How do I play the Ottomans now?

[MichOrion]

Any ideas on what the best way to play the Ottomans with 1.06? I had Europa II just out of the box and thought it was time to get on the bandwagon. I like the changes but I'm having difficulty dominating with the Ottomans like I did in previous versions. I keep going bankrupt from the army upkeep. Why does this happen, it did not in older versions?

 

[Porcius]

It's probably the army maintenance costs. The Turks start with a big army - bigger than they can afford to keep. Trim it down and you should be OK. 1.06 introduced higher maintenance costs for being over your national limit - a potentially limiting factor on the Turks in the early game considering the provinces they start with.

 

[unmerged(5822)]

B.t.w. the national limit can be seen in the land army menu (click on the soldier's head next to your country symbol). Don't forget to multiply artillery with 100, so that you won't underestimate the impact of said army type.

 

[Filou]

I started by disbanding my 8 canons, since below 10 they're pointless in seiges.
Used my first diplomat to attack that 3 province turkish minor to get one more muslim province to reduce the ratio of non-religion province. Went against Byz very vast as well. I did not disband any troops, took the losses in cash from my treasury untill I got some territory + some war losses.
Maybe I didbanded some troops after a while, can't remember exactly...

Against the Mams, I only Dowed them in 1509, having a big army lead by a seiging guy off the coast of Egypt. Unloaded, got the province around 1510, just in time to get the "The Sultan become 'Khalifa'" event and inherit the whole lot of them
This as the down side of having a few more province to convert from shiite, but he also got rid of the catholics in Lebanon, so that actually helped.

 

[unmerged(6881)]

Originally posted by MichOrion
Any ideas on what the best way to play the Ottomans with 1.06? I had Europa II just out of the box and thought it was time to get on the bandwagon. I like the changes but I'm having difficulty dominating with the Ottomans like I did in previous versions. I keep going bankrupt from the army upkeep. Why does this happen, it did not in older versions?

Hear Filou answer .

Don't build new troops and don't spend any cash on early investments (like TC, you don't need them playing Turkey, anyway). Attack Karaman like Floiu said. Take care about Byzantium then. If you will be lucky, Byzantium will lose Morea to someone else saving one war and the province that is not of your religion. don't worry, you take morea later when you can afford to keep many provs of different religion.

Generally expand first in Asia minor. There are many provs of your culutres and sunni religion in the area. Then go for Mamelukes, their CoT and sunni arabic provs to become superpower. You may want to attack Mamelukes earlier just to prevent them from converting some provs to shiite what is most unwelcomed for you. It is easy to spot cause AI in almost all cases starts to convert Syria first. Give up on Balkanes at early stages. The area is too costly because of religious and cultural differences.
Always try to eradicate shiite and catholics as they are in rlatively small number in your empire. You will expand in areas with these religions slowly. Connect it to some conversions. It will save a slider in religion setup allowing you more flexibility.

 

[MichOrion]

Thanks for the tips! I'm sure they will help greatly. In the earlier versions you didn't have to think much about what you where doing. You could just kick ass and not worry about it. I noticed the patch made the game very different from the one I was playing.

 

[unmerged(6159)]

Watch out for BB though. I wouldn't force annex more than one of the muslims. Vassalize them for later diplo.

 

[MichOrion]

Just got done playing for a while. The suggestions helped alot. I was able to take the minors in asia minor (huh?), Byzantium, Athens, and just got done beating up the Mameluks(sp?) taking for myself and my allies everything they had except Syria, Egypt and Nile provinces. My BB is like at a 16 or 17 and so far I've been able to repulse all attacks from Europe (the great leaders help). I just downloaded 1.07 this morning and the other posters are right, the newest patch is great. Thanks for the help.