What are your favorite cultural hybrids that are somewhat RP-plausible? There used to be a few key MAA that I used to try to snag such as Tarkhans, but there's plentiful new cavalry units to choose from. Of course, unlocking major game mechanics is obviously very powerful:
Firstly, I think there a few cultures that are simply built better by default. I'd consider this non-exhaustive culture list S Tier/A Tier (feel free to suggest others I've overlooked):
Firstly, I think there a few cultures that are simply built better by default. I'd consider this non-exhaustive culture list S Tier/A Tier (feel free to suggest others I've overlooked):
- Roman--yes, the one culture that doesn't exist on the map in 867 is my personal favorite, and let's face it... all the other cultures are trying to claim to be them anyway. Roman gives you six (6) traditions where everyone else only gets at most five (5). Roman also has one of my favorite traditions in the game, Legalistic, which dramatically increases your vassal count +30 (a stat which used to be almost a hard cap until recent chapters of DLC). Lastly, it has access to Cataphracts, which are among the best MAA in the game, and are a specific counter to Horse Archers. You are also a dead culture, so you can quickly catch up techwise by converting only one or a few very high dev provinces (for instance Roma and the other counties in Latium).
- Greek--the only "disposable" tradition at the 867 start IMO is Religious Patronage. The other 4 traditions are unique and you'd be a fool to drop any of them, since they mesh so well with the Admin government. All-in-all, probably one of my favorite cultures to play ATM--strongly torn between this and Roman. Unfortunately, not a lot of favorable historical characters to play. The imperial situation at 867 is a hot mess. The sitting Makedon "dynasty" as of 867 is not a real dynasty. Basil was just a courtier that helped the former emperor Michael III hide a scandalous affair (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_III#Rise_of_Basil_the_Macedonian_and_assassination_of_Michael). Basil just saw a decrepit and weak emperor and overthrew him. If you're RPing, I see no particular reason to champion Basil's cause... then again, I would never start the game and play as the ERE himself anyway.
- Persian--stands out for being able to flourish in the desert (Irrigation Experts); excellent tutors (and thus better heirs) from Beacon of Learning. Lastly, it's Heavy Infantry MAA Ayyar is pretty decent. This is one of my favorite cultures to play in Asia. You also have several historically important dynasties still around for RP: Bavandids, a scion of the Sassanids; and the Karenids, a scion of the Arsacids in Iran.
- Norse--is situational. The defining features are, of course, Coastal Warriors and Meet-Ting tradition but also the three (3) unique techs it gets in the Tribal Era (until 900 AD). The techs unlock the unique ability to go a-viking: navigate rivers and raid overseas. The other traditions are flavorful while you remain tribal.
- Oghuz--the new It girl in town! I was shocked when I saw how powerful their traditions are:
- Iron Cavalry--this is a new S tier tradition IMO. This tradition does two (2) separate and ingenious things. First, it allows you to build Cataphracts which are one of the very few MAA counters in the game against the rest of the steppe's Horse Archers and Cavalry (so defensive play there).
- Devoted Horsemanship--this interlinks with Iron Cavalry perfectly. It unlocks said Horse Archers for you to use on your enemies. It also unlocks Tarkhans
- Swords for Hire--cheap mercs for when things don't go as planned... or you have a good target of opportunity.
- Ruling Caste--this has never really been a favorite of mine, but it's a good temporary shield if you're expanding into wrong culture lands... ultimately as a general rule, this is the kind of tradition that I would almost always REMOVE during the hybridization... otherwise, I would need to ask myself why I'm making a cultural hybrid in the first place.
- Warrior Culture--meh, +1 MAA... I'll take it
- Mongolic cultures--are a little disappointing tbh, especially Mongol specifically. In terms of traditions the only one that stands out is Wolves of the Deep Steppe which grants Mangudai, an improved horse archer. Aside from that its only redeeming quality--and I'll admit it's pretty big redeeming quality--is access to the Greatest of All Khans decision. I feel like pinning your entire strategy on an "I win" button is not really satisfying RP IMO.
- Greek-Roman hybrid is a unique, no-brainer to get your Roman scion empire speaking Latin again... I think the RP speaks for itself--an extremely early Rennaissance/restoration of Roman traditions in the West.
- Greek-Oghuz hybrid is probably one of the few scripted hybrids in order to create what we know today as Anatolian Turkish. The idea is to throw off all the traditions that helped you on the steppe, but no longer will in the settled lands around the Med. RP potential is by design.
- Persian-Oghuz is basically the Seljuks... lots of potential to transform from a Martial power into a settled power in Iran.
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