Any tips for playing ottomans?

[rockyjoejoe2007]

I need help, Too many radicals.

[Das_Daw]

Ottomans are for sure more challenging than other nations. However here are some things that helped me:

-Do not go about and conquering stuff right away (except all the "return state" reasons you get against egypt). Instead subjugate/puppet nations around you, improve relations with them so you can lower their autonomy without military actions. Persia is a prime candidate to start a subjugation war against right on the start of the game: It is an easy war, really helps your market and after the first lower autonomy they start paying a nice chunk of change. Together with the tribute of all the other puppets you can afford to keep taxes relatively low, which helps with the radicals.
- You cannot push reforms like in other states in the ottoman empire, because the backlash is significantly higher. Gently chissel away the influence of the dominant local govenors. Switching to hereditary slavery and getting rid of serfdoms are good first steps without angering them to much.
- Even though ottomans have significant admin debuffs in the beginning, invest in the police institution. (professional police of course which does not give more power to the govenors).
- Switch to racial segregation

Pretty basic stuff, but starting of like that i was able to keep the radicals/loyalist count at about 9:1 in the early game, which feels like a win with the ottomans.

[Das_Daw]

Also take note that the Ottomans religious IG is special: The Sunni Ulema does not give a meagre 2% birth rate at +10 happiness but 50% religious conversion. Also they have a +10% pop support due to the Haggia Sophia. This encourages to play more conservatively and not push for optimal legislation but to keep them happy and engaged: Cause in theory they convert more pops to your state religion so they don't become radical from discrimination. Sure you could push for more liberal religious legislation, but that is not easy as the ottomans due to the Sunni Ulemas relative strength and also you will miss out on the better -10% radicals / +10% loyalists from state religion policy.

As to how that plays out, I am still working on that myself right now, since I am looking for ways to harness the new and improved ways of playing conservative. Ottomans strongly encourages that because all the run to the mill strategies of pushing for a more liberal society create significantly more radicals here. (Not least to the Ottomans abysmal building potential in the early game)

[rockyjoejoe2007]

Thanks!