Backstabbing your allies?

[matteus the inbred]

i think you're right lugh, but it is a shame! the threat of force etc., or being able to 'demilitarise' your borders, which would save those florins.
i have helped out in sieges, but generally find willing military allies a pain in the butt. recently, with the Hungarians (hard, early) i invaded Venice (900-odd v 2000 Italians) and received the 'help' of 1300 HRE and 1500 Sicilians. naturally, i didn't get the province as my allies had brought more men, which left my strategy in tatters despite the fact that i 'won'. and attacking them to get it back anyway would be a) suicidal and b) ungrateful!!
the Italians countered, however, and knocked out the Sicilians, so i attacked again and got...another huge army of Germans 'helping' me to help themselves. by now the Italians even had fewer men than me, so i didn't need help at all...allies eh? i think i prefer enemies. stuff Venice. my quietly sulking king is off for a nice holiday in the Balkans where rebels and Byzantines abide. for now.

[lugh]

being able to 'demilitarise' your borders, which would save those florins

I do this where possible anyway. It's especially easy with gunpowder. Just stick an RK and a volley gun in a Citadel/Fortress, they can't be starved out and most armies are torn to tatters before they reach the inner keep, and if they do, you've a unit of FootKnights with a moral boost since they can't run away! If you use ex-heirs you can get 4-5 valour FootKnights right from the go.

I hate it when allies help you out, usually they do nothing but get cut to ribbons anyway, even when they've overwhelming numbers.

If you want to sting the HRE, pick your targets carefully. A few times as a set upon French King, I've managed to spark civil wars by claiming several small victories in a single turn.

[matteus the inbred]

i knew volley guns had a use other than decimating your own troops...

yeah, actually getting ONTO a battlefield with allies is often worse. although i did have one occasion where a small force of allied Italians neatly flanked the French army we were fighting, allowing me to attack frontally and squash them.
all too often the AI fails to follow this hammer and anvil plan and attempts to apparently hide its army behind yours.
i'm always guiltily tempted to almost finish off the enemy and then turn my army onto my allies, especially if their king is present! dastardly but sooo tempting.

my most treasured ally intervention was when my desperately knackered HRE crusade reached its objective to find many many Eggies waiting, only to be unexpectedly joined by a Byzantine army at the last minute. said Byzantines proceeded to generously expend 3 regts of Kats on the enemy, allowing my guys to win the battle and the objective

[King Kurt]

In my current Irish hard VI game I am allied with the Saxons and Mercians. They seem to be at war with Mercia invading then deciding not to fight and withdrawing for the last few turns. I am tempted to dive in to tip the balance but I am not sure how the game will handle this - assuming I invade the saxon province at the same time as the Mercians, what options will I be offered - could I side with the Saxons or will I be helping the Mercians - anybody got any ideas?

[lugh]

You shouldn't still be allied with both, it normally pops up "you're allies have gone to war, will you remain allies with the Mercians? This will negate your alliance with the Saxons" or somesuch.
Check your diplomatic status, it likely your only allied with one of them now.

[King Kurt]

You shouldn't still be allied with both, it normally pops up "you're allies have gone to war, will you remain allies with the Mercians? This will negate your alliance with the Saxons" or somesuch.
Check your diplomatic status, it likely your only allied with one of them now.

Lugh - you must be psyhcic!! I checked my allies - I am with the Saxons, but not the Mercians . The Mercians were beseiging the Saxons capital, I attacked, as did the Saxons, resulting in the Mercians retreating. My forces were moved back to Gwent and I got a message saying I had helped raise the seige and the Saxons were very appreciative - don't send thanks, how about a few Huscarls!! - As the Northunbrians attacked the Mercians as well, it looks like open season on Brummies.

Also, for some reason, the Welsh, who only have Cornwall now, attacked the Saxons in Devon, so I might go and help my Saxon chums down there.

[Weebeast]

^Have not you been asked to pick side by the time the first attack ended? I kinda don't catch the situation.

As for the backstabbing, I don't really backstab for no reason. I usually try to find a real reason other than expansion purpose. Say Faction A refuses to court my Prince or whatever than the alliance should not preserve. Lets just say I'm offended. I also get temptation to capture ally's royal(usually king) on battle field but I haven't been able to do that. I'm too nice.

It is a pain in the butt when your ally brings more troops to the battlefield and gets the province in the end. I'm always tempted to pull back. It's mentally challenging though. I usually fight anyway when I know it's gonna be a huge battle.

[matteus the inbred]

if i knew my allied faction leader didn't have an heir, i would probably take him out on the battlefield, ally or not, but you never really know when the AI is going to choose to support you, you can't guarantee killing him off as he might fight his way out and get away, and sometimes you need allies to buffer you from other powerful factions or the Horde. the situation might occur when it'd be worth it, but only once in a blue moon. you could use it to make a fast buck, but you'd then find yourself with a second war on your hands, so it'd better be a damn big ransom!

[miho]

I don't backstab for no reason. I choose my allies carefully so that I don't have to attack them the next turn. But for powerfull nations like the horde it's wise to accept their offer. Also if someone wants to marry my heir I let them no mather what the faction.