Great Horde - How to?

[netherlink]

How can you declare on Crimea before they get any ally? Everytime I launch a game, they get one or more allies before the end of the waiting period on declaring wars. Usually Nogai or Kazan, and sometimes even Qara Qoyonlu. Even if Uzbek joins, which isn't given, it's a tough war to win.

Also, it's quite difficult to take either Ryazan or Odoyev early, as either is likely to be allied with Novgorod or Muscowy and those will actually join in.

That's exactly my experience too, and the reason why i read this thread.
Crimea allying both QQ and Khazan is standard in my eyes, and i also tried the start more then ten times at current patch + all DLC's but RoM.

One or the other will usually either remain independent or ally Novgorod. It doesn't matter too much if you take Odoyev or Ryazan first since you can easily get easy access to Moscow either way.

This is quiet random to me, sometimes both of them ally Muskovy.

Anyway, GH seems to me to be one of the most "lucky start required"-countries so far, as it is in a really tough position if Rivals/Allies don't turn to favor you.

My question is, though, how does the "best" army composition look for hordes?
All CAV? 50% CAV? No CAV at all?
I tried with a lot of horses most of the time, but even when plundering as much as i can an taking all the money i can get in peace deals, i simply can't maintain the army and expand it, when FL rises.

 

[schondetta]

That's exactly my experience too, and the reason why i read this thread.
Crimea allying both QQ and Khazan is standard in my eyes, and i also tried the start more then ten times at current patch + all DLC's but RoM.




This is quiet random to me, sometimes both of them ally Muskovy.

Anyway, GH seems to me to be one of the most "lucky start required"-countries so far, as it is in a really tough position if Rivals/Allies don't turn to favor you.

My question is, though, how does the "best" army composition look for hordes?
All CAV? 50% CAV? No CAV at all?
I tried with a lot of horses most of the time, but even when plundering as much as i can an taking all the money i can get in peace deals, i simply can't maintain the army and expand it, when FL rises.

Don't expect to be at your force limit for another 200 years. I keep like 3-6 infantry for sieging in the begining and the rest is cavalry up too how much I can afford with no maintenance. When war times starts I'll lose ducats but between looting and peace deals I make sure I stick pile enough to not take loans . When war is done back to low maintenance etc etc

 

[Nabrotleon]

I think great horde is working well

 

[schondetta]

I think great horde is working well

Pretty! Is that the color it changes to when you form Golden Horde? If so I might have to start another GH run

 

[zdlugasz]

Here's what I did -

put national focus on admin

That is DLC

 

[Aethis]

How can you declare on Crimea before they get any ally? Everytime I launch a game, they get one or more allies before the end of the waiting period on declaring wars. Usually Nogai or Kazan, and sometimes even Qara Qoyonlu. Even if Uzbek joins, which isn't given, it's a tough war to win.

Also, it's quite difficult to take either Ryazan or Odoyev early, as either is likely to be allied with Novgorod or Muscowy and those will actually join in.

In about 5 different starts one time I got them when they had no allies, sometimes they ally Kazan or Nogai (never both, probably because rivalries) and they usually ally QQ if you give them enough time.

In experience QQ can't even get access to your lands and you can quickly wipe the Crimean army and siege them, if they have got an ally you can usually fend them off with another army, don't be afraid of loans.

Oh I forgot - support tribes and raise host should be done on day 1 as well but as I just realised the guy is playing without dlc and this makes it a lot harder to do the things I said (impossible!)

 

[Plantagent]

I haven't found wars or other people's allies to be an actual problem. Attack Ryanzan and Odoyev first, they tend ally each other or Tver or Novgorod... none of these is an issue because Muscovy won't give access. Kill their army, set up a siege , go down and WD Gazimukh. When all of that is done, annex and take all their gold - buy feudalism before you raze(no razing, no problem). Release them as vassals if you like. Then look at Crimea. They're usually allied to Nogai/Kazan, and if it's just one of them, you're fine. Just murder one army, and then the other. Don't let them deathstack.

If Crimea's alliances are problematic, there's a couple of things you can do. The boring thing is to wait and check every month for whether their allies will answer the CTA. The more amusing thing is to attack their friends - play the alliance shell game. Crimea is allied to Kazan and QQ? Who is Kazan allied to? Are you allied to the Ottos, and if so can you promise land against QQ? Crimea is allied to Kazan, Nogai, and Circassia? WD Circassia (no co-belligerent), separate peace Crimea for all you can and Circassia for just money. When the short truce runs out, attack Circassia again. Or separate peace Crimea for alliance breakage, full annex Circassia, try again with Crimea/what's left of Crimea's alliances.

Be a villain. Embrace the villainy. If you can't kill them, kill their friends.