Any tips for restoring the Roman Empire with Conclave?

[Chunakun]

After a couple of Holy wars against various sunni rulers my threat level got to 100%. Now I have been waiting for 40 ingame years already to have the threat level go down. Tried a war in between but I white peaced after a while because of all the defensive pacts and seeing I could not win the war. Will I be able to restore the Roman Empire at this pace before the game ends? (I started in 863 and now is the year 930).

 

[Chunakun]

I am also wondering if your threat level goes down if you lose significant territory after a Jihad.

 

[Fishy101]

While you do have 500+ years more to play, I am inclined to think that you cannot restore the Roman Empire. The consequence of the actions of your character has always only lasted no longer than his lifetime in CK2. But the new mechanic, "threat level" is inherited by your country for all eternity. And threat level drops way too slowly for you to be able to restore the empire.

 

[TMSaxon]

Once you hit a critical mass, it shouldn't be too hard to bullboze your way through, even if you have to fight most of Europe and the Middle East for a single duchy.
Basically, once you have all of de jure Byzantium and Italy, you should be able to fight everyone to restore the Empire.

 

[Sergeant Flutter]

The best thing to do is to break truces.

When your threat reaches 100 everyone in the world doesn't join the Coalition magically. They do over about 10 days.

You can declare another war in that period of time.

Also, the coalition will not attack you if you attack someone who isn't in the Coalition.

 

[Chunakun]

Thanks for the tips. I will try to marry the daughter of the King of Italy and take that Kingdom after a generation. After that i will see if I can fight off those defensive pacts.

 

[Iron Chariots]

Also, if there is anybody in the coalition you can marry, I'm pretty sure anybody you have a NAP with will leave the defensive pact, though I may be misremembering.

 

[Olrox]

Once your retinue gets big enough, around 10k, coalitions arent going to be a problem. Just park your retinue on the enemy border, assault every holding and you can win every war in a few months.

Use pike retinues for maximum efficiency. Italian and scottish pikes are best, but generic defense works too.

 

[Naughtius Maximus]

I started at Charlemagne era and am at ~1030 or so now. All I need is Tunis to recreate the Empire, but outside of that I own all of the Christian lands. My border king level titles are Germany, Frisia, Aquitane (with Barcelona,) Egypt, Nubia, Mesopotamia, Georgia, and Wallachia.

Just need to holy war Tunis, but rather than defensive pacts holding me back it's the sheer abundance of Pragmatic councilors in my realm. I haven't had anything less than 4 pragmatists since 100 years ago, and they shy away from wars versus any defensive pacts (thought they love wars versus revolts.)

At my size you can run over anyone you please even at 100% threat, 120k troops, and 150k at 100 opinion, is basically unstoppable at the early 1000s. It's just paying for favors is irritating. I'd prefer not to do it.

Anyone know how to recruit zealots or glory hounds into the council? That would help a lot.

Basically make sure most of your council are Zealots or Glory Hounds (preferebly the latter.) For the most part you'll be able to run over any pact in a pre 1066 start, especially if you sow dissent in the Abbasid realm for 50 or so years.

Or if you don't mind the randomness in territory you can just declare war on any revolters. In which case you would prefer pragmatists.

 

[mrstevehazzard]

Also, if there is anybody in the coalition you can marry, I'm pretty sure anybody you have a NAP with will leave the defensive pact, though I may be misremembering.

This is the big thing for me. If you have NAPs, they won't join the pact. Make sure you have a big family and marry them off to every European ruler you can to take the fangs out of the pacts in a big way.

 

[Sonmi]

1. Break truces

2. Target either the biggest non-coalition targets, or smaller targets that can be blitzed into submission.

3. Optional, but I'd turn Jain once all that is left to conquer to restore the old borders are Christian lands, the extra stability you get from the lack of short reign penalty, your ability to choose your heir, and the whopping potential +35 vassal opinion modifiers is great (+3 demesne doesn't hurt either), your vassals won't be pissed at you breaking your truces against fellow Christians, and the one negative side of the Jain religion (no holy wars) is sidestepped by you now having access to the Restore Imperial Borders CB (IIRC). You need to have restored the Roman Empire beforehand though, and then you'll have to convert all of your vassals, but I'd say the extra task is worth it.

 

[josefrees]

When you cannot take them by force take them by intrigue and marriage.
Keep building and saving money.