Originally posted by boehm
I have run some Hands Off tests...and if u give the OE latin tech they will with their large income be the tech leader only rivallled by France right up until 1615 which I think is WRONG....if u want to give the OE latin tech then take it away from them again if they decline to give Alexandria to Venice (historical choice) during the OE-Veneto conflict....the rationale behind this could be that this would isolate them more from Europe...or from a balance perspective....when OE grabs Alexandria its "fair" that he goes from latin->orthodox to compensate for his increased income from having taken out the mamelukes......also this would be a significant help to the ai since it would make the b) choice actually make a bit of sense!
Well, I was never actually arguing for the OE having Latin, I was just saying that others had and had put up some points about it. I used that mostly as a comparitive issue, not something that I necessarily desire to see put in. Also, another problem with the Alexandria event, was put above in that the Ottos will go with the event, then just snatch the city back.
As for the Russian mp thing that Duma mentioned. I don't see it becoming too much of a problem. Before 1560 Russia shouldn't have any chance at all at expanding against Poland unless she is at war with someone else at the same time. In fact, as far as I know, Russia didn't make any significant land gains on Poland until the mid-17th century. But don't think for an instant that Russia didn't try, horrible wars of attrition would take place, especially over Livonia and the Smolensk area. Remember also, that Poland before inheritance has far less manpower than Moscow, and an income roughly the same. Yet she has to protect herself from all sides. Russia has the great advtage of being up against a wall, and not worrying about her back-side. Russia could definitely gain at the expense of Poland early, but she would need to crafty about it, as she won't be anywhere near tech parity for a long time, which is completely representing of the real situation. Remember also that defending Lithuania with Poland isn't exactly a walk in the park, as I mentioned elsewhere, you have to conquer large distances and low support levels in a very short campaigning season. So really defense is just about all you are going to be doing, unless of course you want to get stuck in the imfamous Russian winter. Yes, this would however make, at least until 1607 give Poland another advantage over Russia, but remember that Russia doesen't historically make gains on Poland until the after 1640's, and isn't considered a power until later.
So while this may change balance issues in the east, its doing so significantly for the better. Russia should not become a power as quickly as it does, and it was meant to be that way, however with an ahistorically weak Poland, it never turns out that way. Nobody however needs to worry about Russia ceasing to exist, or being victimized by a Latin Poland, only because inherently attacking Russia is a bloody nightmare. Long winters, great manpower, tough terrain, and good leaders. Tech or not, she isn't getting annexed unless Poland want's to kill herself in the process. By the time of inheritance, Russia also has had 10 years with her Steppe cores to become that much more resilient to possible Polish aggression. Within time, with her quickly expanding wealth, Russia can began to reach tech parity with Poland anyway, it will take time however and I reiterate, I think that is how the designers originally meant it to be.
This has nothing at all to do with me crusading aginst the Turk, this has to do with correcting a major problem with one of the game's great powers for two and a half centuries. Also, I don't believe that it would help Poland go crusading against the Turk anyway, just consider the manpower and wealth differences of these countries, and Poland's small manpower and wealth pre-inheritance. Even after inheritance, Poland has too much to worry about to go running off to Constantinople, the warrior-King Sobieski certainly tried, and neglecting the country's other borders brought with it grave results. This change alone would make Poland that much more viable an option for play period, which I think is very important. Poland was far more powerful and versatile than Russia at the beginning of AoE, yet I doubt she is chosen 10% as much. Surely the designers didn't mean it to be this way.
They are incredibly weak. On a brandenburg campaign while I had somewhere in the 20s they were only reaching 6 or 7 and couldnt begin to compete with me.
