Russia (M2TW Faction)
Russia, the name for the slavic people north of the Black Sea, comes from the Slavic tribe Rus, who first played a major role in history during the first siege of Constantinople. Afterwords, the pagan rus, settled in what is now modern Keiv, became Orthodox Christians, and ended up growing to be one of the strongest and largest empires in the world (USSR).
Russia's Religeon
The Russians are one of the few Orthodox Christian factions in the game. To the south of you is the other Orthodox Byzantine Empire, to the south east, there are the Catholic Polish and the Hungarians and to the south, over the Black sea, or over the Caucasus Mountains are the Islamic Turks. Because of the fact you are Catholic, you have no direct relation to the pope, and thus don't participate in the Crusades, and are under no pressure form the Papal States. And vice-versa you are under no pressure from the Islamic factions to participate in Jihads.
Russian Military
The Russians use a wide variety of horse archers (HA) and melee cavalry (MC). THe Russians prized or best unit is the Cossack cavalry. Cossack cavalry are equiped with light armor, a small sword and a composite bow. The Russians lack Strong infintry units in the begging of the game, and rely mostly upon Merc. Soldiers, early HA's and Archers. Russia, despite lack of early period infintry, they have fairly good late period soldiers, from Cossack Musketeers, to the best late period Artillary unit, the Bassilisk.
Russian Economy
Many of the lands you will aquire early on in your Russian campaign, will have little resources, thus leaving your treasury almost empty every turn. In order to sustain a good economy, capture as many cities on the Baltic Sea as possible and build ports, for naval trade, build roads in every settlement and hire a lot of merchants because there is a lot of fur, wood and amber resources lying around the Russian plains. After gaining a few rebel territories, you want to try to capture southern provinces such as Keiv and Caffa, for Black sea trade, which will be important for tarde with Medditeranean factions.
Russian Expansion
Despite Russia's slow economy and weak early game army, Russia is given many rebel provinces to expand upon. The starting town is surounded by 3 rebel settlements, which if you get there early enough in the game there shouldn't be a garrison. (Smolensk, Riga and Helsinki). Towards the time when you conquer the rebel settlements on the map, Poland and maybe Hungry and the Byzantine Empire Will be your western neighbors, with the Turks being your eastern.
