u/Extra-Order-2279

Per the title.. I managed to get the “Restore the Roman Empire” decision with my ruler aged 60. I choose hard mode for the invasion CB.

I conquer one empire (Egypt in this case).

Absolutely everything (yes i mean absolutely) went wrong after this:

The year is 1069. I go to conquer the rest of the Arabian Empire:

The Catholics - state change uprising - 30k strong to the east

Ash’arists - state change uprising - 60k strong to the south

The Apostles - state change uprising - 20k meh to the east

Me - “Ok. Not too bad, this will just take a decade or so to clear”

Game - Lol. *BLACK DEATH*

I guess my question is how, on top of this, is one meant to fend off an “advanced” mongol invasion AND clean up the map if the CB is lost on succession?

My player character died of heart failure (as would I with all this bs).

I started playing this game a few months ago, and pretty quickly got the monthly subscription for all the DLC. Now that I have a grasp of what I like I wanted to cancel the membership and outright buy some DLC (Once it comes on sale).

The issue is I find myself in a sort of in-between state wherein I only have the base game at the moment.

As the title states, can I truly just go back to raw dogging the game (no administrative government or adventurers or AUH)?

Are there any mod recs that could inspire some new gameplay while I wait for DLC sales?