First, I want to congratulate Paradox on an absolutely engrossing game! I downloaded the full game a few minutes after it was released on Gamersgate, and I've been playing nonstop since. It's exciting and cutthroat and... I'm addicted!
Second, this ain't gonna be no Rome AARisen narrative--no time, I want to get back to playing. It's going to be a quick, dirty description of the innards of Constantinople in my game. A quick summation of each character's reign, in fact.
Alexios I Komnenos, Doux of Paphlagonia - Alexios began his reign by first growing up. On reaching adulthood, he made a betrothal to the daughter of then Konstantinos VII Doukas, Roman Emperor, and things seemed to be on a rather placid trajectory.
Oh, how I was wrong.
In 1076, Konstantinos dies, leaving the throne to the much hated Michael VII, and, of course, the realm rises in revolt. Sensing a chance to cause "mayhem and foolishness," I join in, breaking my betrothal much making many friends amongst my fellow nobles in the process. Michael is deposed, and his brother Andronikos made emperor.
Meantime, I married the daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor, not realizing she was almost 30. A year or so in, I assassinated her via plot, to clear the way for a new marriage to the young and fertile daughter of the King of Aragon.
Meanwhile, Andronikos refused to lower the crown authority of the Empire. So in 1080, I spearheaded another revolt that swept Andronikos aside, and reinstated Michael VII. For my help, I only got emnity from him. My chancellor, however, stole a claim to the County of Byzantion from him. I sensed blood, and formed a plot to take it for myself. I was found out, and had to abandon my nefarious scheme.
In the meantime, my niece Sophia, daughter of my brother Isaakios, murdered him to take over his principality of Antioch, then murdered my brother Manuel to take over Armeniacon as well. She sent assassins twice after my eldest son Andronikos, and once after me. It wasn't until my fourth try that the war of blades ended with her death, and Alexios as Prince of Paphlagonia, Armeniacon and Antioch.
With newfound power, I once again initiated a plot for Byzantion. This time I gained enough backers that I could follow through my with my scheme. Michael VII refused to hand over the Queen of Cities (he'd have been an idiot if he had), and war followed. I successfully took Constantinople with my levies and the Bulgarian and Pecheneg mercenary companies, and forced the emperor to heel. Broken, he was assassinated by parties unknown a month later.
The crown then went to his brother Konstantinos, Prince of Turnovo--the first competent Doukas. Konstantinos promptly brought the nobility into line by force, and offered to lower the crown authority level to limited... something I wanted so I could leave gavelkind behind and keep my sprawling realm together. Alas, the nobility did not approve the change in time--Alexios died of tuberculosis only two weeks before the change was approved. Byzantion and Paphlagonia went to his eldest son, while his younger sons received Armeniacon and Antioch respectively...
Darn stupid nobles dragging their feet...
(More to come!)
Second, this ain't gonna be no Rome AARisen narrative--no time, I want to get back to playing. It's going to be a quick, dirty description of the innards of Constantinople in my game. A quick summation of each character's reign, in fact.
Alexios I Komnenos, Doux of Paphlagonia - Alexios began his reign by first growing up. On reaching adulthood, he made a betrothal to the daughter of then Konstantinos VII Doukas, Roman Emperor, and things seemed to be on a rather placid trajectory.
Oh, how I was wrong.
In 1076, Konstantinos dies, leaving the throne to the much hated Michael VII, and, of course, the realm rises in revolt. Sensing a chance to cause "mayhem and foolishness," I join in, breaking my betrothal much making many friends amongst my fellow nobles in the process. Michael is deposed, and his brother Andronikos made emperor.
Meantime, I married the daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor, not realizing she was almost 30. A year or so in, I assassinated her via plot, to clear the way for a new marriage to the young and fertile daughter of the King of Aragon.
Meanwhile, Andronikos refused to lower the crown authority of the Empire. So in 1080, I spearheaded another revolt that swept Andronikos aside, and reinstated Michael VII. For my help, I only got emnity from him. My chancellor, however, stole a claim to the County of Byzantion from him. I sensed blood, and formed a plot to take it for myself. I was found out, and had to abandon my nefarious scheme.
In the meantime, my niece Sophia, daughter of my brother Isaakios, murdered him to take over his principality of Antioch, then murdered my brother Manuel to take over Armeniacon as well. She sent assassins twice after my eldest son Andronikos, and once after me. It wasn't until my fourth try that the war of blades ended with her death, and Alexios as Prince of Paphlagonia, Armeniacon and Antioch.
With newfound power, I once again initiated a plot for Byzantion. This time I gained enough backers that I could follow through my with my scheme. Michael VII refused to hand over the Queen of Cities (he'd have been an idiot if he had), and war followed. I successfully took Constantinople with my levies and the Bulgarian and Pecheneg mercenary companies, and forced the emperor to heel. Broken, he was assassinated by parties unknown a month later.
The crown then went to his brother Konstantinos, Prince of Turnovo--the first competent Doukas. Konstantinos promptly brought the nobility into line by force, and offered to lower the crown authority level to limited... something I wanted so I could leave gavelkind behind and keep my sprawling realm together. Alas, the nobility did not approve the change in time--Alexios died of tuberculosis only two weeks before the change was approved. Byzantion and Paphlagonia went to his eldest son, while his younger sons received Armeniacon and Antioch respectively...
Darn stupid nobles dragging their feet...
(More to come!)