Trouble in the Grand Campaign...

[Killahspunge]

Hi, im currently playing the Grand Campaign, ive tried it as a few factions, namely britain and france.

i do fine, ive learnt the tricks of empire building, namely not overdosing on low quality troops as they eat your money, keep the towns happy and dont expand too fast.

but, i have a problem.

i take out all possible rebel settlements near my continents first, to get a bigger, stronger empire with more money, fair do's, but the problems begin when i start attacking other country's.

i didn't get excommunicated, and as far as i know they weren't allied with my enemy, but my allies go from being willing to die for me, to just neutral, then even start attacking me? what am i doing wrong? am i supposed to keep paying them with tributes so they like me?




lastly, the Holy Roman Empire ALWAYS start attacking me, do they always do this, its seemingly every campaign.

[Wheelchair]

There is many reasons, One of your problems (if your France) is Taking too many Provinces too quickly. Doing this creates tension between you and HRE; They want provinces also, you know.

If your England, focus on taking the British Isles before taking Provinces near France, because this will also create tension.

A way to Solve this problem is offering 100-200 Florins a turn for like 20-30 turns, This keeps your standing high and should eliminate any other hostilities.

If your afraid to be Excomm'd, send a Diplomat to the Papal States, and offer 100 florins as a gift for 100 Turns, this will almost max out your Standing as long as you do the occasional Mission.

Edit: If playing England, leave Rennes for France, take the province east of you instead (Can't Remember name)

If playing France, leave Djon for HRE.

Although Diplomacy is retarded in MTW2 unless you have a mod; Even then its sub-par. So just play the game and don't worry about the AI, sooner or later you'll need to expand. IMO

-Your friendly neighborhood Wheelchair =]

[Killahspunge]

ok thanks, im gonna play as france, all those ones on the western seaboard are ok right? and am i OK to pulverise england and scotland into the ground?

[Wheelchair]

Yeah, all the cities near the Ocean should be fine, you may run into complications with Spanish and Portuguese... depending on whatever difficulty you play on.

Its your campaign do what you wish! ^^

[Killahspunge]

bloody spanish and portugese, theyre like a gay couple (dont ask me why i think theyre both guys) i thought portugal were supposed to hate the moors too. they always ally on my campaigns, im always thinking of taking the moors because its easy land that wont get the pope mad at me, but, they allied with spain :/

[RollingWave]

the Frech will always be in trouble like that. there's a few way you could go at this. overall though, play towards the pope's favor.

1. diplomate to Rome and ALLY ASAP!

2. ally with as many guys as you can, leave maybe one faction open for future attack (i would personally pick England or Spain, as both are in more secure positions, espically England, but going to Iberia means you could go against Muslim factions sooner and thus avoid the European politics.)

3. don't attack! don't even attack neutural factions! unless...

4. always attack the excommuicated !

5. if the Pope tell you to stop hostility do it! unblockade all the ports. you can still sally and/or attack seiging enemies though.

as any catholic faction playing the pope game if the best way to wiggle out of the european politics. I'm not sure on VH but even on H this will work just fine.

a. get your priests into low catholic regions, get their guild and build your priest from there (unless you get the headquoter) once they're piety is through the roof they're chances of being promoted to cardinal is very very high.

b. as long as you have plenty of cardinals you'll win just about every papal election (or you allies will) having a pope from your own faction or ally tend to make his rulings go your way.


Your goal is to get your enemy excommuicated. and then you can attack at will. you can lure them into attacking you if you want. just send a tiny stack of lousy units to wonder around their settlements and they'll usually attack you sooner or later.