Medieval: Total Peace

[Basilakes En Strategoisin]

This is something I keep wondering about...

I chose Byzantines for my first game, Hard campaign, VH battles, and only now (I'm on turn 30 or something) did someone finally declare war on me (the Turks have 1 stack of a Jihad army marching on Constantinople plus their Hungarian allies are providing another half a stack or so). For the last 20 turns I've just been building up my cities all around the Aegean and wondering why, of why doesn't anybody want to fight me? Now I understood the Byz should be about as difficult to play as the Venetians, since they're surrounded by potential enemies and have no real friends.

Now, I've been playing relatively passively myself, so as not to make the game too easy by rushing. But still... Every time I've managed to start a war, the enemy just want a ceasefire. I take Crete from the Venetians and execute 2 of their princes cos they can't pay the ransom - they're happy to accept ceasefire. I don't even have to pay or anything. Same with the Turks: I get bored of not having an enemy to fight, pack up an army, sail for Trebizond, sack the place and kill the governor - Turks are "very pleased" to accept ceasefire

Definitely the diplomacy has been improved from Rome, yes, but now I'm actually starting to miss the long bloody wars and relentless enemies who just kept sending stack after full stack at me . I just hope the Turks won't once simply quit after (if - those Ghazis look scary ) I massacre their Jihad, but keep on trying...

There's two things I don't know about though... I've been showering the pope with florins in the hope that he might exercise a little control over the Catholics and they wouldn't all rush me in one go. But surely he couldn't keep them all from attacking me...

Second thing is that I renamed Durazzo to Dyrrhachium. I don't know anything about these things so bear with me if this sounds stupid, but surely the AI doesn't care about the names of the cities? I mean, I thought renaming it might have somehow rendered it invisible to the AI.

I probably wouldn't mention this, it's just that I've seen a huge amount of threads with players saying that they are basically forced to fight all the time and can't get a moment of peace. With me it seems to be the exact opposite.

[Barry Fitzgerald]

This is part of the problem with MTW2....so unpredictable..defies logic!

Play as the HRE and everyone is at you declaring war..for no reason.

Other factions they seem to sit about for 100 turns or so...and do not a whole lot....

Strange to say the least...

Let's have some real balance here please CA....

[Daveybaby]

Let's not have balance please, CA. I'd much rather have a game which is unpredictable, than one which is the same every time you play it.

Balance is overrated, IMO, unless youre playing multiplayer.

[Barry Fitzgerald]

Let's not have balance please, CA. I'd much rather have a game which is unpredictable, than one which is the same every time you play it.

Balance is overrated, IMO, unless youre playing multiplayer.

Fair enough have your own view...but really it is PREDICTABLE as it is! every time I play as the HRE..everyone declares war....every single time.

What is the point of that?

It is pretty boring being honest...we need some sensible AI as well, and some solid diplomacy..as it is..the campaign map is mostly something to get out of the way to get to the battles...

TW is a tad shallow with this latest version...very shallow indeed.

[AussieGiant]

Fair enough have your own view...but really it is PREDICTABLE as it is! every time I play as the HRE..everyone declares war....every single time.

What is the point of that?

It is pretty boring being honest...we need some sensible AI as well, and some solid diplomacy..as it is..the campaign map is mostly something to get out of the way to get to the battles...

TW is a tad shallow with this latest version...very shallow indeed.

Well Barry, whether you like it or not that is an hisotrically accurate aspect of the starting campaign.

If you don't like it...play Byz.

[Kobal2fr]

That's because Byzantium starts with the most troops, lands etc..., and remains that way if properly played (ie : by you ). The AI doesn't like to attack enemies it can't crush for certain, and will only attack if it has at least twice as many men on its borders, and capacity to outproduce you in the long run. So those "peace loving" neighbours are most probably just teching up and trooping up like crazy, bidding their time. Play on, see if I'm wrong

EDIT : oh, and before turn 30 the AI only goes for Reb's, and very aggressively at that too. Turn 31-33 are hiccuppy, because the AI suddenly finds itself with big armies meant for rebels, but suddenly "learns" it has to defend its lands too, and most often this translates into "ATTACK ! QUICK ! WE'RE DEFENSELESS ! ATTACK FIRST BEFORE HE NOTICES !". After that patch of turns, the AI becomes more sensible.

I'm working on an AI that will make these things more seam-less

[sapi]

That's completely different to how my byz campaign was, and, as others have said, that's fantastic - variation is what makes these games intersting.

As for the HRE, you're a target because you go for rebel settlements that the AI also wants, and because the pope doesn't like you enough to protect you.

[Daveybaby]

As for the HRE, you're a target because you go for rebel settlements that the AI also wants, and because the pope doesn't like you enough to protect you.

Very true - i wonder what would happen as HRE if you just turtled at the beginning of the game - dont take any rebel provinces that border your enemies, just concentrate on building up your starting provinces and improving relations with the pope. Doubt anyones actually tried that yet!

[sapi]

Considering the vunerability of your province in Italy, i doubt you've got much chance with a turtle on that front.

It's certainly something worth trying though!

[Skott]

One way to keep from having everyone come at you at once is to make alliances with everyone at the very beginning if you can. Faster you make the alliances the better chance of having peace. For a short while. The alliances dont hold forever or for very long. Once you go to war with one faction the others tend to jump on you as well. Some factions are more prone to it than others. France and HRE are good examples. The alliance system could use some tweaking I'll admit.

[Barry Fitzgerald]

Well Barry, whether you like it or not that is an hisotrically accurate aspect of the starting campaign.

If you don't like it...play Byz.

Hmm I thought that CA was trying not to simulate history, buf offer players a "what if" style of gameplay. Sure I expect the HRE to get attacked..but by everyone? Hmmmm. After 50 turns of defending and winning the same seiges...same tactics etc...I found myself crying into my keyboard.

I am all for historical accuracy..but this doesnt pretend to be that.

Would like some glorious achievements for a slower pace of gameplay..as it is too much rush rush conquest..not enough options to explore the slow burn build it up strategy.

[dismal]

Turks are "very pleased" to accept ceasefire

One thing for sure about M2TW1.1 is that the enemies love ceasefires in ways they never did before.

I don't think this is altogether unreasonable looked at from the perspective of an individual faction. The old VH AI seemed to rely heavily on the "I'm going to attack you even though I have 3 provinces and you have 30 because if I don't the game will be too easy" theory, which resulted in factions engaging in self-destructive behavior.

The problem, of course, is that if the AI doesn't bring the war to you the game probably is too easy.

In v1.1, I've found myself launching more wars of imperial aggression. Used to be you could let the AI attack you and counterpunch -- allowing you to feel somewhat better about crushing them.

[Julius_Nepos]

I find the 1.1 AI to be overly and pointlessly aggressive. As opposed to most people I'm perfectly fine with Total Peace, Total Trade or Total Bribery. It's all good in my book. And I never encounter peace with anyone, under 1.1 all factions attack, regardless of their own territorial needs or strengths. one thing that always surprises me about the Total War series is how diverse peoples experiences of the same game can be. Cheers!

[PureFodder]

I consider myself to be an expert in poor diplomacy, so I spend just about every campaign at war with literally everyone. I do feel the computer makes some odd decisions about who to assault. Factions down to their last settlement with one half stack army suddenly demand 700 a turn or they'll declare war on my empire.

[Joshwa]

I wish I had peace, whenever I play as the Byzantines i'm usually at war with Venice within 6-8 turns

I've also noticed that the Venetians leave Durazzo for ages if it stays rebel, but if i take it and stock it with a few troops they will be knocking on my door within a turn or two.. No fair!

[baron_Leo]

When playing with Hungary, I always get attacked by Venice and the Byzantines within 20 turns. Sometimes I get to delay war with Venice but nor for long. But BE always does attack. And except for the horse archers, Hungary mostly has crappy units in the beginning (problem is, not only in the beginning). For example if you don't defeat Russia in the beginning later you can't do anything against his Tzar's Guards and Cossack Musketeers. But I also prefer peace. And it is annoying that I have 36 territories, Sicily has 4 or 5 and they are attacking me. The Moors have 1 terf and they come every 5 or 6 turns with a full stack army against me...