Well, I can imagine puppeting some states instead of annexing, like Japan has the option with China.

Question is, how realistic do you want it to be, and how much work do you want to put in those events.

Given the starting situation between BYZ and TUR, I have a hard time imagining that the Turks would just roll over. They seriously hate the greeks AND the Greeks will realistically not get the kind of army that would just scare the crap out of Turkey any time soon. So you'd have to test a lot of conditions (get a lot of army, get them to like you, be in a big alliance, etc) and most people would never see it being accepted anyway.

But more importantly, wouldn't the Greeks want their cores back?

I could see puppeting Bulgaria, though. It was at least officially a vassal of the Byzantine empire most of the time that both existed, and its army was very weak all the way into the '40's. So if you put a lot of diplomatic effort AND a show of overwhelming military power, yeah, it could happen.

Just as an idea, though, since BYZ can make its own faction (in a Bender voice, "With blackjack! And hookers!";)), how about just befriending some neighbours instead? Bulgaria sure preferred a non-aggression with Greece even when it had Italy's backing, so I'd assume an alliance with an even more powerful Byzantium wouldn't be particularly unlikely via a focus.

Hungary was quite butthurt about Romania and Czechoslovakia for a long time, and kept being butthurt all the way to the second Vienna award, because Germany didn't give them EVERYTHING they wanted. Like, they didn't give Hungary Slovakia.

Since Hungary was another long term on-and-off ally and occasional subservient helper to the Byzantines in the early and high middle ages, I could see both working out an alliance against Romania and Czechoslovakia. IF Germany doesn't give them Slovakia the first time around, that is, in which case they'd just go with Germany.

Question is, though, Romania invariably joins the Axis, so do you want an alliance that would get you a war against Germany? :p

I agree with jagdtiger first thing that comes to my mind is that BYZ should a focus tree that gives you legitimate claims(or a direct war) in Turkey. When that focus is finished it should fire an event to the major powers on which side to support, BYZ or TUR (maybe an opinion boost or Political Points boost or Army volunteers or something else).

Also, I was thinking about Allies or Axis in BYZ. What about requesting UK to return Cyprus to be in the Allies OR by partitioning Yugoslavia (Albania and Macedonia to BYZ, Dalmatia to ITA and Slovenia to GER)?

Alternately (as in, one of those either-or choices) you could probably ally with Romania against Hungary, especially if you go fascist and the Legionnaires have their way over there.

Thing about the Legion / Iron Guard in Romania is that they made a HUGE deal out of orthodoxy. Most of Zelea-Codreanu's rethoric and book goes on and on about the Jews not only as enemies of Xianity in general, but specifically about the ORTHODOX Romanians. And their supposed emasculation, loss of virility, and other such BS as to how they came to be less successful than the Jews.

Mind you, he was an idiot. But the outright obsession with Orthodoxy wouldn't make it too unbelievable to join the Orthodox Byzantines, instead of the Germans.

In fact, Romania should probably even have an improbable option to say "screw you, we're joining the Byzantines" on its own, if Germany tries to pull the second Vienna dictate. And possibly (again improbably, but on their own) try to join you after the USSR takes Bessarabia, if you've got your own faction.

Romanians also always made a huge deal of their Roman heritage, and not just the fascists. And in all fairness, their language IS almost exclusively derived from Vulgar Latin. IIRC they have like a dozen word total from the pre-Roman Dacians. So they're not wrong about being descendants of the Romans.

Which might make it plausible to join the Roman Empire if it exists again.

Of course, such an alliance can -- and probably WILL -- eventually get you into a war against both the Germans AND the USSR. Which can go south faster than the Vikings in winter, but could be interesting.

@YourAverageNewb
True, I was just thinking the same about Cyprus too. I could see a plausible deal to get Cyprus from the UK, in exchange for joining the Allies, if they're already in a war against any major power.

And partitioning Yugoslavia sounds like an awesome idea. Wish I'd thought of that.

I think Italy would want to keep Albania, though.

Yeah the Albania part is a bit different, but the borders will be beautiful hehe.

Anyway, I also thought of a focus that will give a Navy Techboost (if BYZ and ITA are in the same faction) to give them some naval superiority in the Mediterranean.

EDIT: Maybe ditch Navy Techboost for Massive techboost to 1 Tank and 1 Doctrine if BYZ decided to join Axis OR a Massive techboost to Industry and Firearms tech if BYZ wants to join the Soviets? But I still don't have an idea if BYZ decided to join the Allies.

The idea definitely has merit, but then to keep it fair, I'd give all factions SOME kind of advantage you can negotiate if you join them. The comintern could give you something like a 5% tank research bonus, for example. Or maybe a 5% build speed, since they sure built a LOT of ugly concrete houses and factories fast?

So either ors for befriending/claiming like the Germans have? Maybe a focus to handle cyprus like germany and sudetenland? I'll see what I can type up tonight.

How about the military and industrial side? Changes or rearranges there?

I would like focuses to sort of guide the byz to retaking the all the territory that was once part of the roman empire.

Well, that does make sense as an option. And I'm not opposed to it existing, of course.

What I'm saying is that realistically a politician could also go for an approach less based on nationalist ideals, and more on basically what works with the least resistance to get a good defensive alliance. Whether you want to do all the work to implement that too, well, that's another question.

I'll put some together after work. Will hopefully have them added later tonight.

Oh, btw, how about a simple focus that Greece should have had all along: the Metaxas Line. You know, their border forts.

Could even have two focus to research: the 155 km line as they actually managed to build it by the time they were attacked, and building the rest basically.

Dont see why not. How many forts should it add to each state? Regarding friend or enemy maybe add a liberate slash puppet too? Can we do three mutually exclusive focuses? At work now so can't check.

Japan has three, or so, focuses that add a National Spirit.
Could we have some of those?
Maybe something like "Phoenix Reborn", which could maybe do something like increased organization, or organization regain rate.
"Greek Fire"... something to do with flamethrowers. Infantry or naval strength, if possible?

Maybe some claims on Italy/lower France/eastern Spain and North Africa to get back Western Rome?

Yeah we probably could. There is a spartan one that ive been pondering where to place. Should it be mixed into an existing column or be its own?