Relations

[Sursion]

I'm playing as England on a brand new VH/VH campaign (Medieval 2, no Kingdoms). I attacked Scotland, which resulted in a poor relationship with a few factions. That's understandable. However, the Pope excommunicated them, so I completely wiped them out, and then my relations with the Papal States dropped from Reasonable to Poor? And ever since that, all I've done is sit on the British isles and build up my economy and my cities. I haven't attacked or moved any armies anywhere, and my relations continue to drop every turn. It's turn 31 and I've got Very poor with over 10 factions. The only faction who I have a relation above 'Poor' is France (Very Good) because I have a marriage alliance with them. How can I improve relations? I don't want this to turn into another Me vs. Everybody campaign (which it always turns out to be). I know I could always go to each faction and give them 500 florins each turn, but I'd rather not do that. It feels like a cheap tactic.

Some extra things:
-I have trade agreements with nearly everyone.
-I haven't even taken Bruges, Rennes, or Antwerp. Just the British isles.
-King William the Conquerer has 3 points of Dread.
-I always occupy settlements, never sack or exterminate.
- My Pope relations is 5 crosses (out of 10).

Thanks for the help! Much appreciated.

[Sweger]

Ok, also, never executed PoWs. Fractionleader with dread is bad. And to improve, you need to bribe factions, it can take 2 turns before relations are improve (so you have to bribe twice to move up a level) however, that was a campaign on m/m, it might be tougher on vh. I am not sure, but I think that your reputation drops for every turn on vh/vh. Not sure if it also drops automatically on h/h. That might be why it is getting worse even with passive politics from your side. Neither does the AI like having your troops on its territory, and "military access" is very hard to get.

[Sursion]

My reputation is still listed as 'Mixed.' I don't think it's changed at all.

During the England-Scotland war I executed a Family member, king, and prince. But I always offered a ransom if there wasn't anything important. What would the alternative be? Releasing them? Then Scotland would have had more power and the war would've lasted longer D:

[Avatar]

My reputation is still listed as 'Mixed.' I don't think it's changed at all.

During the England-Scotland war I executed a Family member, king, and prince. But I always offered a ransom if there wasn't anything important. What would the alternative be? Releasing them? Then Scotland would have had more power and the war would've lasted longer D:

Ransoming is a "safe" option in that it isnt considered a dreaded act and therefore won't directly affect your faction standings. Most times its a guaranteed execute anyway since the AI rarely leaves itself enough money to actually pay a ransom. If your faction leader is becoming dreaded, the other factions will become more wary in dealing with you. Ideally you want a leader with the epithet "the saint" but thats just not always practical in the middle of an extended war.

[Sursion]

William the Conquerer died, and Prince Rufus took over. He had zero dread (but also zero chivalry). And people stopped hating me for a couple turns.

Now, however, Denmark invades Nottingham for the second time, my pope standing went down 1 cross (why?) and Portugal has an army sitting right next to Caen, probably waiting for reinforcements before besieging me.

Here we go again

[tudor93]

relations drop each turn on VH/VH (not sure if every turn, but they do drop constantly)

[Aeratus]

relations drop each turn on VH/VH (not sure if every turn, but they do drop constantly)

This. If you're playing on VH, then everybody will hate you more and more each turn. That's just the fact of playing VH.

Now, however, Denmark invades Nottingham for the second time, my pope standing went down 1 cross (why?)

Because the pope has a high relations with Denmark. If you get into a battle with Denmark, then your relations with all factions that have a high relations with Denmark will also go down.

[King William the Conqueror]

You should take Rennes and Bruges if they are still Rebel

[_Elysium_]

My current campaign is with England aswell. Just build up your military, fortify your border settlements then expand your territory in waves, sending multiple stacks out to take several settlements within a few turns of each other. Make sure you're giving his Popiness tribute at all times. 200 Florins per turn for 20 turns seems to be the recommended amount.

I've been going against the orders of the Pope for most of my campaign (I'm 77 turns in, 0.5 years per turn), and my relations with them rarely drop below 7 crosses. I even attacked their Moorish allies without suffering a relations penalty, and they joined in a turn later.

[Sursion]

Make sure you're giving his Popiness tribute at all times. 200 Florins per turn for 20 turns seems to be the recommended amount.

Do I have to give him single payments for 20 turns, or will simply offering a tribute do the same thing?

Sorry for all the questions

[_Elysium_]

Do I have to give him single payments for 20 turns, or will simply offering a tribute do the same thing?

Sorry for all the questions

No need to apologise. The message boards are here for our questions.

I meant regular tribute, where you agree in one deal to give them 200 florins for the next 20 turns, though manually giving florins each turn may be a decent way of training diplomats. Hmmmm, I need to try that. Thanks.

Since my last post, I've had a significant drop in relations with the Papal States, probably caused by the thousands of Germans I executed while taking German territory.

Down to 5 crosses now.