Thoughts on the depiction of the Byzantine Empire in the Medieval: Total War games?

[Prince Cobra]

I played MTW MP almost to the complete exclusion of SP, so I can only really speak to the battlefield experience I got from playing the game, as someone who did not know much about the Byzantine Empire before I began playing.

The biggest criticism I can think of is that it did not portray the situation between the Turks and the Byzantines accurately. From what I understand, the Turkish military system was superior to that of the Byzantines, as the Angeloi had let the Empire deteriorate to such a degree. However, in MTW, Byzantine units were far stronger than Turkish ones. In MP, it took a truly skilled player who had mastered both unit control and ranged combat to defeat a competent Byz player. In fact, most considered Byz to be the easiest faction in the game, especially do to Byz Infantry - which were like 100 man Men At Arms units.

Now I'm not sure how much an analysis of the intricacies of the MP system will help you, but my general point is to say that, strictly from the game, one would wonder how the Byzantine Empire fell to the Turks.

In fact the Byz units were suprerior to the Turkish one until the real decline of Byzantium that is XIV century. Even the Angeloi were quite successful in their war against the Turks and stabilised the border. After the fall of Constantinople, the Empire of Nicaea also delivered a crushing defeat on the ambitious of the Seljuk Turks to conquer new lands (the Turkish Sultan was killed in the same battle, the battle of Magnesia).

I have not played MTW2 yet so I can not comment. I can only say that MTW left me with very good feeling. My favourite were of course the Varangian guard and Naphtha Throwers. About the historical accuracy: I think they put the decline of the theme system. The Byz Inf was often quite problematic for me until I learn to use it right. And as you can see, the later you start the game, the more difficult it becomes. Good game, I would say.
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Ah, Luidprandt. This Bishop really hated the Byzantines...