So, I finally got my boyfriend to start reading this behemoth as well. Maybe from time to time I'll post a
Boyfriend Status with some of my replies, just to compare to some of you who are speeding through the whole thing at a breakneck pace.
Boyfriend current status: Page One, second update. Has pronounced the introduction of Demetrios as "Interesting. Sad he lost his dad. Is Emperor Michael a goof?"
The_Archduke - That was an old spoiler map. After the death of Thomas II I posted a newer one, which will also likely change as things go on. As for Nikephoros, imagine if it'd been him and David who had faced the Mongols, etc., and not Thomas II?
armoristan - As many as Rome? China, likely, but only because they have a continuity that is roughly similar in length. Multithousand year periods of existence make excellent ground for tons of civil wars.
AS for Isfahan, you like the name? I was actually toying with the Komnenids changing it down the line, the question would be, to what? Why do you think it should remain Isfahan?
AlexanderPrimus - Indeed, that would be Albrecht in the future. Keep in mind by 1240 Albrecht is already nearing/past fifty. Considering the next update fast forwards time a bit, he'll be probably mid-fifties from then onwards. He might not get the new face immediately, but it'll be warranted shortly...
English Patriot - When you split the empire, that just makes a new reason to fight-reuniting the empire under your personal banner!
Enewald - That's kind of a good summation of what I was aiming for with Thomas. Gabriel explained what sex was to him, it's just for Thomas, married sex is, as St. Paul said, an admittance of failure, of being incapable of achieving the celibate life one should aspire to. So he got just a little angry when he was forced, in his mind, to go against his faith. What are some possibilities for a new name for Isfahan you think?
Winner – And Thomas’ extreme desire to avoid sex has probably rendered him a clinical asexual, so you’re right as well. He’s just not interested… the Asperger’s focus on architecture also helps. As for Gabriel, you’ve hit the nail on the head for the biggest reason why Albrecht turned against his nephew—Gabriel is too ambitious and would start too many wars. After reading up on
Dei Gratia, I
definitely want to include some of that into the most-CK mod… it sounds like it fixes a lot of the problems I had with the EU3 religious system, as well as adds back in some of the religions I was going to have to create (Eastern Christianity for one, Coptic I’m assuming for another).
Avalanchemike – Thanks—it seemed like the kind of grand masterstroke an ambitious kid would come up with. What remains to be seen is if it doesn’t all come tumbling down on their heads…
Servius Magnus – Thomas III certainly isn’t as malicious as his grandfather, nor as dangerous and bloody as his father. But if you push him, that temper will come out, and it won’t be pleasant…
Fulcrumvale – Yup, bought Italy from a cash strapped cousin for a song. Now, he’s got squatters and vagrants all about the property he has to kick out (Michael, the Latins in Africa), but it was still a steal. As for the insane Thomases… yes, if they keep going at this rate, it will be unsustainable. Thomas II’s insanity was mitigated by Albrecht, and Thomas III really hasn’t been in a position to do too much harm yet, but something’s gotta change in the Konstantinopolis water… fast.
Kirsch27 – Yeah, you’re right. He wasn’t faking it… if he was, that would’ve been the best acting job of all time!
Leviathan07 - I think Thomas would accept the award, but likely be confused as to if 'Nutjob' was an insult or not, then promptly wander off to complain about the architectural inadequacies of the hall the ceremony was held in.
Nehekara - First of all, welcome to the thread! (belatedly
) Ah... so someone else remembers that little curse uttered by Frederick von Hohenstaufen way way back (Arch_Duke remembered it first, if I remember correct?)... It's definitely come back to bite the descendants of Thomas hard...
Vesimir – Yeah, I’m avoiding using Magna Mundi as the basis for anything, mostly because I’ve heard stories that adding things to it modwise quickly makes it buggy, among other problems. There’ll be enough provinces to fix… I’ll leave adding extra provinces to some enterprising soul down the line after its been released.
I’d like to incorporate some of the ideas of MM though, pick and choose as opposed to take the whole convoluted thing. As for Albrecht, the central empire does have one place it can expand… back across the Black Sea. Representatives of Sortmark in Konstantinopolis as a coincidence? I think not…
Plushie – That wouldn’t be disturbing. What’d be disturbing is if he had a thing for stuffed teddy bears and lullabys.
Ksim3000 – Nikephoros has some Manuel in him, but a lot of confidence/overconfidence in his own abilities. He’s also a showman, as evidenced by the ‘duel of throwing legs over chairs.’ He
wants you to know he’s calm, cool, collected, even smug while he’s talking to you. Is it youthful arrogance, or a mark of genius? So far it’s been working…
Mcy1000 – A magnificent bastard indeed! And I
love the TV Tropes website
Deamon – He’s definitely been win right now, but we’ve had people be extremely successful in their youth and flame out before. Is he burning too bright for his own good?
humancalculator – He
is trying to stop Hulagu, one of the most dangerous commanders in history. Gabriel bested him once, but that was mostly because the Mongols didn’t know the Romans had their version of the rocket carts. Now that the Mongols know and are coming in full force, he’d better have something else up his sleeve…
Qorten – Third Triumvirate? Well, I suppose, since the Triple Monarchy was never really an agreement between adults to share the empire. Nikephoros so far has been Crassus, Gabriel has been Pompey the successful general, but Thomas is definitely no Julius Caesar…
asd21593 – All of your plans end with Constantinople sacked! Gloomy much?
4th Dimension - As he said, “A thief knows his mark.” Nikephoros just happens to be in a position to provide both cash and soldiers to the warrior and building funds to the builder. Albrecht’s been boxed it, what remains to be seen is if he can weasel his way out of the prison his nephews and their cousin have built for him.
Hannibal X – Two Patriarchates apiece! Well, Gabriel might get four… hint for something down the line.
Next update hasn’t been started yet, but I have an idea for the graphics. On my day off tomorrow I’ll be working on it full-bore and we’ll see how much gets finished. Another note about the EU3 conversion—if anyone has any ideas on things that should get included, shout them out to me as the story goes on. I won’t promise every idea (or even most, depending on the size of the mod) gets included, but I’ll look at each and every one.