OK, so my newfound enthusiasm for the HRE has led to some awesome campaign time, but I've encountered a problem that I just can't seem to nut out.
In Glorious Achievements mode, I invariably want to establish an iron-clad empire with lots of infrastructure, rather than rolling across the map and being stuck with a large, unwieldy empire that has all its unharmed, teched-up provinces in the centre.
The problem that I am encountering is that my emperors are not improving over time. A green emperor needs to (1.) conquer/ (2.) crusade/ (3.) lift allies' sieges in order to gain influence, but this is not easy given my current situation.
1. Conquer: This I can do, and have done. I own everything from Brittany to Hungary to Saxony to Tuscany. This is largely a result of having warlike neighbours whose provinces I was forced to "appropriate" in order to weaken their ability to attack me (so that I could bloody well get on with building up my provinces). BUT, any influence my Emperor gains is lost as soon as he dies. I don't want to keep conquering, because if I wanted the whole screen to be black before 1205, I'd be playing in Conquest mode.
2. Crusade: This has been tough mainly because of the desertion rate (which is apparently NOT linked to the piety of one's monarch or crusade commander). I don't really want provinces in the Holy Land yet anyway, because I can't support the huge number of troops it would take to defend them against the Eggies (who are cashed-up and trading)...
3. Siege Lifting: I have no friends, largely because of my size and the fact that any alliances I forge get cancelled due to my bloody neighbours attacking me!! This option is therefore impossible.
So, I'm stuck with perpetually UNinfluential Emperors who just can't seem to get it together with other factions. I want to turtle now, but I need to conquer in order to get any influence at all.
I need your advice...
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