Some love for the pope

[FadeAwayNot]

I'm playing a campaign with HRE. I usually start with some form of blitz, but chose the Germans to try a different challenge and start out as a turtle.

Well, I finally got all my borders pretty well stabilized, had just started a navy and was weighing my expansion options when the Italians started to fight the Sicilians and got themselves ex-commed.

I conveniently had a crusade marker waiting in Brandenburg. Off goes the crusade through Poland and Hungary, siphoning off potential enemy troops all along the way, and lands in Venice to easily take the Italians' economic powerhouse.

I use armies in southern Germany to take over Milan and Genoa, then a second crusade marker to march again through Poland and Hungary then hop the Italians' own ships to take Tuscany.

Voila - I now am well on the way to the Holy Roman Empire goal, have added some nice economic territory, severely weakened the Italians and put a dent in my rivals on my eastern borders. The year after taking Tuscany the Pope dies and the Italian excommunication ends.

I normally hate the pope, but I could have kissed him for this one.

[Procrustes]

Yeah, I played a French campaign once where the Sicilians got excommed for attacking Rome. So I crusaded to Rome, got to keep the province, and was given 1000f by the Pope for my assistance - sweet!

[kiwitt]

I like the pope too ..

Playing the Spanish. I launched a seperate crusade against each desert province. This gave me often one or two "Knights of Santiago" each time. I now have over a copuple dozen or more Crusader Knights.

I used the same tactic on the "Horde".

I got to the point of 60% conquered i.e. I have a minor victory and decided to play on. I then decided to launch a crusade on the Byzantines and I then had all my minor provinces rebel. I thought no worries, more enemies to fight.

I have launched my first crusade on Constantinpole splitting their empire. I then crusaded to their turkish provinces and have now completed Greece and Bulgaria.

So, I like the pope, because I can crusade and get lot's of Crusader knights.

[{KotR}Lionheart]

The pope can be very annoying when palying as france or england, especially when the other faction starts crusadng agianst you...

[{KotR}Lionheart]

The pope can be very annoying when palying as france or england, especially when the other faction starts crusadng agianst you...

[jsadighi]

Actually the pope is pretty nice chap. Is always willing to give me 1000 Florins whenever I need the cash.

[Martok]

Actually the pope is pretty nice chap. Is always willing to give me 1000 Florins whenever I need the cash.

That only seems to happen to certain factions, though. The Spanish, who I probably play as the most often, gets money His Holiness all the time; and I believe Aragon and Italy do as well. It seems like most other Catholic factions, however, never see a dime from him. I know I never do when playing as the English, French, Germans, Danes, or Hungarians (my roommate says he gets money when playing as the English, though, so maybe I'm just unlucky when I play as them).

[Procrustes]

I've gotten money as the English. I've never gotten money when playing as a non-crusading faction, though.

P.

[bretwalda]

I get money almost every time with the Hungarians. Even twice in a row in one game.

I've gotten money as the English. I've never gotten money when playing as a non-crusading faction, though.

P.

[fuddha]

You only have to be a catholic faction to get "da holy florin".
That and not attacking fellow catholics - only muslims, orthodox and rebels. Oh, and building churches and religious stuff helps too.

[bretwalda]

I beg to differ again ;) but yesterday I played the Hungarians and I got 1000 florins twice despite attacking the Italians on the second turn (and later taking their mainland provinces...)

That is an interesting game - to start being offtopic - it is only 1115... And I have taken Italian mainland provinces, the Balkan and Byzantine European possessions... when HRE attacked me. The ebb and flow is such that I am taking Austria and Bohemia, losing and regain Milan and Tirol sometimes... I am curious how that will be as my only hope is to put the HRE to turmoil and rebel. Oh yes I forgot... I got excommed and the Pope attacked but I have beaten them back and luckily the Pope died in between (I did not help in that ) Good Game!

[fuddha]

I played the Hungarians and I got 1000 florins twice despite attacking the Italians on the second turn

I stand corrected...

Off-topic:
Yes, the Hungarians are really interesting and fun to play. Especially in early age...
Also, am I just a blitz player or everybody conquers whole Europe in one age? I wanted to play with Hungarians troughout all three periods, but I always seem to completely dominate before the end of early. And I tried so hard to turtle... On expert... Once trade income from Kiev, Constantinople, Venice, and baltic kicks in there is no way to be stopped.