Re: Being nice......works???
I haven't done exactly the same thing, but I have played Poland as a "good Catholic," only attacking "heretics" (orthodox) and "infidels" (Muslim) and excommunicates. It did not work in the end because I was playing conquest, not glorious achievements, so eventually I had to attack the pope and replace him with a puppet. Some good Catholic! I might try it again with GA, or simply roleplay it without worrying about victory conditions.
Re: Being nice......works???
Unfortunately, you won't be getting any trade with Hungary unless you can trade with them by sea. Trade over land in MTWI only takes place in the form of local trade, within a province that has a Trader or higher built there - not with any other provinces, though.
Shame, really, especially in XL, as the Salt tradeable good (as opposed to the resource) brings in quite a nice sum, about 60-70 florins per port...and only one province can trade it with anyone else (Saxony). I assume, of course, that you are playing unmodded MTW, but it's still a shame there - could always do with extra income at times.
Re: Being nice......works???
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaidonni
Unfortunately, you won't be getting any trade with Hungary unless you can trade with them by sea. Trade over land in MTWI only takes place in the form of local trade, within a province that has a Trader or higher built there - not with any other provinces, though.
Yeah....wasn't totally sure but just as their castle was about to fall I decided I would intervene....just in case.
That, and HRE was being a real......not nice AI.....so had to be stopped :pirate2:
Re: Being nice......works???
I agree with all of the above, being nice does work. Although i think it depends whats faction you as to how nice you should/have to be. But even if you have the goody goody foreign policy its always still vital to have waves of high rating spys, assassins, and emissaries to conclude your bidding for the turn.
Re: Being nice......works???
This is how I play most campaignes and it does work for me in general. Most of the time though it's more like I want to start a war with soemone but don't wantr to get ex-commed or make too many enemies to fast so I honour my alliances and only take out rebells and ex-commed catholics.
I find that this puts me in a good position to be a giant slayer. I generally have a good standing army, reasonably well developed provinces and get a chance to establish a navy, trade and have some cash in the bank. I'm neither the largest, richest or strongest but still a reasonable threat.
Then, when it becomes clear that one faction (usually France) is dominating and crushing all resistance, but making a lot of enemies in the process, I gather my forces and strike somewhere vulnerable to start eating away at their homelands while their main forces are off conquering and pacifiying new lands somewhere else.
Often this forces them to abandon their conquests and return to face my forces, giving other factions an opportunity to recover and launch a counter attack. Either that or they try to ignore me and hope their garrisons can hold me off (which they can't), or they have to split their forces and try to fight on multiple fronts forcing them to split up good troops and commanders to different parts of the map that can't reinforce each other.
Once they start to lose a few provinces and their troops get stretched thinner, rebellions can start up and if you're lucky, a civil war or re emergence in their territory will occur and their house of cards topples. Their enemies gather and reclaim their lands and the hunter becomes the prey.
Meanwhile I've grabbed a bunch of new territories and developed my own position, the it's time to consolidate and look for the next opportunity.
Re: Being nice......works???
Quote:
Originally Posted by putts
How many people have done campaigns like this? (totally playing by the rules, not starting wars unless someone asks for it, etc.) How much success have people had with them?
Yes, I always do. You see, every enemy faction in the game is asking for it, by being on MY land and thereby automatically opposing my rightful rule over the entire map.:beam:
Re: Being nice......works???
Quote:
Originally Posted by kamikhaan
Yes, I always do. You see, every enemy faction in the game is asking for it, by being on MY land and thereby automatically opposing my rightful rule over the entire map.:beam:
Ah yes, but when to exercise your divine right to rule, and over whom at what time? This is the question facing all tyrants in the making!! IMHO slow and steady wins the race - rapid expansion through attacking other factions can be very dangerous. All it takes is one unexpected attack by a significant force in your home teritories and suddenly your game is in ruins.
The bigger your empire, the harder it is to secure your borders and once there's a crack in your armour it can be hard to stop the flood. Choose your victims wisely and always keep a watchful eye on your borders. I often leave a decent general at home somewhere central, ready to assemble and command a defensive force just in case someone starts getting ideas....
Re: Being nice......works???
I tend to play like this as well - only attacking traditional enemies - e.g. Scots and English or opposing religions. I try to honour alliances and try to attack only once I have been attacked.
For example in my current Scotish XL campaign I have attacked and wiped out the English, taking over the Iberian penisula after I had been attacked by Aragon/ Spain and the Almos were Muslim so I did my Holy duty. The Portugesse reappeared so I sorted them out. I stayed allied to the French for a long time, but they were falling apart so I have attacked them which is a little off line but feels like it is historically accurate in that i stepped in on a failing nation to prevent my rivals - mainly the danes - from getting too strong.
I have found that this way of playing is more satisfying than just randomly striking out at everybody.
Re: Being nice......works???
My policy is as follows:
1) Attack only if attacked.
2) Do not attack allies
3) If attacked by neutral, respond defensively
4) If attacked by ally, respond aggressively
Re: Being nice......works???
I tried playing defensively in my recent campaigns, but it never seems to work out.
First I was England, allied to pretty much everyone and keeping to my own starting provinces and nearby rebel ones. After 50 or so odd years, HRE and France launch a joint invasion of my lands and afterwards no one wants to be allied with me.
Second I was Spain. Took the enarby rebel ones and ended up at war with the Moors after they invaded me on turn 5 or 6. Pushed them to Cyraenica (or whatever that place to the left of Egypt is called) and then played defensive, building large forces at my borders to prevent any invasion. Next thing I know, Aragon attacks me with their lone king and two heirs where I have some 1000 troops. I wipe Aragon off the map, them only having one province.
Two turns later, France launches a full scale invasion and everyone else starts ganging up on me via naval attacks or simply refusing to ally with me.
Re: Being nice......works???
Quote:
Originally Posted by FactionHeir
I tried playing defensively in my recent campaigns, but it never seems to work out.
First I was England, allied to pretty much everyone and keeping to my own starting provinces and nearby rebel ones. After 50 or so odd years, HRE and France launch a joint invasion of my lands and afterwards no one wants to be allied with me.
Don't worry too much about alliances. They give an inlfuence boost to your leader but not much else. They can also be useful when your ally is besieged. Relieving the siege also gives your leader an influence boost. Attacking an ally reduces influence. It is good to thing of alliances as anything except long term relations. The "ally" will backstab you, it's just a matter of when rather than if.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FactionHeir
Second I was Spain. Took the enarby rebel ones and ended up at war with the Moors after they invaded me on turn 5 or 6. Pushed them to Cyraenica (or whatever that place to the left of Egypt is called) and then played defensive, building large forces at my borders to prevent any invasion. Next thing I know, Aragon attacks me with their lone king and two heirs where I have some 1000 troops. I wipe Aragon off the map, them only having one province.
Two turns later, France launches a full scale invasion and everyone else starts ganging up on me via naval attacks or simply refusing to ally with me.
France are always an issue. You should concentrate on their removal early on, or if you don't want to completely wipe them out, weaken them sufficently by taking at least Flanders, Brittany and Toulouse early.
Re: Being nice......works???
Quote:
Originally Posted by caravel
My policy is as follows:
1) Attack only if attacked.
2) Do not attack allies
3) If attacked by neutral, respond defensively
4) If attacked by ally, respond aggressively
Basically the same except that I would add:
5) If attacked by ally, I kill all prisoners in every battle.:skull:
6) If attacked by ally, I turn down any subsequent offer for a cease-fire :furious3: except if there is absolutely no alternative at all :oops: in which case I lay low for a while and prepare my revenge ....:book::juggle2:
7) If attacked by ally, I start to assassinate all its strategic agents - especially princesses ...:skull:
8) If I get into a civil war, I always kill all the capured rebels.:skull:
Basically playing the nice guys :beam: as long as I don't feel betrayed :furious3: ....
Re: Being nice......works???
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jxrc
Basically the same except that I would add:
5) If attacked by ally, I kill all prisoners in every battle.:skull:
I can see the roleplay significance but I still tend not to do this for the reasons I stated in the other thread re prisoners.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jxrc
6) If attacked by ally, I turn down any subsequent offer for a cease-fire :furious3: except if there is absolutely no alternative at all :oops: in which case I lay low for a while and prepare my revenge ....:book::juggle2:
I always accept ceasfires. I tend to give the AI the chance to redeem itself. It usually fails miserable in this and soon attacks again, in which case I will be prepared. If they follow it up with an allianced offer I'll refuse it however.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jxrc
7) If attacked by ally, I start to assassinate all its strategic agents - especially princesses ...:skull:
I alway assassinate any and all strategic agents that enter my territory whether allied, neutral or enemy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jxrc
8) If I get into a civil war, I always kill all the capured rebels.:skull:
Basically playing the nice guys :beam: as long as I don't feel betrayed :furious3: ....
Here we are the opposite. In a roleplay sense I always release them regarding them as countrymen that have been deceived. I give them another chance and let them go to think over this and spread the word to others who might be thinking about rebellion.
:bow:
Re: Being nice......works???
I've been having a go at the Bohemians in XL3, and playing "nice", in as much as I've been honouring all my alliances and have managed to go over 200 years without being excommunicated once. (Okay, I've had a couple of warnings, but that was mostly a case of "Ooh, ooh, your Holiness, look at me! I just attacked the French...." to which he duly slaps my wrists, I leave the French alone for a while - and go and finish off the HRE :laugh4: It has certainly made for some interesting strategic decisions, walking the 'excommunication tight-rope'.
It's not going too badly, I control the British Isles (bar Ireland, who've remained faithfull allies since 1088 or thereabouts - it's now 1298) - and I have Flanders to Venice to Lithuania, and have a fortress in Bohemia, and another building in Franconia.
My response to attacking factions varies with the situation - if they're good Catholics I just have to be defensive and keep beating back their invasions. If they're excommed, orthodox or muslim, then full and swift retribution. But particular punishment is reserved for naval powers who think it's a good idea to sink my ships. They usually only last a couple of decades after that. I take a dim view of piracy, state-sponsored or not :laugh4:
Re: Being nice......works???
I usually play as the good Catholic(esp as Poland).
I try to play a defensive war, picking unprotected territories along the way, until I get the excom warning. Then I lie low...
Then strike again! fufufufu...:laugh4: :beam:
I strike vs either the hre or the huns but NOT at the same time.
Re: Being nice......works???
Quote:
Originally Posted by caravel
I can see the roleplay significance but I still tend not to do this for the reasons I stated in the other thread re prisoners.
No benefit in the long term but fun (try to use another general once the previous one get the secret blood lover v&fv though).
Last week-end, playing as the Poles I go attacked by the HRE. Took Bohemia and they tried to reclaim it the next turn. Had 600 troops (1 FMA, 2 FS, 1 RK and the rest were mounted X-boxs and MS - 4 stars general), they had 2600 (mostly UM and spearmen - no star). Ended in a suprisingly quick mass rout for them. Took 2300 prisoners ... Just felt so good to push that "sword" button ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by caravel
I always accept ceasfires. I tend to give the AI the chance to redeem itself. It usually fails miserable in this and soon attacks again, in which case I will be prepared. If they follow it up with an allianced offer I'll refuse it however.
An advantage of refusing the ceasefire is indeed that to do not become disappointed by the erratic behaviour of the IA in such cases :laugh4:
Quote:
Originally Posted by caravel
I alway assassinate any and all strategic agents that enter my territory whether allied, neutral or enemy.
How shocking of you !!!:chucks:
Only kill emmissaries who stay there spying, other religion priests and inquisitors. Princesses and ministers of my faction's religion, I usually let live. Just the god-abiding gentleman in me :laugh4:
Quote:
Originally Posted by caravel
Here we are the opposite. In a roleplay sense I always release them regarding them as countrymen that have been deceived. I give them another chance and let them go to think over this and spread the word to others who might be thinking about rebellion.
Rebelious subjects are either ill-intended or decevied fools !!! In both instances, a good all slaughter is justfied be it for retribution or stricly darwinist purposes :clown:
Foreign rebels are not supposed to know better so there is good reason to give them a chance to make amend.
Re: Being nice......works???
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jxrc
How shocking of you !!!:chucks:
Only kill emmissaries who stay there spying, other religion priests and inquisitors. Princesses and ministers of my faction's religion, I usually let live. Just the god-abiding gentleman in me :laugh4:
Well I usually play as muslim or orthodox factions and it often comes to pass once in a while that a "gang" of bishops move into my territory and start preaching all kinds of nonsense which only serves to confuse the locals. I generally give them a year then if it transpires that they have made themselves comfortable I will proceed to send a few of my hooded gentlemen in for "training". :book2:
Also if a somewhat camp gentlemen in a funny hat appears and starts offering huge sums of money to my generals this will also warrant a "visit". (If he is offering a ceasefire I'll let him get that over with first but he'll be lucky to get out again alive)
The young ladies are regretable casualties but they rarely seem to marry my faction leader or heirs and should therefore not be within my borders.
:rtwno:
Re: Being nice......works???
Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by caravel
I alway assassinate any and all strategic agents that enter my territory whether allied, neutral or enemy.
How shocking of you !!!
Only kill emmissaries who stay there spying, other religion priests and inquisitors. Princesses and ministers of my faction's religion, I usually let live. Just the god-abiding gentleman in me
I tend more towards Caravel's line on foreign agents of any flavour. Even if I have no real need to get rid of them per se (ie religious agents that match my religion), they still allow my assassins to hone their skills.
However in my Bohemian campaign mentioned above, I did spot a Venetian Inquisitor bearing down on one of - no, the best - general I had - four stars and zero piety, I couldn't afford to let him be Inquisited as he'd be smoke in an instant. The problem was I had no assassins ready, and hadn't even built a tavern yet! So this poor general was hopping around the periphery of my empire, keeping just one province ahead of the Inquisitor, whilst my builders were feverishly hammering away and building a tavern... in the end I managed to get an assassin out in the field who nailed that God-bothering fire-raiser good and proper, but my poor general had been twice around the block by then! :laugh4:
Re: Being nice......works???
Quote:
Originally Posted by macsen rufus
I tend more towards Caravel's line on foreign agents of any flavour. Even if I have no real need to get rid of them per se (ie religious agents that match my religion), they still allow my assassins to hone their skills.
I'm not quite as ruthless when it comes to enemy agents -- I generally allow princesses and non-Inquisitor religious agents of the same religion. Emissaries, Inquisitor/Grand Inquisitors, and agents of different religions are hunted down without mercy, however.
Quote:
Originally Posted by macsen rufus
However in my Bohemian campaign mentioned above, I did spot a Venetian Inquisitor bearing down on one of - no, the best - general I had - four stars and zero piety, I couldn't afford to let him be Inquisited as he'd be smoke in an instant. The problem was I had no assassins ready, and hadn't even built a tavern yet! So this poor general was hopping around the periphery of my empire, keeping just one province ahead of the Inquisitor, whilst my builders were feverishly hammering away and building a tavern... in the end I managed to get an assassin out in the field who nailed that God-bothering fire-raiser good and proper, but my poor general had been twice around the block by then! :laugh4:
LOL. :laugh4: Yeah, I've ended up playing "keep away" at times as well, having a general run around my empire until I can kill the inquisitor that's chasing him. It's rather irritating at times, but to complain about it would be hypocritical -- I do the same thing to other factions myself, after all. ~D
