Total War

So I've spent the last few days playing Medieval 2: Total War: Kingdoms and I've just started reading a book. To be more specific, a book called Deadhouse Gates by Stephen Erikson.
As far as the book is concerned, I can't say much about its quality yet, but judging by the first book in the series (The Malazan Book of the Fallen), Gardens of the Moon, I think it'll be a grand ride.

In M2: TW: Kingdoms I've had the pleasure of launching a Norwegian invasion in the northern part of the British Isles, fighting against all odds challenging a seemingly mad Scottish army that did not concern itself with England because the latter had enough trouble dealing with Wales and Ireland. Instead of fighting as a rebel against the English, William Wallace decided to take arms against the Norwegian army instead. However, with all Scottish cities and castles taken in the end, the Scots were left without a home and thus lost many supporters.
Now my double headache consists of the Baron's Alliance (rebel English barons who didn't fancy the king all that much) and the Welsh which have formed a firm alliance against me and newfound ally England... which by now consists of a single city.
Fortunately the Welsh armies seem to consist purely of arches, so an all-out charge routs them pretty quickly. Actually I've been astounded by the lack of morale in enemy armies at times; I've won improbably victories simply due to entire enemy armies that, though they were extremely superior, suddenly turned and ran. Either my warriors are more intimidating than I thought or I'm simply lucky. Or it could be broken AI. Which leads me to another thing... AI is still far from perfect. They don't use their cavalry properly, and that makes it frighteningly easy to outflank them. Actual tactics besides an all-out charge are usually overrated when the crude and straightforward approach can be used with hardly any casualties on your side.
Still, the sheer sight of heavy cavalry ramming into lines of infantry is enjoyable enough whether or not the AI is found wanting.

Oh, and by tomorrow afternoon I'll officially be studentus magisterii... Which sounds more fancy than it is :-P Basically just means I'll officially be a student at the university. The last few days have seemed incredibly slow and boring simply because my curiosity was so stirred during the introduction period that I immediately found myself wanting to learn more. I almost can't wait to actually get started. Oh, and spend a fortune on books, oh the precious books. Thankfully I still have a fortune (kinda) so it'll be alright.

Anyway, I've a Baron's Alliance to destroy or a book to read. Choices, choices.

War out!