Operation: Divine Shield

[Sheogorath]

As I briefly discussed in my post in the Scottish strategy topic, I came across an interesting method of staving off any expansionist neighbors you happen to have.
This method is quite simple, if you already happen to have an excess of cities and cash, and will generally stop your non-psychotic Catholic neighbors in their tracks.

Its fairly simple:
Give/sell cities in key locations to the Pope. As Scotland, I stopped the Danes (who had attacked me about ten times in the past) from invading me ever again by the simple expedient of giving the Pope Bruges (I think, the name escapes me at the moment >_>)
After some experimentation, I've sealed Spain off from Europe with a combination of myself and the Pope (all Spanish armies have to come through the pass under my control, due to Spain being the Popes whipping boy this game around), and my ally France has been saved from a nasty beating by Milan when I kicked Milan out of modern France and signed a city over to the Pope, locking Milan in with their friendly neighbors, the Sicilians (who, by the way, have turned Venice into a Greek state.)

Call it an exploit or cheat if you will, it keeps your relations with the Pope up and can neatly ensure that you get your choice for Pope.
I've also found that Jerusalem seldom rebels in the hands of his Holiness. YOU dont get it, but at least you dont have to crusade for it every decade because the AI is too stupid to hold it properly.

[sapi]

This has been mentioned before, but i've yet to see a viable way of doing so with the new seabourne invasions (as you'd have to give up all youru territory that borders the sea)

[Sheogorath]

Just stick some ships at the various straits, a bit difficult if your fighting, say, the Spanish, but it can be done.

[PureFodder]

I found this to work a treat. The computer has some odd rules about where and when it will launch seabourne invasions. Only certain settlements appear to actually launch invasions and they seem to be quite predictable in their targets. The computer is very resistant to sending invasions against settlements on the same land mass. I've found Iberia to be completely safe from naval invasions from Europe. Italy won't ever bother the south of France.

Selling the province to the Pope just before the computer takes the settlement back will result in the invading faction getting an instant excommunication too.

[katank]

I have doubts about the same landmass theory. I've seen Italian faction invade Valencia or Zaragosa quite a few times post patch.

[PureFodder]

But have you ever seen France do it? Has anyone seen the Scotts sail from Edinburgh to London to attack there? Will Itallians land in Marseille or Tolouse?
As the Moors I grabbed Caen and Rennes, the French still had Bruges. Despite having a great big army in Antwerp, the Danes just sat there for turn after turn. The second I took London, they stuffed their army on a boat and landed in London. The computer really doesn't like skipping armies down the coast to come get you which is why I've found Papal sheilds to be very effective.

[Wizzie]

But have you ever seen France do it?

France usually becomes so butchered in my campaigns that they have no chance to do it.

Has anyone seen the Scotts sail from Edinburgh to London to attack there?

I saw the Scots sail to York once.

Will Itallians land in Marseille or Tolouse?

In my Spanish campaign the Sicilians launched a Naval invasion on my at Marseilles. Milan is handier attacking over the alps, and Venice usually expands into Byzantium.

[Kraggenmor]

Selling the province to the Pope just before the computer takes the settlement back will result in the invading faction getting an instant excommunication too.

oooooo....bit of a nasty trick there but, I like it!