Hi guys. I'm looking for some advice or at least some alternatives.
I'm playing as England Hard/Hard grand campaign. I am limiting myself to no aggressive wars unless sanctioned by the Pope. I won't retaliate against an attacker other than to drive him off my land (not that anyone has attacked me). I keep all of my alliances, treaties etc. I will not use Spies except defensively. I won't use assassins at all. I'm going for Merchant guilds in just about every city with the exceptions of York (Theologians) and Caernarvan (Theives).
I have alliances with most of the Catholic nations and the Pope. I have Military access with France and Scotland. I am allied with Russia and the Turks.
I have expanded into the rebel territories of Ireland, York, Rennes, Bruges and Antwerp. I bribed Dijon which is now my capital. I took Rhodes during my successful Crusade on Jerusalem. I took Acre during the second Crusade.
I have acheived deadlock. I am teching up and upgrading my armies (slowly) while maintaining merchants in and around Bordeaux, Norhtern Italy, Denmark, Constantinople. I have diplomats near just about every nation. But until the Pope allows another Crusade, I can't expand under my restrictions. I'm not making enough to buy provinces, bribe the few remaining rebel territories or get Egypt to make peace with me. I can't get the Pope to give me Military Access either.
No one is really a military threat to me. I'm usually #1 or #2 as the most advanced. I net about 4 - 5K Florins/turn which I can improve slightly by seizing assets of opposing merchants.
Any suggestions on what I might do within my restrictions to break the deadlock?
Thanks All
SG
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