second byzantine game

[ve3609]

hey guys.

I've been trying to play as a doux in the ERE for a while now. As some of you may remember my first attempt was lost when the Seljuqs conquered Greece and stripped me of all my titles. So now I'm trying the doux of turnovo. I realized that my father is the doux of Nicaea so that should be a boon. what kind of advice do you guys have for expansion and survival in the ERE?

also, when I get my father's Doux title. Should I make that one my primary title and destroy turnovo?

 

[Boogeyman]

Don't destroy titles while you are a vassal. Your liege will just recreate it and hand it to your rival/vassal, or even keep it for himself.

 

[Redwulf_Storm]

I usually fabricate claims on the regions in the Kingdom of Serbia, and then become despot there. Also I keep an eye on Cumania and when they are being attacked by Hungry, the Russian states etc, I pounce on them and grab what land I can in a holy war, provided I have enough monies saved up for the mercenaries needed. The goal is to make sure you get some land outside of Greece before the Muslims take it, because they might. For me, it was pretty easy, I started as a small count (with only one vassal, a mayor), and within 20 years I was the despot of Serbia, and within 10 years of that I was the Emperor himself. I managed to use the intrigue section of the game and I fabricated a claim on the empire, then I started a faction for me as the emperor, then because the emperor was hated and I was liked by most of his vassals I attacked the emperor for my claim, and before I knew it about 2/3's of the empire was fighting for me, and it was an easy win. That's how I survived and grew. Now I am paying back the Seljuks for taking Armenia and it is good.
EDIT: First I go for the Perchengs then the Cumanians.