Which faction is easier to defeat?

[Medieval American]

I've just started a new campagin with The Holy Roman Empire and after taking the first few rebel provinces I need to know which faction is more beneficial to conquer. Is it France, Geona, Venice, Poland, Denmark, or Hungary? It is still before turn 20, The Pope seems to like all the surrounding factions equally, and the HRE is allied with all the surrounding factions. I need someone to attack. France seems to like me least of all the other factions, but I've already tried to bait them into attacking me by keeping down the garrison inside of Metz and they still won't attack:hmmm:... What to do?

[Callawyn]

Check the diplo screen too, if you're going to start a war you should know if your target has allies. In SS, the ally of your target will often declare war on you, which can be a nasty surprise.

All things being equal, as the HRE I like to conquer Denmark then Norway early on, for the secure flank. Just one less direction that you might later have to shift your armies to. Also, its easy, just prepare in advance, have boats handy, and you can assault all of their regions simultaneously by sea. If you do this right, their faction is destroyed and their field armies turn rebel and are reduced in size. If they've got more provinces than you have armies capable of assaulting, declare war, assault what you can, and offer ceasefire all on the same turn. Pope won't have time to bother you, and you can repeat the process a few turns later when you're ready.

Starting wars is bad for your reputation, but its amazing how quick and easy a war is when you betray an ally and are fully prepared to attack as opposed to when they betray you and all your armies are on the wrong side of your empire.

[IsolatedPurity]

I'd go for France because their king insulted our language!

But for a easy target I'd choose the smallest kingdom, it should be pretty obvious on how to tell what is what.

[lordextra0]

nice comment
I always go for france first because
1) they aren't very good in the beginning
2) I can't stand their accent
3) Lots of land for you
4)

... their king insulted our language!

[Medieval American]

The HRE has now apperently split in two between the Emperor and those generals loyal to him and about four other unloyal gernerals that refuse to move more than a few steps on the campagin map. The unloyal generals, which include the faction heir, where insighting riots in my towns. Now I've moved them out of town and they refuse to move hardly at all. What is going to happen? When the Emperor dies will the generals that are loyal to him act like the current unloyal generals? Is there a way that I can prevent this?

[Hoowler]

The HRE has now apperently split in two between the Emperor and those generals loyal to him and about four other unloyal gernerals that refuse to move more than a few steps on the campagin map. The unloyal generals, which include the faction heir, where insighting riots in my towns. Now I've moved them out of town and they refuse to move hardly at all. What is going to happen? When the Emperor dies will the generals that are loyal to him act like the current unloyal generals? Is there a way that I can prevent this?

If the king dies, the unloyal generals become loyal to the new king

[IsolatedPurity]

nice comment
I always go for france first because
1) they aren't very good in the beginning
2) I can't stand their accent
3) Lots of land for you
4)

We're best friends now!

[Medieval American]

What ended up happening was Sicily offered an allience with map info. and no demands so I accepted. Later on after I took Bern and Milan I saw out of my peripheral vision Geona without a garrison. So, it is now mine and I'm at war with the Geonese who currently occupy Marseille, and Corsica. Italy is about to be all mine too after Sicily beats down Venice then I destory Sicily!

[Gogolometro]

I play HRE on gracul submod the latest patch on H/VH.I am in war with France foe 50 turns(is turn 53), Danemark for last 5, Poland last 20.In war but not very important because lack of activity is Scotland, Norway and Novgorod.Basicaly this campaign I do it like lot of HRE campaigns to get north Italy, fortify Hamburg and Magdemburg and get Prague.Last 20 turns I got 3 french provinces, no four.Except Reims all are under 2000 florins per turn, without anything special.France already destroied Aragon.So I can say France look bad like target and of course they are more than a match for HRE.Poland is very scary like enemy but except Thor and capital is not interesting at all.Not deserve to spent florins to get good armys to beat this faction.Danemark who lose more than Arhaus to me have nice provinces but is not juicy.For me Italy worth the interest.Venice give me average 5500 florins per turn, in fact I espected from 7500 when I take it from venitians to drop to a half but offer me 5000-6500 per turn.After pope said to drop alliance with danes they atack.Ok I destroy a stack in Florence siege, excomunicated, all factions relation at bottom and my client state Danemark is now in war with me.Nice is Venice provide me 5500 now in this situation.When add Milan, Florence, Bologna, Genova and Ancona in this you get a picture of 15000-20000 florins per turn, I bet all France dont get so much.If I will take Rome and Sicily who is in war with me I will get best cash cow in all map.
So, my conclusion is not what factions are better to defeat, more is what deserve to be your expansionist targets, this are Italy, all the regions are very rich, even Ancona add me near 2000.Just keep an eye to pope and eradicate them when have the chance.

[Caesar Clivus]

Have a look on the papal standings page and see which faction the pope likes least

[delra]

Venice and Genoa, most cash to be had there.

[Medieval American]

Actually Sicily has taken the castle in the middle of Italy on the the East side that Venice starts the game with. The Pope did not like that move and Sicily's reputation has suffered with the Pope, so Sicily is likely my target! The loyality in my faction is still divided, what can I do to correct this problem?

[jo_dus]

i would let sicily be. an enemy to venice is a friend to me. go after the papal states instead.

[Medieval American]

But don't they keep coming back? I though you could never be rid of the Papacy in this game?

[jo_dus]

fine, don't attack the papal sates. but sicily is killing venice...think about it man. killing venice is the best thing to do in this game. i would help sicily if i were you.

[Heathen Hammer]

I usually go for Poalnd and Venice. Venice is a great cash cow and after taking Poland I have great position to start expanding into Balkans and Baltic region.
Another interesting idea is to take whole of Italy (except for Papal States) and expand into Northern Africa and Middle East.

[Angrychris]

Take out denmark while they are weak, then watch out for or destroy genoa/venice. Denmark shouldnt be agressive towards you but they will just make boxing you in even easier if you were to lose papal standings, thats why they should be eliminated before acquiring a hand full of regions. Genoa and Venice will always attack you, it is just a mater of time. It is better to let them so that they lose the popes good standings. I only ever played HRE for a year before even trying to play an other civs. Poland will expand towards you later in game as well as either france or england. Be prepared.

[Naked Emperor]

Go for Venice or Genoa, their cities are rich rich rich

[Musthavename]

What you need to do, is avoid being completely landlocked, and try and cut off borders. Denmark works brilliantly for this as most factions completely ignore Scandinavia (bar the occasional intrustion into Eikundarsund by Scotland/England), aswell as giving you access to the Baltic Sea (to create a Germany/Poland/Novgorod/Lithuania/Scandinavia Empire). Italy is pretty defensible aswel if you can conquer it, and with the number of factions there it's easy to take early on as there's no United front against you, and theres some very rich cities there. It also helps if you plan to expand into France afterwards and recreate Charlemagne's Empire.

There's other options but i'd go for one of those two, unless you deliberatly want to challenge yourself

[tallstark]

What you need to do, is avoid being completely landlocked, and try and cut off borders. Denmark works brilliantly for this as most factions completely ignore Scandinavia (bar the occasional intrustion into Eikundarsund by Scotland/England), aswell as giving you access to the Baltic Sea (to create a Germany/Poland/Novgorod/Lithuania/Scandinavia Empire). Italy is pretty defensible aswel if you can conquer it, and with the number of factions there it's easy to take early on as there's no United front against you, and theres some very rich cities there. It also helps if you plan to expand into France afterwards and recreate Charlemagne's Empire.

There's other options but i'd go for one of those two, unless you deliberatly want to challenge yourself

Thats the best advice! Go get port cities, ASAP. A port city with merchant wharf etc... is THE cash cow of the game. You move north, you have Baltic trade routes and England/Scotland/North France. Its a beautiful thing, those green lines and little ships...