Opportunity knocks!

[Agent Miles]

After blitzing the map as the Byz, I decide to take it slow as the Hungarians (MTW/VI/Early/Expert/GA). I used the house rule that I would actually conquer only rebel provinces. I peacefully turtled after taking Serbia and Walachia. My emissary diligently arranged marriages for all of my heirs. I scrutinized all of my generals until I found five of them, each with four acumen, to be the governors of my kingdom. I then married my daughters to them. All of the governors except one became stewards and two of my rulers as well. My booming economy supported three stacks of troops (five each Szekely, Spearmen and Jobbagy) each led by a four star prince and a fourth led by my two star king. I had arranged alliances with the HRE, Poland and Italy. However, the Byzantines refused my offers of alliance, even by marriage. Finally, about fifty turns into the game, the Byz ruler dies without heirs. From Bulgaria to Georgia, nothing but rebels! My quiet opening has turned into a romp.

[Martok]

Very nice Agent Miles. Rather shocking the Byz died off so early, though. I wonder what happened to all his heirs that the Emperor could've died without any?

[Roark]

Sounds like some nasty heir-depleting battles muct have taken place in order for the Byz to consolidate Georgia to Bulgaria...

[Agent Miles]

I believe that the Turks had "pruned" the Byz family tree. I had been trying to marry a daughter to them to cement an alliance, but I kept getting the "no heir at this time" message.
I managed to get Greece and Bulgaria before the Turks showed up and beat me to Constantinople. I've built a navy and added rebel Ireland and Navarre to my kingdom. Sicily also rebelled and is now a Hungarian outpost. The Egyptians conquered the Turks and Almohads, before attacking me. After a long war they suffered a civil war and I took rebel Egypt and Constantinople. I've allied with the Golden Horde and lead in GA points. It's been very interesting so far.

[doctrellor]

Yeah, I have played some games where the Byz just refuse to marry off thier heirs.. and I find sooner or later, the Turks, or most likley the Eggys rampages thru the region...

I remember playing the Novos and fighting off the Eggys away from Prussia/Poland

The Turks haven't really become a "major" force, but the AI Eggys seem to be a real powerhouse more often then the AI Byz.. but when the AI Byz do become a powerhouse, the results are nasty..lol

[seireikhaan]

I think the Byzantines must have had one of their emperors live really, really long. If one lives a really long time, it can mean that the heirs don't get the chance to have children(since they won't marry off to any princess'). And when the heirs are taking over at 50 plus years of age, its really difficult to have a kid in time.

Reminds me of when I lost a game as the Danish, all because I had a king live to 82(a personal record). After he died, all the new kings who were heirs started dying off really quickly(because they were taking over in their 60's). Thus, I ended up with a king dying with no heirs.

[Agent Miles]

If your royal heirs are all brothers of the same age group as your ruler, then get the heirs married ASAP. When my 54 year old king died without sons, his 44 year old married brother assumed the throne, along with two daughters and a son of his own! The game must keep track of possible heirs to be.