Well, I made a few strategic mistakes, so I don't think any newbies can learn too much from that (which was originally my intention).
However, I do think there is something they can learn: how to blob against the Karlings.
The Karlings are the descendants of Carolus Magnus (Charlemagne), and a series of split-up kingdoms). By CK2 rules, same dynasty members are always allied with one another. This makes things very frustrating when you're trying to expand against them, as you'll quickly end up fighting against 3-4 kingdoms.
This can be fun if you're playing as a Karling, but less fun if you're a small Count trying to build his own Empire in a world that they dominate.
In this game, I began as such a Count, and am right now blobbing against them.
Our lovely dynasty at the start of the game.
Note: I have enough land to make Burgundy, but you cannot usurp Burgundy if your liege has it and it is the same tier as his main title, so I need to declare independence. The war is pretty easy because Lotharingia is weak and the Karlings are off fighting their 23rd civil war.
I do an invite/land/press on Slavonia. If this isn't possible, do it on another state near the pagans (within 2 provinces, because you need to be that close to get the Holy War Casus Belli). If that isn't possible, speed up the process along with assassinations. If that isn't possible, try invite/land/press on the states in Spain and go after the Muslims. If that isn't possible, use marriage/assassination/inheritance to get the land you need (they need to be Agnatic/Cognatic for this). If that isn't possible, use Fabricate Claims on a county next to the Pagans.
Make sure you have an alliance with the HRE or the other Karling stated for the next part of this. You won't be fighting them, but you WILL be fighting the Pagans. Offensive Pagans like the Norse or Tengri won't be too difficult to beat with some mercs and minor allied assistance. But the Defensive Pagans (Slav, Romuva) are nightmares even with the HRE on your side, because they are balanced around facing off against massive Christian invasions.
Remember to keep your Piety up so you can use Holy Orders. I wouldn't have won against the Slavs without the Knights Templar.
If the enemy starts to convert after you Holy War them, things get troublesome. You can try to repeat the process in another area, or you can just use other expansion strategies like the marriage game.
In any case, some Holy Wars later, and I formed this!
After becoming an Emperor, the game gets quite a bit easier. You can invite/land/press on the King-tier level. Maintain your ties to the Karlings and you can gobble up some of the lesser Karling states this way. Or you can continue being a zealot and defender of Catholicism as you put the pagans to the sword!
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