Count of Holland... This isn't a compaint...but..

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Okay, in short... This was nowhere near as difficult as im used to playing Paradox games. (Eu3 and Hoi2 ftw).


To sum up the game so far:

I started as the Count of Holland in 1066. I did some local searches for a lady, found the Duke of Luxumbourgs daughter or sister, can't remember. Anyway... 4 years later my 3 year old son is Duke of Lux. (I didn't do a damn thing... Just happened). It's only 1 province, so didn't REALLY help... But it did help my prestige increase much faster.


5-10 years or so later Germany has just fallen apart. (I wasn't really keeping track of stuff, I figured i'd play as someone small to get to know the game, then get my ass kicked and move on, download a mod maybe, and play a 'real game').

Anyway. So I 'lose' my leige. Not sure how that happened. But i start poking around at the other leigeless folks, and by 1100 I've got another half dozen provinces, and I'm just waiting for Germany to come kick my ass...

Doesn't happen. I eventually realize how badly the germany, italian, burgundian+whatever titles he holds, fella is doing, when he's asking for troops that I cant afford every 10 seconds. (Oh yeah, He vasselized me again. I figured that was better than a smackdown, so I accepted).

I stop sending troops eventually, but I'm not making cash... So i check, and he's taking like 90% of my income. WTTFFFFFFF....

I manage to eventually get loose again, I might have declared war on 'em, not sure... I wasn't playing 'seriously', but here I am 1100, with a dozen county's, 4 duke titles, and serious confusion in me brainpan.

Well, i finally pissed off Germany, he comes and starts looking to wreck my shiz. I weigh my options... and ask to become Englands Vassel, they seemed to have their shit together.


Well, a 2 year long war proceeds. I FINALLY am convinced im screwed, as I have all my county's under german control... But slowly but surely, england just sends more and more troops... Germany retreats, I get a few more county's in the peace, and am sitting fat and happy as an english vassel. Much less demanding.


Well, I continue sniping off unvasselized people who won't accept me as their leige, and with Englands help, no worries...


Skip ahead to 1150 or so. I'm trying to take over the Dukeship of Lower Lorraine. I do... but as Im finishing up, BAMM! France Declares war on me.

I'm thinking "Aww shit! I remember this part." Remember EU3 anyway. France steam rolls EVERYTHING... But... they don't...

5,000 troops hold off their advances near Brabant, while another 10,000 beat em back near Metz.

I realize I have 2 of 5 french demesne occupied... and I NOW begin to wonder "Wait... is... this game easy? Is that it? Cuz... Paradox games aren't 'easy'".

I have 1 territory in north central spain (on the coast) Took it in a crusade. held onto it for better access later. I use the 1600 troops from THAT county, and another army of 10-12k sent from Lower Lorraine... And with the help of 10-20k more brit fellas..

I manage to occupy 5/5 French King Demesnes... Well, 4. The brits had the central spanish one.

Still not convinced this is happening, i tentatively demand to become the King of France...


Holy motherf*ckin shit!

1165 and I am now the most powerful Kingdom in the world. (At least going by Eu3 standards).


I'm just imagining my King in the palace, nervous as hell, waiting for someone to realize what has happened and to toss him him...


So... Anyway... Im King of France. I figure I'll go ahead and take spain over soon, 'just cuz'. Then maybe Denmark.


The Dutch King of Spain. lawls.

 

[TempestDK]

CK1 is a fairly easy game, if you survive the early years, when playing a smaller realm. Sadly the Ai is pretty darn stupid, so unless it simply overwhelms you with troops, it is normally easy to outmaneuver it. If you want a challenge though .. start as one of the iberian christian realms. They all hate each other, and the muslim taifas are just aching to grab your lands. That is a pretty unforgiving starting position. If you make the wrong decision at the wrong time, it can be game over in a fairly short while. Or you can try Nubia. Both places have opportunities for great success if you play your cards right ... but they can be a challenge.

Or play a russian prince in one of the later scenarios ... and try to hold off the mongols.

Anyways, the game was initially done by the russin developers Snowball, but they fudged it up something fierce, and Johan had to scrap almost the entire game 6 months before release and then redo it all in-house. So there are many things that are not up to the "standard" of other PI games, that went through a proper development cycle.

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

Try a higher difficulty and a lower aggressiveness level.

 

[Zsrai]

I find I have to put limits on my infamy, otherwise it's FAR too easy, on normal at least, to just grab titles willy-nilly and gobble up provinces.

 

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I always roleplay my rulers - deciding early on by his traits whether he's a goody-two-shoes or a nasty bit of work. Then I adjust my decisions accordingly. I find it adds a nice bit of variety and stops the game degenerating into a smash-and-grab fest.

Mike

 

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The game can be frustrating in regards to that aspect. You dont realise what is happening around you all the time. I normally start with Warwick in England and plan my marriages ahead. That way there is no suprises. Also I look at the counties around me and plan ahead by using the same technique as MikeWant.

Try again mate. The fun for me is the planning ahead and the frustration of the AI messing me around hahahahahaha