The Byzantines look so interesting to play

[imb39changedmyusername]

To me, who has never played the byzantines. They look like they are poised at the most interesting part of the map. Their units look interesting and they would have to fight both in the desert and on grassy plains. Whats annoying me is that you get a faction when theyve been destroyed, whether you did it or not, i.e portugal yesterday. But when the byzantines were destroyed they didnt come up as an option to play, and that really pissed me off.

So i cant wait to play them, and who was where the byzantines are in MTW:hmmm:?

[Ged]

Open your descr_strat file in the data folder, and put the byzantines in the playable section, and delete them form the end_playable section, and you'll be able to play 'em.

[vonKrysiak]

Yup they are my favourite as well! Their position was a bit more depserate in MTW1 but here they are fun to play as well.
If you like Byzantines check out my AAR in the AAR section of this forum - I have been playing a campaign for over a month now as Byzantines and it is soooooo much fun!

[malcolm mcdowell]

yeah, the byzantines were in mtw as well. same position, except in the eaerly era they had naples as well. and generally a bit more land

[vonKrysiak]

yeah, the byzantines were in mtw as well. same position, except in the eaerly era they had naples as well. and generally a bit more land

And Naples was the one province that cuased most trouble - they were at war straight away! Although I remember they started with a unit of naphta throwers there - that unit saved me there soooo many times hehe

[Giorgos]

And Naples was the one province that cuased most trouble - they were at war straight away! Although I remember they started with a unit of naphta throwers there - that unit saved me there soooo many times hehe

You had to go for the Byzantine Infantry units as quickly as possible. These guys always formed my main battle lines. As soon as i had them, the game was over, tactically speaking.

[T-wester]

if you complete a long campaign all of the factions should be unlocked ...

[Kahn]

Some of us can't be bothered with finishing an entire campaign! We've got places to go, people to see!

That could take hours and planning!

[paokmam]

To me, who has never played the byzantines. They look like they are poised at the most interesting part of the map. Their units look interesting and they would have to fight both in the desert and on grassy plains. Whats annoying me is that you get a faction when theyve been destroyed, whether you did it or not, i.e portugal yesterday. But when the byzantines were destroyed they didnt come up as an option to play, and that really pissed me off.

So i cant wait to play them, and who was where the byzantines are in MTW:hmmm:?

You are right! There is something fascinating about this faction! ach... Old glories...

[vonKrysiak]

IF you want to unlock all factions you can change one file and you are done! Click on the below link and you will learn many interesting things about MTW2 including how to unlock all factions:
http://totalwarcommunity.blogspot.co...dieval-ii.html
I remember there was a post in the mod workshop somewhere about that as well but couldnt find it...

[COMIS -3- ΠΑΝΙΩΝΑΡΑ]

if you find the change of the descr_strat.txt file complicated you can simply destroy the faction and when you start a new grand campaign the faction will be playable.
BYZANTINE RULES!!
Very balanced faction many battles from jihads to mongols timurids and the turkmongols faction of the game+Yes i am GREEK

[Sardonicus]

Unlocking factions for me causes game crashes.
I tried playing a couple factions I had unlocked, (The Byz and Danes), and both CTD after an hour or so. So now I just play vanilla

[Cavin]

I really don't recommend unlocking factions manually. Usually those factions are harder to play than the initial ones. Its better to play a short campaign and get the noobishness out of you before trying something else.

[imb39changedmyusername]

^im not a noob, and besides ive only 53 turns left till i finish this long campaign

[Emperor_Palpy]

I unlocked all the playable factions when I beat a short campaign...

[Old Geezer]

The nice thing about playing as the Byzantines is that you can be sure that everyone will want a piece of you. You can probably stay friendly with the Russians longer than the others. Sometimes I've seen the AI Byzantines take over a huge part of the Mid East and around into Egypt. They often have a huge nasty powerful navy. With the powerful general that they start with a blitz should make things go easy; it seems silly to me to turtle with them. I stopped a campaign playing as Byzantium after only about 25 turns but was having no difficulty playing them. But if you want a peaceful time and build up slowly, I'd forget them if I were you.

[Sher Khan]

Actually, the real trick to surviving any initial onslaught is to play one side off the other. In SS 5.1, I have yet to go to war with Hungary, Sicily, The Order of the Templars, and have yet to face any real invasion by the Turks for over 100 turns. I simply had the Hungarians focus all their attention on the Venetians and the Turks and Egyptians in a constant state of war with the Templars and each other.

It then allows you to build up quite nicely, pick off any juicy territories, and steamroll them all later.

[Old Geezer]

So what have you been doing for 100 turns? Is the AI not so insanely aggressive in SS? If so, I think I'm ready for it!

[Sher Khan]

Sure, it's aggressive... when you piss it off. I've learned how to manage the AI after so long, so it's all in the diplomacy combined with surgical attacks that manage to draw in a close ally into a fight, starting a war between the two. Having a system of alliances also beefs up your military standing, and keeping strong garrisons at the fronts deters would-be invasions.


The real trouble starts when the enemy on your front is unified. and has no other enemies to fight other than you. In this situation, war will be inevitable.


In my Byz campaign, the Hungarians have taken Venice and pushed the Venetians completely out of the Dalmattian coast, so I expect a war sometime in the future with them and have started forging alliances with the Poles, HRE, and seeking peace with the Venetians and possible alliance. The Templars have been wiped out, sadly, but the Turks and Egyptians are still at it in a war that's taking place around Baghdad, so the Eastern front is quiet for the moment.


Thankfully, the Mongols are coming now. I purposefully stopped expansion at Caesarea and Adana, leaving Antioch in Egyptian hands. This way, I can play spectator to the invasion and have a new friend to play off against my enemies.

[The Good]

If you look at my signature, you can see the progress of my Byzantine Empire. It is around turn 80 or 90. The Mongols have emerged!