Early Games = Muslim, Late = Catholic (A mere observation)

[Minodrin]

1. The importance of geography in expansion needs to be increased by a lot. E.g. a European army should have virtually no chance against a reasonably well lead Bedouin army in the deserts of Arabia. Thus European conquest of North Africa should be far more difficult, almost impossible. A Cuman army would have similar difficulty against a European army in the terrain of Germany (although super-effective armies like the Mongols, could master almost every terrain).

Wait, what about the Crusades. You know, how the real life European armies invaded the middle east, were usually outnumbered, yet did quite well? Or how does this explain the original Muslim invasion of Spain?

 

[King Size]

You are correct.
And yes, it obviously should be fixed. There are three main violators, Fatimids, HRE and France. Perhaps something can be done to give them something else to deal with than invading everywhere, like how Seljuk Persia is despite its huge size relatively peaceful towards its neighbors.

The difference between Seljuk Persia and the Fatimids is that the Seljuks usually has huge amounts of rebellions, while the Fatimids keep being stable. Funny, as the Fatimids were in decay and were actually overrun by the Turks, doing that period. Sunnis should also be much more aggresive towards Shias. In a few years the Muslim world has a majority of Shias, always.

 

[Lordmars]

I think one of the things is that it should be made much harder to raise crown authority, it's quite easy to get to High (which for most realms shouldn't be doable until the 14th/15th centuries.) I agree with what appears to be the majority opinion that culture spreads way to fast, I also agree that availability of ships needs to be dealt with (think it would also help massively if naval combat was included.)

 

[Sarenarass]

Curses. No one mentioned the fact that southern Spain has the Scottish culture!

 

[victimizer]

Wait, what about the Crusades. You know, how the real life European armies invaded the middle east, were usually outnumbered, yet did quite well? Or how does this explain the original Muslim invasion of Spain?

The Muslim invasion of Spain occured at a time when the Visigothic kingdom was riven by internal conflicts and couldn't pose much resistence at all. the later Andalusians were very much a European power and could fight European armies on their own ground.

And crossing into Spain from Morocco isn't the same as staging an invasion of Greece from Egypt. The naval requirements are completely different.

To the extent that the Crusaders were successful, it was mostly because the Muslims had internal problems as well. The crusader kingdoms never actually managed to expand much beyond the shoreline of the levant on a lasting basis.

 

[Sarenarass]

The Muslim invasion of Spain occured at a time when the Visigothic kingdom was riven by internal conflicts and couldn't pose much resistence at all. the later Andalusians were very much a European power and could fight European armies on their own ground.

And crossing into Spain from Morocco isn't the same as staging an invasion of Greece from Egypt. The naval requirements are completely different.

To the extent that the Crusaders were successful, it was mostly because the Muslims had internal problems as well. The crusader kingdoms never actually managed to expand much beyond the shoreline of the levant on a lasting basis.

Correct me if I'm wrong... but pilgramage to the Holy Lands as a Catholic was not uncommon and was good for the Fatamids.. but then the Seljuks took it over and disallowed them from coming along with persecuting Christians? Then the Seljuks and the Fatamids fought to retain control of the Holy Lands and the Crusaders just decided to step in while they were busy with each other...

 

[Malibu Stacey]

You should tell that to people complaining about independence factions. Let them go, and devour them all later.

I love independence factions. Lets me revoke a load of titles without incurring tyranny after I smack them down & throw them all in jail. Then I get free cash from them to let the ones who still have titles out and +10 opinion from everyone in my realm for a while as I release the now landless ones one at a time. I even get to use their own levies against them!

Also independence wars are excellent in my neighbours kingdoms when I want their territory. Wade in on the side of the independence faction, crush everything & then you have a bunch of smaller duchies to carve up as you want instead of one large Kingdom to deal with (and they all love you while you do it since you helped them in their war).

What's not to like?

 

[No idea]

You are certainly correct in saying the late game favors the christian powers, however the problem is generally that by the time the late game kicks in the only christian power left is the HRE, so they generally expand like crazy into spain, south france, hungary, etc. Wherever the muslims takeoever early sooner or later becomes part of the HRE, which is annoying. Its either Fatmids or HRE, no one else has a chance.

Yes, very annoying. As i said in another thread, mid and late game feels like hoi 3 set in the middle ages but, instead of nazi Germany, we get the HRE and instead of the SU we get a muslim faction. France also sometimes goes into a crazy spread. The only thing you can do by mid and late game is swallowing or being swallowed. Not very medieval feeeling