MTW TIPS and Observations

[drone]

On using your King on attacks, once your empire begins to grow, it is probably a bad thing to use him, as the attack will isolate him from your other provinces, leading to a temporary drop in provincial loyalty. Use heirs instead, to groom them for their future role. And whatever you do, don't use the King to attack an island...

100% loyalty will prevent revolts inside a province. If there is a faction reemergence in nearby provinces, you need to have the loyalty up to 120% to avoid being sucked into it.

Spies will increase provincial loyalty by 40% + 20% per star. Only the highest valoured spy counts, so having multiple spies in a province is a bit of a waste.

[gollum]

There are however cases where bribing is very much desirable, like say especially in high and late eras starting positions. In those occasions there are well developed rebel provinces that are worth a bribe. Remember that this needs be done after you put them under siege (invade and win) and then try to bribe the garrisson with an emmissary, in which case the whole of the province and its infrastructure falls in your hands without the customary pillaging that happens after the castle falls.

The Russians in high and the Byzs in high and late have ample such occasions for bribing. Such occasions can also naturally present themselves in the normal course of a campaign.

[caravel]

Spies will increase provincial loyalty by 40% + 20% per star. Only the highest valoured spy counts, so having multiple spies in a province is a bit of a waste.

The only benefit to multiple spies per province is when attempting to instigate revolts abroad. The highest valour spy is again the only spy that counts, but if he pulls it off and gains valour, so do all of his fellow spies. This is a cheap and nasty way of valouring up your spies quickly.

Not sure about counterspying. It may be that the highest valour spy always acts as the counterspy, rendering the others useless, or it may be that all counterspies in a province act in turn. If the latter case is true then multiple counterspies in a friendly province may be worthwhile.

[drone]

The only benefit to multiple spies per province is when attempting to instigate revolts abroad. The highest valour spy is again the only spy that counts, but if he pulls it off and gains valour, so do all of his fellow spies. This is a cheap and nasty way of valouring up your spies quickly.

I did not know that, that's evil!

Not sure about counterspying. It may be that the highest valour spy always acts as the counterspy, rendering the others useless, or it may be that all counterspies in a province act in turn. If the latter case is true then multiple counterspies in a friendly province may be worthwhile.

I don't know for sure, but judging from what Border Forts do in counterspying, I doubt credit would be spread amongst the spies.

[caravel]

I don't know for sure, but judging from what Border Forts do in counterspying, I doubt credit would be spread amongst the spies.

No indeed, every spy would not gain valour. In fact it seems to be always the highest valour spy that catches rival agents (assuming border forts are not present). But my point is, that supposing you have 4 spies in a province, 3 with 0 valour and one at 2 valour. If the 2 valour spy attempts to counterspy against a rival agent/spy and fails, then do the other three 0 valour spies have a go as well? Supposing they do, they're also likely to fail anyway due to being lower valour, but the point is: do they even get to try?

Personally I'm leaning towards the theory of highest valour spy or assassin in the province acting as the nominated counterspy, but it's not easily tested - even in debug mode.

[gollum]

This happens with ship/fleet battles (as many know). However stacking ships do give them strength i find, if and only if, there is a single starred captain and all the others are of captainship 0. Then the stacking really works it seems to me. Otherwise a stack of multiple captains operates as a collection of individual ships ie the highest captain fights it one on one out with the enemy then the next, then the next etc.



PS This thread starts feeling like the separated (and ocasionally crossed) monologues of old men who know much more about a certain something that is good for them...

[Durango]

This thread starts feeling like the separated (and ocasionally crossed) monologues of old men who know much more about a certain something that is good for them...

Keep it up, at least I learned things from your senile ramblings

[drone]

PS This thread starts feeling like the separated (and ocasionally crossed) monologues of old men who know much more about a certain something that is good for them...

Get off my lawn!

[gollum]

Get off my cloud!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq3YdpB6N9M

[bondovic]

No indeed, every spy would not gain valour. In fact it seems to be always the highest valour spy that catches rival agents (assuming border forts are not present). But my point is, that supposing you have 4 spies in a province, 3 with 0 valour and one at 2 valour. If the 2 valour spy attempts to counterspy against a rival agent/spy and fails, then do the other three 0 valour spies have a go as well? Supposing they do, they're also likely to fail anyway due to being lower valour, but the point is: do they even get to try?

Personally I'm leaning towards the theory of highest valour spy or assassin in the province acting as the nominated counterspy, but it's not easily tested - even in debug mode.

Fascinating stuff. But it is rather easily tested, no? Only extremely tedious! I'd say you need about 15-20 instances of a valor 1 missing with a valor 0 back-up. If there's been no occurence of a "0-valor-sweep" by then, surely it's settled - no sloppy seconds.

[demfl]

As I mentioned before if you have 50 zero valor spies in a place during rebellion all will gain one star, this is the most efficient way to gain many stars with lots of spies at once.

[demfl]

Muslims and Loyalty
Unlike Catholic factions you can't simply married a general to increase loyalty. Lots of time many players will assign that 4 acumen general who loyalty will be very low especially at the beginning a title. The problem is when a new king is assigned his 5 loyalty will drop even low which could caused a Civil war.

Some times you have to sacrifice acumen and assign that 3 acumen general the title who's loyalty is max. That way when a new king is assigned even with a drop in loyalty his loyalty bar will be so high that it won't be anything to worry about.

Use these generals to command all the troops in every providence and a civil war is never a problem.


When on Defense vs. many Turks HA, Spanish Jinetes, and especially the Golden Horde in Kazar
set every unit in the forest. Does wonders for not taking any missille damage forcing them to evenually moved into the forest for quick ambushes.

[m52nickerson]

Best tip of all.....

Never rush. Take your time, in battle, on the map, everywhere. It only take one mistake to.....well we all know!

[Prince Cobra]

set every unit in the forest. Does wonders for not taking any missille damage

Indeed. But I noticed something else. An unit of GH warriors was firing at me concealed in a forest whilst I was slaughtering other routed warriors with my cavalry. I do not whether the reason was that the enemy was hidden in a forest i.e. hampering the arrows or the fact he was firing at fast moving cavalry. Or both. Anyway, the forest hampers your own arrows as well, I believe.