Middle East Expansion - my ideas

[Yhekal]

Hi,

For me, a rework of Byzantium and it's deprecated mission tree is the numero uno (same case as Ottomans). Technically not Middle East, their expanion path will bring them back to Anatolia so... Their mission tree is very similar to Ottoman one (also in-need of a rework, why not do both at the same time?).


1. Byzantium - I overdid it with the perma buffs, I know. Ignore most of them.
I would love to see a totally overhauled mission tree, special tier-1 gov type for BYZ, Exarchates of Africa and Ravenna as a very loyal vassals/marches of Byzantium (similar to Deccan vassal of Mughals). Also, gold in Thessaloniki (main source of gold and minting in Byzantium/Ottoman Empire) and coal in Bolu province (both from missions). And Cappadocian greek culture in Anatolia. Armenian Cilicia tag.


2. Trebizond. Again, I overdid it with buffs, ignore this please. Focus on the ideas in general.


3. Karaman, Candar - mission tree that aims at forming Rum. Prerequisites for forming this tag for them should be changed (without owning Constantinople and without BYZ and TUR not exist).

4. Since we have a hidden Norse easter egg, why not make a second one - Zoroastrian Persia. From Yazd or Mazandaran..? I am not sure, but I would love to see this.

• Some hidden, branching missions connected to this path.
• Some cool, new stuff for Zoroastrian religion mechanics.
• Restoration of old province names in Persia (if Zoroastrian)
• Alternative flag for Zoroastrian Persia, and alternative unit sprites (since Persian sprites are based on muslim Qizilbash). Different map color? Orange or Violet (again - green is a muslim theme).

5. Mission trees for Armenia, Georgia.


6. Sultanate of Hormuz aka "Vice City". I would love to see an actual mission tree for them, that revolves around creating "The Gulf Kingdom" (Persian Gulf as their "inner sea").
In case Hormuz secure its borders, their capital should move to the inland, old/original Hormuz city in Mogostan province (due to invasions they escaped from Mogostan to Hormuz Island). The island of Hormuz could not become a metropolis in the long run since it lacked water.
The city located in the island of Hormuz was kind of a "New Hormuz". With no enemies in sight, surely they would flourish once again in Mogostan.

The original city of Hormoz was situated on the mainland in the province of Mogostan (Mughistan) near modern-day Minab in Hormozgan. At the time of the Ilkhanid competition with the Chaghataids, the old city of Hormoz, also known as Nabands and Dewankhana, was abandoned by its inhabitants. Instead, in 1301, the inhabitants, led by the king Baha ud-Din Ayaz and his wife Bibi Maryam, moved to the neighbouring island of Jerun.

Hormuz is a real unicorn - an innovative and (could become it in the long run) a secularized muslim state. With good perspectives on colonial expansion in Africa, India and Indonesia/Australia (at least neighbouring Oman did it historically in Africa - Hormuz can too).

Situated between the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, Ormus was a "by-word for wealth and luxury", perhaps best captured in the Arab saying: "If all the world were a golden ring, Ormus would be the jewel in it". The city was also known for its licentiousness according to accounts by Portuguese visitors; Duarte Barbosa, one of the first Portuguese to travel to Ormuz in the early 16th century found:

'The merchants of this isle and city are Persians and Arabs. The Persians (speak Arabic and another language which they call Psa), are tall and well-looking, and a fine and up-standing folk, both men and women; they are stout and comfortable. They hold the creed of Mafamede in great honour. They indulge themselves greatly[...]. They are musicians, and have instruments of diverse kinds. The Arabs are blacker and swarthier than they.'

This theme is also strong in Henry James Coleridge's account of Ormus in his life of the Navarrese missionary, St Francis Xavier, who visited Ormus on his way to Japan:

'Its moral state was enormously and infamously bad. It was the home of the foulest sensuality, and of all the most corrupted forms of every religion in the East. The Christians were as bad as the rest in the extreme license of their lives. There were few priests, but they were a disgrace to their name. The Arabs and the Persians had introduced and made common the most detestable forms of vice. Ormuz was said to be a Babel for its confusion of tongues, and for its moral abominations to match the cities of the Plain. A lawful marriage was a rare exception. Foreigners, soldiers and merchants, threw off all restraint in the indulgence of their passions ... Avarice was made a science: it was studied and practiced, not for gain, but for its own sake, and for the pleasure of cheating. Evil had become good, and it was thought good trade to break promises and think nothing of engagements ...'

Love it.
source

-St. Francis Xavier with his fellow monks upon reaching the island of Hormuz. (colorized)

- "The Gulf Kingdom"



6. New unit sprites for Trebizond, Armenia, Georgia, Zoroastrian Persia, Hormuz.



Thanks.

 

[Romanix90]

When Middle East expansion/update happens, mostly i agree what you've shown, there are certain things i would like to see.

1. Byzantium - Like you posted in your suggestion rework of their missions. Also certain decisions and events should be integrated. And their missions should def focus on restoring the Roman empire. Like if you control the borders of RE under Basil 2 while controling Rome, Southern Italy with Sicily, some teritories in Balkans, Anatolia with Trebizond and Antioch you can do it. Lowering the requirements to form RE will be fun and when you do expand their missions with goal to restore the borders of emperor Justinian the great. And about decisions and events i mean like Athens reclaimed or Triumph for Greece.

2. Ottomans - This is the most obvious nation that needs more missions, mostly focusing on procreating borders of Ottoman empire, with perhaps branching missions and what if scenarios.

3. Turkish minors - Like you posted in your suggestion their missions should focus on restoring Rum and excluding Constantinople from the requirement from forming Rum as well as any European teritory. Once Rum is formed instead of going westward in Europe Rum should go eastward towards Holly Land and Iran in purpose of restoring the borders of old Seljuk empire.

4. Karabakh/Armenia - Their missions should of course focus on restoring Armenia under their greatest teritorial extend but i have little suggestion not to stop there. Armenian missions can evolve into restoring the Roman empire because of old Armenian dinasty that ruled RE. Also perhaps branching missions to decide whether to stay Miaphysit or convert to Orthodox. Also rename Coptic into Maiphysit.

5. Georgia - Perhaps their missions could focus on conquest of Caucasus. Fending against Tatars and other Muslim nations. I really don't know much about them but nevertheless would be interesting to see what PDX Tinto can do about them.

6. Trebizond - Firstly change their govrnment to elective monarchy since that was type of government of Trebizond. Next their missions should be to restore RE.

7. Mamluks - Add them disaster like in the case of Majapahit or Mali, let's call it decline of Mamluks. Of course missions to solve this disaster.

8. Nubia - I think that Nubian minors and Nubia should def have unique missions mostly to recover old territories of old Kushite empire.

9. Arab minors - Arab minors should also have shared missions to some extend while unique missions would be for Yemen and Oman. Arab missions could focus on restoring Arab caliphate. Also perhaps solving question of Islamic religion, like mending the great schism of Christianity, but for Muslims. So player could decide whether Sunni, Shia or Ibadi is true form of Islamic religion. Just suggestion.

10. Ardabil/Persia - Like you yourself said Persia should def have branching religious missions to restore Zoroastrianism instead of hoping for rebels to convert you, regardles if Zoroastrianism exist or last remaining provinces are converted. As for conquest perhaps securing Iran, Caucasus, Iraq, Eastern Arabia with Oman as well as some parts of Central Asia and Afghanistan and Baluchistan.

11. Unique Islamic government reforms

Also perhaps unique missions for Timurids. Tims al ready have some missions but perhaps formed Tims could have full unique missions while Tim minors could have moder Tim generic missions. Of course Tim missions would be gone if player forms Mughals.

That's all from me.

 

[Yhekal]

6. Trebizond - Firstly change their govrnment to elective monarchy since that was type of government of Trebizond. Next their missions should be to restore RE.

Really? I've always thought that the throne was indisputably in the hands of Komnenos.

Another idea - based on history of Trebizond - I think they should have their own special gov reform that allows non-christian marriages. Byzantines and Trebizonds done this a a lot.

 

[Romanix90]

Really? I've always thought that the throne was indisputably in the hands of Komnenos.

Another idea - based on history of Trebizond - I think they should have their own special gov reform that allows non-christian marriages. Byzantines and Trebizonds done this a a lot.

In EU4 the throne of Rome is in the hands of Palailogos. I think that would be difficult to do. Can you imagine Byz go to royal marige with Ottos at the very start of the game. I think it's best to keap curent system, even though historically Orthodox and Muslims did intermarry, probably because of political or strategic reasons.

 

[moscal]

I would see some stuffs for Mushasha. This movement had potential, to become as important player in region.

Apocalyptic Islamism could be a very fun alternative to other, more orthodox, muslim factions.