Diplomacy

**miserable09** · May 16, 2007, 09:48 AM

Howdy,
Playing as Turks, seems like no matter what I do, at some point, either Byzantines or Egypt (or both) will attack me.

Will giving them gifts every now and then help put this off until I can get on my feet, or is it pretty much inevitable?

**Arjuna** · May 16, 2007, 09:56 AM

I doubt it greatly.

As the Byzantines though, I was able to keep Hungary from attacking me by getting a marriage alliance. But by lacking royal women in the Turks . . . doesn't look like you have that option.

**thecactusman17** · May 16, 2007, 10:37 AM

Haven't tried the Turks. If I did though, I would ally with Byzantium and perhaps Venice (Iraklion), gift them into happiness, and then take Egypt before they can mount a serious ofensive. This way, if Byzantium attacks you your ally can be gifted into defending your position. Allying with a Catholic faction (natural Byzantium hate) will help there.

**Snipafist** · May 16, 2007, 11:14 AM

Byzantium will ALWAYS betray you as the Turks. I have never had a stable alliance with them, and the Turks are my favorite eastern faction, so I've played them a fair amount.

Here's what I do:
1) declare a Jihad on Baghdad. Take two armies (one from the west and one from the north) and pile in as many men as possible. The western army uses the jihad simply to pick up free troops and get extra movement and proceeds to take anything between your capital and Antioch, perhaps a couple cities east of there if you can. Your northern group quickly grabs the city north of you (I forget the name) and then heads for baghdad. Once this is all said and done, your empire has expanded pretty well and you need to sit down and get to administration.
2) DO NOT take Jerusalem or any cities south of antioch if you can help it. Let them stay rebel. This does two things: it gives you a buffer between you and Egypt that should keep the Egyptians occupied for a while, and it ensures that early crusades don't come after you as they almost always go for Jerusalem.
3) Sometime into your empire consolidation the Byzantinians are going to come after you. Fight them off as best you can. I often take Nicea and then plug the land bridges with a navy, or guard them with a full army. Egypt should still be struggling with taking the last rebel settlements, but keep an eye on them.
4) Sue for peace with the Byzantines, if you can. Keep your eye on them, but your new objective is to continue building up your underdeveloped cities while preparing for the inevitable Egyptian attack from the south. Their early game units tend to be pretty good, so be careful.

**Silent Assassin** · May 16, 2007, 11:55 AM

The problem with the Turks is that try what you want but the Bysantine will attack you. For egypt you can hace peace with them until the Mongols arrives

**miserable09** · May 16, 2007, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Snipafist

Here's what I do:
1) declare a Jihad on Baghdad. Take two armies (one from the west and one from the north) and pile in as many men as possible.

Awesome thanks! I never even considered declaring a Jihad so early, but, I'll give it a shot...

It's funny, I took the turks after always playing England, because I thought it would be cool to push all the way into Europe... Heck, I can't even dig my way out of Turkey!