Early Start - Any Turkic hordes that DON'T die near-instantly?

[AwesomeKeith]

I keep experiencing "Instant Death Syndrome" for any Turkic horde that isn't Khazar. The slightly smaller hordes are absolute nightmares... You end up in one war and suddenly everyone around you declares (a side effect of the limitless CBs). Does anyone know a horde or strategy where I can spread the Turkic portraits into the middle east and India without dying in the first 20 years?

 

[RagingJaws]

Turkestan?

CB the Bashkiria and blitz their capital. Repeat for the Tyumen and the Tobol , if they are still standing. The Pecheneg makes for a good subordination target, CB for the duchy of Pecheneg. If you've been fast and lucky enough, the Kimak and the Karlukid might still be around. Grab single counties from them. You'll end up a middleweight player between the Uyghur horde and Khazaria. Then it's up to careful diplomacy and aggressive raiding of the minor counties in the south.

The Bolghar are pretty defensive. Those rivers, plus the Volga, makes it hard for the AI to win battles if played right. They don't have very many expansion opportunities, though they can start pillaging pagan land pretty early netting you some coin and tech points before other hordes. If you go that route, target Cheremisa first as it's got the best land for the troop numbers you'll be up against. Mari's land isn't as good and Mordva is almost twice as strong.

If you are feeling *very* lucky, you could try the Mongols. They start up against the Kimak and you can blitz them quickly. As they are a tributary to the Uyghur, you can use that as a defensive blanket until the Uyghur Khan dies. Then, you have to fight for dominance.

 

[Bernard95]

That was my experience as well with Horse Lords- if you're not a Khazar or Kirghiz/Uyghur/Cuman (depending on the start date) you're pretty much a goner. Of those though, only the Khazars are going to have Turkish potraits. If you don't mind playing as an actual horde however, there are the Avars (either as a tribal kingdom in 769 or as a feudal vassal to Bulgaria 867).

 

[Dakilla TM]

Starting from 769, I've seen the Uyghurs go hard several games, beating up the Khazars at times. Next up would be Turkestan, followed by Cumans, Bolghars, and very very very very rarely, the Hungarians. Oh the Pechenegs get eaten after the first year, same for the Mongols.

If you wanna spread that good Turk blood into the Middle East and India, then start as Turkestan/Yabguid/Yabgular. What I would do is raid the Muslims to the south for some money, and then when there's a civil war, attack them and settle. Try converting to Islam since it'll make conquering easier and makes your realm more stable than unreformed pagan.

If you're ambitious enough, you could reform Tengri and and spread the wrath of Tung Ak all over the Middle East and India.

 

[AwesomeKeith]

Starting from 769, I've seen the Uyghurs go hard several games, beating up the Khazars at times. Next up would be Turkestan, followed by Cumans, Bolghars, and very very very very rarely, the Hungarians. Oh the Pechenegs get eaten after the first year, same for the Mongols.

If you wanna spread that good Turk blood into the Middle East and India, then start as Turkestan/Yabguid/Yabgular. What I would do is raid the Muslims to the south for some money, and then when there's a civil war, attack them and settle. Try converting to Islam since it'll make conquering easier and makes your realm more stable than unreformed pagan.

If you're ambitious enough, you could reform Tengri and and spread the wrath of Tung Ak all over the Middle East and India.

I wasn't looking to settle until I took at least into northern India, establishing a stronk Muslim Turk empire. Usually the Khazars and such rush me by then, sadly.

 

[KlinkerFyren]

Uyghurs are pretty good start. They can also liberate Persia from muslim rule and convert to restore Zoroastrianism.

 

[Tapio]

Turkestan can become strong quick and attractive to boot