"Clean" way to start a war?

[supekele]

I have a question - how would one go about starting a clean, fair, war? Is there a way to declare it before you march into enemy territory to be fair (or merciful)?

I find it immensely annoying when my reputation plummets because I tire of the "neutral" nation Assassin trains that can only picked off by my Assassins. And I play England, who seem to have very inept espionage.

[Heinz Guderian]

If your proposed enemy is of a different religion, use priests/imams to drive down his stability and be on hand to take the settlement when it rebels. If they of the same faith, then keep your garrisons sparse neighbouring your enemy and then annoy them by asking for money "or you'll attack". i dont know if encroaching on their territory hits your reputation, but it sure does annoy your neighbours. Also, you can try a crusade against them if the pope doesnt like them. in my experience, a neighbour cant resist a pop at a lightly defended settlement.

[Kratos]

Station a single unit on your border and wait for them to attack.

[Kawligia]

Send a diplomat to make outrageous demands. This will drop your relations with them in the toilet and they will probably attack soon after. Allying with one of their enemies might help too.

[Okocim]

I demand 1000 florins per turn for 10 turns... and I add the Accept or we will attack... so thats like a declaration of war if they say no

[Mansa musa]

a good way to completely destroy a faction with no opposition is to take a whole unit make sure it has siege weapons then lock 1 unit a piece onto each of the enemy targets territories and conquer them one by one.

[Broken Lance]

War is neither clean nor fair my friend

[supekele]

War is neither clean nor fair my friend

If you're in a fair fight, you didn't prepare properly.

Forgot who it's from. But I mean just starting a war nicely before I walk in and utterly crush any who oppose me.

his has got to be worth some rep :b

I'll add that to my to do list when I hit 50 posts.

[Arcani 4 Ever]

Well, you can ask for a region with the accept or we will attack offer, if they refuse, well this is kinda a diplomatic way of starting a war.

You can also gain disfavour of the faction you want to attack and simply drag troops to worsen the relations

[Renco]

As Scotland fighting England, just send in a single petty milita and walk all over their land. This also serves as a recon mission. Usually if you make a ton of small moves your rep with that faction drops quickly and they attack you. If you stand to fight a leading general might also pick up a dread trait (winning first), which is annoying for a chiv guy.
Also tips, try to not have diplomatic relations with them, like trade, as if it's to their beneift and/or you extorted money, they put up with a lot to keep it.
Also don't have the pre-prepared invading army close by. Keep them at least a region away.

<decision_entry>
<!--
If we are neutral and we don't hate them, there is a 25% chance to use defaults (no invasion), (we are a partially friendly neutral)
-->
<min_entry faction_standing="0.0" stance="Neutral"/>
<max_entry stance="Neutral" rand="0.25"/>
</decision_entry>
This is from the file descr_campaign_ai_dp, it lists all the things AI is supposed to do. The above example shows there is a 75% chance they will invade if you border them and are neutral. The file in question is much more extensive and I highly recommend reading it, especially as it shows what conditions must be met before enemies will accept the vassal situation.
This has got to be worth some rep :b

[Captain Spanky]

Since you asked so nicely, I shall rep on supekele's behalf. I'm just that great.

On topic now, doesnt the AI take other things into account such as strength, or who the current allies and enemies are for both factions involved? It seems pretty illogical to not count those...

[Renco]

Since you asked so nicely, I shall rep on supekele's behalf. I'm just that great.

Many thanks for your benign benevolence. It shall be repaid, mark my words.
To the issue.

On topic now, doesnt the AI take other things into account such as strength, or who the current allies and enemies are for both factions involved? It seems pretty illogical to not count those...

HAHAHAHAHA! Seems? We are talking about the AI. They see a sparsely defended region and that’s cool. It doesn't matter that there are full stacks, in a neighbouring region, less than a turn away. It sees the plum and it picks it. I don't think the AI understands (or has been programmed to understand) the concept of war. They live for the day, being prompted to act as opportunities arise. If they have the chance, they take it, and spare not a second thought to the consequences.

FEAR THE REP-MONGER!

[Samir]

I thought about the question a lot yesterday and found a solution that might work.

I roleplay a lot so I was trying to find a solution that is based on the formal declaration of war, without already destroying half the offensive potential of my enemy.

1.Diplomacy
make a demand (like a province you want + money + tribute) + accept or we will attack
if you are unlucky they agree , but if you make a complete unrealistic demand they most likely wont, if they do even better, destroy all buildings in the provinces you get and let them rebel...

2. block a port with a one ship fleet
that triggers the formal declaration of war
you can however retreat the ship instantly now, you are at war now and neither you or your enemy looses anything.

3a. lets get it on
3b. the cowards negotiate for a ceasefire. you can make another ridicolous demand if you want

though I dont know if that has any consequences for your reputation.

[Ciaran S]

I thought about the question a lot yesterday and found a solution that might work.

I roleplay a lot so I was trying to find a solution that is based on the formal declaration of war, without already destroying half the offensive potential of my enemy.

1.Diplomacy
make a demand (like a province you want + money + tribute) + accept or we will attack
if you are unlucky they agree , but if you make a complete unrealistic demand they most likely wont, if they do even better, destroy all buildings in the provinces you get and let them rebel...

2. block a port with a one ship fleet
that triggers the formal declaration of war
you can however retreat the ship instantly now, you are at war now and neither you or your enemy looses anything.

3a. lets get it on
3b. the cowards negotiate for a ceasefire. you can make another ridicolous demand if you want

though I dont know if that has any consequences for your reputation.

The problem with starting a war (being the one to initiate the first hostile activities) is that you will lose all your allies who are also allied to your victim (that´s the mechanic, the AI isdes always with the defender, vassals might be an exception). So basically you want your target to attack you, but getting them to do that is tricky and takes quite a while before they take the hint.

A somewhat sneaky shortcut is what I call the courtesey call incident. However, that requires that you have an ally who is at war with your target and actually does something about that (preferably sending over armies). Now, what you do is use the reinforcement system of TW. Park a unit (any old unit will do) next to your allies´ army (if he´s besieging a settlement that´s ideal, since he won´t be going anywhere). Now wait for your taget to attack your ally, and your troops can join the battle - viola, you´re at war and you didn´t attack!
However, if your ally chooses to attack, retreat from the battle! If you join him you´re the aggressor once again, even if he sends a relief force for or sallies from one of his own besieged cities.

[kaleus Khron]

The best way to start a war is to end it the same or next turn.

My recent conquest of sicily as venice was quick and only took 1 turn. It would have taken 2 but as i sieged naples palermo and bari it ended the royal family, and left sycruse rebel. I already had tripoli tunis and benghazi.


Though this tactic works well with islands and peninsulas it will be much more difficult on land.

[loquar]

On topic now, doesnt the AI take other things into account such as strength, or who the current allies and enemies are for both factions involved? It seems pretty illogical to not count those...

The way the AI ignores the overall strengths is quite frustrating. Dont they have access to the overall standings chart as well?

Most annoying for me is when you take over a couple of regions and are clearly about to take some more from a faction way behind you and their diplomat approaches, you think ooh great theyre going to buy their way out of the war. But No! they say give a ceasefire and demand 1560 gold for 3 turns?

Whut? I'm kicking your bums royaly and you want ME to pay YOU to enable a ceasefire? get real!

I then ask them to pay me and they get all insulted... like I wasnt?

[Samir]

you can still just decline their proposal without a counter offer

[Kip]

If you enter into diplomacy with a neutral nation, and make an offer with the "accept or we will attack" clause (and are subsequently refused), does your reputation suffer if you launch the first attack?

[malcolm mcdowell]

he once excommunicated me for sallying out of a city... like i was just meant to surrender instead?

[Renco]

he once excommunicated me for sallying out of a city... like i was just meant to surrender instead?

AHAHAAHAHA! Sorry to laugh but that's just to good. I bet the general was all 'For GOD!' when he was rallying his men. Too bad the pope didn't see it that way.
Though that's never happened to me.