In my most recent example, I had four major factions. Three for electoral monarchy in my three primary Kingdoms (Ireland, Scotland, England) and the ever present increase Council Power. I don't know what the odds on this are, but they ALL fired on the same day. Looking at who is in the Council, I realize that there's little overlap between factions. About 80% of my realm (which includes most of Spain and Jerusalem) will be in rebellion if I refuse all four demands.
The electoral factions are not a major concern, since I am the Emperor of Britannia, and will rule over the Kingdoms regardless of who's in charge. That said, I like to have dynasty members in charge of my primary Kingdoms, and those Kingdoms will be far more likely to rebel if I let them go. I also happen to have about 3,000 Gold. (I had 10,000 about ten years ago, but I have been relentelessly upgrading the Castles in my Demesne since then, but I keep 3,000 in reserve.) Miraculously, the Duchy of Lancaster does not rebel, and provides another 1500. That said, I'm looking at over 75k troops in revolt, and no path to victory.
I know there's no way I can possibly win this war alone. I could ragequit, since the odds of all four rebellions firing on the same day is astronomical. Instead, I spend much of my treasury on mercenaries, also forfeiting much of my income (the final months of the war will see me borrowing from the moneylenders).
My retinues plus my desmesne forces come to approximately 18,000 soldiers. I manage to stomp a few stacks while the mercenaries build up to maximum morale.
Over the next ten years, as much as possible, I keep my retinue out of battle, and set them not to reinforce, as the costs would be prohibitive. Those ten years take possibly as long to play out as the first 200 years of my game, because even with the mercenaries, I am hopelessly outnumbered. I can only engage in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland at first, and those cause massive losses among the mercenaries, but I cannot afford to release them and hire other mercenary groups, because I don't have enough money. I do manage to subdue England and Scotland's demands for electoral monarchy, but Ireland is still (if only barely) holding on, and I've managed to stave off the increased Council Power, but they won't accept a white peace, and they keep capturing my holdings in Spain and Jersualem.
And that's when all hell breaks loose. Three religious uprisings in Spain, one in Jerusalem, and a peasant uprising in England. Troops flock to the banners of my foes, and my country is nearly out of money.
I would overcome eventually, but it would cripple my nation for my ruler's entire reign. It took a total of 25 years to win the civil wars, and he'd be 70 before things finally got back to normal.
When has the AI totally screwed you, and have you overcome? Have you acceded to their demands? Or have you fought and lost? Or have you been so overcome by rage as to quit the game out of frustration?
The electoral factions are not a major concern, since I am the Emperor of Britannia, and will rule over the Kingdoms regardless of who's in charge. That said, I like to have dynasty members in charge of my primary Kingdoms, and those Kingdoms will be far more likely to rebel if I let them go. I also happen to have about 3,000 Gold. (I had 10,000 about ten years ago, but I have been relentelessly upgrading the Castles in my Demesne since then, but I keep 3,000 in reserve.) Miraculously, the Duchy of Lancaster does not rebel, and provides another 1500. That said, I'm looking at over 75k troops in revolt, and no path to victory.
I know there's no way I can possibly win this war alone. I could ragequit, since the odds of all four rebellions firing on the same day is astronomical. Instead, I spend much of my treasury on mercenaries, also forfeiting much of my income (the final months of the war will see me borrowing from the moneylenders).
My retinues plus my desmesne forces come to approximately 18,000 soldiers. I manage to stomp a few stacks while the mercenaries build up to maximum morale.
Over the next ten years, as much as possible, I keep my retinue out of battle, and set them not to reinforce, as the costs would be prohibitive. Those ten years take possibly as long to play out as the first 200 years of my game, because even with the mercenaries, I am hopelessly outnumbered. I can only engage in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland at first, and those cause massive losses among the mercenaries, but I cannot afford to release them and hire other mercenary groups, because I don't have enough money. I do manage to subdue England and Scotland's demands for electoral monarchy, but Ireland is still (if only barely) holding on, and I've managed to stave off the increased Council Power, but they won't accept a white peace, and they keep capturing my holdings in Spain and Jersualem.
And that's when all hell breaks loose. Three religious uprisings in Spain, one in Jerusalem, and a peasant uprising in England. Troops flock to the banners of my foes, and my country is nearly out of money.
I would overcome eventually, but it would cripple my nation for my ruler's entire reign. It took a total of 25 years to win the civil wars, and he'd be 70 before things finally got back to normal.
When has the AI totally screwed you, and have you overcome? Have you acceded to their demands? Or have you fought and lost? Or have you been so overcome by rage as to quit the game out of frustration?
- 3
on Malta?!!
