Did that just happen?

[Hinkle]

I am currently in turn 61 of my HRE campaign on VH/VH, and at war with the Fatimids from crusades. Having conquered a sizable chunk of the Middle East, I decide to turn south toward Gaza. Now, for most of the campaign my reputation has been 'Very Reliable,' but my recent war with the Genoese has decreased it to 'Reliable.' I fight a large field battle for control of Gaza, at the end of which I have taken over 800 prisoners; after executing them (my policy is to execute if enemy prisoners are more than 40% of my surviving force), I check to see that my reputation has decreased to 'Mixed.' Angry at the amount of casualties I took, and determining that it can't do that much harm, I sack the now undefended Gaza. I check my reputation again, to see that it is now at 'Despicable.' So in one turn, my reputation has decreased by six levels. I didn't even know that was possible.

Needless to say that diplomacy, which until this point has been one of the cornerstones of my empire's survival, has been rendered impossible.

[Caesar Clivus]

Extermination and sacking will always lower your global rep. And with good reason you evil evil man

[DukeCanada]

"Hello sir, im going to kill you, I hope your friends still like me "

"Why of course good conqueror, go ahead, im sure everything will be fine"

"Really?"

"Sure, just get it done quick "

If only all arguements could end like this .

[Old Geezer]

You exterminated Fatimids in Gaza? I thought that sacking and exterminated only lowered rep if you did it to factions with your own religion. Or does that only apply if you do such to the crusade target?

[Caesar Clivus]

You exterminated Fatimids in Gaza? I thought that sacking and exterminated only lowered rep if you did it to factions with your own religion.

If memory serves, there is a greater chance of your general(s) gaining dread by exterminating and sacking settlements where the majority is your religion. I believe global rep hits apply regardless of the religion levels, or at least I have never heard anything to the contrary.

[Amon Amarth]

I have a good example, as Romans i never sack or exterminate any settlement only occupy, also always release all prisoners from battle, although right now am having a jihad against Constantinople and there all prisoners are executed and my rep is despicable, so no matter if you fight others religion faction if you exterminate or execute prisoners your reputation droop to the bottom.

[Snelhest]

On the part about religion, sacking/exterminating will always lower rep regardless of your religion or the religion of the city. However if it is catholic it will also lower your rep with the pope over in Roma.

[cezarip]

As a rule: never execute the prisoners! Always ransom them. If you took so many prisoners there is a chance they can't pay and you can execute them without penalty. Although the Fatimids are rich they may have enough money...
Exterminate only if you think you want to keep the settlement, it is huge or very large and it has a different religion. Otherwise occupy and sell/destroy all the buildings.

[JorisofHolland]

I have a good example, as Romans i never sack or exterminate any settlement only occupy, also always release all prisoners from battle, although right now am having a jihad against Constantinople and there all prisoners are executed and my rep is despicable, so no matter if you fight others religion faction if you exterminate or execute prisoners your reputation droop to the bottom.

Just release them, be sure you killed (not captured) the general(s) leading the stack and they'll disband/die/go back home and die another day/a nice combination of the afore mentioned.

[alwt1991]

everyone hates Hitler,that's the point.

[Hinkle]

Well, it's not as if I wasn't expecting my reputation to take a hit... the part that didn't seem entirely sensible to me was the fact that sacking one settlement dropped me from morally neutral to the spawn of Satan... especially considering it wasn't the first time I had sacked OR executed in this campaign.

[toluas]

Well, it's not as if I wasn't expecting my reputation to take a hit... the part that didn't seem entirely sensible to me was the fact that sacking one settlement dropped me from morally neutral to the spawn of Satan... especially considering it wasn't the first time I had sacked OR executed in this campaign.

So you sacked/exterminated multiple times and now you're wondering that people don't love you? You're kidding, aren't you?

Maybe the first time the world might not have noticed (you killed all witnesses), but the second or third time someone will tell the world about the monster on the imperial throne...