Help with Trebizond in 1.24

[Shinkuro Yukinari]

The start is logical. Ally Theodoro, fabricate on Samtskhe and Imereti, attack Imereti, pray that the dice rolls don't screw you over, abuse vassal mechanics and so on.

The biggest issue is just how RNG dependent it is, as the Ottomans can attack you at any time. One attempt, they attacked in the 1550s. Another one, they attacked in 1445 after going for the Eastern Anatolia mission.

I have considered Diplomatic ideas but the ideas I need take too long to get to, and even then it doesn't change the fact that the only worthwhile ally I can get is Muscovy, who is...unreliable, to say the least

I wanna try restoring the Byzantine Empire with the true Dynasty with superior ideas, but yeah, it ain't working out for me well...
Help a Brotha out

 

[bbqftw]

As with most starts that have to find a solution to the Ottoman problem fast: convert to Sunni, RM + ally the Ottomans.

If you want to form byz you can zealot your way afterwards.

 

[Shinkuro Yukinari]

As with most starts that have to find a solution to the Ottoman problem fast: convert to Sunni, RM + ally the Ottomans.

If you want to form byz you can zealot your way afterwards.

First or all, yuck.
Second, will the Ottomans even want me as an ally? I mean, we both know how aggressive they are once they get going
Third, I cannot afford instability in my realm, given how I am surrounded by enemies on all sides. QQ, AQ, Ottomans, GH, they all want my Komnenoi butt

 

[Dominion]

Eh, getting the alliance is easy on 1. 24

Wait until they get a non-militarist, rm+ally them, done.

I tried doing it without allying them and without exploits or exile. Lesson in misery at best, game over at worst. Worked out in the end, but it definitely wasn't fun.

If you wanna do it easy mode, nocb an Irish minor, jump over to America and reach empire rank there. Disgusting, but it works.

Alternatively you can join the HRE. A bit gamey, a lot less disgusting.


But Orthodox? I can not, in good conscience, tell you to continue trying to get that one done.

 

[Shinkuro Yukinari]

I'll consider HRE. Maybe I can get into a war together with the Ottomans, no-CB Ragusa, change capital, kiss up to Austria and then join HRE. But god, is it gamey. I'd rather restart 15 times as the usual Orthodox. Maybe I can consider going Coptic with all the bonuses it gives, plus Yerevan is near, so I can have 3 bonuses right off the bat

 

[Dominion]

I'll consider HRE. Maybe I can get into a war together with the Ottomans, no-CB Ragusa, change capital, kiss up to Austria and then join HRE. But god, is it gamey. I'd rather restart 15 times as the usual Orthodox. Maybe I can consider going Coptic with all the bonuses it gives, plus Yerevan is near, so I can have 3 bonuses right off the bat

If you want a non-gamey path, I tentacled north asap, made sure I survive Ottos, ate QQ, survived Ottos again, allied Muscovy and from there on just expanded into Horde land.

Not very elegant, but your position is dirt and unless you wanna risk taking Ottoclaims your only option is north and then east.

Maybe into Lithuania, but I didn't want to risk it.

 

[Shinkuro Yukinari]

If you want a non-gamey path, I tentacled north asap, made sure I survive Ottos, ate QQ, survived Ottos again, allied Muscovy and from there on just expanded into Horde land.

Not very elegant, but your position is dirt and unless you wanna rism taking Ottoclaims your only option is north and then east.

Maybe into Lithuania, but I didn't want to risk it.

Yeah, seems like that is the best option. That and hoping that QQ gets rekt so I can take those lovely lovely provinces in the north

 

[Dominion]

QQ tends to attack Shirvan, Mamluks and AQ early on.

They look like a huge threat, but them declaring on you is massive RNG.

Personally I've never gotten attacked by them.

 

[Shinkuro Yukinari]

QQ tends to attack Shirvan, Mamluks and AQ early on.

They look like a huge threat, but them declaring on you is massive RNG.

Personally I've never gotten attacked by them.

The entire start is bloody RNG

 

[Atour Bet Khaya]

See who allies Albania, and who's in Venice's trade league. If you're lucky, Albania will bag any one of Byzantium/Hungary/Wallachia, and Venice will get Siena. If so, ally Albania and pray Ottomans attack into their alliances and Venice's trade league. Try and siege down Anatolia as best you can while Otto-stacks are tied down in the Balkans. If you're lucky, and get a few forts, try and separate peace with a province or two, as by that point the other war members will most likely be able to win on their own, weakening the Ottomans further.

A further strategy (that can be combined with the above) is to try and build a couple of heavy ships, so that you can go toe-to-toe with the Ottoman navy (will require loans, and/or selling cogs) and blockading the strait whilst sieging down Biga (obviously only works if Byzantium is not in the war/ not likely to get occupied by the Ottomans). If the Ottoman armies are caught up in the Balkans, whether in your war or in a separate one, you should have free reign to carpet seige/lock down forts etc.

Hope this helps - if it doesn't I recommend cheese

 

[Vyktor]

One of the most fun games I played recently was as Trebizond - I allied BYZ and attacked the Ottomans while they attacked Albania and Serbia - took a few tries (restarts) to win the naval battle and win straight (this can take jumping navy in and out to get monthly repair ticks) and occupy Biga and then carpet anatolia. Byz got nuked and left war early giving Ottos Constantinople - but by then straight was locked down. I think I got a 40% (appeared to be ticking max) victory and returned constantinople in the peace then used truce time to go into the orthodox land and into Theo and Crimea - Ottos had pretty heavy amounts of rebels then got dogpiled by VEN+ARA then HUN then MAMs. GG Ottos - 2nd war was easy while MAMs were crushing them and then took a nice chunk for myself.

I have played lots of games trying different strats for Treb, Candar, Theo and BYZ and this was the most fun executing it, and is actually very effective considering dealing with the Ottos early s much much easier than after they expand at all. Watching them get dogpiled as a result of all the revolts I assisted was very satisfying. It also sets you up to become the new Ottos pretty much. Oh and I didn't convert - no need.

 

[Dominion]

If you have to restart several times and get one of the luckiest starts possible, "no need to convert" isn't exactly the phrase I'd use to describe your strategy.

That's like telling OP "Just restart until Ottos get 5 diplomats in a row. Works every time."

 

[Vyktor]

Three - I got "lucky" and executed my desired strategy on my third try, and I did actually play one of the other games to conclusion (Ottos walked across straight then sieged Treb down and got annexed rather than vassalised GG).

I'm not suggesting the "easiest" strategy or the most consistent, or even proclaiming it to be "the best" - I'm merely recommending he try it if he hasn't already as it is one of the most fun strategies - I mean taking on the Ottos as a OPM and winning - who wouldn't like that? Now go pooh pooh elsewhere Mr. Know-it-all.

 

[Cantacuzene]

Hi, to begin I'd like to excuse for my english which a bit rusty.

4 months ago I achieved the Komnenoi Empire. It was kindra tricky and I had to restart a dozen times before I get how survived. My first attempt was to expand to Crimea and central Asia but before the 17th century I had too much pressure from Russia and Ottoscum so I had to restart.

I decided to beat the Ottoman and take over Anatolia: it's a rich region and beating the Ottoman at the beginning is not impossible. The thing is to use the straights for winning the war. Even with a decent general you cant afford to engage a single battle against them.They have uch more troops, 5% disciplins, good generals and can hire a military advisor.

I decided to disband every ships I had except galleys and two transport ships. I didnt ally Byz but I increased my relations with them. I waited untill Ottoman declared war on serbia or albania and vs their allies who could be Hungary or Venice. At this point it's very important that Byz still exists and own Constantinople. I send my whole fleet of galleys (who were 2 over the naval limit) plus two Inf. on transports. When his whole troops are in Europe you declared war and occupy Biga. now if you can hold the striaghts, which is pretty easy, you're free to occupy the whole anatolia which is empty of any ennemy troops

Ofc the peace treaty wont be awesome but you can obtain Biga, the province next to Trebizond and even a last one.

Now you can look for some allies and the only thing you need is to snowball andbuild lot of galleys

 

[Shinkuro Yukinari]

Hmm, that is not a bad idea, but I often see the Ottomans beating Genoa AND Venice at sea, so I presume that takes restarts too

 

[Cantacuzene]

Hmm, that is not a bad idea, but I often see the Ottomans beating Genoa AND Venice at sea, so I presume that takes restarts too

Certainly because the AI sucks
TBH I only won the naval by using the venitian galleys which were involved because of the serbia/venice alliance. Happily for me the venitian army is not that bad and they can afford a military advisor!