How does Byzantine Empire work in the mod?

[aclover]

In my Nestorian Golden Horde playthrough, my heir was poised to inherit both the Golden Horde and the Byzantine Empire. So naturally, this prompted several questions from me regarding it's works:
-Would the Byzantine Decadence modifiers end up being applied to the entire realm even if you have another empire which you use as primary title?
-Is it possible to get rid of that decadence completely and not bother with it, or at least rein it in relatively easily?
-Are the laws, Born in the purple trait and vassalage of Varangian Guard supposed to be a good tradeoff against the decadence modifier?
-Would the title just be auto destroyed after the inheritance?

 

[Rylock]

-Would the Byzantine Decadence modifiers end up being applied to the entire realm even if you have another empire which you use as primary title?

Yes. I don't think the mechanic was designed with the idea that the title might be held by someone as non-primary -- currently all the events just look for the title being held.

Is it possible to get rid of that decadence completely and not bother with it, or at least rein it in relatively easily?

Not easily, but there is a decision to reduce the decadence if you have sufficient prestige. Winning certain types of wars will also reduce it.

-Are the laws, Born in the purple trait and vassalage of Varangian Guard supposed to be a good tradeoff against the decadence modifier?

The Varangians can be, yes. Born in the purple, probably not -- that's just a succession mechanic.

Would the title just be auto destroyed after the inheritance?

Only if you're not Orthodox (or a heresy, like Nestorian) or Hellenic.

-- Just a note that we didn't design the themata system currently being used. It was ported over from a sub-mod, and there's been very little (as in none, other than people saying they wanted it integrated into the mod because it was great) feedback regarding it, so it should be interesting to see what happens in your case.