warning from the pope

Wondering exactly how this works...

France was my ally, but they suddenly attacked me. Next round, I attack back and take 3 provinces (but some of their troops are still hiding in the forts). Now the pope gives me a warning. If I attack the forts on the same turn I got the warning, will I be excommed? Or do I have 2 turns in which I can attack, after which I need to stop or be excommed?

If I can't attack the forts, then I have to withdraw and basically give up the provinces and I gained nothing.

If you get a papal warning, then you must assault the forts you are besieging the turn after you get the warning. If you besiege for another year, then assault, you will be excommunicated. Also, you cannot invade the turn after you get a warning, then assault the turn after that or you will be excommunicated. So basically once you recieve the warning, no new offensives other than immediately assaulting castles. If you dont mind getting excommunicated, then go ahead and just ignore it.

What Armchair Athlete said is correct and the great thing is now you can attack anyone you please after you assault those castles because the pope can only track one warning.

I'm pretty sure it's instant excommunication if you attack Papal States or Rome, true? Could you use that one tracking warning system against the Pope (i.e. get warned against France and then wipe out Rome without fear of being Ex'd)?

I believe that is correct - if you attack the Pope (or his lands, I think) it's instant ex-com

In my first (practice) game, I tried taking out the pope, it was not too hard, but immediately Spain launched a crusade at me. That plus the fact that the Pope ALWAYS comes back, make it not really worth doing - unless near end game.


-- Caveat --
I'm still pretty new to the game myself, so anything I say above could be completely, 100% wrong. But I won't post something unless I'm relatively certain I understand it correctly. Use at your own risk. :shrug:

oops - can't edit my posts yet.

That would be instant ex-com - even if you have already been warned by him (I believe)