Varangian Adventures - When do you get Special Soldiers?

[FarGalaxyBoy]

Hello, so I'm trying to do my first Varanagian Adventure, launching from coast of France as a Norse count and invading Sardinia. I was counting on getting a couple of thousand "Special Soldiers" as the description indicates to complete my conquest, and as I've noticed NPC's doing.... However, I'm not getting them, or at least I can't find them anywhere. Can anyone help? Is there something specific I need to do to get them (the only other thing I can think about is that I am a "sinner" in the faith - Norse faith, whatever its called I forget).

Any help appreciated, thanks!

 

[Blodhevn]

you get the depending on how many counties in northern europe you got. basically the game gives you bonus troops from your own counties/influence in the north. you wont get any bonus troops from there, there is no norsemen to recruit.

 

[FarGalaxyBoy]

you get the depending on how many counties in northern europe you got. basically the game gives you bonus troops from your own counties/influence in the north. you wont get any bonus troops from there, there is no norsemen to recruit.

Got it, thanks, looks like I messed myself up by starting in France!

 

[Blodhevn]

Got it, thanks, looks like I messed myself up by starting in France!

kind of? but why would u start in france as a viking? they go to france part of the fun is to start in scandinavia and go about, unless you start as hæsteinn, who starts in france but he got bonus troops already so he doesnt need the bonus troops.

 

[FarGalaxyBoy]

kind of? but why would u start in france as a viking? they go to france part of the fun is to start in scandinavia and go about, unless you start as hæsteinn, who starts in france but he got bonus troops already so he doesnt need the bonus troops.

You are completely correct. I've actually done several playthroughs as Norse, starting in Scandinavia, and I always mean to do a Varangian Adventure. But I always get distracted by forming a Kingdom (and eventually an empire), getting the 3 Holy Sites to reform the religion, invading England to get the Danelaw.....etc. So this time I was for sure 100% going to do a Varangian, but just to be different was going to start in France (have been doing some reading on Rollo and the Duchy of Normandy). So now it looks like i've made it too hard and will get distracted again. - probably going to try and form the Kingdom of Brittany. LOL, story of my (real) life too....

 

[Gyrvendal]

Got it, thanks, looks like I messed myself up by starting in France!

That's sort of funny considering the historical Normans that took over Sicily were Mercenaries from the French Normandy, not from Scandinavia. Not sure what is being counted for this, but IMO any counties with a culture that has the Norse innovations (like Norman from Normandy) should count.

 

[FarGalaxyBoy]

That's sort of funny considering the historical Normans that took over Sicily where Mercenaries from the French Normandy, not from Scandinavia. Not sure what is being counted for this, but IMO any counties with a culture that has the Norse innovations (like Norman from Normandy) should count.

That was exactly my thinking when I started with a Norse count on the coast of France, and I did end up doing an adventure to the Med (took over Sardinia), just had to do it without special soldiers.

 

[Blodhevn]

That was exactly my thinking when I started with a Norse count on the coast of France, and I did end up doing an adventure to the Med (took over Sardinia), just had to do it without special soldiers.

but it isnt norse culture though. and from what ive read the norse count irl only held like a barony at most. i thought my made a custom guy. im going to play him (olaf of brest ?) myself as it is a bit more challenging