Short Version: Macemen and Crossbowmen come far too early. Norse UHV and UP screwed in this version. Stability also needs to be more severe, unless this is testing.
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So, I finished off Theology, then went Astrolabe for the UB and then back to Machinery. Since my cities were just founded, I needed time to grow and grab resources before the Crossbow invasion.
Technology trading comes too early with Monasticism. I understand conceptually why it was chosen, but it gives the Human far too much of an advantage. Pour your research into one, expensive, relativly useless tech, say Lateen Sails for all the landlocked civs, and you're able to leap ahead in techs. Also, there is a typo in the XML, the tech currently reads "Monasticsm".
Machinery in hand and unsure exactly how to proceed next, I went for Herbal Medicine. Extra Health and a happy are never bad. The first wave of the Norse raiders came to Edinburgh in 924AD. After the sack of Edinburgh I quickly started on Settlers and Crossbowmen, and used my first Berserkers on Dublin in 945.
With Ireland, Scotland and all of Scandanavia open to me, I decided to switch to rexing...after I sacked Lubeck in 981AD
Meanwhile, I had finished Herbal Medicine and decided on Art in order to get some culture in my cities. I have yet to have a religion spread to me. After Art I went with Feudalism, Vassals for Stability and it's a somewhat Military tech. Picked up Music from the Franks the same turn.
I'm noticing that Stability is quite leanient. Is that by design so we can test UHVs and what not or the intended level?
Speaking of, I assaulted Eboracum in 990AD in order to complete the first requirement of the UHV. I finally got Catholicism! =) Although, I could build the misssionary without a Monastary, is that intended? First UHV req in hand, I decided to go for the second. This required some cheating by gifting myself a Galleon in order to reach Iceland.
In 1000AD I got both the first and third UHVs given to me. Not sure why...
Germany came groveling to become their Vassal. It's nice to see the AI begging me for help when the Franks, Burgundians and Moscowans are dogpiling.
I settled Killarney for Stone in order to spam some Castles after REXing. Those Overseas bonuses are nice.
With Richard teching like a madman, I decided to try and knock him down a peg or two, and take that French city i needed for the UHV. I marched a modest stack out and DoWed him. I was hoping that his focus on Germany would leave a city or two open to my sacking horde.
Got Feudalism and went for Blast Furnace with an eye toward Military Tradition. I got lucky at Dijon when Richard moved his lone Crossbow out of the city. In 1023, Dijon fell.
The loss of their capital plunged Burgundy into instability, so hopefully one threat gone. As a bonus I got my first Great General as well! I settled him in Edinburgh in order to start pumping out lvl2 units to crush England.
Much to my pleasure, Burgundy was no more the next turn =). With my GA ended and my economy about to collapse, I had to make a sore deal with Pietro. $@*%ing Italians. Castles, Markets and Courthouses became the name of the game. Then again, I am surprised I lasted this long without my economy crashing. that GA came at the exact time I needed it.
I picked up Hungary as a vassal to stave off instability and was sorely tempted to snatch up Germany as well. Unfortunately, that would put me at war with the Franks, and I needed them as allies in the upcoming war with England.
Lots of boring turns managing the economy =/. Had some pesky Independants pump out 4 Triremes which stalled my stabilization of the economy. I debated what to do with my GM, then used him to bulb Clockrowk in order to open up Heavy Crossbowmen. I also jumped into Electorate and OR, since my Religion was finally spreading and I had enough happies for some specialists.
Jorvik flipped to the English, as predicted, and I kept my military buildup in Edinburgh going. Everywhere else was still trying to save my economy (slider down to 40%).
The revolution caused me to drop from Stable to Shaky, so I picked up Moscow as a vassal. I also nabbed Chartes as a city. I know it will flip eventually, but I will hopefully be in a position to stave off the Dutch come that time. Got a scientist in 1113AD and settled him in Aarhus. Coincidentally (maybe not) my economy started to rebound the same turn. So I moved some cities from economy builds to Military in order to crush those pesky Englishmen.
I ended up taking Germany on as a vassal after the Franks lost land to a Burgundian revolution. It only entatailed a war with the Burgundians and Poles, which I knew I could stave off. In fact Ujscie was completely undefended. It was just too nice of a target to pass up.
Next up was the recapture of Jorvik and sack of London. With that, England's fate was sealed. In 1176, Oxford was razed and England no more.
With England handled and Poland nicely in hand, I had to pick my next target. But that will have to wait until my next load.
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The Norse are boring. Overpowered starting spot + great early military techs + no close neighbors + lenient stability makes for an easy RFC game. I'm going to try Byzantine.