Can I take Vatican?

**BoPoMoFo** · July 17, 2011, 04:55 PM

After playing RTW for a long time, I have very little politicking skill that is required for MTW2. So for now, I have no cross(but not yet excommunicated) which is lower than even the excommunicated England and Milan. I worry about being excommunicated, so like RTW, can I march on the Vatican? What will happen if I capture it?

**Kamos** · July 17, 2011, 04:56 PM

You can take it if you want to but the Pope will always live as a horde type faction unless he manages to settle down somehow.

**Sweger** · July 17, 2011, 05:12 PM

Yeah, often the Papal States will receive a region for a new capital. If you like, you can take all his areas, and then give him another region far far away...
And note that the Papal States arn't playable and hence not unlockable, just as Mongols Timurids and Aztecs (except for Americas Campaign)

**AJStoner** · July 17, 2011, 08:58 PM

The papal states will remain active as long as they have 1 city. If they are wiped-out and there are still other catholic faction one will cede him a territory soon after the demise of the papal states. Attacking the papal states is automatic excommunication but if you destroy them (even temporarily) this status will end. The new pope may not care for you much but excommunication ends with either the death of your faction leader or the pope himself. If there are no catholic factions left in the game then the pope can be dispatched once and for all.

**Silverheart** · July 17, 2011, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by AJStoner

The papal states will remain active as long as they have 1 city. If they are wiped-out and there are still other catholic faction one will cede him a territory soon after the demise of the papal states. Attacking the papal states is automatic excommunication but if you destroy them (even temporarily) this status will end. The new pope may not care for you much but excommunication ends with either the death of your faction leader or the pope himself. If there are no catholic factions left in the game then the pope can be dispatched once and for all.

Actually, the Papal states live on no matter what happens - even if you completely wipe out every trace of catholicism and the catholic factions, and the pope himself, the faction will still continue to exist.
Also, I have never seen any other faction gifting the pope a region after he´s all his own lands - he just wanders around and tries to manage as best he can, and that´s pretty much it.

Anyway, attacking the vatican will cause immediate excommunication, and make you a more tempting target for any catholic faction seeking to better their standing with the pope.
You better make sure to kill the pope quickly, so that hopefully the new one will reconcile you.

And if you want more crosses, just build up as many churches/church upgrades as you can, recruit a lot of priests and send them to far away, non-catholic lands to preach, or gift the pope a big pile of cash.

**Diamond** · July 18, 2011, 06:50 AM

For more crosses, show up at his apartment with a ton of florins in a bag, give it to him, and "hug it out" - he'll understand you're desperate with a hug

**In3x** · July 18, 2011, 06:29 PM

The great thing about attacking Rome is that quite often the Pope is there. So you get excommunicated, then you kill him then you vote for a new Pope. If you have a majority of Cardinals you even get 10 crosses for your troubles.