These two subjects are where the game's mechanics fall very short of representing the Eastern medieval period.
Alliances in the east had little to do with marriages, and were extremely fragile. Rulers wrote letters to their enemies' vassals, tempting them to abandon their lord and join them instead. Treachery was abound. Planning a war meant checking the position of everyone involved - more often than not finding a possible chip in the enemy's circle of "friends".
Slavery was very much alive during that period. It had been active since the early Arab conquests brought an influx of slaves from all over the place. By 1200, slaves were an important ingredient in society. Most importantly, fighter-slaves constituted the warrior class in many eastern societies, and some were extremely privileged - ending up ruling the realm in fact - see Baibars for instance.
Thoughts? maybe on whether the game mechanics' have the flexibility to represent those things?
Alliances in the east had little to do with marriages, and were extremely fragile. Rulers wrote letters to their enemies' vassals, tempting them to abandon their lord and join them instead. Treachery was abound. Planning a war meant checking the position of everyone involved - more often than not finding a possible chip in the enemy's circle of "friends".
Slavery was very much alive during that period. It had been active since the early Arab conquests brought an influx of slaves from all over the place. By 1200, slaves were an important ingredient in society. Most importantly, fighter-slaves constituted the warrior class in many eastern societies, and some were extremely privileged - ending up ruling the realm in fact - see Baibars for instance.
Thoughts? maybe on whether the game mechanics' have the flexibility to represent those things?