I realise that to make Medieval Total War 2 harder for a player they simply let the computer cheat, give it loads of cash fast growth population make it far more aggressive, but since the patch I’ve noticed that not only is the opposition super aggressive but it will go miles out of its way to attack you for no reason what so ever…
… don’t get me wrong I love a challenge but there’s a point where you just have to shake your head and realise just how silly the AI is being… this isn’t even about diplomacy I know some people say that there is a certain way you can keep allies and lead a peaceful nation but honestly I think that’s total blind luck; if the AI has a large stack and it happens to be near one of your cities they’ll attack it regardless of your standing relations or general hygiene, but I digress…
(honestly be “Very Trustworthy” and have “Outstanding” relations with another nation then put a lone family member near one of their larger armies, its like waving a red flag to a particularly angry, mad bull)
I was playing as Milan and was trying to be a good Christian and not kicking my neighbours heads in (until I could get away with it anyway) I was allying with everyone (because I knew they’d attack you anyway and that it would ruin their reputation, evil lil scamp aint i) but as of yet everyone was playing nice with me… then Sicily attacked by sea… ok I thought not the best idea but I can see where they’re going with it, so I beat off their invasion and settled down to deal with them.
3 turns later a Byzantium boat arrives with an invasion army… alright, I mutter to myself they are a little far away but I guess it makes sense, (this is despite being allied with them with very good relations and a reliable rep and also being at war with venice who are a much more obvious target)
10 turns after that… and here’s the kicker… an English ship turns up; well im allied with the english but these ships are loaded with an invasion force; for a moment I wonder if I’ve gone colour blind or possible a synapse has burnt out from too much game playing but no… ah must be a mercenary ship… no no its an English ship alrght, 3 infact, and they’re pretty battered none of them having more than 20/75 crew. And im not bloody surprised! They’re at war with France and Spain so they must have got kicked around while coming down to see me with their 1 family member 2 spear militia and a billman militia... they land outside Genoa and lay siege to my city… a city with half a flags worth of troops in it…
At that point I gave a long sigh and exited the game, I don’t mind the AI being overly aggressive but why 15-20 turns worth of sea voyage in hostile water just to break an alliance and declare war with a tiny attack force that isn’t going to do anything (they were at war with Scotland, France and Spain so god KNOWS why they decided they needed to be at war with me as well, they were just about to lose London to the Scots as well)
So in summery its not that I’m complaining VH is… well, very hard; but that the AI is just unbelievably stupid on the campaign map, weakening itself for other computer players just so it can go and run screaming towards your heavily defended city walls with 50 men all wearing under pants on their head waving sharpened twigs screaming defiance at the fact you had the audacity to ally yourself with them, its so... frustratingly stupid!
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