Breaking alliances

I like to play it fair and square as much as I can help it :knight:. It presupposes some ethic code which I set for myself and try not to break it. One of the items of that code is "Never attack an ally" :saint:. Regretfully, that is not always possible as you may be surrounded only by allies and no seaborne invasion is possible :stupid:. In that case I reluctantly violate the code, although it happened like two or three times in 5-6 years I've been playing. Still, I would like to avoid that. One way is not to ally yourself with factions you are likely to attack pretty soon. But again you may found that you HAVE to attack an ally. Is there any way to cancel an alliance without starting a war? It would soothe my remorse if I first break the alliance and only after that attack a neutral faction. Is it only possible when you choose between two allies who are at war? But in this case it wasn't you who could do it but the AI gave you a chance.

There is no other way to break without waror sink a ship - unless you ally with one of that faction's enemies and then choose to stay allied with their enemies. This however may affect your other alliances too. Iirc you get -1 influence for every ally you betray.

Hi

I have the same sensibilities/ethical code. I always try to go neutral towards an "ally" before attacking them (Which is not to say I haven't done a dirty on occasion, and stabbed a faction in the back. But they would always deserve such despicable betrayal.) And, as Gollum says, making an alliance with one of your target's enemies will automatically cancel the arrangement with your "ally".

Best regards
Victor

Sapere aude
Horace

There is a confounding factor when playing as a Catholic faction in the form of the Pope, who threatens to excommunicate whoever he perceives as the aggressor.

For instance, playing the Redux Mod as the French, I had stolen Burgundy (the stupid Burgundians had left it unguarded). Anyway, some turns later the Lombards treacherously attacked and were defeated. The next turn I responded by invading Lombardy; of course the Pope gives me an ultimatum: leave Lombard territory within two years and refrain from attacking for 10. So I subsequently moved my army from Lombardy to Milan (for the pillage and to reduce their buildings), then back to Burgundy before offering a ceasefire.

You could try inviting an attack, if you have a low value province you can leave lightly garrisoned. Or use agents in numbers for their nuisance value: to incite a rebellion or assassinate any target of opportunity.

Also, have a plan of what you intend to achieve once it kicks off. Against smaller factions, going directly for the King, both strategically and on the battlemap, can reap rewards.