Quote Originally Posted by Husar
Alliances are pretty useless since your only reliable allies are on the other side of the worldmap, far away from you so that you can't expect much help from them anyway. I think this is a bit sad and renders diplomacy pretty much useless, but it's called TotalWar after all(in this case I wonder why they even bothered putting diplomacy into the game).
It is aptly called Total War.

I suppose there are ways to keep your alliances in good shape, tribute or other gifts. Making alliances with strong factions is usually a good idea even if they are far away, on the other side of your enemy, who is usually adjacent to you. Also, what seems far away may not be so far away once your empire approaches 45 territories.

I have had a few battles where my ally has shown up to join in. That is so cool, but it doesn't happen very often.

In the present game as Turks, I notice the Mongols at war with Russia, but have not taken any territories yet. I'm at 70% of their strength. I have 40 turns until the Timurids show up, so my strength will have to make a serious improvement by then. But my sights are now on Egypt. Sacking all of those cities will fuel my military development, hopefully to allow me to hold off the Timurids, and/or the Mongols if they move South from Russia.

In the last game as Scotland, the Timurids wiped out the Mongols. I suppose it depends which part of the map they spawn from. On the same path would likely to lead to the Mongol's elimination.