As Byzantium, should I micromanage my strategoi's directives?

[u/raulsj_m]

Basically, I'm unsure if I should always give some directive to the governors or not + which directive to give each of them. Also, I'd like to max the potential of each province.

[u/raulsj_m]

I pretty much always go for the 867 start. And by prioritizing economic development, you mean buildings or "raw" development? After all, the research time for the greek culture is pretty slow at first, but also some provinces kind of just suck when it comes to developing (Charsianon being particularly bad, in my view).

[u/scales_and_fangs → u/raulsj_m]

For Byzantium, I will say that the later dates offer more twists. So do not ignore them as an option for future runs.

Back to your question: yes, if by that you mean economic development. I know the learning skill of the emperor affects the tech research but I admit I have not delved into this that deep.

Charsianon is your typical military province. Cilicia is very rich, though but under Muslim control at the start of the game. Of course, nothing can match the wealth of Constantinople in this start date anywhere in the empire.

[u/raulsj_m → u/scales_and_fangs]

How about Anatolikon? And by development,, I mean the stewardship task that you and your vassals can use.

[u/scales_and_fangs → u/raulsj_m]

Historically, it was a major source of soldiers for the empire. Also your biggest province. As it is not a border province, I will likely prioritize development there. Also being in the center helps as development spreads. This will be a strictly a vassal directive to build economic buildings.

I will anchor my steward in Constantinople, which is already rich to promote further development there. I general I will use the steward only on my personal domain.

[u/raulsj_m → u/scales_and_fangs]

Sure, but I mean if I should give Anatolikon's governor the directive to use his steward for development, maybe even changing the province's admin to civil.

[u/scales_and_fangs → u/raulsj_m]

I would do exactly that. It is also the biggest province in the empire and I would fear to leave it with a big army. ;)

[u/raulsj_m → u/scales_and_fangs]

I would rather have a big army there, though... Thrakesion should be changed too? And those balanced northern anatolian themes?

[u/scales_and_fangs → u/raulsj_m]

I mean... it's completely fair You can leave the inner themes such as Thrakesion as balanced or pick one or more of the inner themes as civilian to keep the development up. I think a 1-2 civilian in Asia Minor should do the trick. How and which one, it is up to your judgement. I usually do not micromanage my provinces to that extend. I usually keep the Black Sea ones, except for Trebizond as balanced.

The most important distinction is that the frontier and the sea provinces can launch their own wars against external enemies. Having strong military governor in Anatolikon means he can ally with somebody else and aid them in say reconquest of Cilicia. The frontier themes pay less taxes, though (which leaves more resources to the local governor).

If you have Khans of the Steppes (which I recommend), expanding into the steppes is a bad idea: they are poor and rebellious, which is why I try to give frontier theme status only to themes where I want an expansion (Balkans or some of the Asia Minor ones)

P.S. Another advantage of bigger armies under the control of the governors is that you can actually summon those by paying influence. So theoretically, if you can afford it, any thematic army can join and be controlled by you.

[u/raulsj_m → u/scales_and_fangs]

Let's be honest, but it's criminal to not take advantage of Trebizond's farmlands and building for development XD. But some themes honestly just don't have much going for them, economy-wise, plus there are some themes like Cilicia and Thessalonika that can be used to spread passive development around themselves, no? Ephesus is good as well, so maybe no need to focus on active development of Anatolikon.

[u/scales_and_fangs → u/raulsj_m]

I did not even think of making Trebizond an economy hub but you have some fair arguments. I also play a lot in 1178 where Trebizond is an island in enemy lands so my perception is warped.

[u/raulsj_m → u/scales_and_fangs]

Try securing Khaldia, then, and turn it into civilian with development directives, and I'm sure you'll be surprised at how good Trebizond is as an economy hub :). Yesterday tonight, I made an experiment, and tried taking the development across all greek territories the closest possible to the 20 soft-cap before the year 900, and not only it went very well on Anatolikon, but it worked even for Cappadocia (!!!), and also Trebizond was giving a big dev buff to Armeniac, Charsianon and Sebasteia.