A guide to a fun innovative way to play M2TW vanilla.
I chose the nation of Spain. Initially I had actually not planned on it but after my plan of peace stability and diplomacy went to hell; as Moorish and Portuguese armies crushed my small armies I realized that there would be no hope here. I asked the Pope to call a crusade and it was done! The target was Antioch, an idea location due to it’s richness as well as it’s strategic location. One son out of four as well as the King set said. 1 of the four mighty armies of professional soldiers and pilgrims were sunk by lurking pirates.
Also the kingdom slowly starts going into dept. A smart thing to do would be to sell your cities back in you homeland. And that was exactly what I did, helping support the Portuguese and obtaining ceasefire. Still this method will not stall debt for long. Arrive with all haste and sack whatever town you are taking. I recommend taking Acre and developing it well for it will be you central citadel and where most unit production takes place.
My many soldiers and the momentum behind them rapidly secured a strong state in the Middle East. One thing to remember is that you will always be surrounded by enemies so once you are satisfied with your holdings make peace! The fact that you nation is now a thin strip of land means that any location may be attacked. Garrison your cities with top tier militia the best being pike and halberd for this task.
I personally like taking Gaza and other Egyptian holdings east of the Sinai peninsula allowing you to form a good and easy front. Initially the Turks will be little problem due to the fact that their lands are poor and their initial units, weak. Once you have recovered from debt (the best method being sacking the cities of Antioch and Jerusalem be prepared to march north or south. I like requesting a crusade against whatever nation I’m not planning on attacking to draw away their strength.
I recommend you advance southwest into Egypt for it is far richer and would not open up new fronts. This should take you anywhere between 100 and 150 turns. (I play at .5 game speed so the Mongols and Timurids have not come yet) Start mass producing assassins as well as using them on rebel captains. DON’T STOP DOING THIS UNTIL they are high leveled) They will be key to your defense against the invasions although this is also why I prefer going into Egypt. It adds some much needed depth to you kingdom. If the Mongols have come and passed and your lands are secure you should be set to play however you wish. I personally chose a role-playing element when my king (great-grandson of the original) set foot on Spain to perform Reconquista against both the excommunicated Portuguese and the infidel Moors.
One interesting hint is that since you are so far away and rich you should be able to assault the Papacy without worrying to much about enemies in Europe
Crusader States guide (not for the mod)
Originally Posted by Rapax
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