using rebel lands as buffer zones

[gaijinalways]

Th rebel buffer zones also help in another way, as the rebels slow your opponents from　taking the provinces near you. I'd rather they have to fight off the rebels to retake their depleted lands (whose cash mysteriously went into my coffers ) and save my troops for taking the province later when and if it is useful for me to do so. This often is a strategy that goes hand in hand with the scorched earth policy, so I am a bit surprised that you don't make use of it. Now in the case of Anjou and Britany, I may eventually take them, but at the moment, no, I'll let the French fight the rebels (though the French may be rebels soon themselves, as their king is endangered).

[naut]

The rebel buffer zones also help in another way, as the rebels slow your opponents from　taking the provinces near you. I'd rather they have to fight off the rebels to retake their depleted lands (whose cash mysteriously went into my coffers ) and save my troops for taking the province later when and if it is useful for me to do so. This often is a strategy that goes hand in hand with the scorched earth policy, so I am a bit surprised that you don't make use of it. Now in the case of Anjou and Britany, I may eventually take them, but at the moment, no, I'll let the French fight the rebels (though the French may be rebels soon themselves, as their king is endangered).

Yes, I see what you mean. And hopefully if enemy factions attempt to take it, the loyalty will cause larger rebellion.

[gaijinalways]

Yes, it can be effective while you tech up your other provinces. In my current campaign, I have retaken Milan, but I simply put the minimum in it (fort and tower) so as to reconnect Venice to my empire. Often when you retake these buffer zones, they'll often not be your soldier building provinces, just mere 'filler' provinces. I plan to do the same with Anjou and Aquitaine when I finally force the French out, though I wouldn't mind getting another ransom (if the French have any money left) !

I never look upon most provinces as necessary. You have to look at a long term strategy of rip and smash, and leave, and on to the next province. Of course, if you can grab a jewel, try to keep it intact if it fits in with your line of defense and your general strategy for expansion.

Of course, you may use crusades to achieve this end as well, I have yet to use a crusade though I will probably start soon to crusade so as to gain GA points. Crusades are another example of getting others to do your dirty work with your general in charge. I hope to soon crusade as I tech up and look for new rebel lands to seed !

[ajaxfetish]

Playing XL mod, there aren't all that many rebels to even use as buffers, and if new ones show up (such as a faction dynasty dying out without heirs) there's usually someone nearby powerful enough to scoop up the provinces quickly.

If I do want a buffer zone it's usually if I'm turtling and teching/saving up. In that case if someone attacks me I'll sometimes respond by invading their neighboring province, taking the castle, then razing everything to the ground and withdrawing. They can take it back, but they can't build troops there or retreat if I invade again.

Ajax

[gaijinalways]

Ah, another difference with the vanilla version. I don't always smash and grab, but I so enjoyed grabbing better mercs at the start of this campaign, so I couldn't resist. It also raised my cash level quickly, and now I have finally started building my navy. I'll probably do less razing as we progress, but it still is useful as usually I don't expand and build in every province.

[Alexios]

I have found that rebel-held provinces can and will attack you on occasion. This happened to me in my current campaign as the English. I had led a successful attack on the Argonese in Argon, but lost it in the very next turn. A bordering rebel province (once controlled by the Spanish) launched an attack with two full stacks! It surprised the heck out of me, because I never knew this could happen before. But in the two years that I have been playing MTW, this is the only time I have ever witnessed it. So I think the odds are remote enough that I would feel secure about leaving my back undefended against rebels.

[Sensei Warrior]

I was sifting through the MTW Guides and saw a number of references in the Russian guide when they talked about the appearance of the Horde. A number of posts were made about rebels attacking. Here is what I gleaned:

1. Rebels will attack although it is rare.

2. The Rebels typically severely outnumber the army in provence they are going to attack before they commit to an invasion.

3. It also seems this is more of a problem with certain provences on the Eastern side of the map although I can't remember which ones they are.

That part of the thread was started when someone mentioned he killed off the Khan and heir and they went rebel. The huge rebel stacks then started attacking outlying Provences.

Alot of the posters didn't seem too surprised and gave bits of info about there own problems with rebels attacking. The MTW Guide for the Russians/Novrogod is only 3 pages so its worth the read.

Maybe its just more surprising to us players who don't play the Eastern side of the map all that much? I know I typically don't play Poland, Hungary, and Novrogod, which are the Factions near the more aggresive Rebels.