difficult game starts

[VayneVerso]

Can anybody recommend a difficult game start? Campaign or otherwise, though probably one where you start as an independent ruler rather than a vassal. And probably not a borderline impossible start, but one where the very early game decisions will probably make or break you.

It's been a while since I played, and I started a new game, but I think I made it too easy for myself.

[Drakenfel]

You could set a goal and/or restrictions on your playthrough these can make any game you play as easy or hard as you want. Example: Only blood relatives can hold lands in your kingdom, RP the character you are playing based on what you think he would do, Limit yourself to a set number of holdings etc.

It can be as hard as you want so long as you can come up with some restrictions you find enjoyable and challenging.

[VayneVerso]

That's true. You can always impose restrictions upon yourself to make the game more difficult, but I was really thinking about starts that are intrinsically difficult because you're in a very disadvantaged position at the opening.

[Yaldabaoth]

If you don't impose rules on yourself, there are no hard starts. Difficulty is only created by being surrounded by rulers of different faith without an expansion path. When you can just convert, there is no difficulty.

[VayneVerso]

All right. No worries. I found some leads by Googling. Just thought I would crowdsource from the forums for some other ideas. Thanks for the replies.

[Rex is back, baby!]

Originally posted by VayneVerso:

All right. No worries. I found some leads by Googling. Just thought I would crowdsource from the forums for some other ideas. Thanks for the replies.

Pick a leader of a vastly different culture and faith, and put them in the middle of a region full of a religion/culture that would HATE you. Limit your diplomatic range, and survive!

[dbix11]

Play with the monitor off

[Dante_Deepdarkness]

I'm not sure, but if I remember it well there is a Eunuch ruler in 867 with no heir nor relatives, so the way to deal with such thing is... culture? The land... Acre or somewhere around the zone.
I am sorry of not being more useful than that, I read about it several months ago so the info is a bit blurry.

Other than that the usual: Northumbia in 867 (hard to deal with that early run, but if you succeed to survive then there is no real challenge), Menorca in 867 (really small and the one close to you is like 3 or 4 times stronger, hard growth for a while), most of zoroastrians rulers in 867 like Gurgan or Faravid (liege is muslim and stronger), Sawdanid -south italy- in 867 (starts defending against the King of Italy, and you are a muslim pretty close to the Pope) and a few other that I can't remember.

You can also try things like starting as Nestorian in 867, it works similar to the Zoroastrian ones, but there are less rulers with that faith. The one I tested was the one of Socotra Island. More tricky than hard as start, but...

And don't follow the "play bad" thing. It is... well, it should be a shame such recommendation.

[VayneVerso]

Originally posted by Dante_Deepdarkness:

Other than that the usual: Northumbia in 867 (hard to deal with that early run, but if you succeed to survive then there is no real challenge), Menorca in 867 (really small and the one close to you is like 3 or 4 times stronger, hard growth for a while), most of zoroastrians rulers in 867 like Gurgan or Faravid (liege is muslim and stronger), Sawdanid -south italy- in 867 (starts defending against the King of Italy, and you are a muslim pretty close to the Pope) and a few other that I can't remember.

Good suggestions. I did Northumbria back around release. Really liked that one, as the game truly does start you off in a really uncomfortable situation. I started a game last night as Count Smbat of Suenik, 1066 A.D.[www.cbr.com], but I forgot how boring it is to play non-tribal game starts, especially when you have almost no moves available to you. It hasn't been that bad yet, though. He dies within about a year, I think, and his brother-heir is decent.

It does still kind of suck, though. I started by immediately forging a claim on my nearest neighbor, and even though I could demolish his military, I didn't even have enough men to outnumber his garrison, so I had to call in an ally just for the siege. Worth it, though. Otherwise, you're basically completely enveloped by the Seljuk empire.

[sfbistimg]

Create a Norse character and start in one of the independent lands in Georgia/Mesopotamia Area of map. Don't swear fealty to one of the 3 major empires in area. Don't Convert to any of the 3 major religions. Then Conquer all of Abbasid and/or Byzantine Empire

[Dante_Deepdarkness]

Originally posted by VayneVerso:

Good suggestions. I did Northumbria back around release. Really liked that one, as the game truly does start you off in a really uncomfortable situation. I started a game last night as Count Smbat of Suenik, 1066 A.D.[www.cbr.com], but I forgot how boring it is to play non-tribal game starts, especially when you have almost no moves available to you. It hasn't been that bad yet, though. He dies within about a year, I think, and his brother-heir is decent.

It does still kind of suck, though. I started by immediately forging a claim on my nearest neighbor, and even though I could demolish his military, I didn't even have enough men to outnumber his garrison, so I had to call in an ally just for the siege. Worth it, though. Otherwise, you're basically completely enveloped by the Seljuk empire.

I've been told that doing the achievement 'Rise of the Ghurids' in 1066 can be interesting. Not because the start is hard, but because you may need to fight a big Mongol Empire once you are close to complete it.
I have my doubts, I guess that there is an if: If you conquer in a moderate -to slow- pace, because you need them to spawn around 140 after the start and then grow enough to be somehow a threaten (and even with that if you improve mid-well you land your MaA will be strong to say the least).
Again, I can’t say it for myself, someone that I know told me that. So I comment it but just as a maybe, and probably with an ‘if’ or a couple of ‘ifs’.

[Chris35]

I had one of a bit more challenging game with the Sassanid Bavanid dynasty in northern persia. Not too many characters available from the start limited due to culture and religion surrounded by islamic states. With some houserules, on top no conversion/culture adaption, it can be interesting.

[elijahkennedy1995]

Nubia in 867 is a fun one, not a lot of resources, and you're stuck next to some counts, andd a huge duke. Abbasid's are next door too, and i'm pretty sure you have a christian faith

[VoiD]

There are none in CK3 really, maybe an irish count so you'll have to deal with viking swarms but even that is kinda simple and only counts for the half of the first generation.

[VayneVerso]

Thanks for all of the suggestions, folks. I appreciate you taking the time to offer your own experience.

[Shargash]

play as some finnish guy with 300 starting troops