A bunch of questions...ahhhh!

[test12345]

1)What are blinking icons in the settlement details scroll?? I read the answer in the faq but dont understand it. I do understand that the faded out grey icons are whats going to change based on what is in your queue.

2)Should i shoot fire arrows at seige equipment to make them burst into flames, or is this just random?

3)How come when the pope threatens to excommunicate me for hostilities, if i attack them in defiance of this order, i get excommed. But if THEY attack me, the pope does nothing to them?

4)How do you win as england? I had france, portugal, and scotland attack me all at once...and how come the pope didnt get mad at them?

ill add more questions as i get them any tips on diplomacy? THANKS!

[Imperator_Maximus]

Ah, welcome to the world of an imperfect world my friend.

1. I believe the blinking icons is whats going to happen in the future. Someone can correct me on that.

2. I think it does happen, but I haven't seen it happen nearly as often as in RTW. You might as well do it anyways, but the ballistas on the towers work best I think.

3. This also ties in a bit with 4). It is a somewhat crappy AI system that can't seem differentiate between the attacker and the attacked. My suggestion: get on best terms with the Pope so you can do almost anything you want.

4. Conquer the British Isles, don't give your maps to anyone, and you should do fairly well.

[Renco]

1. Blinking is just what's about to happen, it could be a new building, it could be a new level of population whatever, it just means that an add to your income/expenditure is occuring soon.

2. I find this is generally fruitless, you could make the seige burn, but sometimes it's better to focus all your fire on the enemy troops and dump some spearmen at the entrance to choke the incoming foe, whilst being shot at from above. You can usually win battles that are 1:3 in this way. If you need another turn to recruit some more units, try burning for sure, but think carefully about the consequences of it not burning. You've lost a major factor in the defense arsenal.

3. The Pope may see you as the agressor, not your enemy, so they may attack untill ordered not to. Favor also comes into play here. Supposing he issues ceasefire edicts at both of you, and your enemy has high rep with th pope, then they just lose major rep, not excomm. Same works for you.

4. As England, marry Rufus to Constance (the sexy french princess) to secure an alliance and a bunch of heirs. Then send a diplomat down to Spain/Portugal to get allies and then you can use the ceasefire/ally cheat (on another thread) to get cash. Back in Britain, quickly take York and Carvenon and wait until the main Scottish army goes up to the north castle. Then put a spy in Edinburgh and attack to wipe them off the map. So Scotlands gone, France is allied and assuming you stay out of their lands and keep a decent garrison, they'll stay that way. Keep a navy to hold the Spanish Armada at bay (geddit?) and launch a naval invasion on the north parts of Denmark to halt their rapid expansion westward. If you don't they will defeat you. usually. Then block off the landbridge seperating the North from the South with a boat unit and wait and see. This should leave you pretty well off to do the rest.

[test12345]

Thanks for the answers guys. So to clarify, fire increases the chances of the equipment burning, but thats only IF you attack the siege equipment itself, right (you can actually target it i have noticed, it says % dmg)?

[loquar]

Ive never seen a siege weapon go up in flames unless ive targetted it but thaa doesnt mean it cant. I usually prefer to ballista them though. Or if possible sally some cavalry from a side gate and charge the crew.

[Renco]

Fire arrows don't have to target the siege equipment, they just have to hit it. Its like aiming for one unit with a cannon and hitting a general instead. Good fortune.