Another attempt as Byzantine emperor, and another quick failure. After less than four years, I had a crown authority downgrade (I gave in to prevent another massive rebellion.). I spent my money bribing and gave titles, yet not effect it seems. Then a year later I had a pertend, one of the Dukes I bribed and gave a title. Then out of thin or maybe very fat air. armies went from a about for thousand, to twenty five thousand. I spent all my money on a mercenary unit but could come close to the masive hordes that were about to drive me from the palace and into a painful death. I guess just killing all the nobles, as some have suggests is the only thing to do, though what a boring game that will be.
Another qick game, sigh
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The 1066 start is actually really hard, the Alexiad bookmark is alot easier. Starting as a vassal in ERE is also pretty fun.
I use to like starting my Byzantine game in 1106. However, since I returned, none of the seem remotely playable, with massive rebellions, pretenders in the first few years. I would hate to see what a century would bring.
Lol "fat air" made me think of Gollum saying "stupid fat hobbit" in LotR:tTT XD
I haven't found Byz to be as hard as you make it out to be. Hold frequent feasts so your vassals like you more and be sure to reward only your most powerful vassals with honorary titles and gold if necessary. If you make good use of the "scheme" spymaster option to keep the powerful nobles out of factions then you'll be fine.
Having said that, the Byzantine Empire was obviously dismantled due to frequent infighting, so frequent rebellions add some realism to the role of emperor.
Edit: as the above said, 1066 isn't easy - my experience is with Alexios.
I haven't found Byz to be as hard as you make it out to be. Hold frequent feasts so your vassals like you more and be sure to reward only your most powerful vassals with honorary titles and gold if necessary. If you make good use of the "scheme" spymaster option to keep the powerful nobles out of factions then you'll be fine.
Having said that, the Byzantine Empire was obviously dismantled due to frequent infighting, so frequent rebellions add some realism to the role of emperor.
Edit: as the above said, 1066 isn't easy - my experience is with Alexios.
Yeah, 1066 is hard. All your vassals seem to hate you no matter what you do. They'll easily form factions with 50-75% strength. Revoke plot never seems to work and your old geezer emperor is about to croak. If you can manage to imprison a few troublesome vassals things might go easier. Getting your retinue up would help but gold is scarce with all the bribing.
Killing your nobles, or imprison+banish can help reset the vassal map and give you gold. That's what I had to do, it was soooooooooooooo boring.
Killing your nobles, or imprison+banish can help reset the vassal map and give you gold. That's what I had to do, it was soooooooooooooo boring.
Thanks, I'll try your suggestions. I hope they work. I really hate having my nose slit, or being blinded. It ruins my day.
Its a long time since i tried the 1066 start as Doukas. But I remember my Empreror died early, and then I dragged the war on with the Seljuks for a long time (defending vs infidel relation bonus) until my heir came of age. It worked, but its a pretty gamey tactic.
Normally the seljuks will invade you soon enough ,this will give you a +25 modifier for your vassals 'defending against heathens' or something like it. Try and stretch the war as long as you can ,whilst stabilising your realm. And make good use of the cheap varangians!
+lots of cataphracts retinue!
+lots of cataphracts retinue!
If you started in 1066 then I have to say, this means that the game is being historically accurate 
There's a few solutions here:
- As a Doukas your heir is terrible. You may want to switch to elective (+20 with all non-dynastic vassals) and
- Have leaders with high diplomacy and good traits - this is absolutely needed to keep those asshole vassals in line.
- Have a huge retinue which keeps faction strength down. Also 15k mixed heavy cavalry and horse archers will rip into almost anything
- Get a master spymaster from anywhere as long as he/she doesn't hate your guts. A genius murderous (towards others) wife is a wise investment. Use him to move people out of plots and murder claimants if you have to stop huge factions desperately.
- As a desperate measure you can create and hand out kingdoms other than Greece. This gives you some scary vassals, but they will now have to deal with your insidious dukes.
- You can excommunicate non-king vassals and revoke duke titles for free. Use this against your most dangerous dukes and hand the title to their neighbor.
- As a Doukas your heir is terrible. You may want to switch to elective (+20 with all non-dynastic vassals) and
- Have leaders with high diplomacy and good traits - this is absolutely needed to keep those asshole vassals in line.
- Have a huge retinue which keeps faction strength down. Also 15k mixed heavy cavalry and horse archers will rip into almost anything
- Get a master spymaster from anywhere as long as he/she doesn't hate your guts. A genius murderous (towards others) wife is a wise investment. Use him to move people out of plots and murder claimants if you have to stop huge factions desperately.
- As a desperate measure you can create and hand out kingdoms other than Greece. This gives you some scary vassals, but they will now have to deal with your insidious dukes.
- You can excommunicate non-king vassals and revoke duke titles for free. Use this against your most dangerous dukes and hand the title to their neighbor.
I started my Byzatium game as a vassal of ERE the day before Armenia become Turk (or iranian?), so I think around 1080. One hundred years later, the ERE is alive and well, and has taken back most of Armenia. My game is still not finished.
Again, thanks for the ideas, I need all the help that is availabe. Humm, I'll reward you as duke of Monaco. I do have another question. People have mentioned retinues. I click on that in the military, but nothing happens. I see no way to access this. I haven't found a post on what they are, how you get them, and what to do with them. I could use some advice on this as well.
Do you have Legacy of Rome installed? You need it to use it in the first place. If not then you really should, it adds a good bit of playability to orthodox players and is pretty well made.
The retinue tab can be found under the military one where you raise your troops, leftmost one.
The retinue tab can be found under the military one where you raise your troops, leftmost one.
Humm, not sure I want to invest any more money in this game. I'll have to think about this. Thanks.
Wait for a sale. I paid about 2.40 Euros. Thats not even a Kebaps price. If you play orthodox its really worth it.
Its for sale right now on steam 1.24 euros. Same price as a snickers. Buy it!
Yeah, snickers won´t remain in your body more than 8 hours, but DLC stays in your heart forever!
(Wasn´t that cute?)
Well, I bit the bullet and bought all the additional add on games, since they were on sale at Amazon. I'll just raise the taxes on my subjects and hire John of Cappadocia to collect them.