I see no positives for the Byzantines aside from the Vardarwhatnot. Those are the best horse archers in the game that I've come across.

Let's see, how's the Byzantine unit roster look?

1. Varangian Guard. So hyped they are paraded as the "special" unit for the faction on the campaign screen. Yet, they lose to most militia units. Their use mid to late game is impractical because they lose to every infantry unit, nevermind cavalry.

2. Kataphraktoi. They are weakest of the heavy cavalry units. Qapakulu, Gothic Knights, Chivalric Knights, Tsar's Guard, Khan's Guard, Famiglia Ducale, Mongol Heavy Lancers...every type of heavy cavalry will beat them.

3. Guard archers. Nice, but nothing special. France gets them too. And they will always lose to a cavalry flanking attack, or to any type of armored horse archers, such as Polish Nobles, Sipahis, or Mongol Heavy Horse Archers.

4. Vardaraaosacoaksaca3jta?aoi. A great horse archer unit that is extremely versatile in all conditions, but certainly cannot win a battle on its own. Without any proper spear or anti-cavalry units, (the only spear unit they get is militia) the Var can only do so much.

5. Cannons and gunpowder units. Their gunpowder units leave much to be desired....because they don't frickin' exist!

So what advantage do the Byz get? Their starting position is good, but nothing special. The Turks, Poles, Hungarians and Egyptians can unseat them quickly. I'm curious - do people use the Byz in multiplayer and win?