Reforming Rome: Byzantine Empire 769.

[Wulfgar22]

So I am starting a new Achievement run after the abysmal failure of my Iron Crown Achievement Run. (Damn my granddaughter may she burn in hellfire for her failings.)

Anyways! I was curious if any of you guys or girls had some recommendations for an interesting count or duke to start as? I'm interested in taking the game a bit slower than my Sicily run so that I can create a more stable and enduring dynasty throughout the ages.

That and to curb me getting bored from being a massive beast of unstoppable capabilities. I'm aiming to play the game all the way through since I am missing the seven centuries achievement as well. Any other advice is welcome! ^_^

 

[Sunshine Moon]

I've always wanted to try a Hellenic-from-the-start Count of Monemvasia 769 run, but that might be a bit difficult on top of your main goals and the ironman mode, not to mention the prospect of rising as a low-level Byzantine vassal in the first place.

 

[DB42]

If you fail the resulting war from converting to Hellenic it's a game over. Also a giant Byzantine Empire runs very slow later on. In 769 the Muslim world is at the height of its power and Europe at its lowest point. Take Italy first.

 

[GundamMerc]

If you fail the resulting war from converting to Hellenic it's a game over. Also a giant Byzantine Empire runs very slow later on. In 769 the Muslim world is at the height of its power and Europe at its lowest point. Take Italy first.

What resulting war? I've been openly Hellenic in the Byzantine Empire, which already has the highest tolerance levels in the world at that point, so the malus to opinion isn't that bad, as there are several attraction or other penalties that give a much worse opinion malus. Plus you're going to be wanting to falsely convert anyways since Hellenic can't force conversion on vassals/court members until you reform and gets a massive debuff to court chaplain conversions. Secret religious cult is the way to go. Just basically falsely convert, stop pretending after age 50 to convert some of the lands that have hellenic communities, die, then falsely convert again. Rinse and repeat as long as needed.

 

[DB42]

What resulting war? I've been openly Hellenic in the Byzantine Empire, which already has the highest tolerance levels in the world at that point, so the malus to opinion isn't that bad, as there are several attraction or other penalties that give a much worse opinion malus. Plus you're going to be wanting to falsely convert anyways since Hellenic can't force conversion on vassals/court members until you reform and gets a massive debuff to court chaplain conversions. Secret religious cult is the way to go. Just basically falsely convert, stop pretending after age 50 to convert some of the lands that have hellenic communities, die, then falsely convert again. Rinse and repeat as long as needed.

There's an event that fires when you try to make it the state religion or something. The vassals who don't feel like converting will rebel.

 

[Sunshine Moon]

I think this is the result of some posts here talking about being personally Hellenic from the start and within Byzantium, and some posts talking about the event chain after restoring Rome where you can attempt to make Hellenism the state religion if it's still Christian.

 

[GundamMerc]

I think this is the result of some posts here talking about being personally Hellenic from the start and within Byzantium, and some posts talking about the event chain after restoring Rome where you can attempt to make Hellenism the state religion if it's still Christian.

Ah, yes that would be the difference. I'm talking within Byzantium and Hellenic from the start.

 

[Cetan]

I've always wanted to try a Hellenic-from-the-start Count of Monemvasia 769 run, but that might be a bit difficult on top of your main goals and the ironman mode, not to mention the prospect of rising as a low-level Byzantine vassal in the first place.

It's not too difficult, and is my preferred start, but it does require some luck in the early game. Get a good Martial start.

Take out a loan, buy some mercs, and start holy warring your neighbors. You need to make sure that most of them join the holy war the Basileus will declare on stuff like Ohrid/Epirus/etc, and then scoop up the rest of Achaia, Thessalonika, etc. Eventually you will hit a point to where you can pick off the rest of the people and slowly creep up the coast. You just need to make sure Serbia and Bulgaria are otherwise occupied.

Your martial will net you a job as a commander/Marshal, making you eligible, and your massive amounts of prestige and piety should carry you through the election, especially if the Crown changes hand and there are a lot of child heirs.