Papal DMZ

**Prussian1** · 10-29-2009, 00:43

Probably the smartest thing I have ever done. Why didn't I think of it before:

Playing as HRE

1. Took Metz from the Rebels. Destroyed all destructable buildings. Sent a diplomat from Bologna to Rome to sign the deed and hand over the keys. Result. Happy Pope

2. Attacked by France. Immediately took Dijon. Called in the wrecking crew. Straightened my codpiece, put on a new tunic, and gifted Dijon to the Pope.

The result? A nice buffer zone between me and the French.

Added bonus. The French "mysteriously" get excommunicated every five turns or so. And guess who does His Holiness' dirty work

This also worked with Milan when I took Corsica. I gifted it to the Pope and sat tight. Three turns later, Milan sent a fleet over to try to take it. Milan and Genoa taken sans excommunication for the HRE, then retook Corsica for good measure. No more Milan

If you play the politics right, you can stay on the Papal Xmas Card List, avoid excommunication, and knock the snot out of other factions who just can't resist those weakened settlements.

**Prussian to the Iron** · 10-29-2009, 14:43

you playin stainless steel? no Genoa faction in vanilla

anyway thanks nice strategy! have you ever tried allying a Muslim faction and letting them loose with a settlement in europe? epic win.

"Azziz! We must embark on the Jihad to take Denmark!"
"Brrrr....It is really cold up here Omar!"

**Prussian1** · 10-29-2009, 15:01

P.I. - Negative. When referring to Genoa, I was referring to the settlement rather than the faction. Sorry for the poor communication.

**Sevis** · 10-29-2009, 23:50

This sounds very much awesome, except for a small problem - the towns wouldn't develop, would they? If what I've seen of the AI is correct, that buffer zone would end up at least a tech level under you.

**Old Geezer** · 10-30-2009, 00:03

There seem to be certain settlements which the AI factions are programmed to go all out for and I am not sure that they are just the ones that are required for victory if a human player is controlling the faction. Has anyone determined if there is code for this?

**Prussian1** · 10-30-2009, 14:49

I don't know if it's hardcoded or not and I'm sure that there are members with knowledge of this game orders of magnitude higher than my own, but the AI factions seem to eye the same factions every game with great entheusiasm regardless of victory condition. For example, if I taek Bern, I cann almost always count on a visit from a Milanese Army at some point. Similar with taking Metz AND Dijon with France.

The only "required" settlement for my victory condition is Rome which, if I wait long enough, will be attacked by Sicily. I can then attack Sicily and take Rome without fear of excommunication. My only hangup then is that a a papal diplomat shows up to ask for it back. And really, I just got the old people smell out of the bacilica, so why would I want to give it back?

**Prussian to the Iron** · 10-30-2009, 15:24

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

There seem to be certain settlements which the AI factions are programmed to go all out for and I am not sure that they are just the ones that are required for victory if a human player is controlling the faction. Has anyone determined if there is code for this?

Originally Posted by Prussian1

I don't know if it's hardcoded or not and I'm sure that there are members with knowledge of this game orders of magnitude higher than my own, but the AI factions seem to eye the same factions every game with great entheusiasm regardless of victory condition. For example, if I taek Bern, I cann almost always count on a visit from a Milanese Army at some point. Similar with taking Metz AND Dijon with France.

The only "required" settlement for my victory condition is Rome which, if I wait long enough, will be attacked by Sicily. I can then attack Sicily and take Rome without fear of excommunication. My only hangup then is that a a papal diplomat shows up to ask for it back. And really, I just got the old people smell out of the bacilica, so why would I want to give it back?

every faction except rebels has required settlments they must capture. because of this, you will see factions repeatedly trying to take a city throughout the game.

for some reason, most of the time they are passive until the clock starts to run out. but if you take one of their required cities at any time, they go ape on you.

**IncubusDragon** · 10-30-2009, 21:44

Aha... that explains why HRE disbanded a Crusader army after I beat them to Toulouse and used it to lay a siege to my newly acquired Milan (I'm currently playing a Hungarian campaign).