I really should play a non-pagan next, because even West Africans seem OP as hell when player-controlled. I've basically forgotten the interesting mechanics of marriage-inheritance, casus belli, and the pope.
Because I recently hit 1066 from 867 and I've not only formed the Principality (trade empire) of Mali from islam-oppressed tribals, but I've nearly finished upgrading my mansion. It's top tier, and has all the accessories maxed except for the horse pens.
Thanks to pagan raiding (despite reforming) I have all the money I need to constantly upgrade my mansion and even my duchy (which I fabricated and captured from those bastards House Mousse).
Thanks to pagan concubines I have 25 male family members in court, boosting my trade posts to 39. In 1066, mind. The other families apparently have no idea how to handle a pagan republic, the most populous one only has 13 males for 19 trade posts.
Thanks to my success, I've established universities and most other upgrades throughout my duchy, and am pushing hard against the "Ahead penalty" for every tech which actually matters.
Seriously, is there a real choice between Military Organization and... ANY other military tech? I only ever raise levies to deal with these annoying vikings (in africa, mind). Including MY OWN levies. I'm at 4 bars in Light Infantry as well, but that's +30% vs the amount of retinue cap provided by Military Organization: +600%. Which is slightly misleading but only slightly... My loyal armies, purely Free Warriors (LI with a few archers) massacre anything with equal numbers. Apparently heavy armor and horses are no match for poisoned blowguns.
And the culture techs seem to suck across the board. As if I care about +6 opinion from a class of vassals. I'm noticing just now that Popular Customs is my lowest , despite me being a trade republic... Because +6 relation instead of +4 *doesn't freakin matter*. I've been putting all those trash points into Majesty on the off chance it boosts my heir's prestige. I don't know, and I don't care, the culture tech points are useless anyway.
Maybe tolerance would be useful if I was attempting world conquest. But I'm not. It's 1066 and I've converted my entire domain to West Africa faith. Including ALL of ANDALUSIA. That's right, the Reconquista will be versus Animism instead of Islam... If it ever happens. I wouldn't have even invaded Spain except that the high priest declared a Great Holy War.
Now the real challenge: Can I bear managing my disfunctional family for 2-4 hundred years until the aztecs arrive. I never have maintained interest long enough to see them, but I'm determined to do it this time. I just have to sit tight and rake in the gold, and resist the temptation to conquer all of Europe.
Starting to think the endgame in this game is lacking, or pagans are *even more* OP than I thought. I shouldn't be entering the endgame at 1066...