This is not The Greatest Thread in the world, No! This is just a tribute.

[_Elysium_]

Hello

I've read in a number of places that to stay in the Popesical's good-books, you should give tribute of 200 Florins per turn for 20 turns. Why 200 Florins? Why not 100 or 300? And why 20 turns? Why not 30, or even 100?

Does this regular tribute thing work for other factions? I set up the same deal with HRE about 5 turns into my current campaign, but there was no change in relations with them until about 15 turns later, where my relations with them and numerous other factions went from Reasonable to So-So. I'm assuming that was caused by my actions, but still, the HRE didn't seem to appreciate my gift.

[ChivalrousKiller]

Well, every faction normally becomes quite happy for getting some money. I'd say there isn't any specific tribute you should be giving, just give them money until your relations go up

[_Elysium_]

Its still happening. I had Very Poor relations with Russia. I negotiated Trade Rights and my Map Information for 2020 Florins and their Map Information. That took me up to Poor relations. On the next turn I gifted them 200 Florins per turn for 20 turns. Two turns later my relations with them went back down to Very Poor.

I'm aware that there is a script which automatically lowers the player's relations with everyone, but Im only playing on Medium difficulty. I thought the script was only active in Hard and Very Hard difficulties.

I've not taken any settlements that they were trading with, and even if I did they'd still be trading, so I don't know what this is. I have two allies (Spain and Poland) who I have Amiable and Very Good relations with respectively. I'm at war with Holy Rome (they declared on me) and have Abysmal relations with them. Everyone else is at Poor or Very Poor. Sicily, and then Milan declared war on the Papal States, receiving instant excommunication. The current pope was one of my cardinals, so maybe that has something to do with it. He adores Poland, but he isn't very impressed with me after my retaliations against Holy Rome's invasions. I'm playing as England.

[ChivalrousKiller]

That sounds a bit odd

And you're playing vanilla? No mods?

[smthhappy]

if it is a vanilla post a map pls

[_Elysium_]

Yup. Its vanilla, but I have some minor tweaks. I've altered a file to prevent my King getting loads of dread from successful assassinations, I've enabled Armoured Sergeants for England and Dismounted Gothic Knights for Holy Rome, and I have a few others, though I can't remember what they are. I've only made minor changes, nothing to do with scripts or anything like that.

Just thought of something else. My reputation is Dubious, and Portugal keeps having a go at Caernarvon. I'm enjoying that though. I let them land, destroy the fleet then wait for the siege attack. Great fun. My relations with them are Terrible.

if it is a vanilla post a map pls

Map?

[ChivalrousKiller]

I think that when you have bad relations with many factions, your reputation drops. And when you have low reputation, your relations with other factions drop. So it's kind of a circular reaction. But there should be someone here with more knowledge of this than me, hopefully

[smthhappy]

well i want to see whats happening.. and why russia hate you and why HRE attacked you.. btw i believe on vh after 15 turn all the factions which are neutral begin getting bad reputation with you

[_Elysium_]

I've got a screenshot with the map focused on Europe.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I haven't exposed much else on the map. Russia is where its supposed to be, as are most other factions. Sicily have just taken Rome, and the Pope now lives in Florence. Tunis has just been taken by Holy Rome on crusade.

My relations with Russia were Very Poor before I had any contact with them.

[smthhappy]

Well HRE is at war with you cuz you have Bruges ,Antwerp and the rest of the baltic coastle settlements.They are primary targets for the HRE AI. I thing the same is with Russia for having Stockholm . About the message of the breaking alliance and declare-ing war its cuz Spain is before Portugal on the end turn line so practiculary Spain ally with Portugal but Portugal attacks you - it have become a dead end .There are 2 options: you can face the portugals at field battle OR cancle the alliance with Spain so Portugal will assault your settlement.

Btw before 2 min i felt that im answering you in two different treads

[AJenny58]

Usually when I get a lot of land like you have my reputation begins to drop steadily with other factions. I believe that the other factions just don't like that you are becoming a super-power. Also smthhappy made some very good points that would lead to a reputation drop. How is your Global Reputation?

[_Elysium_]

Well HRE is at war with you cuz you have Bruges ,Antwerp and the rest of the baltic coastle settlements.They are primary targets for the HRE AI. I thing the same is with Russia for having Stockholm . About the message of the breaking alliance and declare-ing war its cuz Spain is before Portugal on the end turn line so practiculary Spain ally with Portugal but Portugal attacks you - it have become a dead end .There are 2 options: you can face the portugals at field battle OR cancle the alliance with Spain so Portugal will assault your settlement.

Btw before 2 min i felt that im answering you in two different treads

Ah. I don't have much experience with Medieval II, So I don't know of many settlements that are main targets of other factions. Also, my relations with Russia were Very Poor before I even declared war on Denmark. Cancelling the alliance with Spain didn't even cross my mind. I've had a Diplomat parked outside Toledo for ages aswell.

You've been a great help to me. You got me analysing everything from your suggestions.

Usually when I get a lot of land like you have my reputation begins to drop steadily with other factions. I believe that the other factions just don't like that you are becoming a super-power. Also smthhappy made some very good points that would lead to a reputation drop. How is your Global Reputation?

My global reputation is still Dubious. It decreased twice while wiping out Denmark. My King, and his predecessor, both had five or six Dread. Could that be causing all or some of this?

My campaign is getting very interesting now. For over 30 turns, I was the only fighting non-rebels in Europe. There were a few short wars in the East, but nothing major. Everythings kicking off now. Russia is a worry for me though.

[smthhappy]

Russia may blockade your port but nothing more unless you share a region with them. The Chivalry/Dread of your Faction Leader has huge influence on your reputation with other factions ass whell the exterminateing/sacking/occupying settlements so you must occupy as much as possible and it is preferable to have chivalrios King. You can increase your reputation with Russia with attacking factions which they are at war. For instance if they are at war with the Turks you can call a crusade on their settlement(preferable a castle) and after that conquer 1-2 provinces and give them to Russia

[_Elysium_]

Thats a great idea. Unfortunately, they aren't at war with anyone, but I may try to get a crusade called on the Turkish settlement that is nearest Russian territory, take it then gift it.

I'm wondering if my alliance with Poland could be the main factor. I've recently sent a Spy through Russian territory, and I discovered that Poland have been pushing towards the northeast corner of the map, straight through Russian teritory. They aren't at war with each other though. I'll get a fleet stationed up at Stockholm, and have a fleet at Stettin ready to ship units over to Riga if Russia start anything.

My global reputation is still Dubious, and I'm allied with the now Untrustworthy Spanish. I'm still at war with Holy Rome.

[smthhappy]

Giving them settlement should work.If you attack russia you have to take fast their sea territory so your income from Stockholm,Arhus and Hamburg don't drop drasticly.. I doubt that you will be invaded by Spain if thats you fear and whats your relations with France and France relation with HRE ?

[_Elysium_]

Russia appear to be building forces to defend against or attack Poland, so I should be safe for the time being. I'm not worried about Spain. They've lost Zaragoza to the French and look like they're about to lose Toledo. My relations with France are Terrible, but I haven't had to worry because they've been at war with Spain for about 40 turns, so their forces have been in the south. I've had free reign to assassinate every French merchant, diplomat, priest/cardinal, spy, assassin and princess that I've seen around my borders, and Holy Rome are getting the same treatment. France and Holy Rome have been allied for about 50 turns now, and after a few incursions by Holy Roman forces into my lands, I'm preparing to take Frankfurt. My relations with Holy Rome are Abysmal, but every Pope (currently on number five, the third English Pope) has loved them. France has Reliable reputation, Holy Rome has Very Reliable.

My relations with the Moors fell to Abysmal when I moved two stacks through Algeria to take Timbuktu, which I now have after the Moors unsuccessfully sieged it, but to top things off, the Moors have been allied with Holy Rome for about 45 turns, and they now have bordering settlements in North Africa.

Portugal decided to pay Caernarvon a visit again, this time attacking the east and west walls simultaneously, and I got that message that I showed in my other thread. I had Augustine the Killer stationed near Pamplona, so I killed the Spanish diplomat there. Hopefully I want have the same cycle as before.

I've given tribute again to numerous factions, but it doesn't seem to make a difference anymore, except with his Grumpiness of course.

I've been looking through my Diplomacy tab more closely, and it looks like everyone is allied with someone that hates someone else, so wars are occuring all over Europe and global reputations are plummeting.

This campaign is amazing. I even lost my King in a charge that broke a rebel army, but after clicking the End Battle button I got back to the campaign map to find him very much alive.

[TheFoolOnTheHill]

that sounds awesome

[AJStoner]

You have to remember that a lot of factors go into the relations. If you are a different religion, for example, relations are going to drop a little bit every time one of you builds a temple building or attacks any faction of the same religion, etc.