Since the "straight-up" EEP thread for "Byzantium" is so long, I'm going to commit a faux pas and start a new thread on this so people won't have to wade through so much material.
Here is an outline that I've come up with for how the Empire might be handled:
From my reading of the history, I would say that the following provinces should be considered "Rhomaoisini Irridentia", forever inseparable from the theoretical core of the Empire:
This does not even cover the full "Greek Culture Core", but there is method to my madness. In 1419, the Empire is on the ropes. Ambitions beyond mere survival are rare, and nobody else would recognize claims beyond this. (Remember, CB shields include international recognition of at least theoretical validity to the claim.) Likewise, I wanted to preserve the death struggle against the Ottoman. The Empire should begin with only the Greek culture group. They were a cosmopolitan state, but they lost too many of the non-Greeks to keep that up.
If the Empire stages a comeback (by taking all of the above except for Anatolia, Ionia, and Corfu), then the following territories get added to the core:
Plus, the Empire suffers a major diplomatic penalty against Venice, unhappy that somebody is taking away their Aegean trade.
If the Empire is able to take all of the non-Island provinces, then they should be given a choice. They can either turn East, which will give them CB on all of Anatolia except for Armenia (I'll explain below), plus CB on Aleppo, Lebanon, Samaria, Judea, Sinai, Egypt, Delta, Alexandria, Nile, and Cataract, and gain lots of love from all Orthodox countries.
However, this will also drop their Innovativeness, increase Serfdom, and increase Aristocratic, increase Mercantilism. They would gain the Turkish and Syrian culture groups.
Why not Armenian? Historically and traditionally, Armenia has always been a vassal of Rome, not a property. Indeed, a "Liberate Armenia" event could be written with some benefits for taking the province and then liberating it. If they manage to conquer the Mamelukes, they should get an opportunity at Arabic culture (event chain, not a guarantee). This is because the Empire was not a Western-style ethnic nation-state.
This would be the most likely choice (A), I would think, given the situation of the time.
The next choice would be to "go west" (B). This would give a CB on Albania, all Slavonic provinces (asserting ancient submissions of the Slavonic chieftains), a claim on Ragusa, Dalmatia, Istria, and Veneto (reclaiming a rebellious colony), a claim on all Romanian provinces (the Wlach are simply Latins who need to be gathered back into the Empire), and a claim on the Ukrainian core provinces (yes, it sounds crazy, but it does make sense if one is familiar with Ukrainian church history).
They would gain a boost in Innovativeness, lower Aristocratic, lower Mercantilism, less Land--more Sea. They would gain a CoT in Thrace. Finally, they could have events to possibly gain the Slavonic, Romanian, and "Ukrainian" cultures if they get two or more provinces of the culture in question. They would not get Italian, because the Italians would find the idea of being ruled by "Greeks" to be insufferable.
They would also suffer a stability hit and their relations with all Italian countries, with all the European Orthodox countries (including Muscovy/Russia), with Austria, with Spain/Castile/Aragon, and with Hungary would plummet. Kicking tail and taking names never makes one popular. All Italian countries, Austria, Slavonic countries, Romanian countries, and Muscovy/Russia would gain a CB on them for several years. For Italian countries, this CB might last until 1821.
The third alternative (C) would be "balance, delicate balance". While it is the most "Byzantine" in its approach, I think it would be the least likely to have been adopted at the time. It would be difficult to sell at home, I'm guessing. The following province CB would be given:
The Empire would have events to possibly gain the Turkish, Slavonic, Romanian, and Albanian culture groups (separately). They would gain Centralization, Aristocratic, maybe a bit of Innovative, Land, and/or Mercantile. There would also be a CoT in Thrace. They would suffer the ire of the Slavonics and any remaining Turks. Likewise, Venice would get a CB on them for daring to set up a CoT.
These suggestions could be tweaked, of course.
Here is an outline that I've come up with for how the Empire might be handled:
From my reading of the history, I would say that the following provinces should be considered "Rhomaoisini Irridentia", forever inseparable from the theoretical core of the Empire:
Code:
Rumelia 321
Thrace 357
Macedonia 358
Hellas 359
Morea 360
Anatolia 477
Smyrna 478
Ionia 479 (island)
Corfu 820 (island)
This does not even cover the full "Greek Culture Core", but there is method to my madness. In 1419, the Empire is on the ropes. Ambitions beyond mere survival are rare, and nobody else would recognize claims beyond this. (Remember, CB shields include international recognition of at least theoretical validity to the claim.) Likewise, I wanted to preserve the death struggle against the Ottoman. The Empire should begin with only the Greek culture group. They were a cosmopolitan state, but they lost too many of the non-Greeks to keep that up.
If the Empire stages a comeback (by taking all of the above except for Anatolia, Ionia, and Corfu), then the following territories get added to the core:
Code:
Kaffa 464
Trabzon 475
Crete 480 (island)
Rhodes 481 (island)
Kastamonu 1609
Anatalya 1610
Plus, the Empire suffers a major diplomatic penalty against Venice, unhappy that somebody is taking away their Aegean trade.
If the Empire is able to take all of the non-Island provinces, then they should be given a choice. They can either turn East, which will give them CB on all of Anatolia except for Armenia (I'll explain below), plus CB on Aleppo, Lebanon, Samaria, Judea, Sinai, Egypt, Delta, Alexandria, Nile, and Cataract, and gain lots of love from all Orthodox countries.
However, this will also drop their Innovativeness, increase Serfdom, and increase Aristocratic, increase Mercantilism. They would gain the Turkish and Syrian culture groups.
Why not Armenian? Historically and traditionally, Armenia has always been a vassal of Rome, not a property. Indeed, a "Liberate Armenia" event could be written with some benefits for taking the province and then liberating it. If they manage to conquer the Mamelukes, they should get an opportunity at Arabic culture (event chain, not a guarantee). This is because the Empire was not a Western-style ethnic nation-state.
This would be the most likely choice (A), I would think, given the situation of the time.
The next choice would be to "go west" (B). This would give a CB on Albania, all Slavonic provinces (asserting ancient submissions of the Slavonic chieftains), a claim on Ragusa, Dalmatia, Istria, and Veneto (reclaiming a rebellious colony), a claim on all Romanian provinces (the Wlach are simply Latins who need to be gathered back into the Empire), and a claim on the Ukrainian core provinces (yes, it sounds crazy, but it does make sense if one is familiar with Ukrainian church history).
They would gain a boost in Innovativeness, lower Aristocratic, lower Mercantilism, less Land--more Sea. They would gain a CoT in Thrace. Finally, they could have events to possibly gain the Slavonic, Romanian, and "Ukrainian" cultures if they get two or more provinces of the culture in question. They would not get Italian, because the Italians would find the idea of being ruled by "Greeks" to be insufferable.
They would also suffer a stability hit and their relations with all Italian countries, with all the European Orthodox countries (including Muscovy/Russia), with Austria, with Spain/Castile/Aragon, and with Hungary would plummet. Kicking tail and taking names never makes one popular. All Italian countries, Austria, Slavonic countries, Romanian countries, and Muscovy/Russia would gain a CB on them for several years. For Italian countries, this CB might last until 1821.
The third alternative (C) would be "balance, delicate balance". While it is the most "Byzantine" in its approach, I think it would be the least likely to have been adopted at the time. It would be difficult to sell at home, I'm guessing. The following province CB would be given:
Code:
Dobrudja 320
Serbia 355
Bulgaria 356
Albania 361
Ragusa 362
Kosovo 363
Bosnia 364
Adana 483
Cyprus 484
Taurus 1611
The Empire would have events to possibly gain the Turkish, Slavonic, Romanian, and Albanian culture groups (separately). They would gain Centralization, Aristocratic, maybe a bit of Innovative, Land, and/or Mercantile. There would also be a CoT in Thrace. They would suffer the ire of the Slavonics and any remaining Turks. Likewise, Venice would get a CB on them for daring to set up a CoT.
These suggestions could be tweaked, of course.