously I have recruited about 2 in my 200 odd turn game and they were towards the start.

Spies I have recruited a few more, but not many.


I seldom take part in Crusades as well.


So thats me, is there anything you by pass when playing your game.

[=Bright=]

So thats me, is there anything you by pass when playing your game.

Enemies.

[ChivalrousKiller]

Demands of money coming with "Accept or we will attack".

[Kelvinator]

I never bothered with trying to keep peace with all the Catholic factions. They all hate me (except for HRE, who actually decided to ally with me) and usually would demand a region or two just to ceasefire.

[Chlox]

I never bothered with trying to keep peace with all the Catholic factions. .

This as well.

[In3x]

I never really bother with anything apart from trying to get a really early crusade so that I can beat the game by turn 30. Merchants and spies I rarely bother with as well. Cba building brothels and marching mercs across the map to somewhere where they might actually make some money.

[Shasqua]

It's impossible to bribe factions into voting for your papal candidate. I never use siege towers since everyone on board gets killed if the enemy defends their walls. Ballistae are of little use to me. I never really use princesses to steal generals.

[Nazgûl Killer]

The only two things I haven't used in this game truly are siege weapons (Aside for the odd and random cannon here and there) and using princesses to steal generals. I find that marrying them within my own family, adopted or otherwise, works far better.

[.L.]

The only two things I haven't used in this game truly are siege weapons (Aside for the odd and random cannon here and there) and using princesses to steal generals. I find that marrying them within my own family, adopted or otherwise, works far better.

I only use the starting princess to snare an enemy general.

[crzyrndm]

Diplomacy, except for bribing the pope which dosen't count.
Princesses because I never know they are there.
I would say siege weapons, but I like mangonels and ribaults too much as troop killers.

PIKES

[.L.]

I would say siege weapons, but I like mangonels and ribaults too much as troop killers.

Those aren't siege weapons they're artillery.

[crzyrndm]

Those aren't siege weapons they're artillery.

There's a difference?

[Nazgûl Killer]

Those aren't siege weapons they're artillery.

There's a difference?

Actually, there is somewhat of a difference. I'm not sure if the game sees that change as evident or anything, but there is.

Siege weaponry (Trebuchets, Catapults) are best used against walls and buildings, meaning in a siege, and cause heavy damage to building while being wildly inaccurate.

Artillery weapons (Mortars, Ballistae, Ribaults, Mangonels etc.) are generally used as troop killers and defensive support for outfield forces, meaning they cause minimal damage to buildings (The mortar and Ballista cause about 2-3 damage percentage to a wall once they hit it) while utilizing maximum damage to units; Mangonels burn a bunch of them alive, Balistae pierce quite a few of them, Mortars ignore obstacles to kill troops and so on.

There are a hybrid of the two, cannons such as the Bombard and the Culverin, which cause immense damage to buildings and soldiers alike. Serpentines and Mortars are the only cannons that are directed mainly to slaying soldiers if memory serves me correctly.

[PrestigeX]

Probably Diplomats .. and 2nd place would be Assasins.

Mostly, the diplomats - seems not very usefull as the diplomacy in this game is pretty much broken or idk, very difficult.

Assasins because, most of the really good targets -- it's highly unlikely they will suceed, failure costs rep / relations, and in general I try and avoid the whole 'brothel' line of buildings as it has a negative impact on any Family Members...

but mainly, I don't like having so many characters to keep track of... I'm always pumping out as many merchants as I can, and the occasional Spy to see what's what .. so I don't want to be bothered with Diplomats or Assasins who at first glance i might mistake as merchants/spies.

[ChrisG]

Assasinations and siege weapons.

[Taiji]

Merchants.

[_Elysium_]

I don't bother with bribing. I've tried it a few times but have never had any success. I'm not too fussed about Crusades/Jihads either, though I would like to join one at some point. I always feel like I've got more important things to do than send troops to the other side of the map.

[AJStoner]

Almost never use assassins.

[MarcoPollo]

Bribing small armies.

This used to be a good feature of the Rome Total War series because you could steal competing factions core troops and use them against them. Here, the cost is too high.

I also, don't use the princess very well.

[Willowran]

merchants (too slow not enough money)
seige equipment/artillery (really slows down campaign movement range and never useful enough on battlemap)
princesses (never know where they are)
diplomats (get trade rights everywhere then promply forget they exist)
_____________________________________bribing (too expensive for too little gain)
_____________________________________accept or we'll attack (never makes a difference)
navies (unless raiding)
gun infantry (useless buggers)
that flag tower thing -what is it a standard or something? (useless)
churches/religious buildings (i never select buildings like that personally)
______________________________________priests (useless)