Which Lands to Conquer faction should be my first visual thread?

[Askthepizzaguy]

Maybe I am pressing my luck, but the more Catholic factions I am at war with, and the worse my relations with the pope before I engage in diplomacy, my ability to bribe with maps and "attack faction" and even florins should be less effective.

The biggest complaint (not really a complaint, but an observed exploit that is unrealistic) is that I can have untrustworthy reputation, be at war with every catholic faction I can find, blatantly ignore the pope's commands, and have abysmal relations with the pope at the start of the turn, and use diplomacy to return to "Perfect" relations.

My suggestions:

Unless the map you are sharing drastically increases the existing map for the AI, it should not be considered a gift. In fact, it should be considered a diplomatic insult.

Offering to attack catholic factions should NOT have a positive effect on the Pope unless they are excommunicated. Such offers should be insulting.
Especially insulting if the faction you offer to attack is the very faction the Pope is ordering you to stop attacking. Seems illogical to have the pope consider it a gift to blatantly disregard his commands.

Florins should have less effect on the pope the more you disobey him.

When you have abysmal relations (Or any level) there should be a limit to how much you can improve relations in a given turn.

Don't forget to disable that for when two or more diplomats attempt it in a single turn for cumulative effect. That's another loophole if you accomplish the previous suggestion, the game will consider two diplomats to be two seperate sessions. I don't think you should be able to send two diplomats to a given faction in one turn. That bugs their leader and exploits the game, and should be considered bothersome and insulting.

EDIT: Wow that was quick! Since I'm not a technically minded person, I'll have to wait and see what it does in the game before I can give you feedback on it.

[Lusted]

Unless the map you are sharing drastically increases the existing map for the AI, it should not be considered a gift. In fact, it should be considered a diplomatic insult.

Offering to attack catholic factions should NOT have a positive effect on the Pope unless they are excommunicated. Such offers should be insulting.
Especially insulting if the faction you offer to attack is the very faction the Pope is ordering you to stop attacking. Seems illogical to have the pope consider it a gift to blatantly disregard his commands.

Florins should have less effect on the pope the more you disobey him.

When you have abysmal relations (Or any level) there should be a limit to how much you can improve relations in a given turn.

Don't forget to disable that for when two or more diplomats attempt it in a single turn for cumulative effect. That's another loophole if you accomplish the previous suggestion, the game will consider two diplomats to be two seperate sessions. I don't think you should be able to send two diplomats to a given faction in one turn. That bugs their leader and exploits the game, and should be considered bothersome and insulting.

Afraid those aren't possible. What i have done is reduce the boost in relations that giving money to the Pope gives, and increased the penalty for disobeying him on big missions so you are more likely to be ex-communicated by ignoring him.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Understood. As soon as I update the game files and test it out, I'll be able to see how difficult it is to manipulate his Holiness. If it causes a significant headache to really exploit the fact that there isn't a human consciousness behind the diplomacy screen, I'd say it would be a major improvement.

Much of my success in blitzing as a Catholic faction involves severe and blatant handling of the Pope. Anything that makes him a tougher customer to deal with makes the game more realistic.

Again, excellent work!

[Odin]

a tip of the hat to askthepizzaguy, enjoy LTC its a fine mod and really enhances the game a lot.

You'll still be able to blitz and have some nice conquests, however from time to time the modification bites you (unrest!). As far as combat thats still fairly easy even on VH (if you have adequate forces).

[Askthepizzaguy]

Looks like Scotland gets the nod.

I'll keep the poll open though, to see what else people are interested in.

Note: On lands to Conquer, I will not be rolling up the map as quickly as in the Vanilla version. But I certainly will not be lax about attacking my enemies and expanding quickly.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Quick question: If I post a Scotland thread, and narrate the campaign from the point of view of the King, will it get moved onto the AAR battle stories section?

I would like to do a thread with more immersion than previous threads, but I am afraid if I post it here it will get moved into the AAR section where no one will ever see it.

(I certainly never visit there)

[OverKnight]

You could post a link to the AAR in your sig. Even if it gets moved, you post often enough in the Citadel that you'll still get views.

What's so wrong with the AAR section anyway? Besides a few posts in the Citadel, all my activity is there.