Point of "Military Access"?

[MiniKiller]

What's the point, I dont see one as I can walk through enemy territory and if they dont attack me I can pass throw I think neway.

[Oaty]

If you are neutral it has little effect. But if you are allied and do not have permission it is likely to instigate a war.

Of course the Spanish were always walking all ove my lands and the second time I did it they declared war

[Tamur]

It assures that you have a buffer zone between you and another faction you're attacking. A good technique that can lead to some great multi-army battles is to get a Military Access treaty, then go beat up on the faction on the other side of your ally. When the faction you just started attacking comes after you, retreat into your ally's land and make a stand near one of your ally's armies.

This does two things: first it gets you some great epic battles, and second it assures that your ally will likely remain your ally, because you're suddenly the good guy, helping them protect their land from invasion.

[Thoros of Myr]

And the attacker tears up your allies cities and not yours, and by the time he gets to you he will be weakened and maybe even killed/weakened your ally which is good in the long run :)

[The Tuffen]

I can never seem to get military access rights (except with other roman factions).

Oh well they will all face my wrath instead

[Tamur]

Cash is key to gaining M.A. (and yes, that statement could be equally well applied to the university degree).

Though there are conditions where you've pummelled your way to them accepting pretty much any terms of ceasefire, the giving of Military Access generally stars around 6k denarii, and goes as high as 11k or 12k. In tough situations I've had it accepted at 30k denarii -- but at the time I had a mighty deep treasury so that was not a big expenditure.

[hoof]

What's really funny is when an ally has a big city of theirs that is under siege, I have a huge stack right on the border, and they still refuse military access. My troops had an excellent view of them losing their city

Unfortunately I had to divert those troops elsewhere at Senate request, but another side benefit of this experience is that I can now take that same city later w/o my ally getting mad at me. If I'm in a good mood when I do it, I might even give it back to them ... for a price ...