Playing as Egypt is tough crusaders coming for Jerusalem and a simultaneous betrayal by the Mongols

[jackbush]

The title should read "Playing as Egypt is tough with crusaders coming ...x

Playing as Egypt for probably the final time, the Mongols finally appeared as I was attacking the Turks to the north of my settlements. I had taken Jerusalem some time ago and fortified it for what I knew would come eventually. I was thrilled when the Mongols accepted an Alliance. I thought, "Holy cow, I've got the Mongols on my side!" I can share the Turkish settlements with them. Then the crusaders appeared, first one faction and I let him head off for Jerusalem knowing they could take care of themselves, and then a second faction appeared. With that the Mongols betrayed me and went after Antioch. I just didn't have enough guys in there. What I had, various spear types, were very valiant but just got outnumbered with the swarm through the front door. And I figured, "That's enough for me."

I find it very difficult to get the income increasing quickly enough to properly recruit sufficient protection for Egypt.

[totalwar_legend]

If you want to be good at Egypt you need to make use of Jihad. Unless you're doing the peasant challenge there's no reason not be be powerful by the time the mongols arrive. Make use of mercenaries and expand your borders. The best way to increase your income is by going on Jihad and sacking Constantinople. Don't have hoards of units sitting idle in your cities. Take the fight to the enemy. Turtling has got to be the worst strategy in this game. The engine favours the ruthless far more than the meek or mild.

[PrestigeX]

Egypt is one of the better campaigns you will play with m2tw. The fact that they have a variety of enemies and challenges, is great fun. Also, they begin in part of the world that gives them access to HUGE economic resources.

Priority is to nab the "Big 5" -- Alexandria, Antioch, Cairo, Damascus, and Jerusalem - these cities can grow quickly, and earn huge amounts of money. Many of the settlements Egypt will conquer should be converted into cities - you only need a few castles in strategic locations to produce troops. Converting Castles is a feature that is useful for any faction, as there are far more Castles on the map than are really needed.

Keep Taxes Low, will make your cities grow faster and the people happier.

Keep Naffatun units in your "Big 5" - and later, any other big and rich settlement. The trick is to 'hold' your enemy with spears, and then use naffatun to throw into the dense, packed formation of the enemy -- arguably more effective that the ole "stakes at the gate" trick =P