How to nerf Byzantines

[Alien Eel]

I like this mod, mainly because of more factions and regions compared to vanilla. But I only have one big problem with this mod. And it is that some factions (Byzantines and later Moors and Fatimids) will just start steamrolling and crush everything that comes to their path. I think that Byzzies are the biggest problem, because they start with really big territory and ridiculous amounts of money. Moors and Fatimids don't always become so big, and they become big much later. But is here any sub mod for better balance? I don't like fighting against endless stacks from the beginning. Or if there's no sub mod, does anyone have some idea how to nerf those factions easily, so the game would be a bit more unexpected.

[Websy]

Be born a Turk and continue to take pride in the aggressive expansionism of your zealous barbarian ancestors a thousand years later.

[TheBard]

What about playing on a lower campaign difficulty? That should make for fewer enemy full stacks, I think. You can still keep battle difficulty wherever you want to make each battle difficult.

[Melooo182]

switching to a more passive AI could also help
Lusted AI is the most passive i think

[Alien Eel]

What about playing on a lower campaign difficulty? That should make for fewer enemy full stacks, I think. You can still keep battle difficulty wherever you want to make each battle difficult.

I already use M/M, and if I put it on easy AI will become probably way too passive and won't really do anything.

switching to a more passive AI could also help
Lusted AI is the most passive i think

I have thought about lusted, and I might try it. But if I have understood correctly it only changes how AI will behave in diplomacy, they would still have endless stacks. But maybe the problem will solve if they don't expand like crazy.

[Vissewalde rex de Gerzika]

Ah yes, early era Byzantium is quite OP, and unfortunately there are no direct ways of nerfing them with the options you have without nerfing the rest of AI factions as well. Easy battle difficulty is just going to make the AI have less morale in battles and lusted will make everyone more peaceful, but I think it dosent change much.

You really should play late era, in 1201 the Byzantines are split up and very weakened because of the 4th crusade, their units will soon be outdated and you dont have to play with the crappy units most nations have for the first 100 years.

Anyhow, I think that whoever did the work on Byzantium for SS did an amazing job, but their units are clearly far too good when compared to other nations, especially in the first 100 years of the game where their levies have decent armor and are actually good at holding on their own instead of being meat to hold the enemy in place while the heavy generals cav flanks and take out the enemy. Speaking of Byzantine generals bodyguard there is nothing else to say than OP. They also have access to some of their better units in the initial 100 turns too which makes them even more powerful.

I know some of you are now going to say historical accuracy etc, but game balance is more important than that.

[Alien Eel]

I might give a shot for late campaign yes... The reason why I haven't already is that I don't really like the fact that there's no rebel settlements to capture, and that I mainly like eastern factions due their rosters, (No crappy light cavalry at start, instead they have horse archers), and if I take some eastern faction, I think I'm going to get crushed by Mongols. But let's see if I can play against them.

[Geoffrey of Villehardouin]

In my campaigns, the Byzantines often die off without touching them. Perhaps the other side of the fence seems greener.

The Byzantines have practically no swordsmen except for the Kastrophilakae, who are not that great, and Scoutatoi swordsmen who are rare. Also they have no double-handed swordsmen and very rarely get any axemen. They have worthless levy archers and no crossbowmen until late, also no firearms. Most of their mounted archers are mercenaries and, therefore, expensive. They have to have something, if they are going to be in the game, so they have plentiful decent spearmen and some good javelinners plus good general bodyguards - but little other heavy cavalry!

The Byzantines, historically or otherwise, would not survive against the eastern factions without some decent spearmen.

AI difficulty affects also the number of AI armies and AI aggressiveness. Lusted AI is very mellow, especially on easy.

[Nzg]

Well... I also recomend playing late era but today I started an early era campaign and it's going well... Worth mentioning is that usualy Byzzies in my campaigns are almost crushed after about 100 turns. At the begining they have their glory but soon other factions are getting stronger and crush the Byzzies on multiple fronts.

[Daerandir]

The ERE seems to get waxed by other AI factions both a M/M and H/H in SS6.4. Nearly always in the Late Era and most of the time in the Early Era.i'm playing Poland in the late Era now, and the ERE was down to Adrianople, until I took Constantinople from the Fatimids & gave it to the emperor.

The ERE is powerful in the Early Era, but it was. Its challenge is that it is surrounded by enemies and must fight on multiple fronts.

[T r a n c e]

I have yet to understand how your early Byzantine experiences end with them being so powerful and OP when in ALL my early era campaigns, they are steamrolled by Venice, Turks or Fatimids and Hungary.
I've played as England, France or Spain and didnt interacted with them at all to hurry their demise in any way.

[ludizoki]

It happens on my campaign too. M/M and they always end up being the strongest faction (or tied with Khwarezmians). I'm now playing as Hungary and had much problems with them. I exploited a (bug?) that allowed me to always offer peace after they attacked me and get 10k in return or even a settlement.