An opinionated question...

[Emperor Tom]

Really, whats most important; because I have problems choosing during my early campaigns. Should I be more concerned with my economy or with my relations with the pope?:hmmm:

[NobleNick]

I don't see how they conflict. I would choose economy, unless Papal estimation of me was totally in the toilet. I start paying off the Pope in the early mid-game, and try to stay out of trouble until then.

[Bluice]

Being Milan I found the Pope contradictive, he would complain to me because I repelled the Sicilians who marched into Florence and tried to invade it, no crosses go down for Sicily and they are trespassing, but the moment I repelled them I got told off, lost crosses and threatened by excommunication.

But then on the flipside of that when I was Scotland and England pestered me the Pope stood up for me and excommunicated England.

I came to the conclusion that the closer you are to the Papal States the more threatened they will feel no matter how much ass you kiss.

[pwijnands]

Being Milan I found the Pope contradictive, he would complain to me because I repelled the Sicilians who marched into Florence and tried to invade it, no crosses go down for Sicily and they are trespassing, but the moment I repelled them I got told off, lost crosses and threatened by excommunication.

But then on the flipside of that when I was Scotland and England pestered me the Pope stood up for me and excommunicated England.

I came to the conclusion that the closer you are to the Papal States the more threatened they will feel no matter how much ass you kiss.

I've had varying results as well with the pope not standing up for me after I (France) was attacked by Sicily and later Milan. Sicily eventually got excommunicated but then I took over a city where their faction leader lived. He got killed in the battle and Sicily got reconciled after that. Same thing happened with Milan, they blockaded a port of mine out of nowhere. I retaliate (although a bit excessively) and get a mission to cease hostilities.

[Pontifex Maximus]

both are important

[miccofl]

Should I be more concerned with my economy or with my relations with the pope?:hmmm:

Setting up a strong economic base early is key to a good relationship with the pope later on. Best thing to do with the pope early is get an alliance and if you are bordering or close give him military access; try and get it for yourself too but that usually costs a fair piece of change. Once your economy is up and running and the gold is pouring in you can then get your access (does seem to help the relationship a little) and bribe... errr... I mean buy indulgences to get that perfect relationship

[The Sweeper]

Little piece of advice in case it goes balls-up with the pope; station a diplomat right by Rome constantly. If you ever fall below what you think is a good level of Popeularity (^_^) then just give him a couple of quid to go down the shops and get a bite to eat. That ought to cool him off. Possibly stop some bloody inquisitor burning your king at the stake too.

[Hungary Horace]

Screw the pope!! use a diplomat as described above but also get a high level assasin to rome - carry on doing what you want, if you get excommed kill the pope - I was getting 50-90% sucess rate almost every time. Also you get a cool movie - my assasin went up to the rafters of a cathedral and used a xbow to kill the pope while he was giving mass - YEAH YEAH YEAH - that will teach you for excomming me. I now own rome and gave the papacy ajaccio as a home and now they love me. If you let the pope rule you you'll never acheive what you really want. Aloso use assasins to kill the prefati if they are not one of yours. Soon all cardinals will just be my faction!! YUK YUK YUK...

ASSSASINS RULE!!!!!

[pwijnands]

Hmm, when I executed the pope I only got a standard snake-in-the-bed movie. Do you have to have the pope inside Rome when you do it.