Mordvin Kingdom - playing tall

[Narvait]

Realized that Muromid dynasty in Russian would be Muromets, so promptly renamed my son Ylo (closest Finnish/Mordvin to Ilya) and recreated the famous Russian Bogatyr:

Ilya Muromets:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilya_Muromets

/Still having fun with this gameplay. It is already after 1250, and for this hero I had dropped my "no conquest" policy. Going for that Emperor title, to get that crown, Imperial Administration and grant independence to everyone after.

 

[Narvait]

So, went for that Emperor title and succeeded (couple of characters later) but now I have a new blobby problem:

Spoiler

Suomi stronk

I had a plan to gain Emperor title (for retinues, research, demeisne boost) and release all the kingdoms (Novgorod, Ruthenia, Galicia, Chernigov) to keep only Vladimir (Mordava). But - I can't do it, due to De Jure. So, I am stuck with the big blob.

My only chance is Independence faction I guess. So must roleplay one mad tyrant, otherwise everybody loves me and no factions are ever fired.

 

[knppel]

You should be able to grant them independence if they're not of your religion.

 

[Narvait]

Thanks! Did exactly that.

Meanwhile yesterday I had quite a dramatic play session. I was willing to add a bloodline for my character Emperor the Great Bear, to commemorate Empireship. Therefore was making a great progress through the Warrior Lodge.
Started Legendary Gathering.
My genius Brilliant Strategist heir joined the Lodge.
Legend slowly picked up to 94%. My heir was already a veteran. Got two kinsmen co-heroes! That is gonna be fun!!
Next battle I got killed...

My son inherited. Insane (>200 personal combat, >30 martial) stats. 800 renown, 1000 renown, 1200 renown. Legend bar at 99%. “Stay home kid and exercise!” says the b***h and they leave for adventure. All of them got butchered.

Got pissed off. Switched to Tengri, released all unnecessary kingdoms. Made great progress in Eagle Warriors. Got to Legendary Gathering. Legend up to 80%.
“Ancestors, lead my sword in the battle”
Got maimed in practice. One Eyed. Infected.
Survived until 100%. Still over 200 personal combat.
Butchered Carpatian lads. Last battle against 70 personal combat bear. Yaaay! Click! Death..
—-
Tengri had switched me to an Agnatic Gavelkind as a cherry on cake. My genius youngest son still inherited somehow and went into regency.
—-

Years go by and wounds heal. Young Emperor Chipaz went out of regency. Joined the Otso Suomenusko Lodge. Dealt with brother (hero of Tengri Lodge), revoked all his titles, put him under House Arrest.
Gifted, favored and invited the slaughterer bear to the court, made him Martial of the Suomi (33 martial skill).

Wanted to stop my Warrior kings already with Varmanpaz, but now creating another warrior legend is personal!

P.s.
When close to some important event - do not! DO NOT VENERATE ANCESTORS!

 

[knppel]

Ha, the same shit happened in my game as Harald Yngling when I was silly enough to call a legend. I'm playing nomad atm and having made this experience before was what kept me from calling for a gathering the past 20 years, as my char was already old all that time and I didn't wanna risk that x)

I never had that much issues with venerate ancestors, my aequivalent to that is predicting battle future as hermetic, expecting great success and then have a random hunt pop up for maimed

 

[Narvait]

But - when you get to hero rank you are already old.
You need at least 9 years to move up since 3 years must be spent at each rank. In reality though it takes longer. Even with mad martial like 30 it gives ca 200 renown/year.
You need 750 for first rank up. 1000 for second and 2000 for third.
3750/200 = 19 years.

On a second thought if you start at 16 with Brilliant Strategist and don’t waste renown on what not, you can do it before 36th birthday. Add 500 more for Legend and you are 38.
And if you can get another 200 yearly renown on missions on average you may shave some 10 years, and launch Legend bar at 28. Which is what I intend to do now.
Except game keeps insisting I duel some Mongol Khan who keeps warring all the time (“can’t duel since one of duelants is busy fighting war”). Thus my renowns are not getting up as quick

 

[knppel]

He eventually went up until 211 combat skill and died of poor health with 44

 

[Narvait]

So, good thing you did not call the Legendary Gathering with him. Or did you?

 

[knppel]

Oh I did and we finished it, playing as the brother now who also was part of the event, but did not yet receive a bloodline, curious if I get that too.
Three out of four heroes were brothers of my clan, the fourth was a Norse woman with two sons whose bloodline is already going extinct thus.

I had considerable luck with this, as all kids happily joined the warrior lodge when they were 12. Even the son of Satan shown above. Even the older brother he made incapable in his youth (and who woke up only at age 50, lol) made it in the lodge while incapable, when his father recruited him.
This way I could take over the guy above when he was 32, Veteran, had 3000 reknown left and was merely waiting for having been a Veteran for 3 years for the promotion.

 

[Narvait]

Btw, if you do Ironman and game ends - is that it or you can explore the saved game later?
I kind of like to check post-game what kind of madness happened there in other realms.

 

[knppel]

I think we don't have a replay function, or if we do I never used it

 

[jwalche]

The replay function is F11. Take screenshots often.

 

[Bernard95]

Right-click your concubine, and you should be given the option to convert to their religion (maybe secretly).

As a pagan, you cam also take a Romuva wife.

I generally prefer Romuva to Islam, because you don't have to deal with decadence or sibling rivalry, but Islam does have more resources and more realms to support you. In the end, I decided to reform Suomenusko, but that required subjugating Novgorod, for access to the Novgorod and Kakisami holy sites (Ryazan is right there for you).

Note that decadence is a feature of the Iqta government type. As a tribal, you don't have to deal with it but you do get the other benefits such as Open Succession. If it wasn't for the pagan attrition, there would be few reasons not to convert asap.

 

[jwalche]

Tribal Muslim really seems the best choice to survive gavelkind if you don't want to expand fast. It is extremely stable, and you choose your own heir by selectively landing your sons. You can always convert back to Paganism using your capital's local religion at 1k prestige, and from their, any other pagan with a concubine of that religion.

Muslim rulers and vassals have a lot of inheritance relationships from marriages, to the point where one can inherit all but one starting kingdoms with murders. They are also susceptible to murder plots with preference for multiple wives. Even with Pagans, you need about positive opinion from each courtier whom you are dumping a concubine. Muslims take 4 wives who are arranged by their liege. An enemy courtier can be your rival for his first wife already pregnant by you, yet can't object taking three more of your lovers as that's all his liege's decision. Since you are planning a stable and hopefully a peaceful realm, maybe you can add some intrigue to your game for additional fun?