Byzantium in the High era

[DojoRat]

After playing the Turks for awhile I decided to switch sides and play Byzantium. I've played early era a lot so I decided to start in the high era. Wow, what a bar fight. You have aggressive armies all around you. The Sicilians, Hungarians, and rebels to the west; Turks, French, and Egyptians to the south and east and before you know it the Mongol Horde joins the party.

Any thoughts on strategy? How have you been succesful?

I built troops in Nicaea to conquer the rebels in Constantinople, concentrated on ship building in Rhodes but left Georgia and Lesser Armenia to produce garrission units and hopefullly high high quality mercs like longbows etc.

I probably should've been more aggressive and moved on Constantinople sooner. By the time the siege was over the Sicilians were in Greece and the Hungarians in Bulgaria.

I took Greece from the Scicilians when they attacked my shipping but then the Hungarians attacked Constantinople and the Horde arrived and rolled into Trbizond to attack the Imperial city as well. I'm holding the line but it's getting really thin. With only two provinces producing units it's going to be hard to fill the gaps, let alone survive.

Again, any thoughts would be welcomed.

[Vanya]

GAH

Vanya has actually never tried this scenario Vanya must now go forth and give it a whirl

Vanya sez... tsankiuverimush for reminding Him aware of this scenario

GAH

[The Witch-King]

Hmmmm, what I usually do is take out the Turkish ASAP. Start building troops immediately and move every available Byz. infantry to Nicea in the Imperial Army (aka the one with your Emperor). This includes the ones on the islands so replace those with cheap spearmen. Then strike hard and strike quickly. The Turkish will probably retreat, then try to retake the provinces you've taken. If you beat those attacks they will be finished so mop up and secure the border with Egypt. Then quickly move to the European side and conquer Constantinople. Once I got lucky and the rebel garrison left, leaving no troops behind, so I quickly snatched the province. Then try to take at least Greece and Bulgaria if the Hungarians didn't take those (Greece should be yours, Bulgaria is a little harder, Serbia is bound to become Hungarian). You've now restored the Byzantine empire to much of it's former glory and from here things should go as usual (conquer Egypt, build up trade fleet and do whatever you feel like doing http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif ).

[DojoRat]

Take out the Turks first... hmm... you might have something there. The rebels won't back stab you as you advance east, and the AI does like to retreat and counter attack. I'd just be a little worried about getting bogged down and finding some western power in Constantinople. And what about the ole G Horde? Trust in your starry eyed generals I guess.

Speaking of the Mongols, what determines their line of advance? Some combination of an adjacent province's wealth and the strength of the army occupying it? In my first try the Turks and Egyptians spent themselves but before I could pick up the pieces the Horde arrived and rolled all the way up to the Theodosian walls. This game, with the Muslim powers at peace, the Horde made a minimal incursian and then went wandering off onto the steppes. You would think that the wealth of Constantinople and the Levant would draw them like a magnet but maybe the AI can't see that far.

[The Witch-King]

Well, in my experience the Euopean powers (most notably the Hungarians) have never made it down as far as Constantinople due to it's good garrison. Should they take it anyway (very unlikely IMHO) attack with all force and take it from them. Constantinople rightfully belongs to the glorious Byzantine Empire, not to a bunch of christianized barbarians http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif.

Place your emissary in Khazar around 1230, when the GH appears try to secure an alliance. I also make sure never to take Georgia (the province below Khazar). In all my games the Mongol Khan has never refused my offer and spends most of his time roaming through Russia http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif .

[Brutal DLX]

Indeed, take Constantinople during the first few turns, try to bribe the rebels, it might work. Try to ally with everyone around you, leave Greece alone, it will get attacked by the Sicilians anyway and you shouldn't spread out your forces. Don't bother about Georgia, if the Turks want war, let them take it and then they have to deal with the Horde. Garrison Contantinople, Nicea, Trebizond and contruct some troop training and shipping buildings on your isles. Get a moderate trade lane going, then upgrade your provinces so you can produce 2 or 3 Elite stacks. This, along with your good generals should mean you can defend against almost anybody and wait for a good chance to expand, while still making an acceptable surplus each turn.
Normally, either Hungary or Sicily will ally with you and then attack each other (if Sicily gets possessions on the Balkans), so you don't have to get your hands dirty for a while. If you're very lucky, the Turks and Egyptians will start fighting too and don't forget the Horde coming through Georgia. All you have to do is wait until they depleted each other and then strike.

[DojoRat]

Thanks for the replies. My second try is going fine. I went after the rebels first took Constan and Bulg and waited for an oppurtunity. The Horde took Georgia and Armenia from the Turks but then concentrated on the steppes. France expanded out of Antioch and got the Turks attention so I attacked them also crushing them in a nice battle in Rum. Of course the Italians, chose then to attack my shipping and launch a crusade out of Greece to take Constantinople. But their zeal was lacking and when I had buried the last turk I took Greece.

After building up some trade I turned my attention to the watered down Horde and took Armenia, Georgia, and Khazar, with little now to keep from Ukraine and the Crimea.

One thing that gives Byzantium the edge is the general staff. Their stars are as numerous as the Milky Way.