Mongols or timurids

[talc]

Who is the greater threat? I think mongols are one hell of an enemy, but are the timurids harder to fight?

[bukharajones]

As far as I'm concerned, they're both bad news. It's not that they're so tough, per se; it's that they have huge armies all massed at once and can concentrate overwhelming force that I, as the Turks, could not. I was lucky enough to avoid the Mongols in one game, but prepared for the Timurids. The only thing I could think to do, and it was successful, was to prepare a defense in depth. Which meant brawling in the streets of various cities and racking up huge body counts until I finally managed to pen the last two armies in with a huge siege after they settled and exterminate them. The Timurids are worse, I think, with their elephant cavalry and minor compliment of gunpowder weapons. However, both are not fun for whenever they arrive. I was well on the way to winning the game before I had to turn all my attention east and put everything I could into wearing them down, allowing the English to snatch the game, but there was no reason I couldn't have moved on other fronts: I was just too wrapped up in exterminating the damned hordes.

[Shaun]

At what date does the Mongol Hordes appear, and how do the Timurids arrive?

[The Mongol]

At what date does the Mongol Hordes appear, and how do the Timurids arrive?

I think at around turn 75 the Mongols invade...

Don't quote me on that though.

[nicotine]

I think at around turn 75 the Mongols invade...

Don't quote me on that though.

That sounds reasonable, I think that may have been when it was announced that they had arrived in my game. Haven't had to face them yet though since I'm all the way over on the Atlantic ocean.

[bukharajones]

The arrivals vary in timing. All I can say is, by the time the Turks wrap up the Levant and Egypt, the Mongols arrive. By the time you have some gunpowder troops, you should expect the Timurids. If you can buy elephant mercs at Baghdad and put them in garrison, by all means, do so.... I wiped out 2000 of the bastards that way, but still lost the city: Only five janissary troops out of a full garrison left to make a last desperate charge.

[Lavastein]

its one big threat replaced with another big threat. timurids imo harder.