I used these OP units to conquer the two largest empires in CK3

Today I bring Armenia to glory in Crusader Kings 3. Starting as a vassal of the massive Abbasid empire, we will be trying to gain enough strength to eventually take down both our liege and the Byzantines. Will we be able to do it?
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🎨 Intro Art 🎨
City of Ani
www.nationalgeographic.com/hi...
🎵 Music 🎵
Georges Bizet - Carmen
Dragon Castle - Makai Sumphony
Tchaikovsky - Marche Slave

[@SolarMonolith206]

>Assassinates his liege. >Known murderer. >Dies of old age. >Eulogy says you were a great diplomat who could solve any argument with words. Lol

[@realdaggerman105]

To convince a man to risk his life and wield a knife on your behalf is truly the pinnacle of diplomacy!

[@dyn9726]

Can you revisit your Euginics Program Challenge? Try to make a Overpowered Character from the Worst Character

[@Zieley]

could be a fun idea, it has been a while since that video 🤔

[@TB_Kirbs]

@@Zieley do it PogU

[@The_Yukki]

Tbh it really is barely a challenge. After first generation most of your bad congenitals will be either completely gone or at lowest rank... a different youtuber did that when the game first released and that's pretty much exactly what happened.

[@donpollo3154]

I love eugenics ☺️

[@92Adzy]

Max dynasty run!

[@notoriousnobody6639]

It’s a good day when Zieley uploads

[@ourmadness6238]

Played Armenia in 867 and 1066 as well. The 1066 one is 10x hardver. If you want some real challenge, try Count Gagik of Lycandus, vassal in the Byzantine Empire. He is the last and deposed (at a young age) King of Armenia. This time, you'll have the Seljuks instead of the Abbasids, and as a byzantine vassal, with the two empires fighting over Armenia, you really have a hard challenge.

[@dobroataman7290]

Good Job

[@samael8732]

same

[@TheJacobi]

These replies make 0 sense 😂

[@ourmadness6238]

@@TheJacobi most intelligent KZbin commenters.

[@Mecrobb]

​@@TheJacobi Try reading them

[@owentjes]

I have exam week, so I was super stressed. But your videos always make me feel better. Thank you from me and my friend splinter.

[@Zieley]

youre a legend Owen, good luck on your exams

[@marcuss9181]

I’m normally and HOI4 and EU4 guy but the way you explain all the details of ck3 makes it really fun to watch since I don’t feel like I don’t understand the mechanics.

[@pimmpslap]

Once you play it you'll find it is far simpler than those two games, which for me is the appeal. I don't have to think too hard and can cruise through a run.

[@ericcelmer968]

This was the very first character I started as when the game came out, what a fun and challenging start

[@ethanthompson9569]

It always surprises me how the emperors hold so little land themselves but are so strong. Shows how important it is to be on good terms with your vassals

[@TheDirtyShaman]

One of the strongest lifestyle perks to conquer a lot of land is "Flexible Truces" from the diplomacy tree. Wars also become so much easier if you can just attack your target again, right after having slaughtered their whole army. You can prevent empires from ever being able to replenish their forces, with the only downside being -50 popular opinion, which can be completely negated through the steward lifestyle perk "Popular Figurehead".

[@Khaamigo]

I really love that you use Age of Empires sounds !

[@liviuursegr]

Ah man, you always amaze me. I know I'm not very good in fighting, not taking advantage of the terrain and such buffs, but you somehow succeed no matter the odds. No matter how tall I build I usually lose because I eventually get attacked by my vassals and even fully trained men at arms for the respective era aren't enough to push through. I even watched your " tutorial" videos from a while back, but I still can't pull it off. You truly are a god in the ck3 world. Thank you very much for the entertainment and the knowledge you share with us

[@oanciakas123]

I really love all the sounds and funny clips or cuts (not sure how to name them) in your videos. It is very entertaining, and I know it is really time consuming so thank you for hard work. It is a joy to watch 😀❤

[@KrokLP]

"add some sfx here"

[@Zieley]

🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@wsw2291]

This made my year so far. Thanks for the great content as always.

[@3xpl017s]

duuude its the 26th, u gotta stop partying that hard

[@quincemarmelade]

Incredible content! So watchable and so informative. Would love to see Haesteinn take over the gold mines in Mali!

[@Bardakus]

Great content and great edits - you're quickly becoming my favourite youtuber

[@newguy8288]

Nice video! For a video idea That might be a little interesting; Doing a Language/Kin-Tree run and also using cultural tenets, though the mechanics by themselves could be a little boring some more challenge could be added

[@Mokuu8]

Sounds like fun i will definitely try that :D

[@Shansitan]

watching your videos literally changed how i play the game. Great content and awesome insights ty

[@Critical_Cabbage]

This was a brilliant video, seems like a very fun campaign. I've wanted to try playing as Armenia myself.

[@simoncodrington]

Always a great day when I wake up and see a new Zieley video! ♥️ Always keen for you content and the random scenarios you run. You have a Patreon yet man?

[@galou0090]

I love your channel man! Keep the videos coming!

[@kittenconsumer9960]

I hadn’t watched one of your vids in a while I’d love to see a return of the save a game series you have those were always my fav from you

[@loahgaming2267]

I absolutely adore your intros, seriously they always make my day better.

[@jaredleon5520]

always a pleasure to see you upload 🙏

[@icechaind9321]

bro i love the editing so much esp the yi long ma

[@TheValiantBob]

Snap Strategy recently did a video about a character that through a set of starting perks had 0 points across all stats. However in that video he did not use the perk learning on the job at all, which has left me wondering just how much you could optimize learning on the job to make an all 0s character actually good

[@The_Panic_Room]

Not gonna lie, watching your videos has inspired me and made me a better CK3 player. It's been a few years at this point and I have 1000+ hours in the game, keep the great content up.

[@44magnum555]

The memes throughout were top notch. 😂

[@frankiecedeno3724]

It’s a fun playthrough, especially going the whole way to form the biggest Greater Armenia possible. Was my most recent IronMan playthrough.

[@seanmarkham6965]

Doing an Ironman play through as Georgia rn it’s like 1280, empire from Russia to Ethiopia. Mainly played tall and now have the highest development in the world, hold all of Georgia, and other high dev spots. Massive army, maxed out buildings and just easily defeated the Mongols, who had 70k troops.

[@HomelessHomosexual]

I don't know if you've ever considered doing a paradox mega-campaign but I feel like this would be a great nation to play as. As always amazing video, keep up the great work!

[@92Adzy]

Suggestion: a longer playthrough or like a 3 part series with a grand challenge of some sort.

[@GundiMike]

The other thing about megalithic construction combined with lots of temple holdings is it allows you to build megaliths in each temple. Each provides development growth modifier and can be fully upgraded once you get a level 2 temple; plus it is I think the only normal barony-level building which gives monthly development growth. It's not a lot, maxing out at like .07 a month for each fully upgraded temple, but build a bunch of them in your territory and your entire realm will start shooting up in development.

[@tylerfennell5920]

It would be cool if you did a run for the nepotism achievement. Also love your vids! Very helpful for us new players

[@dabriudabriuiutubiu]

Hey man, not sure if you noticed, but since you changed to the new PC, your videos seem to have way lower bit rate, it's very noticeable when you zoom in or out, or do sudden movements, the map gets very blurred and "blocky", the text becomes illegible for a sec. Maybe you need to adjust some configs in your rendering? Don't think this is just YT compression because it didn't use to look so bad before in your old PC. BTW, your video style is awesome, keep up the good work.

[@joedolde9767]

Fun video! Armenia was a great challenge. Would you ever consider making videos on the Elder Kings 2 mod?

[@amirilan4435]

Your videos are wonderfull. Love your work

[@DirkusTurkess]

My boy making the Abbasid into the Abbasad and the Byzantines into the Byezantines.

[@haf1ni640]

This comment deserved much better 😂😂

[@miseee007]

Pretty sure the Abbasid Empire starts with around 5-6 thousand army in 867 start, but by you being his vassal detracts your soldiers from his army, the good ol "best way of beating a superior empire is joining them."

[@JerryCanTheThird]

chill and entertaining as always

[@super_splinter7709]

My friend owen told me you uploaded again, and I instantly got on youtube to watch this banger of a video. Love from me and my friend owen.

[@owentjes]

😅

[@johanneswitt5499]

Try to recreate the carolingian border. I havent saw many people do it yet and it would make for a good video

[@scavenger6268]

Hey Zieley i have a question: How viable are hill dwelling, witch blacksmiths? Or just plain stoic hill dwellers if that is too niche? It is my understanding that one can place a hill farm, pastoral land, hunting ground, and fort all on the same tile. If i remember that is +500 men (per hill tile) from just the cows and deer. Expensive, but then again the upgraded food pays more in taxes anyway.

[@vexuria]

im surprised you didnt start as the armenian vassal and went for the kingdom start starting as a count has been such a staple for you that i got startled

[@snicket87]

My Armenian play may be the most fun I have ever had in Ck3. Great vid, as always!

[@ultimate0000]

Great Video !! I'm doing a playthrough with the county of suenik ( independent small Armenian county east of the principality you started with ) I've almost formed the kingdom of Armenia!! , would love to see you play as the single county !!

[@eriksargis1998]

Good video dude do more with Armenia🙌🏼

[@selahattinkaskc8668]

no never

[@Requis-fk3ix]

Love your vids ❤

[@Gay4Stalin]

Vid 1 minute old Comment 7 hours old... what is this!?

[@jacobmosovich]

I love playing wheres waldo with you at the start of every video XD

[@KOTORstudios]

Amazing video!

[@figgi_myestrio5092]

Hey I was wondering if you could record at an higher quality because everything kind of seems pixelated and clear. Would be grateful if you did this.

[@Valkbg]

I always love adding the Who Wants to be a Millionaire muc when you seem to struggle with math.

[@cavanwatts4938]

Zieley would you do an Elder Kings playthrough? Just anything you find interesting.

[@mathiasknudsen1675]

Could you make a video of the absolute best man at arms ? I mean by that taking the best cultural or non cultural units and have the absolute optimal way to max them out, and maybe compare to other optimal builds ? I haven't find any informations on the web about that. Some say varangians veterans others says horse archer and finally some war elephant. I'd like to know with 3 duchies buildings and maybe 12 counties maximum which would be the absolute winner

[@PsyEagle24]

The most efficient way to win over this region is to become steward of your liege, focusing on the economy and eat one by one your neighbours and when you are big and strong enough you can continue with the independence war. As an Armenian myself im glad someone posted a video about armenian campaign in a paradox game!!

[@shax0611]

37:28 THAT, RIGHT THERE, that is the true Armenian experience.

[@cxwx4025]

I don't think I've ever started a game going down the diplomacy tree before

[@tommerker8063]

it's realy fun with bjorn irons side. you can vassalize the entirety of norse scandinavia without a single war.

[@Riskofdisconnect]

@@tommerker8063Facts. It works well in any place with a shared culture and religion, you vassalize a whole de jure empire peacefully if you plan it right

[@tommerker8063]

@@Riskofdisconnect exactly. scandinavia in the viking age start date, is a huge piece of land with the same culture and religion, plus a lot of strong troops and casus belli with the flavor pack.

[@TheWastelander86]

I love your intros.

[@jaredr1201]

Is there a community discord. I’m new to your videos but love the content

[@feedergulag9911]

Georgia play would be interesting,its hard but u would smash anybody in mountains with monaspa

[@theballer814]

great video my friend

[@danielestabanrodriguezdiaz5028]

I love your jojo references XD

[@CameronLeitch]

How Zieley only has 55 thousand subs is beyond me

[@chrisbbw420]

very clever gameplay as always

[@Jacob-df5hr]

Man I had just decided to make my new playthrough I'm starting tonight a tall Armenia! Now I don't know if I should avoid the spoilers or not lol

[@TheArthas2]

Got to love when you have an army of heavy Infantry and cataphracts, taking on armies of levies 7-10 x biggerrr

[@laszlobandi6456]

did a run with vikings moving to the silver mine in Cagliari. Hungarians pre catholicism have huge prowess and Apostolic armenians have so strong commanders, I guess it isn't always the case but was kind of interesting.

[@blackhawk8815]

Can you continue playing this save? Play tall with the territory you have and run murder schemes against all the big realms with more than 2 or 3 duchies.

[@Redolentleek]

In line with historical sims being accurate. As a vassal in Arabian Egypt, I conquered the kingdom of Sudan and hybridised the culture as Arabic Sudanese. It’s sad but also funny cuz it was unintentional seeing as I just did a research paper on the Sudanese conflicts the week before. I think the game should give me the janjaweed perk.

[@maddogbasil]

Have you tried playing as the ajuraan in the horn of Africa It's pretty rare to see anyone ever play in the horn of Africa Its a pretty unknown region to play

[@mashka2299]

41:18 I think I'm gonna use that strategy. I saw AI doing this but have never done that myself. Maybe I should reconsider, seems very effective 😅

[@Fuer64]

For everyone currently feeling the video's pain, yes he does clean up the bordergore, trust me

[@sg_kerb]

Your intros really are toptier

[@skudrinskis]

Can't you make temples primary holdings in those counties where you have them?

[@miko1059]

Great video

[@gladr9272]

Gotta try the Armenia start now

[@Manuel1995665]

How about trying a reverse eugenics challenge? Try to create a large empire whilst stacking negative + inbred traits. Challenge is completed when holding an empire title with an inbred character that has a negative trait of all categories (ugly, stupid, frail). That should be a nice and difficult challenge I hope!

[@LlamaVomit]

Since I play on ps5 we only have northern lords. I’d love to see a tall gameplay on ps5. You don’t have the culture overhaul. It’s been rough for me.

[@micahpickus5142]

Ik you were comparing your realm capital development to the likes of Constantinople and Rome, but I’m curious how you stacked up against some of the Indian realm capitals because they’re always super developed.

[@Ffourteen]

Could you do a run as Greece? Start in Athens with the Hellenic faith and eventually create the Roman empire? I don't know, that sounds like a lot.

[@ahmeteminerdogan9266]

Conquering from the steppe is easy but can you play tall in the steppe with max development?

[@bradenbeattie8647]

I've had trouble surviving as Czech in 867 start while keeping my native faith, i think my problem is i'm trying to play tall but i'm curious to see how someone who knows what they are doing does

[@CooltasticOG]

32:30 what is that sound bit?

[@edim108]

Cataphracts are good, but the Georgian Monaspa are just ridiculous. They only get terrain disadvantage in Desert Mountains and Wetlands and get advantage in hills and mountains. They have 10 less damage and 5 less toughness than Cataphracts, but are WAY more versatile and a bit cheaper too. Georgian culture is really strong in CK3: Castle Builders, Hereditary Hierarchy, Caucasian Wolves (Monaspa men-at-arms and number of other bonuses for mountains), and Metalworkers. I've recently played a campaign where I conquered Georgia as Haesteinn, hybridized Norse and Georgian and let me tell you, an army with Monaspa and Varangian Veterans is so damn strong!

[@frankiecedeno3724]

Remember, clan government have opinion based taxes and levies so unless the AI messes up catastrophically they just get stronger and stronger over the years. It also makes them even more vulnerable upon succession change than feudal people.

[@DarthVantos]

32:31 Abassids: WHY DO I HEAR BOSS MUSIC? But Seriously though, what's the name of that track!

[@jpanda79]

I'm doing an Armenia run too! But I picked prince tornik. He's the independent duke to the west thats in the same dynasty. I then married my son to his daughter and inherited the kingdom. So far I've got all the caucuses and am planing to take the north of the black sea to rival Byzantium

[@hardhatlunchpal]

Damn I feel like you could do a follow up to this video where you actually take Constantinople and the holy land at Jerusalem.

[@LuizAlexPhoenix]

I did a Georgian run and those Caucasian Wolves cav are amazing. If anything, you can destroy most infantry armies so fast with them that it becomes cheesy.

[@youtubeconnoisseur3215]

Another game where you fund the losing sides of wars in Europe would be fun

[@ryansavage9067]

Earl Saæxraed of Cumbraland. I keep trying to get somewhere but fail almost immediately every time. Would love to see you make something of it. I’m not very good but it seems like an impossible start

[@ryansavage9067]

Love your videos btw

[@epicshadowdemon1211]

Me with the console version with no Royal Court dlc "Wish i could do this".

[@unknowguy9642]

What your thought about a world conquer? Or a challenge where you try to capture all the holy sites of all religion?

[@TheSolarium18]

it’s pretty boring once you reach a certain point you can’t fail

[@thatdudeoverthere2188]

37:00 Ye, that is the exact track that plays in my head while I dump off land on content fools.

[@electricVGC]

Pretty sure the add some sfx here was an editing note but tbh still felt funny

[@danielkazarian1340]

I love that the game calls Armenia Hayastan when independence is received. It's a pleasure to watch someone play Armenia and bring Armenia to light.

[@Jesse-cc2vm]

Shutup mom, new Zieley just dropped... SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

[@iseeyou5061]

It's not like this are going to be read but here goes. 8:24 Clan goverment benefit. More vassal like their liege the more levy and money they could get. I find one county Clan Kingdom or Empire to be not so bad so long you develop your capital and keep your vassal happy which is easy if you have many virtious/likabpe trait and high diplomacy

[@lukahorvatic2586]

Unite the south slavs with one of the smaller countries like croatia or serbia (the trpimirović start in croatia is really good imo)

[@R3ngad]

Whar County is better Rome or constantinople?