I love Nikephoros. Nothing like a romantic warrior king who actually fights a dragon early on and later recovers from his wounds.
Also, in my experience there isn't really much point fiddling around with daughters' marriages. Chances of anything coming of it except for losing a nicely skilled courtier are very slim.
Recalling my last game a couple months back, I'd recommend Ireland to anyone. I started as the count of Mide, and pledged allegiance to Leinster. Leinster later came to control Ulster, and in a war with Munster I managed to become Duke of Munster. I was great friends with the Duke of Leinster, and he fostered his son in my court. Our sons were great friends early on, and I arranged marriages of my son to his daughter and his son to my daughter (Can't remember exactly how I managed to catch that opportunity, probably a mixture of luck and assassination). Needless to say, half a century of great friendship between the duchies culminated in a union of our crowns. I quickly declared myself King of Ireland, and vassalized Connaught.
I went on to go crazy in the next generation, and thus decided to create the first absolute monarchy, stealing all my vassals' lands.
DV is probably my favorite paradox game thus far, I think I'll get DVIP if I have a chance.
And yeah, we want an update!