See Naples and die!!

[Sensei Warrior]

AI Faction stink. Oh look I'm your friend and blah blah blah. Then when you are just about to take your last Crusading provence and can sit and regroup for a bit. BANG all of the sudden on the other side of the world, a couple of faction gets there knickers in a twist and try and whack you, grr .

All I wanted was a few friends, but no, they gotta be mean. And to top it all off they'll sit there with their 2 spearmen staring at your 4 stacks, and they'll tell your emmisary to stick it when he tries to get a ceasefire going.

AHEM, sorry bout that I had to get that outta my system.

[King Kurt]

The rollercoaster contnues. I had decided that my next target would be the English - everybody was picking on them and they had been excommed as well - I was a little wary as they had loads of fleets, but I took a little naval advice - see contemplating my naval - and decided to go for it. I sent out loads of emisaries to make alliances - I had been asked by loads to become partners, but had been saying no due to my alliance with the English - started pumping fleets from every possible base, declared a crusade against Edessa (held by the English after a crusade) and attacked Genoa as well - another English province. Initially all went well, the fleets exchanges were about even, trade was not too badly affected and several people allied to me. Then for some reason, after existing in peace for over 100 years, the Hungarians attacked me in Serbia with a silly little force. I beat him back, but the border skirmishes continued. Because all my new allies were allies with Hungary - who had also allied with me the year before they invaded!! - they all deserted me and started attacking. The Spanish attacked Milan - and were thrown back. The russians attacked - even the Pope attacked me in the Papal States - I chickened out there and abandoned the province. During all this nobody gets excommed - not even the Spanish who are at least as big as me. Then something strange happened. My crusade to Edessa was sucessful. I left a garrison and moved the rest of the force to invade Kazar etc as the Russians are next on my list. The Spanish own Rum and Anatolia - both Crusade taken. They decide to invade Edessa. I only have a small garrrison and decide to abandon the province. This means losing a crusade gained province - normaly a bit of a blow - but I have been given a free, instant crusade marker so I can retake it - something I have never seen before, especialy as the spanish have not been excommed. The only thing that has happened is that in the same year the Eggies have reappeared - in Edessa!! So the spanish have 4 stacks to sort out, I can relaunch my crusade to retake it - and it will go through Spanish provinces to hoover the troops. Also I have a crusade headed for Lithuania - it is in Kiev currently looting the russkis!! - so I will have 2 crusades on the go at the same time.
Has anybody ever come across something like this before??

Throw in the english have just had a civil war and the horde have reappeared as well, it all adds up to a wild and crazy game.

[Vladimir]

Wow, Medieval Total Madness .