Have you ever just tried to say away from fighting but always get stuck in a war?

[Budwise]

I am now playing an Italian Campaign because I have never used a Gothic Knight in battle before and wanted to see how the act. So, I decided to build up on trade first and after that I Crusaded to the Holyland for the extra GA points, I get attacked by one faction and forced to eliminate them.

Now I own a third of the map, took over the horde and Byzantines and left without the very point why I started the Campaign in the first place, to use the GKs. Also, there is not a single Muslem on the map anymore and the world is Christian.

Also, what year does the Late Period start. I never played that far.

[Knight Templar]

Also, what year does the Late Period start. I never played that far.

1321

[yesdachi]

I have always had a difficult time staying out the fighting. It almost seems like the AI cant stand seeing me without a war going on. The game is “Total War” but come on, let me breath sometimes! I often find the attacks annoying and build up and crush whoever it is that attacks me and then someone else attacks me and I crush them then someone else attacks me and I crush them until its just me and the Byz on a little island.

[ajaxfetish]

I played an Italian campaign for the exact same reason and also got attacked against my will. I found that with Italian trade capacity I could easily support a massive army even with only a few provinces and most of them border provinces. Having lots of quality troops does a lot to discourage enemy incursions, and when they did attack I would repel them, invade their neighboring province, take it, raze it to the ground, then fall back and leave them to retake it. Before long they'd get the idea, and/or get involved fighting someone else, and after a few issues early on I was left unmolested for a couple centuries until I began initiating attacks (with my Gothic Knights, of course ).

[dgfred]

In all my HRE campaigns -- first France and then Hungary just can't

find a way to leave me alone, that is until I slaughter them .

Another reason why I have started playing the Danes again- nobody messes
with you, no crusade problems, one front wars, power ships and so on. With
the Danes you only have to fight the wars that you want to

Lately, especially on expert, the HRE is just too much for my brain .
Too many provinces, not enought $, few good leaders, mainly just too much
to keep up with , so I take some time off with the Danes and
maybe a muslim faction or two .

[m52nickerson]

It always seems that I can stay out of major wars until late 1100's then other factions start to get froggy and want to start touble. I never start wars, unless there is a good reason.

[Budwise]

I played an Italian campaign for the exact same reason and also got attacked against my will. I found that with Italian trade capacity I could easily support a massive army even with only a few provinces and most of them border provinces. Having lots of quality troops does a lot to discourage enemy incursions, and when they did attack I would repel them, invade their neighboring province, take it, raze it to the ground, then fall back and leave them to retake it. Before long they'd get the idea, and/or get involved fighting someone else, and after a few issues early on I was left unmolested for a couple centuries until I began initiating attacks (with my Gothic Knights, of course ).

I will replay the Italians when I get 60% just for your suggestion. I found out by reading the Tech Tree that Chivs. Kn. and Goth. Kns. don't need a Spearmakers Guild/Master building to build. I tried and because I thought they needed this, I didn't get Chiv. Kn. until 1225 and I raced to get them to the frontline against the horde. I would have done better with more than 3 units at the time.

When someone attacked me, I was worried about influence so I just took over everything they have and now I own 45% of the map. Slash and Burn is my next goal.

[Vladimir]

In my current game as the Venetians the AI has gotten the message to leave me alone after I thinned the armies of Germany, France, and Hungary. That worked a little too well for Hungary; after fighting only one battle against teched up low quality troops (Slav javelin men with weapon 1 armor 2 upgrade BTW, they can't attack uphill because they're on skirmish ) the Poles rolled over them. Now I may have to "educate" the Polish.

That incident with Hungary symbolized a shift to the offense (excluding the early extermination of Milan and the Pope) which has currently resulted in a backstab against the Sicilians worthy of not even the AI. Most of their "empire" is on the mainland and I just sank their navy while their king was isolated and they're experiencing the first (of hopefully many) civil war. They were doing a good job keeping the French in check but they were getting a little big for their britches and I want control of the Med.

[OlafTheBrave]

I recall seveeral games as the Danes where I had this happen. I had no intention of fighting the aggresor if anything I had ideas on smacking about their atogonist. I have found id at all possible ignore the trangressions of the agressor and go after their problem you had eyes on in the first place. Its an idea of if you have an empire big enough to rule the world no one needs have a larger empire than yours.