Betrayed By WRE - What to do?

[Vindigo]

It's my first BI game, as the Franks, and I thought I'd make an alliance with the WRE and just beat on the various weak tribes and settlements nearby while Rome was cleaning up its rebels. But just now, the WRE suddenly laid siege to my capital. They betrayed me, they didn't keep their promise, they tricked me and I don't care anymore.

Vicus Saxones can't spare troops due to its unrest issues, and to the east the Lombards are coming back for their city with a fresh horde. My epic faction leader with his +30% trade and +20% taxes may die in the siege.

So how can I survive this and make them pay? And what strategy should I follow for the campaign objectives? And how am I supposed to prevent being backstabbed in this game? Not have any borders with the ally? I realize I was blocking their expansion but damn, they already have half the map and revolting settlements in Spain.

[Titus Maximius Thongus]

Ah BI is crazily difficult on the campaign logistics wise... well, you have to expect a betrayal from the WRE. backstabbing scum, they will always betray you when you are at your weakest.

For now, I'd advise trying to build up your trading infrastructure to prop up your economy. you're going to need $$$$, and lots of it to sustain a war effort on so many fronts. Try to take what undefended enemy settlements there are an exterminate the populace to give you the funds and so you arent bogged down trying to maintain public order. in fact, go on a slash and burn kind of thing. if you can spare an army, let them go on a warpath behind enemy lines. take one enemy city, raze it to the ground, destroy all its buildings, and then move on.

[Spartan198]

I hate to break it to you, friend, but get used to wonky and nonsensical actions by AI factions. RTW's AI is notoriously bad and diplomacy is probably the place where this shows the most. Any "ally" that borders you is bound to betray and attack you within a very short time and there's no way to do anything about it.

[HanatielHawk]

Fight it out on the battlemap. It seems that your army is at same strength as the WRE-army. Shouldn't be that hard unless your capital owns peasant scum.

[Vindigo]

Thanks for the replies, all. Think I'll fight it out for the capital as I have Heerbann units, but I wonder why the WRE are supposed to be the hardest faction to play, according to the faction selection screen. Whatever it is, I hope it comes and bites them in the behind while I stuggle to survive.

[HanatielHawk]

Thanks for the replies, all. Think I'll fight it out for the capital as I have Heerbann units, but I wonder why the WRE are supposed to be the hardest faction to play, according to the faction selection screen. Whatever it is, I hope it comes and bites them in the behind while I stuggle to survive.

The WRE is the hardest faction because when you start, you have problems with PO, economy, religion, wars etc. And your goal is to restore that, which is quite hard if you don't know how to deal with the problems. If you win this, you can conquer the whole rich WRE-lands because if you sack every settlement of the WRE you conquer, you have a HUGE amount of money and it will be the same as if you start with a huge territory and loads of money. Still conquering won't be a problem in BI, certainly not with the Franks but keeping those settlements safe from enemy hordes is the real deal.

Good luck

[Dr. Croccer]

Thanks for the replies, all. Think I'll fight it out for the capital as I have Heerbann units, but I wonder why the WRE are supposed to be the hardest faction to play, according to the faction selection screen. Whatever it is, I hope it comes and bites them in the behind while I stuggle to survive.

Because WRE at the start has a of expensive units with huge upkeep, and a lot of revolting cities. Because you didn't attack them and attacked many of the other bordering factions you gave the WRE room to consolidate and recover. Allying with them was a bad decision, as you could've easily gone horde and taken France.

[HanatielHawk]

Because WRE at the start has a of expensive units with huge upkeep, and a lot of revolting cities. Because you didn't attack them and attacked many of the other bordering factions you gave the WRE room to consolidate and recover. Allying with them was a bad decision, as you could've easily gone horde and taken France.

Tactically seen becoming a Horde means losing territory. The Franks are next to the Sassanids the most easy faction to play with because you start in a very beneficial position. Right next to the Alemani border which you can take over quite easily and next to the rich WRE-border who are in trouble right as they start. Take over the Alemani city and invade the cities and sack everything with the exception of not-rich settlements. You'll gain enough money to keep up your settlements and create massive armies. Rampage through the WRE and keep sacking and when you've conquered France and Italy your treasury will be very high while your army is still very strong.

Making peace with the WRE and expanding east is a very bad decision as you let the WRE recover and grow strong again, you will only conquer weaker and poorer territories and you'll gain war with more factions. Besides if the hordes arrive you haven't got any money buffer to support a great professional army when you've done bad.

Settle things, march on to Rome! Show them that betrayal will be punished with death and destruction! Victory feels sweet when it is revenge!

[Mik528]

Why would you ally with Rome anyways? Your goal is to destroy them anyways, and take modern France. They should be your target, maybe the Alemanni can be an ally but they are a better target. Saxons to the north are a better ally. Once you get Roman Christian cities start producing Paladin Cavalry. Good luck.

[Princess Cadance]

You shouldn't have allied with them.The Franks need to take France to win anyway.You should have swooped on them right after there first wave of rebellions and took as much land as possible.

[Majkl]

Its simple, if they betrayed u, just beat crap out of them.