I used to be able to do well as basically any minor. Actually, it's not even that I do poorly as Yas. I was 2nd Great Power last game. But I had 900 dev at my peak, to the Ottomans' 2000+.
Every game goes more or less the same way. I can annex Oman and Hormuz reliably, but I need some luck for the Timurids not to ruin me. If the Timurids collapse, I can expand a bit into Fars, and either way, I can start moving towards Yemen, the only other part of Arabia worth a damn.
Problem is, the Mamluks and Ottomans both represent an immovable object and, in the latter case, an unstoppable force. Last game, the Ottomans and Hisn Kayfa (yes, you read that right, they were allies) invaded me around 5 times – every time, I had to acquiesce to all Ottoman demands, because there was no way in Hell I could beat their armies. The one time I tried, at tech parity and equal numbers (my only disadvantages were ideas, where I had only defensive, unit types, and of course leaders), I was stack wiped.
So from bordering Jerusalem at my peak of Arabian power, I ended up controlling only Yemen and Oman. It was all I could do to try to conquer my way into Africa faster than the Ottomans could eat my stuff, but I didn't seem to have any long-term prospects, so I quit. Now I need thoughts for what to do to make things not go horrifically wrong.
Things I've been doing that I'm considering changing:
-I've been taking Religious first. I'm thinking Economic might be better, for lowering autonomy faster and for developing institutions more cheaply; but then I would be unable to convert stuff much without edicts and inquisitors.
-For military, I've been going defensive first for reliably slightly better leaders, better morale, and more attrition for enemies. What's the hot military idea group now? Still offensive? My discipline disadvantage against the Turks leads to my armies getting shredded.
-I've been trying not to expand much into Persia, since it seems to result in being destroyed by an alliance of post-Timurid states before I can consolidate my power.
But yeah. How do I Yas?
Every game goes more or less the same way. I can annex Oman and Hormuz reliably, but I need some luck for the Timurids not to ruin me. If the Timurids collapse, I can expand a bit into Fars, and either way, I can start moving towards Yemen, the only other part of Arabia worth a damn.
Problem is, the Mamluks and Ottomans both represent an immovable object and, in the latter case, an unstoppable force. Last game, the Ottomans and Hisn Kayfa (yes, you read that right, they were allies) invaded me around 5 times – every time, I had to acquiesce to all Ottoman demands, because there was no way in Hell I could beat their armies. The one time I tried, at tech parity and equal numbers (my only disadvantages were ideas, where I had only defensive, unit types, and of course leaders), I was stack wiped.
So from bordering Jerusalem at my peak of Arabian power, I ended up controlling only Yemen and Oman. It was all I could do to try to conquer my way into Africa faster than the Ottomans could eat my stuff, but I didn't seem to have any long-term prospects, so I quit. Now I need thoughts for what to do to make things not go horrifically wrong.
Things I've been doing that I'm considering changing:
-I've been taking Religious first. I'm thinking Economic might be better, for lowering autonomy faster and for developing institutions more cheaply; but then I would be unable to convert stuff much without edicts and inquisitors.
-For military, I've been going defensive first for reliably slightly better leaders, better morale, and more attrition for enemies. What's the hot military idea group now? Still offensive? My discipline disadvantage against the Turks leads to my armies getting shredded.
-I've been trying not to expand much into Persia, since it seems to result in being destroyed by an alliance of post-Timurid states before I can consolidate my power.
But yeah. How do I Yas?
