How do i fight a war against another Christian nation without being excommed

[JJPHATX`]

HOW?

I'm trying to expand my territory and take more lands, but i can't because everytime i go to war i get excommed!

[Infernalis]

Let a town undefended near an ennemy, you have a great chance he will take it and then be excommunicated, if its work correctly, then you can bash him till death (except if you kill their king the pope will forgive his nation).

[JJPHATX`]

i can't just attack them outright...is there any easier way?

[the Eternal Cocoon]

you can try bribing the pope. Use diplomat to give him oodles of money, that sometimes works to get you enough in his favor for him to look the other way. You should realize however, that excommunication is not permanent, you have a very good chance that a few turns after they excommunicated you, if you get on thier good side, relations between your faction and the papacy will be reconciled.

[Soryn Arkayn]

I agree with Eternal's suggestion

BRIBERY is the best way to get in the Pope's good graces. It seems that in M2:TW the Papacy is as desperate for money as your local church, and they'll never turn down a generous offering.

I think that spreading Christianity by contructing religious buildings in your settlements and training religious agents HELPS your favour with the Pope, but not nearly as much as blatant bribery.

In my current campaign, when I first contacted the Papal States I could only offer them trade rights and map info, which they accepted but it did nothing to improve relations. Soon afterward I had some disposable income so I offered the Papacy regular tribute of 100 florins for 10 turns, which improved relations. After that I could afford 500 florins a turn, and before that 10 year term was over I formed an alliance with the Papacy by offering a lump sum of 1000 florins. Now I'm the only faction with an Alliance with the Papal States, and I've maxed out my favour/influence with the Pope.

I also know that using religious agents to eliminate heretics helps, as well as embarking on Crusades.

Basically though, as long as you have greater favour with the Pope than your Christian rival, the Pope will support you in any conflict. But if you want to play it safe then just wait until a Christian faction gets excommunicated and then request that the Pope commission a Crusade to that faction's capital. This will enable you to attack a rival Christian faction without getting excommunicated AND you'll earn more favour by participating in a Crusade.

[Crimman]

Build religious things too, I got him to ignore some of my attacks when I built a Cathedrale. I also will attack an opponents army, and then when the pope says stop I do. But they'll attack my army becuase hes right there, and they become excommunitcated.

[italiano]

I took out the scots as the english pretty early on and didn't hear a word from the pope. I wasn't rushing to build churches either early on. On the other hand, I think at that stage I had allied myself with the HRE that has produced every pope so far. If you have a good standing with the pope he'll actually excommunicate the faction you attack.

[munrock]

If the Pope ever gives you a 'restraining order' then there are ways to provoke your rival into attacking you. Just standing in his territory will damage his economy, especially if you stand on a road that has a lot of trade running through it. If you have a large army extend your zone of control by spreading your cavalry units out one step. If he has a river through his territory then stand at the crossing points (and pee in the river)!

And if you ever need to reconcile quickly you can always kill your faction leader. Put him on a boat and find some pirates.

[LoZz]

HOW?

I'm trying to expand my territory and take more lands, but i can't because everytime i go to war i get excommed!

wipe them out quickly, dont get stuck in a bloody WWI situation with nether of you making any progress, for example i wiped out scotland in 3 turns and france (what was left of it) in 5 turns, i got a warning from the pope but by then they where 1 turn away from defeat so it didnt matter.

another way - let them attack you first, move armys and spys onto their lands, so your relation worsens and then once they attack you, you can wipe them out and the pope will be on your side.

[Pent uP Rage]

Yes, quickly. As England, I almost had Scotland overrun in 1 turn. Killed their entire ruling family but one 19yr old heir. The limeys held ONE unit in Edinborough that didn't get used in the great battle. When I tried to lay siege I got threatened with excomm the very next turn.
I DID get France excommed by moving a full stack near Paris and waiting for them to attack though.

Now, I'm just racing the HRE to Jerusalem.