


The player can then decide to go into Asia, into the remaining Middle East, India, China or even colonise the Americas. After Westernisation the expansion areas are in any direction. As a theocracy the ruler can be used as a General without worrying about the succession, so use them until a suitable monarch arrives. The main requirements are Centralisation and Innovative sliders with a Ruler with high Administrative skill. To be able to deal with the Europeans it is necessary to Westernise, see the How to Westernise guide for a more detailed walkthrough. Instead break into smaller nations and force vassals, they can then be annexed later as part of missions. Persia is a different culture from the Middle East so there are no instant cores to inherited provinces from a Personal Union, even if the player can get out of the Theocracy this is not a suitable expansion strategy. Try to attack during a Tribal Succession Crisis and take provinces that cut Persian culture off from the Timurids main body, sponsor rebels in the cut off provinces and wait for defection. Once the minor hordes are dealt with, either absorbed by the player or by another local nation such as the Ottomans the task is to deal with the Timurids. The best solution is to pay of the Timurids early while the player's economy is small and the tribute is tiny, as the economy grows the proportion the tribute costs is reduced. Persia will face constant trouble from the minor hordes such as Qara Koyunlu, Ak Koyunlu and Nogai, however the major threat is the Timurids. Each start has the same basic requirements, the player needs to deal with the hordes, reclaim their cores and Westernise. Either by completing the Form Persian Nation decision, or revolting from one of the hordes or by selecting the formed nation later in the timeline. Persia is not available at the start of the Grand Campaign and can be played from several starts.
