Welcome to the forums Thomas of Geneva

I have tried a bit on each campaign and although I know I will be flamed for this I must say I am a bit disappointed.

There are many new features and a few pretty new units but that's just it, a FEW new units. Each new faction has 9 units or so compared with the original M2TW which had large tech/unit trees.

Also, the Americas campaign has almost entirely parallel units (same stats, same cost etc.) except for the Spanish.

Although I must say the dismounted RitturBruger (I think they're called) are amazing, especially with an armour upgrade.

I have played all of these campaigns at some stage (although mostly the Crusades campaign) and they are all awesome! The expansion adds a host of interesting new factions and fun new units to play with that present interesting new tactical choices (e.g Greek Firethrower). Great for people after new content for M2TW

The Britannia Campaign is brilliant on VH/VH and my own set rules, such as always honouring alliances, and threatening the enemy with diplomats before I declare war. The units are done really well with their historic uses and capabilities, for example I make it something of tradition that in every battle an army of my standard design (4 Highland nobles, 4 noble swordsmen, 4 noble Highland archers, 2 border horse, 1 general's bodyguard, 2 noble pikemen, 2 feudal knights, and 1 cannon) fights, I always pull off the Highland charge as a matter of course: the most feared tactic in human history, as per my own improvements with armoured Lowland support.
By the way, I only ever play as Scotland : )

'I vow that Scotland will not hold us both' - King James of Scotland on the rebellious Lowland Douglasses

I lost perhaps my first battle ever, in Crusades with the odds being even. And I enjoyed every minute of it! Gosh, that was perhaps the most enjoyable defeat i've ever had (if ever I would have lost in say RTW it would be against stupidly huge odds were you have to just stick your men in the plaza). Here's how my battle went :

Principality of Antioch vs. The Turks

In front I had two Hospitaller Crosssbowmen at front, bout six of the Edessan axe units in the second line. Then I had Hospitaller Spearmen (about four to six) in the third line. Then I had the elite Hospitaller units that the player starts with in the Krak at the start of the game (This battle took place near the turkish capital at Raqqaq), I had my General and a huge Cross along with it's guard at the back too. Just a little note, but the graphics in Crusaders are so good doesn't it feel like one of those really good user-made skins?

Anyway ...

The first turkish contingent consisted of Ottoman Infantry, some of the Sultans' guards (Mamelukes? Ghulams?) and that's it. I thought i'd stay put and let my crossbowmen soften them up a bit but they had about six of those infantry units so I stormed at them with my Edessans. They routed instantly, except some stragglers along with the guards that held out a little. Now, they're army is on the run! I send my bodyguard to deal with the routers and send the Edessans back. Some turkish missile cavalry from the largest contingent that was still arriving came on the scene and when they started peppering my guard with arrows I withdrew back to my army (thought not without killing most of the routers).

Then the large contingents' cavalry all arrives and just flattens my men in arrows. The Canons of the Holy Sepulchre are just crumbling, and my Edessans on the left flank are melting away, so I send all of my Hospitaller Knights and the Bodyguard to deal with the cavalry. They do this fairly well until I realize the Janissaries, Kurds, Nur-ad-Din and some other random units have charged my line. Okay, good they'll hold. Fine, they're not. So I send in my Hospitaller Spearmen (my third line) to support the Edessans and send my Hospitallers to attack the Janissaries in the flank but they're stubborn and my whole army is disintegrating. I then order a withdrawal. Sadly, most of my units fall apart, my general dies. Although I destroyed say about 880 units this had a much larger effect since my economy wasn't too up to snuff. Nonetheless, that was the most enjoyable defeat i've ever had!

Teutonic Campaign : Bleh, disappointing.

Britannia : Not tried it yet.

Americas : I got kind of bored.

i have only just got round to playing kingdoms, i like the new units etc and the campaigns go into alot more detail a bit like empire. Also when auto resolving even if the odds are against the enemy it tends to make me lose so on a plus it stops me being lazy and fighting the battles myself, instead of just playing risk basically lol But yeah, all in all i think kingdoms is awesome

I absolutely love Kingdoms!

The crusade campaign is excellent! I play with Byzantium and I have to say that I have found the game much better than original game...

Diplomacy is much more successful, too. I have great relations with Antioch and Jerusalem, often assisting them in struggle with Egypt and Mongols. On the other hand, they sometimes assist me, mostly against Turks.

The three nations - Byzantium, Antioch and Jerusalem worked together and STOPPED the Mongols. It is the FIRST time I have seen that Mongols are unable to take any fortress. They have tried and tried, but in vain... Their assault force was getting melted away by constant failures in sieges, while I have managed to defeat them in couple of open field battles, while they are not being bunched up. I never had better and more active allies than Antioch and especially Jerusalem.

The only thing I do not like is to have to spoil our relations, because I have to take Antioch (the city) in order to win the campaign.

Also, I am using assassins as the key tool to victories. Its worth it!