Hi!
I've started a campaign with the Cuman Khanate (first time playing with them). Difficulty : H/VH.
I'm around turn 50, and so far it's going rather well: I took Kiev and Smolensk from the Rus (starting at war with them), and really weakened them.
The big advantage of this faction is of course Horse Archers.
The challenge that I see going forward is to anticipate the arrival of the Mongols. On that regard, I've already moved to the West, and I expect to lose the huge Eastern provinces later in the game.
The thing is though: if I want to be crowned, I need some of those Eastern region (most notably the big region on the north-east corner of the map. Bulgaria?). Being crowned is probably important for that faction, as the potential size of our empire is huge (it is already! huge steppes regions): unrest and loyalty of generals is surely more of an issue with this faction than for more 'compact' factions, don't you think?
So it seems to me I should try to get crowned BEFORE the mongols arrive, and then get out of there , defending from towns in central europe mostly. And that's where is the challenge: to be crowned I need to take 2 rebel regions with full stacks (very well defended). I also need to take one region from the Byzantine empire, and one region from Hungary.
All the while maintaining security on my north-west border, namely with Poland and Novgorod (for the Kievan Rus, I don't worry, they're very weak now).
Seems like it's not gonna be easy!
Anyway, just felt like sharing
If someone has some experience and advice for the Cumans, your input is welcome!