Question on Austria

I have recently taken up the humongous task of completing all campaigns on hard (I have yet to start medium or easy). I have already completed the Italian, Egyptian and European campaigns on hard (with the last being completed by the end of 1808 and everyone being “very friendly” with me).

Now I have started on the Austrian campaign and I have decided to be realistic in every sense other than the reality of the territorial changes of the Napoleon Wars. I decided not to cheat and siege Bavaria in the first turn - but I did take it on the second turn and liberated it.

What a marvellous feeling - a buffer zone, a protectorate, an old al... oh wait. Why am I hostile toward Bavaria and they the same to me? Sure, we were at war because they were brainwashed by the evil “Little Emperor”, but I thought I'd liberated them, made them understand? Now all of the coalition dislike Bavaria - why?

Also, some nations dislike me for breaking my alliance with Sweden (I didn't want them as an ally - unreliable and a liability). I broke it during the first turn though and it equalled -20! Very odd.

It seems my Austrian diplomacy has been bloody awful so far - nevertheless, I shall continue! Has anyone any tips or stories about their playing of Austria? I have noticed that it's not a greatly popular faction (and I can't blame people, morale as low as five for some units!)

Does no one play as Austria? Really?

check if you have "historical grievances" affecting your relationship with Bavaria. Sometimes some countries have those by default, and that can make them start as hostile, even if they are your protectorate.
Don't worry anyway, proetctorates very rarely declare war on you, unless they are ex major powers (the only time one of my protectorates declared war on me was Russia in my british campaign, lesson to be learned, don't make major powers into protectorates, just annihilate them, unless you want a challenge down the line).

Originally Posted by Abriael

check if you have "historical grievances" affecting your relationship with Bavaria. Sometimes some countries have those by default, and that can make them start as hostile, even if they are your protectorate.
Don't worry anyway, proetctorates very rarely declare war on you, unless they are ex major powers (the only time one of my protectorates declared war on me was Russia in my british campaign, lesson to be learned, don't make major powers into protectorates, just annihilate them, unless you want a challenge down the line).

Indeed. In the mission though, it says to liberate Bavaria and Württemberg and so I wanted to do that. But I remain hostile with them? It's rather annoying - other nations are hostile toward them too, they might declare war on them. Nevermind, I'm starting the campaign another time, Austria is difficult.

Originally Posted by CarradiceFrench

Indeed. In the mission though, it says to liberate Bavaria and Württemberg and so I wanted to do that. But I remain hostile with them? It's rather annoying - other nations are hostile toward them too, they might declare war on them. Nevermind, I'm starting the campaign another time, Austria is difficult.

I've actually noticed that the level of friendship or hostility has very little influence on war declarations. It influences more how willing they are to accept your requests and such.
War declarations are normally more random (i've been declared war to by nations that were friendly to me, and i've been long standing allies for the whole campaign with hostile nations, count that the more you expand, the more everyone will be hostile towards you, even allies and protectorates), or due to the fact that you hold a territory that a certain nation has between it's campaign objectives.

I honestly feel like the whole campaigns a little 'rigged' to me. The same thing happens over and over again no matter what my decisions.

Yeah! Also, Austria always finds itself in a diplomatic tangle. I liberated Bavaria, Württemberg, Italian State and Switzerland to create a buffer zone between me and France. Württemberg declared war on France and therefore got wiped out, meaning they could enter my territory through Tyrol, and Prussia declared war on Bavaria (and I didn't want to break the alliance), so I just gave up!

Dude. Bavarians dont like austrians. They like the french. just cos you invaded their country and then let them run it themselves whilst giving you all their money isnt gonna make them magically wanna sleep with you all of a sudden. if you want a buffer zone on your western borders (which is a sensible thing to do) just loot bavaria, wuttenburg, italy etc and give them to a powerful neutral faction like papal states or hessen. this way you get an instant payout and dont have to worry about getting involved in complex diplomacy.

Originally Posted by [BsA]Dave

Dude. Bavarians dont like austrians. They like the french. just cos you invaded their country and then let them run it themselves whilst giving you all their money isnt gonna make them magically wanna sleep with you all of a sudden. if you want a buffer zone on your western borders (which is a sensible thing to do) just loot bavaria, wuttenburg, italy etc and give them to a powerful neutral faction like papal states or hessen. this way you get an instant payout and dont have to worry about getting involved in complex diplomacy.

Thats a good idea :]

Napoleon elevated the Duke of Bavaria, Maximilien IV to the status of King as Maximilien I, and Bavaria grew in size greatly to become a kingdom and the most powerful of the German states in the Confederation of the Rhine. Maximilien had close ties with Napoleon after having married his daughter off to Eugène de Beauharnais, Napoleon's step-son, and remained his most staunch supporter up until 1813 and the Battle of Leipzig -- also known as the Battle of the Nations -- when it became all too clear which way the wind was blowing and he was finally compelled to desert his old ally.

So as you can see, it's quite realistic that Bavaria would remain unfriendly towards Austria, considering what Napoleon had done for the old Electorate.

Originally Posted by Jom

Napoleon elevated the Duke of Bavaria, Maximilien IV to the status of King as Maximilien I, and Bavaria grew in size greatly to become a kingdom and the most powerful of the German states in the Confederation of the Rhine. Maximilien had close ties with Napoleon after having married his daughter off to Eugène de Beauharnais, Napoleon's step-son, and remained his most staunch supporter up until 1813 and the Battle of Leipzig -- also known as the Battle of the Nations -- when it became all too clear which way the wind was blowing and he was finally compelled to desert his old ally.

So as you can see, it's quite realistic that Bavaria would remain unfriendly towards Austria, considering what Napoleon had done for the old Electorate.

Thanks for those facts there, I honestly didn't even know some of that lol :]

Thanks for the information. But the two states used to be a part of the Holy Roman Empire, self-determined states within the Empire... so why don't they revert to that?