Sabotaging AI alliances

**_Elysium_** · August 18, 2011, 07:33 AM

Hello.

Is there any way to sabotage alliances between AI factions?

I'm playing as England at the moment, and my main enemies are France, Holy Rome and The Moors. I've never been at war with France, but I did take the channel coast (Rennes, Bruges, Antwerp) before them. They've been at war with Spain for 50 or 60 turns now, so the French forces have been occupied in Southern France and North-East Iberia, allowing me to expand into Scandanavia and now Germany.

I'm working my way through Holy Rome's territory, intending to eventually leave them with only Bologna. Hopefully I'll be able to make them my "female dog". When Sicily attacked the Papal States many moons ago, a crusade was called on Tunis, which Holy Rome obliged to. I currently hold Timbuktu, aggravating The Moors (never been at war them either) while moving through Algeria, so when I take Tunis in about ten turns time, I'll be bordering The Moors in two places. I've been allied with Spain since they were attacked by France all that time ago, and The Moors aren't happy with the Spanish either.

The problem I have is that The Moors are allied to both France and Holy Rome, who both allied to Milan and each other. Once I get Tunis, I'd like to push west through Algeria and Morocco to give me most of Africa. If I attack The Moors, I'll probably incur the wrath of both France and my new neighbours Milan.

I don't have the resources to fight four factions at once, so I was hoping to sabotage The Moors' relationship with the three Catholic factions. I'm planning a wave of rioting for Marrakesh and Cagliari, using spies to increase unrest and assassins to damage buildings, but I can't see it working for the castle at Algiers.

Also, is there any way to keep two factions fighting? The war between Spain and France has been great for me, and with the demise of Portugal, each faction has suddenly gained an extra settlement (Lisbon for Spain, Pamplona for France). My spies are observing what looks like an impending stalemate, so if the two factions were to make peace, I'd be very worried for my channel settlements.

I could go for an all-out attack on France while the vast majority of their forces are on the Iberian side of the Pyrenees, but I'd like to keep as many factions around as possible to see how things pan out. I'm also trying to pick my fights when they suit me.

I'm willing to consider exploits if I don't think they'd be too damaging to how the rest of the game will play out, but I definitely don't want to use the console for anything.

Thanks.

(I hope it wasn't too boring for you)

**Silverheart** · August 18, 2011, 09:00 AM

If you have the patience, build up churches and pay the Vatican a big pile of wellfare.
Then, when you can call new crusade, have the pope call one against the Moors - hopefully France and Milan will side with the Pope and cancel their alliance with the Moors.

But it might be better to just turn your conquering elsewhere, or fortify your borders so that you CAN handle a multi-front war.

**fredtrotter** · August 18, 2011, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by Silverheart

If you have the patience, build up churches and pay the Vatican a big pile of wellfare.
Then, when you can call new crusade, have the pope call one against the Moors - hopefully France and Milan will side with the Pope and cancel their alliance with the Moors.

This is what i would do also. the biggest problem would be that the pope only recently called a crusade. This would mean that you would need to wait ages. So, if you were willing to put your conquests on hold, this is the best solution.

It wasn't too boring.

**Posantio of Umbria** · August 18, 2011, 09:20 AM

If you can spare the money, offer spain a tribute for 10- 15 turns if they attack france. I can't guarantee Spain will keep to its end of the bargain, but it might work for a while

**_Elysium_** · August 18, 2011, 10:38 AM

Thanks for the replies.

Originally Posted by Silverheart

If you have the patience, build up churches and pay the Vatican a big pile of wellfare.
Then, when you can call new crusade, have the pope call one against the Moors - hopefully France and Milan will side with the Pope and cancel their alliance with the Moors.

But it might be better to just turn your conquering elsewhere, or fortify your borders so that you CAN handle a multi-front war.

I didn't think of calling for a crusade. I'd be right next to Algiers aswell, so it would be a straight path there. I think I'll go with that, once I've "peacefully" siezed Marrakesh and Cagliari.

Originally Posted by fredtrotter

This is what i would do also. the biggest problem would be that the pope only recently called a crusade. This would mean that you would need to wait ages. So, if you were willing to put your conquests on hold, this is the best solution.

It wasn't too boring.

That crusade ended just over 20 turns ago, and it will probably be another 20 before I'm prepared to join a new one. I don't think any more have been called since. I have been playing patiently, preparing my forces and striking when the time is right.

And thanks.

Originally Posted by Posantio of Umbria

If you can spare the money, offer spain a tribute for 10- 15 turns if they attack france. I can't guarantee Spain will keep to its end of the bargain, but it might work for a while

This is where I can see my own inexperience with the game. I didn't even think of doing that. It will definitely be a priority if they do stop fighting.

**Double A** · August 18, 2011, 09:26 AM

You only have to wait 20 turns.

**Silverheart** · August 18, 2011, 02:52 PM

It only takes one turn to amass enough troops for a crusade army.
Recruit three units, fill up with mercenaries, join crusade, then fill up with more mercenaries.
If you recruit as many units as possible in settlements that are close to each other, you can draw them all out the next turn and merge into one big army.
So if you can call a crusade right away and get started on the plan, I suggest getting going on it right away.

**Double A** · August 18, 2011, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by Silverheart

It only takes one turn to amass enough troops for a crusade army.
Recruit three units, fill up with mercenaries, join crusade, then fill up with more mercenaries.
If you recruit as many units as possible in settlements that are close to each other, you can draw them all out the next turn and merge into one big army.
So if you can call a crusade right away and get started on the plan, I suggest getting going on it right away.

Or you could just take some of the free militia you have garrisoned in towns and then make more when they're off crusading. Mercs take more loot, and loot is fun.