Smart diplomatic move

[Rockstone]

I've not been very active on this forum in the past few weeks (well, less than usual anyway), primarily because I've playing SS and in between, moving from my apartment in Arnhem to one in Nijmegen. But yesterday evening the French made a smart diplomatic move I felt I had to report.

Since SS5.1 was released, I've been playing the Moors (primarily because of the magnificent Mangonel - I love those fireworks in a siegebattle). The story pretty much unfolded as you might expect. My little world is the Western Sahara desert en Iberia. Everyone wants to trade with me, but no allies (Fatimids and Seljuks are too far off to even send a diplomat).

At first its time to take rebel settlements. Obviously somebody had to start a war with me, this time the Portugese. Smart, because my army was in Africa but they never pushed on. A little re-enforcement and I was able to hold the line until my army was back (which takes forever when you're near Timbuktoe).

Kicked out the Portugese and Castillians (which were at war with the English for some reason). Then I was ready to consolidate, built a little and place watchtowers. The Aragonese were at war with the French, they had been for a few years now (I noticed armies moving back and forth, the border never moved an inch - some kind of WWI prequel). All of a sudden the French send a diplomat and proposed an alliance.

In the mean time, the Sicilians (holding Tunis) figured out that, when the Moors are at war in Iberia, its time to attack in the desert. Their effort was good, I had to fight off three siegebattles (my castle at Algiers saved the day).

My compliments to King Kong and whoever was involved in this part. The AI is playing it smart. First the Portugese, starting a war when I was least prepared. Then the Sicilians taking an opportunity. And now the French offering an alliance knowing that (after the Aragonese), it would be the Moors and French battling it out (which might still happen - I havend decided on that yet). My compliments!

[mailor]

Yes, the AI seems to work pretty well indeed. Let me report some "highlights" in my current late era campaign as Denmark so far:

- In the beginning of the campaign, norway was invaded by the scots (they took Eiksundarsunt, but Norway took it back some years later). Scotland was rather busy keeping it's front against Norway, and so the English were able to strike hard against the Scots. About 100 years in the campaign now, and the Scots have been destroyed by the english.

- While the war between Scotland - Norway was underway, I began to harrass the Norwegian, because they had Stockholm. And I NEED Stockholm when I play the Danes! This would have worked out pretty well, but the Russians decided, they need to expand to Visby and Stockholm as well! Years of battles followed. Stockholm changed factions 4 times in this war! I managed to defend Visby all the time against the russians.
"Unfortunately" the fronts stalled in this war. The russians sent armies from the east, I came in from Southwest and Norway from Northwest. Then I decided to do the following: I invaded the west coast of Norway (Got Eiksundarsund and Bergen in 2 years), to get rid of norway. My plan succeeded, and a few years later the norwegian have been destroyed. Now I reign all over Skandinavia, but still have to defend against invading russians.

- France and Poland allied together and invaded the HRE (another demonstration for a good AI alliance decision). I was in an alliance with France then, but was kind of fond of the HRE (because I married my princess at the start of the campaign. The Danish-HRE alliance broke unfortunately after a few years). You know what I did? I had a pretty fine assasin in Arthus by then, and I systematically killed all the generals of the french invaders, so they wouldn't overrun the HRE, which were pretty weak by then. The HRE still couldn't manage both fronts, and now are destroyed. I am still allied with the french , they'll never found out who or what got rid of their generals. I am an ass, I know...

I really like the way, how things work out with SS5.1

[Iscariott]

The AI work was done by Lusted, and he did a damn fine job

[gogis]

Thats should be Lusteds CAI, as far as i see, he did some very nice changes since... a while, i was off from MTWII for several months and now i am back on track, and omg! SS5.1 is some amazing stuff.

[aNarion.]

AAR lovin' it!