How to avoid The Dark Ages?

**Brips** · July 23, 2009, 10:49 AM

I don't like this stuff.... I'm playing Flanders, all is alright, lots of good relations, and with this

** thing, my (best) friends attack me! My kingdom is dying, may be that my flag will be deleted of the map now

......................... I like/need very much difficulty, but when it's stupid, I prefer to give up. I will try to survive but.... How many years are the dark ages? And how can I avoid it?

**Xtiaan72** · July 23, 2009, 11:20 AM

Relations reset to normal after the Dark Ages periods are over... No way to avoid them unless you edit some files... But where is the challenge in that?

**Taiji** · July 23, 2009, 11:30 AM

Beyond cheating there is no way to avoid them, the only solution is to prepare for them.

I've tried not preparing for them and been defeated by my entire family dying from the plague

**Xtiaan72** · July 23, 2009, 11:37 AM

When the plague hits my first city, I usually move all my nobles to castles and ships ( except the unfortunates in the first territory). Ships right off shore seem to be the best place... The characters stay in supply but are not vulnerable.

**Brips** · July 23, 2009, 11:36 AM

It's a devil stuff!^^ Thanks, I know that the relations reset after, but how many years after?!? I'm in the

..... I was ready for this bad period, but I forget when it begins and my best army was crusaded in Germany...

**Taiji** · July 23, 2009, 11:38 AM

I find my nobles are safe in the field, they only go on a 'cruise' during an inquisition.

**Brips** · July 23, 2009, 11:51 AM

Yeah the ships are the best way, but the plague hit me very fast and all my cities were infected^^ I'm more afraid by the broken alliances than the plague itself...

**Xtiaan72** · July 23, 2009, 12:22 PM

Before the Dark Ages hit in force there is almost always a 'Small' plague that breaks out about four to five years before the 'Big' plague. That's the cue to make make the final preparations (At least for me)

**Brips** · July 23, 2009, 12:26 PM

Good advice, I will take it in consideration

**JJN** · July 23, 2009, 02:54 PM

I think it is really weird that in the DLV handbook there's not a word of this dark ages event, while it obviously requires planning in advance... I know this mod is supposed to be hard for the player but everybody suddenly attacking you is just unfair (and illogical, cause they do it regardless of perfectly good relations). Players deserve to be warned, at least!

**Xtiaan72** · July 23, 2009, 09:59 PM

I've been meaning to put a chapter in the Guide about it.. When 6.2 comes out I definitely will.

**Brips** · July 23, 2009, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by JJN

I know this mod is supposed to be hard for the player but everybody suddenly attacking you is just unfair (and illogical, cause they do it regardless of perfectly good relations).

TRUE

**BamaToon** · July 27, 2009, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by JJN

I think it is really weird that in the DLV handbook there's not a word of this dark ages event, while it obviously requires planning in advance... I know this mod is supposed to be hard for the player but everybody suddenly attacking you is just unfair (and illogical, cause they do it regardless of perfectly good relations). Players deserve to be warned, at least!

That's why I removed the relations hit portion of the Dark Ages from my files. I left the plagues in, because the plague was a very real and historical problem during the Middle Ages, but I think the sudden "T3 Rise of the Machines, Kill All Human" AI diplomacy is unfair. My best friend would not suddenly turn into my enemy unless I did something to piss him off.

**For Whom the Bell Tolls** · July 24, 2009, 01:09 AM

I think when this hits you the first time it's a bit of a shock, for me the turn it came I briefly glanced at the "Great Plague" news card and thought 'whatever' then in the preceding turns my world fell to pieces. My crusading army disappeared in the Balkans, Poland and the Teutons dopple ganged me from the east, the Danes took the newly acquired Hamburg off me and Flanders... yes Flanders decides to have a go as well. It sucks, it's not fair, it makes me mad as the german kid on youtube.. but by god it's fun!

**Xtiaan72** · July 24, 2009, 10:07 AM

I find with most factions, it just forces war with one or two ancestral enemies. But if other factions smell blood they pile on.

My Dark Ages Survival Kit....

1) At least 40 of 50 k in the kitty.

2) Big stacks in border cities....( Mostly Militia, nothing expensive) This prevents 'unscripted' factions from piling on. The AI can't tell the difference between good or bad troops but big stacks discourage DOW's.

3) One good ally that you have been working on since the beginning of the game. It is possible to keep an ally through the Dark Ages as long as it's not one of your ancestral enemies. example; Scotland and Ireland can be best buddies through the Dark Ages.

4) Five or Six killer Merchants to offset lost trade income. (also something you need to work on starting at the beginning of the game).

5) As many Stone Forts as you can get your hands on stocked with 4 of your best units in each. (No Upkeep rapid reaction force).

6) Small fleet of ships to put Family Members unaffected by the plague on. ( They stay supplied and can wait it out).

7) Try to get a mutual DOW with your ally against one of your ancestral enemies. If you are prepared, Dark Ages are the perfect time to really sucker punch your biggest enemy.

**Brips** · July 25, 2009, 04:26 AM

JESUS I'm a god!

For those who saw my savedgame, I get two heroic victories against the english (+-600 with 4 templars cavalry against 2500 hard infantry) after my defeat against the scottish who took antwerp. I became vasal of the french, and after the scottish. Lots of trades for my last city (Bruges). Money money in my pocket again! I took London some years after(+-500 against +-2500 hard infantry), heroic victory. Children born again! I REBORN

Mwahahahahah

**Brips** · July 25, 2009, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Xtiaan72

I find with most factions, it just forces war with one or two ancestral enemies. But if other factions smell blood they pile on.

My Dark Ages Survival Kit....

1) At least 40 of 50 k in the kitty.

2) Big stacks in border cities....( Mostly Militia, nothing expensive) This prevents 'unscripted' factions from piling on. The AI can't tell the difference between good or bad troops but big stacks discourage DOW's.

3) One good ally that you have been working on since the beginning of the game. It is possible to keep an ally through the Dark Ages as long as it's not one of your ancestral enemies. example; Scotland and Ireland can be best buddies through the Dark Ages.

4) Five or Six killer Merchants to offset lost trade income. (also something you need to work on starting at the beginning of the game).

5) As many Stone Forts as you can get your hands on stocked with 4 of your best units in each. (No Upkeep rapid reaction force).

6) Small fleet of ships to put Family Members unaffected by the plague on. ( They stay supplied and can wait it out).

7) Try to get a mutual DOW with your ally against one of your ancestral enemies. If you are prepared, Dark Ages are the perfect time to really sucker punch your biggest enemy.

**Taiji** · July 25, 2009, 05:40 AM

Congrats Brips, that looked like a very hard but enjoyable situation

**wvswem** · July 25, 2009, 12:43 PM

Congratsilations, I am playing with England and I am nearing The Dark Ages. Does anybody have tips on how I could prepare myself the best for it?

**wvswem** · July 25, 2009, 01:44 PM

Ok thanks, lol just saw that those tips were on the same page

. Anyway thanks for reposting them.

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