Difficulty of the HRE

**LordK9** · 10-21-2013, 00:40

I "turtle", generally and play for "great achievements".

So far so good - I've finally got an economy that has enough excess each year for substantial builds but I had to reduce to just two understrength armies plus garrisons. The Hungarians attacked me and I've been handling it but, just like the French, the Pope stepped in and with the low loyalty, I really don't want an excommunication. All I managed to take was Milan and maybe Hungary itself (I'm assaulting the castle) but if the Hungarians attack me, even if I win I lose as the assault will be cancelled and my two years up. When Hungary attacked, I lost all the surrounding kingdoms as allies except the Papacy and an alliance with them is worth about as much as a few grains of sand. An attack now by Poland would likely finish me or even by the Italians (from Toulouse). We shall see.

**CountMRVHS** · 10-21-2013, 02:37

Sounds like an interesting game! My favorite moments in MTW are those times like you're describing - when your kingdom's fate hinges on the outcome of just a few battles or the quirks of diplomacy.

I guess that, since the Pope has warned you off the Hungarians, you could theoretically try to smack the Italians or French now, if you don't want to wait for the hammer to fall...

**LordK9** · 10-21-2013, 22:25

The Hungarians didn't attack me in Hungary so I was able to keep it - because - the loss of Hungary caused a civil war. It was minor but they agreed to a cease fire and asked for an alliance. I didn't mention it but I was warned by the Pope about France before which is now over - and the war has been on but dormant for ten years. However, while I was waiting for a few more units to make it west, the Poles attacked and took Brandenburg. I took Poland (fair trade, right? :) ) and after a few futile attacks to get it back, the Poles are spent. I just retook Brandenburg and Pomerania and Prussia (from rebels - the peasants revolted). Now Poland is just two provinces and not likely to be much of a problem. I guess another 10 years have past because the Pope just warned me about Poland. France it is. Looks like a race with my now allies the Italians as France is down to three provinces in Europe and quite weak. I'd have thought that the English would have finished them off by now but, well, they seem to be having a problem conquering Scotland and have lost all of their continental holdings. The Almohads and Egyptians are the real problems now. The Alms have all of Spain and N.Africa up to Egypt and Egypt has all Asia minor and nearly surrounds the Black Sea plus much of modern Russia. They are at war with Hungary at the moment who seems to be making some headway.

This has come up in prior threads but the funny thing is, all these warnings from the Pope and I wasn't the aggressor even once.

**drone** · 10-21-2013, 22:57

Originally Posted by LordK9

This has come up in prior threads but the funny thing is, all these warnings from the Pope and I wasn't the aggressor even once.

You are the biggest, you obviously must be at fault!

**LordK9** · 10-23-2013, 02:16

An AI can't think so that is probably the best way to have gone. The constant warning cycle (France, Hungary, Poland, France) is now broken, though. I left the French rump as a buffer between me and the Alms and to keep the Italians honest. The French are now allied with me, the Poles are gone, and I am at war with the Golden Horde.

**ferdi** · 10-23-2013, 18:19

Originally Posted by LordK9

An AI can't think so that is probably the best way to have gone. The constant warning cycle (France, Hungary, Poland, France) is now broken, though. I left the French rump as a buffer between me and the Alms and to keep the Italians honest. The French are now allied with me, the Poles are gone, and I am at war with the Golden Horde.

could u share images of your game?
İ guess we all miss