Who attacked who?

[kawligia]

I read in a post somewhere that somebody decided to be a "good catholic". He only accepted alliances with catholics, crusaded against infidels and the excommunicated, build churches etc......and only sided with the defender when it came time to choose allies.

I think that type of game would be very interesting. But how in the world do you know how attacked who?

My only guess is the order of the names in the "choose your allies" screen. It says: two of your allies have engaged in hostilities. Do you wish to remain allied to faction A? This will cancel your alliance with faction B.

Does the order in that statement implicate who is the aggressor? Or am I completely wrong and there is a different way to find out.....or no way at all?

[Myrano]

If you have spies/emissaries/ships/princesses/other agents around so you can keep watch on the border provinces, you can usually tell who attacked who(m? stupid pronouns).
I am not aware that that screen you were referring to carries the information. (

[Servius]

yeah, that's the kind of game I play too. I only ally with Catholic factions, though only if they're a neighbor and if they have neighboring provinces that I don't want to take in the near future, or if they offer their daughter. I also ally with the Pope and defend him against the Germans, Italians, Sicilians, and Byzantines if/when they bug him (though the Pope is a VERY fickle ally).

But, with your question, I too don't know. It's either some sort of agent and a sharp attention to continental troop movements skill, or the game does order those things based on attacker/defender but you'd have to experiment to figure out which the game says first.

OR, you could find the old post, find the guy who posted it, and make a post addressed to them. Hopefully they'll see it and answer your question.

[The_678]

I think I remember the topic you were talking about. I think it was a guy who talking a German HRE campaign he was doing in which he didn't attack and only built up his provinces. Hope this helps http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif

[insolent1]

I tried this style of play when game first came out but its kinda pointless as alliances mean very little to the AI as soon as you show a weakness in a province they will normally attack regardless of how long you have been allied to them. There are times when they won't though but its normally very rare. If you are not allied to them it can be the same as been allied to them. I only accept alliances if a princess is sent & only if one my first 2 heirs are unmarried. As muslims or Orthodox I never accept alliances & never seek them(if you are allied to a crusading faction they are less likely to crusade against you). There will also comes a point in the game when you get to a certain size that noone will want to ally with you or noone will except ceasefires. I only use emissaries to bribe or to strip titles & if i'm a christian faction I use them to secure princess's for my heirs. They don't even make good spies as they attract a lot of assassins,priests/bishops/alims are better for spying.
Its also impossible to tell who started a war unless you have ships or spies that are able to observe the first attack although some guesswork can be used ie Spanish nearly always attack the almohads.

[Lehesu]

Actually, I was playing as the Egyptians in the Early period and established an alliance with the Byzantines so that I could stomp the Turks. Even after I did, and was on the Byzantine border, they were still allied me. All the way from the early period to the late.

[insolent1]

Byzantines are more likely to keep alliances as their faction is default orthodox stagnant. As the turks On late I can take their best province(Constantinople) off them with no problems & get a ceasefire next turn, the only reason I would look for a ceasefire is because I need to avoid a seawar with them & get my ships down to protect Anatolia from Egyptian invasion.

[chilling]

I've been English allied to the French since the start of my latest campaign. I've had them turn up to help me against the HRE, Spanish and Italians so far. They are good mates.


Still they'll have to be dealt with soon. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-smile.gif

[PseRamesses]

Hey guys, back to the topic
Is there a way to see which one of your allies that is the agressor? I´d really like to know.

[chilling]

The only way I know is if you see it happen at the end of turn when you see all the moves.

It pays to have an extensive networks of units snooping. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[PseRamesses]

Quote[/b] (chilling @ Feb. 01 2004,04:58)]It pays to have an extensive networks of units snooping. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Yup, I´m all over with theese guys.

[The Tuffen]

I tried playing as a good catholic last nite with the HRE, problem is France and England went to war so I thought that I'd attack the frech to help out the english, accidently got excomm for staying in the Ile de France for too long. Then the urge to just attack everyone was too great, ended up taking out the entire Italian royal family. and most of the french. Now have the Pope in my sights.

[chilling]

You should really wait until one or other of them gets the finger from the Pope. You can then better yourself whilst earing brownie points with his Holiness, for what it's worth.

[kiwitt]

It was me who posted it.

After many campaigns I have found it is usually the larger AI faction that is the aggressor in Allies vs Allies. So I chose the smaller defender. This has been my experience.

While this may not be right in most cases; Being larger, the AI Faction is more likely to be excommunicated for attacking another Catholic and hence a target for your crusades. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Hope that helps.

PS:My HRE Campign is nearly over, with only a handful of faction provinces left.

[The Tuffen]

Quote[/b] ]You should really wait until one or other of them gets the finger from the Pope. You can then better yourself whilst earing brownie points with his Holiness, for what it's worth.

I would of waited but i think the French would of kicked the English's ass. I might try and be good again when the pope dies.

[kawligia]

So is the order in the "coose your allies" screen random?

Maybe it is just the order in which you allied with them.

[Kaboom]

Someone said the computer give you the choice to remain ally with the more influence King. Not check this yet.

[Brutal DLX]

This is an interesting question, but I have to admit I don't know the answer to it. But the "choose your allies" question could well be related to either the size of the factions, the influence of their kings or to who was the aggressor. Or it could be that the questions favours the longer lasting alliance or it is just completely random.

I will pay more attention to this in my campaigns, perhaps there is a pattern.