Tips for Ardabil

[Galaahd]

I'm having a really hard time accomplishing anything at all with Ardabil.

The problem is Ajam... I can take out Biapas but Ajam always comes for me next, and then it's game over. I literally can't fight them, they're just too powerful. What else can I do besides hoping that Ajam gets involved in a major war and they lose it?

 

[ElGranCapitan]

Restart till you can ally QQ?

 

[cuendillar]

You need allies, not necessarily QQ as they're so hard to get. Early on having more alliances is almost as strong as having better ones, at least in terms of men fielded.

Go for Shirvan, maybe even before Biapas, with the help of Gazikumukh to their north (they can field about 10k with their vassal) Another ally bordering Shirvan would work too, but as Gazi borders the only Shirvan province not in your capital state it's easy to split the gains to boost both your nations. Ajam was hostile during my run too, but never even attacked into that alliance. QQ was hostile too, so the diplomatic situation could have been significantly better...

Also don't forget to look for possible friends elsewhere, if they border your enemy they can help out a lot even if they cannot otherwise reach you.

Improving relations usually won't get hostile nations to change their attitude, but it's worth doing anyway as I think it make them more reluctant to attack. It's not as if it takes a lot of time for a diplomat to return from QQ or Ajam anyway, so one might as well be stationed there unless there's a more urgent use for him.