Alternate start dates

[dancescenario6]

Does anyone every play off of the other starting scenarios? I almost always use the Stamford Bridge one but this time I started with the Third Crusade scenario as Angevin England. It's been really interesting, though I must admit I feel like cheating since they basically already have half of France, but it will give me a good start to fend against the Aztecs.

So what are some interesting starting scenarios? I just utilized that awesome Gamersgate sale so now I have SI, LOR, and SOI

 

[cybrxkhan]

In between 1307-1337 is interesting, particularlyin Antolia, the Balkans and Italy because there are so many independent small states. It's like the Ireland of the late starts. It's actually my preferred start since I don't like the early start that much.

The 1077-1080 starts are also interesting for the Byzantines and the Middle East as I've heard the historical progression is much better than the 1066 one (i.e. no crazy Fatimids, Byzantines are kept in check, etc.)

 

[unmerged(509501)]

The Alexiad is a very good start for Byzantine players I have found. Its great fun trying to halt the decay and Rebuild the ERE before moving on to restore the rest of empire and provides a much better challenge than the standard start date.

 

[NewbieOne]

Does anyone every play off of the other starting scenarios? I almost always use the Stamford Bridge one but this time I started with the Third Crusade scenario as Angevin England. It's been really interesting, though I must admit I feel like cheating since they basically already have half of France, but it will give me a good start to fend against the Aztecs.

So what are some interesting starting scenarios? I just utilized that awesome Gamersgate sale so now I have SI, LOR, and SOI

Yes, I do. The AAR in my signature started on an undefined date. But I'd recommend picking one of the defined Historical Starts because they're more likely to be tested for balance and accuracy. For the record, nobody says you need to play until game over. You can just hop in and see how you like it in a certain corner of the world at a certain time in mediaeval history.

 

[dancescenario6]

Yeah... I usually start off at 1066 and rarely make it to the Mongol Invasions... Doesn't the 1337 start end up feeling too short?

 

[cybrxkhan]

Yeah... I usually start off at 1066 and rarely make it to the Mongol Invasions... Doesn't the 1337 start end up feeling too short?

You can still start a few decades beforehand, but even then it doesn't feel short to me. If anything, I feel much more fulfillment since there's actually a "game over" that I can work towards - try to accomplish everything within a century or so. It feels better than those games where I don't even finish playing since those games sort of drift away.

 

[TheLionHeart]

The 1066 start isn't all that interesting start unless you're a part of the Norman invasion of England. I usually change my start date depending on the country, for example I like the 1320 start date to play as the Ottomans and try to build the Ottoman Empire from the start, or the latin empire start date as Castille.

 

[tuareg109]

Two words: Latin Empire - start in June 1, 1205

 

[Panzerschiffe]

Rum appears around 1076 or 1077. It's pretty interesting.

 

[Warlord Skorr]

I think this thread is relevant.