Rebellious Pig!

**Navajo Joe** · July 15, 2008, 06:48 AM

I have just started my first game of Stainless Steel on Very Hard Difficulty as Knights Templar. Everything started very well, built somethings, recruited some peasants and sent One of the General'S(namely Gottfried) to besiege Damascus with some Pilgrims, Peasants, Sergeants. They basically were not strong enough to attack next turn. So I opted to carry on the Siege and starve them out. After about four turns he rebels taking his entire army and reinforcements on the way.
How could I have stopped this from happening? Have i missed something?
Now I am left with the Grandmaster, plus 3 units of peasants!

**Santiago de Pola** · July 15, 2008, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by Navajo Joe

I have just started my first game of Stainless Steel on Very Hard Difficulty as Knights Templar. Everything started very well, built somethings, recruited some peasants and sent One of the General'S(namely Gottfried) to besiege Damascus with some Pilgrims, Peasants, Sergeants. They basically were not strong enough to attack next turn. So I opted to carry on the Siege and starve them out. After about four turns he rebels taking his entire army and reinforcements on the way.
How could I have stopped this from happening? Have i missed something?
Now I am left with the Grandmaster, plus 3 units of peasants!

Was his loyalty level low? And maybe he ran out of supplies..that can inflict the rebellion of the troops!

You can check the state of supplies within the traits of a general!

**Navajo Joe** · July 15, 2008, 07:05 AM

His Loyalty Factor was a two stars and he must of ran out of supplies, I understand the supply factor is under attributes. So basically I need to attack before I starve to death or break siege return to a friendly territory and come back again. Is there any way I can replenish supplies without lifting siege?

**Dead Guy** · July 15, 2008, 07:32 AM

You can just move the general to a ship or settlement for a turn or two, the army can stay without being affected by supplies or long time field morale since it's in the generals attributes.

**The Noble Lord** · July 15, 2008, 07:55 AM

Loyalty factor, low supplies, presence of strong enemy forces in the area,
different religion of that province, his traits were cowardice and dubious origins. All of these factors can cause your generals to defect and
become your enemies. I once lost my faction heir, he became a rebel.
Next time I met him was on the battlefield, the revenge was sweet.

CHEERS

**Navajo Joe** · July 15, 2008, 08:12 AM

Therefore is it best to keep the Faction Leader with the army at the start and leave Mr Yellowbelly back in the Castle?
I think my problem with this game is that I am tending to rush into acting, forgetting I have time on my side. With the original games it was far more rushed and certainly unrealistic.
Does it make sense to make Alliances with as many Catholic Factions as possible or is this a strategy that ends in disaster

**Quixote** · July 15, 2008, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by Navajo Joe

Therefore is it best to keep the Faction Leader with the army at the start and leave Mr Yellowbelly back in the Castle?
I think my problem with this game is that I am tending to rush into acting, forgetting I have time on my side. With the original games it was far more rushed and certainly unrealistic.
Does it make sense to make Alliances with as many Catholic Factions as possible or is this a strategy that ends in disaster

Since you are deep in Muslim territory it is not a bad idea, there are plenty of other AI players to attack. Besides, egypt is going to be coming for you real soon anyway...

**Musthavename** · July 15, 2008, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Navajo Joe

Therefore is it best to keep the Faction Leader with the army at the start and leave Mr Yellowbelly back in the Castle?
I think my problem with this game is that I am tending to rush into acting, forgetting I have time on my side. With the original games it was far more rushed and certainly unrealistic.
Does it make sense to make Alliances with as many Catholic Factions as possible or is this a strategy that ends in disaster

If you want a decent reputation, Alliances are always a good thing. Since at the start of the game I never want to go under Mixed if I can help it (thats only do-able when you basically can't be stopped anymore). Any alliance kept slowly increases reputation, which is only a good thing, considering you don't have to worry about wanting to take these faction's lands anytime soon. That, and your diplomat can't exactly do much else from where he is!

**Wolfgrin** · July 15, 2008, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Navajo Joe

Therefore is it best to keep the Faction Leader with the army at the start and leave Mr Yellowbelly back in the Castle?
I think my problem with this game is that I am tending to rush into acting, forgetting I have time on my side. With the original games it was far more rushed and certainly unrealistic.
Does it make sense to make Alliances with as many Catholic Factions as possible or is this a strategy that ends in disaster

The answer really depends on what strategy you're going to pursue. If you want to stay on good terms with the Fatamids and/or Seljuks for a while, alliances with the Pope or crusading Catholics will make them hate you more. However, allying with the Egyptians and then calling crusades on them can work pretty well. You can sit back all innocent-like and let other Catholics do your dirty work. After they take the objective, take it from them. Your standing with the Infidel will actually go up!

As far as rushing to take things, that's the only way you're gonna survive as the Templars. Get those rebel cities as quickly as you can.

Good luck.

**Space Voyager** · July 23, 2008, 05:15 AM

Originally Posted by Dead Guy

You can just move the general to a ship or settlement for a turn or two, the army can stay without being affected by supplies or long time field morale since it's in the generals attributes.

That is an exploit... It works as if the army left behind doesn't need to eat...

**Dead Guy** · July 25, 2008, 02:39 PM

Is it an exploit to use armies without family members commanding them then?

It's an exploit to use your brain when playing against the AI too, because you learn and understand what it reacts to while it can never do the same to you. If it only affects MY campaign, does it really matter to you? Does it impede your gaming experience if I toggle_fow in my single player game? Play however you want, I'm just trying to explain the game mechanichs to someone who asked about them.

If that's too much for you, can't we just imagine the general leaves to bring fresh supplies for his men from a boat or city? Perhaps a few brothel employees too if you can't stand the morale going back up after them being so long in the field.

**Confederate Jeb** · July 16, 2008, 12:12 PM

As the Templars I ally with the Pope first turn, then ask for a Crusade on Antioch. That give me enough units to attack.

But I don't play on VH, so I don't know.

Sorry for this kinda of topic question, but how come I cannot marry of Gottfried to any princess? He is the faction heir and is unmarried.

**Navajo Joe** · July 22, 2008, 06:46 AM

Thanks very much everybody for the useful information, especially Quark, some really useful stuff. I control 5 regions now, Tortosa, Aleppo, Adana, Antioch and Edessa, the Pope loves me and I am being careful who I have an alliance with me. A crusade was called and there are Catholic factions throughout the Holyland, giving the Fatimids a hard time.
This may have been a foolish move, but I have just besieged Nicosia(Byzantine), only defended by one unit in a stone castle! Easy target, close by and the Seljuks between them and me, except the sea of course!
By biggest problem is a lack of cash which is seriously affecting my war machine. I feel reluctant to join the Crusade against Cairo, due to lack of Florins, what do you all think?

**Musthavename** · July 22, 2008, 07:44 AM

Considering a Crusade has free upkeep if you have an army on hand it can actually net you a decent amount of money, aslong as you don't suffer desertions by wandering around aimlessly.

**The Noble Lord** · July 22, 2008, 10:56 AM

By biggest problem is a lack of cash which is seriously affecting my war machine.

Go north and plunder some of the Turkish and ERE cities. Also, why
don't you send an expedition and sack Baghdad. It should provide you with the instant cash flow.

CHEERS

**satthukaraoke** · July 22, 2008, 11:08 AM

As Knight Templar I always call a crusade on either Antioc or Damacus right off the the start.

- You have access to cheap and good mercernaries.
- Your leading general won't rebel.
- Your two general will get good (chivalry) traits, which is a must to boost early settlement..
- You get money and experience reward for success, which is a big help early on for the Templar.

I'm not sure about Damacus since I never get it early, but I know Antioc is crusade-able for sure in the beginning. Give it a try, you'll appreciate the bonus, I know I do

**obbob** · July 22, 2008, 02:09 PM

Well, if you manage to take Gaza, you will have the largest castle in the east, and if you manage to turn it into a fortress, then you'll be destroying stack after stack of Egyptians.

**Navajo Joe** · July 23, 2008, 04:10 AM

I have now captured Nicosia and have a Stone Castle. The idea of GAZA is a great one, someone mentioned the significance before. So the plan is an assault from the sea on Gaza, very poorly defended, with the Fatimids very busy with other invading catholic factions. Poland just took Cairo of them, so the bulk of their forces are further south. Meanwhile I will call a Crusade on Jerusalem and go via Damascus.