Pope Problem

**Sun of Chersonesos** · February 27, 2008, 05:06 PM

Hi

Well the thing is, you see, I am the Holy Roman Empire and Denmark has just attacked me. Even though I had more power than them beforehand, I didn't attack because they were being quite passive - and my sights were set towards expanding to the west, into France. My Hamburg being a citadel, it was easy for me to create a decent army to take Arhus and settlements that followed. Heinrick Uttenheim (Me) was in the process of besieging Arhus and the rams would be ready by the next turn. When the next turn finally came, I got a message from the Pope (oh no, not the Pope, anything but the Pope!). And guess what he said - 'Cease Hostilities' 'Denmark' just as I was rdy to attack. So I just let my army stay there so I'm ready to attack safely without being excommunicated. After that turn, Denmark sent a large army to take Hamburg while my mission was still in progress. They took Hamburg... fools... but what's more annoying is that I can't attack anything of Denmark's without being excommunicated - I can't even sally out if I'm under seige. But Denmark can do whatever they like? That's not fair at all - that's bad programming. That's just like 'You will let Denmark take as much land as they like off you' or you will be excommunicated.

Granted, it doesn't happen often when the pope times the mission like that but it shouldn't happen at all

**miccofl** · February 27, 2008, 05:54 PM

Keep your relationship high enough with the pope and it won't matter who you attack. If all else fails take Rome; hopefully he will be inside when you do.

**Der Angelsachse** · February 27, 2008, 06:18 PM

I don't think it's bad programming, more like the effects of having a Danish puppet as head of the Papacy, either that or you've seriously annoyed his Holiness at some point in the past.

I actually think it's a nice touch (allbeit annoying when you're on the receiving end) but don't forget it works both ways, when the Pope is in your pocket, you get a lot more room to manoeuvre...

**eggthief** · February 27, 2008, 07:35 PM

U should have moved as much as troops as possible into your settlements that border the Danish, anyway it is so easy to even prevent the cease hostilities mission, if the AI plays lame then it is only fair to play lame as well by offering the pope small gifts every turn.

**Sokar Rostau** · February 27, 2008, 10:16 PM

You can sally out when under siege during a "Cease Hostilities" mission. The mission only applies to offence, not defence. I usually find that after I've been given cease and desist orders the other side usually has as well because they stop attacking, even lifting sieges, the same turn... If the other side attacks while I'm under Cease Hostilities they are frequently excommunicated.

**Isotopesam** · February 27, 2008, 11:30 PM

On the topic of Popes, I'm playing the Moors. How soon can I expect a crusade called against me? Any particular number of turns or regions taken? Papal relation is abysmal atm.

**roy34543** · February 27, 2008, 11:40 PM

There isnt really a defined way to tell. A crusade can happen every 10 turns, but i wouldnt really say you should expect it. Because its kind of random when your not playing a catholic faction.
Personally ive had a killer crusade come up to me as the moors , i was weak and building up an economy and had no forts , when a crusade was called and in several turns i had cordoba sacked which was my major trade center by about 3 armies. and i had no finincial things to lean on then

**Sokar Rostau** · February 28, 2008, 12:39 AM

My Moors campaign ended on about turn 25. By ended I mean I saved the game and went back to playing the nice predictable Catholics. I went from having half the world as my allies, including Papacy, Sicily, Spain, Portugal, France, Venice and Milan. Portugal is the Milan of Iberia so they betrayed me after a few turns. Having the Crusade called against me wasn't the problem, the problem was that when Sicily joined the Crusade (the only Faction to do so) I didn't lose any allies and they seemed to lose all of theirs... When they layed seige to my castle I tried to sally and my relations instantly went to Abysmal with every Catholic Faction and they tore up all our treaties.

**pwijnands** · February 28, 2008, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by Sokar Rostau

My Moors campaign ended on about turn 25. By ended I mean I saved the game and went back to playing the nice predictable Catholics. I went from having half the world as my allies, including Papacy, Sicily, Spain, Portugal, France, Venice and Milan. Portugal is the Milan of Iberia so they betrayed me after a few turns. Having the Crusade called against me wasn't the problem, the problem was that when Sicily joined the Crusade (the only Faction to do so) I didn't lose any allies and they seemed to lose all of theirs... When they layed seige to my castle I tried to sally and my relations instantly went to Abysmal with every Catholic Faction and they tore up all our treaties.

Had the same thing in a Turkish campaign and had similar things when I attacked a Jihaddic army (all muslim factions hated me for it).

**N3rull** · February 28, 2008, 12:52 AM

You can freely attack anything on your lands and the mission will not end in a failure (though your reputation with the pope may decrease for killing fellow christians). Attacking someone outside them will cause trouble.

**Isotopesam** · February 28, 2008, 01:37 AM

I'm close to wiping out the Spanish and pretty much all the neighboring countries are at war with each other. Plus, Egypt is causing problems in the East. So banking on the fact that the Pope has his hands full to call a crusade on me just yet. But if it happens, I'm toast. My next target is Portugal, or to play it safe, I might continue the North African campaign.

**yes,idolikestuff** · February 28, 2008, 02:03 AM

I've found while play as the scots and having a cease hostilities mission from the pope for me and england you can attack settlements that are already under siege by you when the mission is issued