Priest questions

**Morty** · May 19, 2009, 11:52 PM

I am playing Byzantine on vh/vh for the first time and I have a couple questions about piety. My first question is, does higher piety equal a faster conversion rate?

The Venetians sent their lone cardinal to Thessalonica who has 10 piety. I have 3 cenobite trained priests with 4 piety each in the same province. I am losing ground in the conversion war. All provinces that I have that are in contact with Thessalonica (Sofia, Adrianople, Athens, Constantine) have small churches, including a small church in Thelsalonica, for a total of 5. Additionally next door to Thessalonica in Sofia I have 3 priests all with 5+ piety converting there. I add that since their converting should spill over into Thessalonica some no? The only Province that is Catholic and bordering Thessalonica is Durazzo, which Venice captured 2 turns earlier. In 2 turns with all the priests and churches mentioned above I lost 8 orthodox points vs. 1 priest. WOW... WOW... is this merely a funtion of vh campaign mode? or a funtion of 1 level 10 piety priest vs. a buncha scrub priests.

BTW I turned off fow to see if there were like 20 cardinals in the area helping this guy, nope he is all alone. WOW... WOW...

Now I am aware of that the lower ones religion in the area, i.e. say 0% will make that lone guy convert like 6-10% per turn and the conversion slows down as the religion becomes more dominant. One priest vs. 5 churches and 5 priests should not have these effects.

Additionally what does the violence priest trait do? I've always thought it meant he was more likely to call a crusade. Does it have any other function? And what functionality does it have for orthodox priests who can't call crusades.

If no one knows for sure the answers I seek, can you help me out and tell me which part of what file to look for the info in? Specifically the religion conversion rate vs. piety if applicable.

Morty

**Xtiaan72** · May 20, 2009, 05:35 AM

Assassinate him! That will win the 'conversion' war!

**Morty** · May 20, 2009, 10:31 PM

Haha!!! My very thoughts! Unfortunately its still pretty early in the game and I don't have the assassin building yet, but as soon as Constantinople finishes its stone walls that assassin building will be the FIRST thing I make.

Turn 40 is just around the corner and I'm massing up my 2nd field army along Kerkya's borders (rebel held still) while I await my general to be trained. Once ready I will unleash them upon Kerkya then the Venetians and that should make the priest fall back until I can get an assassin up.

Morty

**Omar Nelson B.** · May 21, 2009, 09:09 AM

Usually it's a 2 Biz priests to 1 cardinal. That pretty much keeps it even atleast. Also build monasteries and bigger churches asap.

**Ratskeller** · May 21, 2009, 12:48 PM

Pagan Lithuania is especially difficult with the current system. Although, I've made it easier on myself by emigrating the faction to scandanavia. Much easier position I think.

**Kjertesvein** · May 21, 2009, 01:46 PM

but what you do about the crowning etc? use the norwegian crown? :s

**Ratskeller** · May 21, 2009, 02:11 PM

No, I just move all my generals & starter units to the riga coast (possibly conquering riga) on the second turn (after the leader has the corwn). Then I hire a merc cog and ship them over to kalmar. Admittadly it leaves my economy in a cess pit. But scandanavia is a merchant haven and if I donate vilnius to Novgorod they are buddies for life. Then all you need to deal with is either Denmark or Norway.

**Kjertesvein** · May 21, 2009, 02:17 PM

Edited --> One time that I played as England: I took scotland in a shwoop, and my Heir were to guard Edinburgh. Scotland was wiped out, and all was well, then my king got knoked of by the lord upstairs in London. I didn't notice he was dead for 8 whole turns. While all this happend, my new (scottish)king in Edinburgh got the Scottish crown and no rebel came up. Hmmm.....

**Ratskeller** · May 21, 2009, 02:36 PM

I did'nt know crowns were transferable. At the moment I'm playing a lithuania campaign on corsica =D. I gave away vilnius in the second turn, made Jersika the capitol. Sent my thid (and therefore useless) family member on a merc cog to conquer the islands around italy. He built up a merc fleet (im not going to deny i money-cheated >.<) and had it destroyed at dover by pirates. He was stranded in scotland for two years before i could find another boat. Eventually conquered Ajaccio. Im in an economic nightmare as both sardinia and corsica are castle regions....