Everybody Hates Prussia

Touching on my theory that the AI is programmed to hate the human more if he or she plays as certain factions, I have noticed that when one plays as Prussia, the AI hates you severely.

In the past few days I have begun several campaigns as Prussia, and each time I have had DOW's up the wazoo in the first few turns, even when I'm not being aggressive at all. In the first campaign I tried a few days ago, on Hard/Medium, which is how I always play, I did nothing on my first turn but shuffle ministers and make trade agreements. Poland was the first to declare war, but their allies all refused to join. In the next turn, as each nation cycled through its turns, Hannover, Britain, Saxony, Sweden, Courland, Austria and Russia all declared war on me. Keep in mind that I hadn't made any aggressions at all, I just shuffled ministers and upgraded buildings and bulked up my military.

In my latest campaign, I believe it is the third I have started as Prussia so far, I made no aggressions at all. I sold Konigsberg to Sweden on turn 1 in an attempt to ward off a DOW by Poland. I thought it had worked, as Poland and Sweden went to war on turn 2, with Poland raiding Konigsberg and laying siege to it. On turn 3 however, they declared war on me, despite me having only Brandemburg, and having made no aggressions. They were joined by Austria and Saxony on turn 4, Great Britain on turn 5, and Russia and Courland on turn 6. Of course, none of them will engage in any diplomacy with me.

With this I was forced to go on a rampage. I took Vienna and sacked it, and handed it over to the Ottomans. I left a defence force of 6 line infantry and a general in Brandemburg, which was attacked often. I took Warsaw and sacked it, and also handed it to the Ottomans. Took back Konigsberg and West Prussia from the Poles and wiped out Saxony, which has somewhat stabilized my economy. I at least have an income and a chance of survival now, but even though I have the upper hand on both Austria and Poland, neither will yield to diplomacy. They're getting screwed hard in every battle too, since I researched fire by rank.

However, just as the AI hated the player more when he plays certain factions, when he plays others the AI behaves in a reasonable manner. Austria seems to be one such nation. The Ottomans and Prussians will always hate you as Austria, but aside from that, other nations are more than willing to engage in diplomacy with you. Poland and Russia are happy to work with you to defeat Prussia and the Austrians, and your protectorates and allies will always be faithful.

Has anybody else found any other nations that the AI doesn't mind you playing as, or hates you when you play as the, even if you play peacefully?

I have to ask, because it affects how the AI sees you, but what campaign difficulty level do you play at?

In general, the AI hates you more on the harder difficulties. On "Normal", at least with version 1.5, the AI seems to be very sensible in it's diplomacy with you, and you aren't treated any different than the AI factions. Granted, I haven't played Prussia in 1.5 yet so that might be different.

Also, have you monitored your diplo status? Playing Austria as 1.4, I discovered (the hard way) that if you attack a faction that has given you military access, you get nailed with a -50 "broken treaty" penalty amongst virtually everyone. That is a quick way to everyone hating you, and effectively means that Austria cannot attack Venice, and the French cannot attack the Cherokee (which they need to finish the Louisiana mission) w/o making everyone else hate them.

I get the same thing. Prussia alarms its neighbors.... part of the deal is it is protestant, the other is that it is militarily strong... now on to my current experience:

by 1720 (at 1723 now) I was allied with P-L 3 times (third one is a charm) the second time they offered an alliance if I would give them the 2nd farming tech upgrade, which I did. They then broke the alliance the next turn.... but fortunately took my offer once Russia and Austria were at war with them.

Austria is currently at war with me... they have been on and off for 20 years..... I took Silesia, Bohemia (a second time), Vienna, and Wurttemburg (from Wurttemburg, then from Austria). they are a pain, and down to 3 territories with P-L and the Ottomans picking away, yet will not accept peace; funny Austria has a huge navy too

France is now of the continent, with 2 territories in Africa, I took France (gave it to P-L), Flanders (from Spain, gave it to Britain, whom France attacked, thus gaining an ally), and Alsace. Now Spain has its original territories plus France (flanders is held by Flemish rebels)

UP declared war on me nearly immediately, so I invaded across Hannover (made a deal) and took them out

Hannover got taken out by Saxony (allied and had access), which got taken out by Bavaria (whom I am no longer at war with) Bavaria has Saxony, Hannover, and Bavaria

Sweden declared war and did nothing, and then became a trade partner.....

Westphalia and Wurttemburg I took out (as well as Hessen, after an uprising)

Russia is at war with me, Sweden, P-L, and the ottomans... so they haven't been anything more than annoying

Courland was an ally, but Russia took them out

The Italian states are still in Italy....

Crimean Khanate and the Mughal Empire are gone

Britain is on good terms with me

All that in 20 years...... denmark is still in it too, usually Sweden takes Denmark to rot on Iceland