Prevent neighbors from attacking

[rookie7]

It seems like every neighboring factions eventually declare war on me. Right now, I'm playing the English faction and I'm at war with the following: HRE, Sicily, Milan, Denmark, Portugal, Poland, and Rebels. Is there any way to stop the neighboring factions from declaring war all at once? All of these factions were my Allies at one time.

Thanks

[Eltharon]

There are some AI mods that will prevent this from happening. The other option is to attack them first, since alliances are pretty unsteady in this game.

[TevashSzat]

Make sure that you did not go to war against a faction with tons of alliances which may cause htier allies to go to war with you. Also, try to keep up a good relations with everyone by bribing them and keep spies and watchtowers so you will know when it looks like they are about to go to war with you.

[hoetje]

So what?just slay them all

[Flavius Gonzo]

Best I've been able to do is keep super strong garrisons in cities at my borders and bribe factions I don't wish war with up to perfect.

That seems to stave off an attack for a while... but eventually it seems that a faction inclined to attack you will do so regardless.

[IrishArmenian]

Cut off access to your regions by making border-esque forts everywhere. You can move through them, but no one else can. If they attack, you have 3-5 turns to respond before the fort falls.

[rookie7]

Well...now Spain also declared war on me. So, I'm now at war with 7 factions and the Rebels. The thing with being at war with so many factions is that you (I at least) have to spend all your income training armies to defend your regions. I hardly have any money for upgrades. Every ceasefire offers I made is being rejected because AI knows/thinks that I stand no chance with 7 factions attacking. Also, being at war with 7 catholic factions, the chances of one of those factions winning the Pope election is pretty good. When it does win an election, your relation with the Pope drops to 3-4 and you get slapped with the excommunication threat, all the while his own faction is free to attack me.

I agree with you guys, I wish something is done because this is ridiculous and becoming pointless to play. I guess I could try bribing them with money the next time I play. As for now, I'm gonna try to build forts and defend key choke points like you guys suggested.

Just wondering, what is the most number of factions that you're at war with at the same time?

[Booga]

By the end of the game I'm at war with pretty much everybody. At that point though, it's feasible to lose a settlement or two to draw in their armies, then crush their front while they're far from reinforcements and then just sweep through their undefended lands. Excommunication isn't even that scary since just about nothing can make a dent in my economy. Just hang in there, as long as you can field armies and win battles you'll be ok. Try letting the AI have a couple provinces, so hopefully you won't share borders with so many and hopefully they'll bicker amongst themselves, or at least give you some breathing room. It may be more cost-efficient to stop trying to hold onto every single settlement and consolidate for the time being.

Also, if you can spare it, send an army off into enemy territory, preferably a capital. Once its heartland is under attack the AI will usually break off to pursue you, and if you're fast you can siege, loot and skedaddle before they catch up to you.

One more thing...don't underestimate the value of agents. Swarm a city with spies and assassins (for sabotage) and see if you can get it to rebel. Even if you don't they'll have to divert troops to keep order and money to repair the damage, which will cost them way more than your agents' upkeep. Hope that helps you a bit.