I suppose that everyone will agree that playing as Byzantium (even with dlc) isn't much different from playing as any feudal country. Previously I thought that it would be just pointless to play as despotic ruler with no vassals to please, but I think that I found solution:
As Despotic ruler Basileos should have of course possibility to revoke/grant titles to different governors (all aristocratic titles are lifetime. Heir of count/doux can ask ruler for granting his father fief to him- for money). Appointing new governor should cost some money and add province modifier lowering tax rate, levy number and increasing province revolt risk. It's historical- in XI century Byzantines were revoking eastern provinces from Armenians to "Byzantinize" them. It resulted in weakening border provinces and Turks were able to capture them (normally they hadn't proper equipment). Governor with other culture than provincial should have decreased efficiency, which is handicap for increased chance of culture conversion.
Also every revocation adds few points to new corruption bar representing overall internal decay of administration structures. Every governor will have it too- thus generating more and more points to this overall bar. Corruption is lowered by good rulers, death of bad rulers, defeating rebels, increasing crown authority and decisions costing money but "decorruptizing" government. It's increased by corrupted governors, losing wars (bigger lose, bigger "income". Also- losing more soldiers too should be harmful), decreasing crown laws, granting new lands to aristocrats. New CB should be added- provinces conquered goes to conqueror, not just single counties/duchies. While it was ok for west it was normal on the east that bigger terrains were lost/conquered at once.
And last but not least- rebels. Factions fit well here, they just need a little adjustment (CK2+- it's almost perfect). Factions should be changed to Bureaucrats, Aristocrats (they can be destroyed by taking reforms), Governors (they should be divided in few different factions with different goals), Religious. Because ruler isn't feudal lord he can decide what moneys are spent for- administration (bureaucrats), fight with heresy (religious obviously), feasts/tournaments/balls/hunting/etc (aristocrats), conquering new lands (governors). One final faction is army- I don't know how to handle them. Byzantium had formidable professional army, not levies which was used mostly in internal conflicts. So I think that army can revolt and back new basileos (can be anyone! even lowborn) if we fight too much using same forces.
If someone have some extra ideas, please post them in this thread- hopefully Paradox will introduce them to CK2 some day...
As Despotic ruler Basileos should have of course possibility to revoke/grant titles to different governors (all aristocratic titles are lifetime. Heir of count/doux can ask ruler for granting his father fief to him- for money). Appointing new governor should cost some money and add province modifier lowering tax rate, levy number and increasing province revolt risk. It's historical- in XI century Byzantines were revoking eastern provinces from Armenians to "Byzantinize" them. It resulted in weakening border provinces and Turks were able to capture them (normally they hadn't proper equipment). Governor with other culture than provincial should have decreased efficiency, which is handicap for increased chance of culture conversion.
Also every revocation adds few points to new corruption bar representing overall internal decay of administration structures. Every governor will have it too- thus generating more and more points to this overall bar. Corruption is lowered by good rulers, death of bad rulers, defeating rebels, increasing crown authority and decisions costing money but "decorruptizing" government. It's increased by corrupted governors, losing wars (bigger lose, bigger "income". Also- losing more soldiers too should be harmful), decreasing crown laws, granting new lands to aristocrats. New CB should be added- provinces conquered goes to conqueror, not just single counties/duchies. While it was ok for west it was normal on the east that bigger terrains were lost/conquered at once.
And last but not least- rebels. Factions fit well here, they just need a little adjustment (CK2+- it's almost perfect). Factions should be changed to Bureaucrats, Aristocrats (they can be destroyed by taking reforms), Governors (they should be divided in few different factions with different goals), Religious. Because ruler isn't feudal lord he can decide what moneys are spent for- administration (bureaucrats), fight with heresy (religious obviously), feasts/tournaments/balls/hunting/etc (aristocrats), conquering new lands (governors). One final faction is army- I don't know how to handle them. Byzantium had formidable professional army, not levies which was used mostly in internal conflicts. So I think that army can revolt and back new basileos (can be anyone! even lowborn) if we fight too much using same forces.
If someone have some extra ideas, please post them in this thread- hopefully Paradox will introduce them to CK2 some day...