Interesting that Germany doesn't spam more land units.
I imaging the Ottomans would be even more of a pain to wade through.
Makes sense it is an island.
On another note, playing yesterday, the Romans had unreal ballista spam going on. I would say they had 10 ballistas, 3 composite bowmen, 1 infantry (usually a warrior or pike, at this particular point in the game.) which they would use specifically for capturing the battered city. All they would do is batter the city into the ground and take out any threat around that city, and march in with infantry. Their unit ratio of 10/3/1 was very effective.
The battle for Kaupang was an ongoing slugfest which chewed up vast resources on both sides. I placed that city near the Romans to grab the only source of iron, which was anywhere near me. The city changed hands 7 times. The Roman ballistas in rough terrain, in the end, were the deciding factor. They simply were able to wear my infantry out, which took longer to heal. Any of my infantry that stuck their heads up were smashed to a pulp. I took my share of their ballistas, with my bowmen behind the city. My spearmen would charge a ballista near the city to weaken it. Then my bowmen would finish it off. That way my spears did not go out into open terrain. When that spear got warn out. I'd retreat it to heal and bring a fresh one forward.
If they recaptured the city. I would take it again with longboats and archers. Usually the Romans did not have an infantry to retake it the next turn. So, I would withdraw my longboat which is a melee unit, which replaces the trireme. Then simply march another spear into the city. The city could never recuperate enough. Adding walls was foolish as well.
Finally, they destroyed one of my bowmen and outflanked my infantry over time. This effectively made it so, I could not destroy ballistas as easily. Or reinforce the city. Then England backstabbed me, and attacked my home cities. This whole thing was a military blunder on my part.
It was a bad idea. It reminded me of the battle of Gallipoli, or in a way Thermopylae. What great fun though.
Anyway, I started a new game. So far I am doing much better. I'll post a few screenshots if something interesting happens. I should have taken some of that battle yesterday, but I was so determined to defeat the Romans, that I did not take any. My supper was also cold by the time I got to it.