How to suceed as Asturias in 769?

[Smig]

I lost a game some time ago as Asturias, predictably eaten up by the Umayyad Sultanate, but I was feeling like having a second stab at that. Historically, Asturias (and Kingdoms spawned from it) took the Iberian Peninsula in what is known as the Reconquista. I suppose they might have gotten much support from other Catholic Kingdoms.

Anyone with experience with that start? What advice would you give?

[AsuraTheDrunk]

Do your best to hustle some alliances and bide your time until a good opportunity to strike shows itself.

[jfoytek]

The single most important thing is to always be the one going to war against the muslims.... Dont wait for them to declare war, it better to lose an offensive war then to lose a defensive war....

And make the best alliance you can.... Italy or the Byzantines, France if its stable....

[Smig]

The alliances didn't quite pan out. West France was ideal but they were having none of it; got one with Middle France but that didn't help before they merged. Lombardy doesn't have anyone from the rulling dynasty marriable apparently. Haven't tried the Byzantines yet but they're getting their asses kicked by the balkans and Lombardy apparently. Also I was attacked by Umayyad very quickly.

However, I seem to have gotten somewhere by using jews' gold to get mercenaries -- I didn't have that DLC before. Also those counties in Brittany decided to join the war on my side and that helped more than I expected. If I can get a snowball effect rolling I might be good.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Mno]

Don't play as Asturias.

[Smig]

The challenge is interesting, and it seems doable so far, though when the AI plays Asturias, it always gets gobbled up fairly quickly.

[Sweet Tooth]

Originally posted by Smig:

The challenge is interesting, and it seems doable so far, though when the AI plays Asturias, it always gets gobbled up fairly quickly.

Hey, not always. More like 2/3 of games. Sometimes France attacks Umayyad. France and Asturias both catholic, it may take tons of time for gobbling. France dies, drops on 4 kingdoms, Asturias is happy and independant ^^

So, surviving of NPC Asturias counts on luck and game rules. Tons of epidemies = France dies faster since after death of Carlemagne and his bro France drops in pieces. But all you need to hit guts of Umayyad is one cute war with heavyhitter like France on your side. After that watevah.

There's few ways to live as Asturias, but I personally dont like it because cant be sated with just North Hispania and its really hard to absorb Andalusia since Conclave DLC. For now, imma lazy viking harlot who rules Denmark. I can start as Asturias just like a challenge, but it'll be boring and vassalty and plotty.

One not so bad idea: if you start as one of dukes with nice stats (or avaliable to rise them in few years), betrothoy on Princess Gisele of France, dropout into Independance after Umayyad start bullying on Asturias, swear fealty to France, become Chancellor (optionally) and plot some inheritance of France to you. You're back on as doodly duke but as mighty France. One good war to Umayyad, Asturias is happy, absorb Asturias, disband France staying in Asutrias. You're Asturias and happy.

[Yaldabaoth]

Forget history. Umayyads will never splinter like in real life.
Realize that you do not play as Asturias. You play as the ruling dynasty of Asturias. Survive whatever it takes. Yes even if that means swear fealty to Umayyads, switch religion, destroy them from within and go back to Christianity.

[Marozia]

I managed to forge a massive intercontinental empire from Asturias, but it wasn't easy at first. I lost the county of Viscaya early on and was forced to play defensively for the first several decades. In my case, the Umayyads faltered after Abd-al-Rahman's death, and I took full advantage of that by holy warring the crap out of them.

My advice in general would be to take personal control over as much of Asturias as possible through centralization laws and high stewardship. Ally with the Karlings if you can and maintain a large stockpile of gold; even a single mercenary band can be enough to turn the tide in a tight situation.

Oh, and do not hesitate when you sense weakness. The Umayyads will only get more powerful the longer they rule. You need to topple them as quickly as possible in order to prevent them from overrunning you.

[Smig]

I definitely got over the starting hump. After I won the first defensive war against them they paid me 1000 gold on surrender. I don't know how the amount is determined but I'm not gonna complain. That made it easy to pay mercs for my offensive war against them. I kinda dragged that one on for more than necessary so they couldn't deal with uprisings that were popping up. Then they declared war on me again, and again another 1000 gold went to my pocket, which fueled my next war with them. Now they've split in 3 and I still have plenty of gold, so they'll probably be easy pickings.

I think the big difference from the first playthrough was the ability to borrow from Jews which allowed me to win the first war with mercs.

[Donathan Cheadledge]

Originally posted by Yaldabaoth:

Forget history. Umayyads will never splinter like in real life.
Realize that you do not play as Asturias. You play as the ruling dynasty of Asturias. Survive whatever it takes. Yes even if that means swear fealty to Umayyads, switch religion, destroy them from within and go back to Christianity.

That doesn't give you that fuzzy warm "DEUS VEULT KILL THE HERETICS" feeling tho

[Rabob]

I tried playing as them and made some ground at first. They attacked France before me and thus I joined in to help France, giving Umyyad debt but more importantly reducing the religious authority. Because you want to destabilize them.

Another thing you might want to do is increasing the amount of diseases and epidemics etc if you have the DLC. It can work to your advantage and disadvantage. But in the right timing it can mean facing 12000 troops vs 5000 or something.

Personally I waited my moments and tried to have alliance with France, Byzantium and Lombardy. Whenever a rebellion broke out I was the first to dive on it and started to siege all their holdings as fast as possible. When Umayyad attacked I try to get more alliances or join the person who is being attacked. It does not mean they will help you later, but stopping Umayyad is good enough.

Later on all my allies were disasters. France and Byzantium with constant rebellions and Lombardy with a lot of heresy. So in the end I was getting rekt.