New devolepment on protectorates.

**Mooks** · 12-17-2005, 21:57

The computer cant determine who is stronger and who is going to be annhilated, they always go with who attacks and then they terminate their alliance/protectorate with that group.

**Alexanderofmacedon** · 12-18-2005, 04:50

I'm playing a RTR game as the Greeks and after letting Carthage gain complete control over Numidia and the surrounding regions, I hit Carthage and sacked it. I now will buy mercenaries to hold it. I have control of all of Greece, Macedonia, Illyria and about half of Rome (bottom). Two stacks I are movie into Italy from the north (after war finished with Illyria) and they are about to hit a Gallic city with a full stack in it. I have started a war with Thrace and my full stacks of superb Greek soldiers are cutting through them like knife on butter. Maybe I'll ask Carthage to be a protectorate...Then I can pretty much rule the world!

I'd never be a protectorate...

**Zomby_Woof** · 12-22-2005, 19:20

Replying to what Alexander said, being a procterate isn't all that bad. I was playing a campaign with Pontus and things were going slowly. I had annihilated Armenia and taken the Seleucid Empire's easternmost provinces when Egypt offered to make me a procterate. (The Seleucids and Egyptians had an alliance which neither of them broke, which was rather odd...) Out of the deal I got a load of gold and a whole bunch of territory near the Nile, the best part was I wasn't a procterate for long. The next thing I knew the Egyptians were trying to take Arabia.

**Romulas** · 12-23-2005, 01:31

While playing the Saxons, the WRE caught me without a nearby army and going deep in the red. I made them pay me 4000d for 3 turns and I would be the protectorate. It got me out of the red and I true to form WRE broke the protectorate 2 turns later. Make sure the addition of you lands doesn't give the other faction the required victory conditions.

**Ludens** · 12-18-2005, 16:43

Originally Posted by holybandit

The computer cant determine who is stronger and who is going to be annhilated, they always go with who attacks and then they terminate their alliance/protectorate with that group.

Interesting, I didn't know that. Is this just an observation or have you tested it?

**Mooks** · 12-18-2005, 23:35

Originally Posted by Ludens

Interesting, I didn't know that. Is this just an observation or have you tested it?

Tested it, I stopped playing my macedon game but when I left I couldnt make war on the parthians, which I wanted to because I wanted Armernia (My protectorate) To gain some more territory, but alas one of my other protectorates were allied with them and I couldnt :(

**Ludens** · 12-22-2005, 16:32

Originally Posted by holybandit

Tested it, I stopped playing my macedon game but when I left I couldnt make war on the parthians, which I wanted to because I wanted Armernia (My protectorate) To gain some more territory, but alas one of my other protectorates were allied with them and I couldnt :(

I meant: does this apply to the computer as well, or is just that your allies/protectorates always side with someone else? Or is it related to faction size?

**AntiochusIII** · 12-26-2005, 05:41

Originally Posted by Ludens

I meant: does this apply to the computer as well, or is just that your allies/protectorates always side with someone else? Or is it related to faction size?

It is related only to who attack who first, unfortunately. It is one of the major complaints in the diplomatic flaws that protectorates would betray their masters if the allies of those protectorates got attacked by the masters [It brought a lot of WTF!?]. Being a computer or a human player doesn't matter, so is the faction "strength."

So having a protectorate who's allied to many factions can tie your hands up from many ambitious expansionistic wars.

But I still love having protectorates, nonetheless. I like cultural diversity IF I rule the world.

Their benefits to the player, however, are superficial. Apart from keeping them from ever breaking their "alliance" with you by conventional means (like attacking you or cancelling alliance), their provinces are counted as yours in the victory condition. It is rare that you can push them to fight wars for your cause.

**Ludens** · 12-26-2005, 15:38

Originally Posted by AntiochusIII

It is related only to who attack who first, unfortunately. It is one of the major complaints in the diplomatic flaws that protectorates would betray their masters if the allies of those protectorates got attacked by the masters [It brought a lot of WTF!?]. Being a computer or a human player doesn't matter, so is the faction "strength."

I see. The R:TW diplomacy is such an incomprehensible mess that I rarely bother paying attention to diplomatic states. It seems that in the end your best friend is a dead enemy

.

Thanks for the information.

**Mooks** · 12-26-2005, 18:30

I once got a loyal Armenia on my side against the egyptians, it cost me a crapload but was worth the distraction.

But once armenia sent theyre armys ( They controlled all of eastern europe so had a decent army) They got slaughtered, I mean...They sent 2-3 stacks and got ahnillated.

O and one more thing, have your protectorates be far away from you, or over a big province, the best way to keep them is for them to have no chance to attack you. SO far Iv never seen any 2 of my protectorates fight.