How do I run in battle?

**caravel** · 10-18-2010, 11:35

Yes, I seemed to remember that Bishops cannot request marriage, but wasn't sure. I think that may be the deal breaker as the player and AI will be effectively blocked from requesting marriage having to rely only of offers. It's not clear how well this would work.

Cardinals as Papacy only would add "flavour", but I'm not sure what it would do for gameplay. Without Inquisitors the catholic factions may need Cardinals as their second level zeal increasing agent.

Invisible Inquisitors are actually easier for the AI to deal with, as his border forts will mop them up automatically - if border forts were removed though, then I'd advise against it. Visible Inquisitors are impervious to counterspying and thus can often run about killing everything. It's often down to the player, who is better at raising, protecting and deploying high valour assassins to stop them.

Inquisitors in this form work well as they go about randomly trying random generals and starting mass inquisitions in provinces (reducing zeal). They work as a kind of "natural disaster". If they get caught, you'll never know they were there in the first place as they can show up as an assassin or spy getting caught.

**gollum** · 10-18-2010, 12:04

Agreed for the cardinals, i actually tried to edit the exact same point in my previous post, but the browser thought differently.

I appreciate that the invisible inquisitors are easier to deal for the AI. The other side of the argument is that in terms of agent gameplay (more from the point of view of the player as only the Pope will have them), they will need active pursuing to eliminate which can prove dificult, especially if they have been "trained" in some other faction's generals. The natural disaster effect is the one i had in mind too - i just think that it should be a visible Church natural disaster - i am pretty sure that rulers and the populace would know they were there. Of course you can argue that this happens as we get the message... agreed. You wuold be having a point. Its an interesting point that could be done either way, depending of course on what one does with forts and how he wants agent gameplay overall.

**gollum** · 10-18-2010, 13:44

Also, as i mentioned, the princesses can offer themselves for marriage to other rulers (the princess can be drpoed to a king), so its actually clear that it will work if implemented. They would just need to find him - but oither than that they can do it. In any case the AI plays with matteosartori on if i'm not mistaken, so no trouble for him.

**caravel** · 10-18-2010, 14:02

It does appear that the AI plays with the FOW turned off, but I don't think it gets full intel. It's been shown that the AI doesn't invade if it doesn't have any intel on a province. This has been shown where watchtowers have been removed altogether. It may be that the AI agents can see everything on the map - this does seem obvious as they appear out of blue offering alliances to factions they have no contact with, in territories they have not scouted. Armies on the other hand function differently. It may be that they can "see" what's in a province and whom it belongs to, but cannot check building/army stack intel there without an adjacent watchtower/border fort or agent in the province. Evidence seems to point the lack of intel blocking the AI from invading altogether. This seems logical as the AI needs to know the rival faction army stack make-up before it can commit forces. If it didn't have this ability you would see many more battles with the AI sending 100 peasants on suicide invasions. This intel is also key to how the AI builds up forces on it's borders.

**gollum** · 10-18-2010, 14:41

I have noted that too with the agents. They know were they are going. Hmm. Interesting.

**Ironside** · 10-19-2010, 08:59

Originally Posted by gollum

Also, as i mentioned, the princesses can offer themselves for marriage to other rulers (the princess can be drpoed to a king), so its actually clear that it will work if implemented. They would just need to find him - but oither than that they can do it. In any case the AI plays with matteosartori on if i'm not mistaken, so no trouble for him.

It is a minor loss, but you can keep your royal line fully married for centuries by requesting marriage (with emissaries) from 1-3 friendly factions. The AI will never send out their own princesses in this ratio. Removing emissaries can still be worth it, but there's a small strategic loss there.

**I of the Storm** · 10-19-2010, 12:23

Well, seeing that many campaigns ended prematurely due to extincition, removing the ability to go hunting babes for your heirs isn't that small a strategic loss at all.

**gollum** · 10-19-2010, 13:16

You both certainly have a point. Many times mid-late game, going hunting for a Princess is fruitless. However its true that between fruitless and not possible is a (very?) large difference.

**Ironside** · 10-20-2010, 10:34

Originally Posted by gollum

You both certainly have a point. Many times mid-late game, going hunting for a Princess is fruitless. However its true that between fruitless and not possible is a (very?) large difference.

It's usually one or two factions that are very accepting, while the rest is completely unaccepting. The Sicillians and the Danes are two factions that usually accepts. Works often until late game at least and I got confirmation on one marriage in the ultimate endgame. Good old memories.

I think it has a lot to do with invasion protection, while having no way (or at least thought) to invade you. One good reason to have those isolated factions left as allies (even if requesting marriage doesn't give an alliance iirc).