The Byzantine Emperor(s) on 1/1/867 and TOG DD1

[mudcrabmerchant]

well... that "random day" is the day Rus is founded though, which is pretty much the poster boy scenario for the pagans just as William fighting Harold and Harald serves for the main game of western-centric feudalism (ie. vanilla core)
of course, Basil's coronation is indeed another important date, but it's irrelevant in relation to the main focus of the DLC scenario, ie. the northern pagans.

Didn't know that. However, Jan 1st exactly is a bit odd, especially when dealing with the quasi-legendary nature of the recorded history of the region at the time.

 

[Frostschaden]

Will be able to mod which religions get the Pagan interface and which won't?

 

[Goosecreature]

Didn't know that. However, Jan 1st exactly is a bit odd, especially when dealing with the quasi-legendary nature of the recorded history of the region at the time.

There are pros and cons of any start date, but this is why we have been willing to take a few liberties with the setup of the starting bookmark, such as in the cases of Iceland and Basil. In the end, changes like these are designed to make the game play out MORE historically, as otherwise you'd likely never see Basil and the Makedon dynasty as rulers of the Byzantine Empire.

 

[Buladelu]

I'm more curious about the religion of Byzantium. I suspect devs will leave it is it is now with Catholic and Orthodox confessions. Great Schism happened much later but east and west Christianity competed way before that. Wiki says "Most sources agree that the separation between East and West is clearly evident by the Photian schism for 13 years from 866-879", so I see what you did there, devs.

Though I imagine at that day Byzantium will have much better chances to end papal heresy and add one more plank to crosses everywhere.

 

[Buladelu]

There are pros and cons of any start date, but this is why we have been willing to take a few liberties with the setup of the starting bookmark, such as in the cases of Iceland and Basil. In the end, changes like these are designed to make the game play out MORE historically, as otherwise you'd likely never see Basil and the Makedon dynasty as rulers of the Byzantine Empire.

That's an approach that always amused me. Most evident in HoI3 all those unbelievable diplomatic stuff like Munchen Treaty is a given though in reality it happened due to an unbelievable luck and cunning diplomats. In a way, many events of the period are less historical than everything others expected. I understand a model where you have to do nothing for history to go the way it really happened, but undermines the greatness of great powers that did amazing things because of how cool they are, not because of unique events and decisions.

 

[mudcrabmerchant]

There are pros and cons of any start date, but this is why we have been willing to take a few liberties with the setup of the starting bookmark, such as in the cases of Iceland and Basil. In the end, changes like these are designed to make the game play out MORE historically, as otherwise you'd likely never see Basil and the Makedon dynasty as rulers of the Byzantine Empire.

Thanks for the response.

Perhaps expecting an answer to this is too much, but can you confirm or deny the existence of Roman/Greek paganism? There should still be one province in Greece that is majority pagan in 867, and the presence of Greco-Roman religion in game would be enough to give me and many others at least one ambitious campaign.

 

[Goosecreature]

Thanks for the response.

Perhaps expecting an answer to this is too much, but can you confirm or deny the existence of Roman/Greek paganism? There should still be one province in Greece that is majority pagan in 867, and the presence of Greco-Roman religion in game would be enough to give me and many others at least one ambitious campaign.

No, there is no Roman/Greek pagan religion in the game.

 

[Hastyr]

No, there is no Roman/Greek pagan religion in the game.

will there be playable 'pagans' in west africa?

 

[WeissRaben]

P.S. I'd be curious on the state of the republics in 867 as well. I wouldn't see Venice as being a vassal of Byzantium as a negative thing. But it's understandable if it's made independent. Beside Venice, which additional republics will be around? We don't want to give Venice full monopoly of trade in the Mediterannean for the full length of the game, don't we?

Amalfi is the only one around in 867 - even Venice is just starting paddling around, when Amalfi already has a sprawling commercial empire. It would eventually fall in the 11th Century, but in 867 is sooo far away...

 

[Mattobro]

Thanks for the response.

Perhaps expecting an answer to this is too much, but can you confirm or deny the existence of Roman/Greek paganism? There should still be one province in Greece that is majority pagan in 867, and the presence of Greco-Roman religion in game would be enough to give me and many others at least one ambitious campaign.

Could always be modded in I guess.

 

[Math2]

There are pros and cons of any start date, but this is why we have been willing to take a few liberties with the setup of the starting bookmark, such as in the cases of Iceland and Basil. In the end, changes like these are designed to make the game play out MORE historically, as otherwise you'd likely never see Basil and the Makedon dynasty as rulers of the Byzantine Empire.

I'm not too crazy about you guys moving around dates to make it more interesting...It should be what it actually was historically, not just what you think is best for gameplay purposes

 

[Spartanlemur]

Nooooooooooooooooooo. Can we please, please, please have the option to start one day before Basil takes the throne as Michael III? I've had dreams of forging a powerful and long-lasting Phrygian dynasty since the DLC was announced as starting in 867.

 

[Tufto]

Nooooooooooooooooooo. Can we please, please, please have the option to start one day before Basil takes the throne as Michael III? I've had dreams of forging a powerful and long-lasting Phrygian dynasty since the DLC was announced as starting in 867.

That dynasty continued anyway, since Leo was probably the bastard child of Michael III (IIRC).

 

[Spartanlemur]

That dynasty continued anyway, since Leo was probably the bastard child of Michael III (IIRC).

Yes, but it's just not the same having a Macedonian shield rather than a Phrygian shield as your dynasty.

Plus, Michael III was allegedly a great ruler anyway, and so it would be nice to explore his potential as a ruler if he had evaded assassination.

I mean I doubt it'd take much to allow one extra playable year, much like how today you can start in Stamford Bridge or after the Norman Conquest.

 

[Tufto]

Plus, Michael III was allegedly a great ruler anyway, and so it would be nice to explore his potential as a ruler if he had evaded assassination.

That's hard to tell... most sources are Makedonian and portray a very negative picture, but that doesn't necessarily make them false...

 

[Theddude]

Maybe Michael will at least be playable as a Doux somewhere like Adrianople? Then you could at least recover the throne, I think that'd be pretty awesome. There's probably somewhere they can put him.

 

[The_Tom]

Maybe Michael will at least be playable as a Doux somewhere like Adrianople? Then you could at least recover the throne, I think that'd be pretty awesome. There's probably somewhere they can put him.

Unlikely...Michael III's rule ended with his hands being chopped off and a sword being driven through his chest.

Very few Byzantine depositions end with the deposed party living off a pension in some distant duchy...

 

[Imperator1993]

You know this whole think could be solved it there was just some plot or special ERE only CB that allows any of the Douxes to sieze the throne.

 

[cybrxkhan]

You know this whole think could be solved it there was just some plot or special ERE only CB that allows any of the Douxes to sieze the throne.

A simple way would just be to allow douxes to get weak claims on the Byzanitne throne. Eventually someone will wage a faction war to get them on the throne. I did that in my mod, VIET, and the results were pretty cool. Not that I'm saying PI should just adopt my mod's system, but that it's evidence that it can be done and it can work.

 

[Imperator1993]

A simple way would just be to allow douxes to get weak claims on the Byzanitne throne. Eventually someone will wage a faction war to get them on the throne. I did that in my mod, VIET, and the results were pretty cool. Not that I'm saying PI should just adopt my mod's system, but that it's evidence that it can be done and it can work.

Oh that sounds interesting I think I may give your mod a try then.