Quote Originally Posted by Roark
I find that the HRE consistently stabs me in the back in Medieval campaigns. I don't trust them as far as I could throw them. Maybe it's their geographic position, and (therefore) their need to take advantage of opportunities as they arise, I guess...

I've noticed this as well. The Germans are probably the biggest backstabbers in the game--aside from the Sicilians, of course, who aren't to be trusted in any case. I also share your assessment that the Germans are faithless to their allies simply because they have to be opportunistic (at least more so than everone else) in order to expand. I've rarely seen them hesitate to take advantage of an underdefended province, be it my own or someone else's. Playing as the Germans is tough, if only because it's virtually impossible to *not* get excommunicated......