So, any tips for playing with Sicily?

[Enoch Root]

I am finding Sicily quite difficult and frustrating to play since all three North African emirates (Africa, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica) are taking turns at declaring holy war on me with disturbing efficiency. I just can't do anything else since whenever I manage to make peace with one, another will just declare war (at least they have the decency of waiting for the truce to end). I have spent the last 40 years in constant war with either of the three emirates, knowing there's nothing I can do since, being defensive wars, I can't take anything from them, and, being religious enemies, they don't need claims to declare war on me, so I suppose this will just go on for as long as the AI wants. I've managed to scrap by thanks to the Pope granting me money that allows me to hire mercs, but the second one of my vassals decides to backstab me, it's over. Seriously, it is very frustrating to know that all the effort I am making to fight this war will amount to nothing since even if I win, I will get nothing in return and my enemy will just come back in five years -five years I will spend fighting the same war against their neighbours.

 

[Cymsdale]

I can think of two options.

1) Offer yourself up as a vassal to a more powerful ruler (I'm assuming you aren't already). That way, when they declare war on your lands, they are really declaring war on his lands, and you will have a more powerful army to drive them off. (Make it someone else's problem)

2) Try to get some powerful alliances through marriage. This can be tricky, because they can be a bit flaky about coming to help out in a way. Since it is based on relationship level, you should back up these alliances with gifts and wards to make them more secure.

 

[Slaxl]

Hmm, in my England game the d'Hauteville's were kicked out of southern Italy pretty quick, so once I was able to I launched a war to re-take the lands and give them back to the d'Hautevilles with a plan to make the Kingdom of Sicily and put my middle son on the throne, because I didn't want to have the hassle of a kingdom so far away, or a middle son asking for land.
I never had an emirate declare war on me, but once the throne was given away I checked up on them 20 years later and they had been invaded, which made me angry at my kinsmans incompetence. So I can just assume it's all about power and strength. Somehow from the start you'll have to make yourself more powerful than they are. All I can think is to go to war straight away, and conquer as fast as you can. If they sense they can win they'll invade, otherwise they'll leave you alone.

 

[Hyzhenhok]

The only way two ways to prevent them from attacking you like clockwork is either to become a vassal of the Byzantines or to annex their territory.

 

[Enoch Root]

Alliances are useles: I am allied to Byzantium, Hungary and Lombardia and neither do the north africans care, nor do my allies send troops. I'd try to annex them, but I just don't have time: when I'm done with one and I am readying to invade the second, the third will declare war and invade Sicily for the 2343243th time. And I can't even get any prestige or piety whenever I win a war... I hope this is fixed somewhat, because the defensive war system, while a good idea to prevent Emirates of North Scotland in 1080, has this sort of unintended consequences. On their own, the Hautevilles are just defenseless.

 

[slabberjan]

Have you tried playing as the Duke of Saluzzo? I'm having a blast right now here's what happend. At Start I allyd myself with the Romans through marriage of the emperors daughter Anna. I put my diplomat in Naples to try getting a claim (It may take some time). Now what happend is that Muslims starts attacking the d'Hauteville's, I first let them fight each other so I can focus on my own plans (I wanted to gain Naples and through that usurp the duchy, so in time I can challenge the d'Hauteville's for controle of southern Itally.). Now I see the d'Hauteville's getting there ass handed to them wich I dont mind but I dont want to give the Muslims to much power. Thats when I declare war on them through the Defend the faith CB, I also call my Roman ally to help. Now you just wait for the oppertune time to strike with you're army because Palermo outnumbers you and the d'Hauteville's. The great thing that happens now is that the Roman emperor will land a big army of arround 7 to 8 k strong with wich you can kick the Muslims army back to there island! The war will have weakend the d'Hauteville's and maybe they may even have lost some land to the muslim invaders wich you then can take back in the future with the help of you're Romans. Dont over extend yourself though by taking to much land south to fast! Because then you will face the same problem as the d'Hauteville's. Hope this helps! Cheers!

 

[SlyEcho]

Religious war CB is OP. It's the reason for the French Reconquista and day 1 HRE DoW on Mecklemburg.

 

[Enoch Root]

Religious war CB is OP. It's the reason for the French Reconquista and day 1 HRE DoW on Mecklemburg.

It needs to be fixed. Having religious enemies lose their claims on a province if they lose a religious war that isn't a crusade or jihad would fix this. Additionally, you should get something for winning a defensive war. If not territory, at least prestige, piety, gold, technologies, something. I have spent 40 years at war against the muslims, I have taken Tunis and Benghasi several times, and all I got for my effort was some occasional payment by the pope. My armies have murdered so many enemies of the faith that I should be drowning in piety. It is kinda insulting for the player to take on a stronger enemy that attackshim and knowing that the best you will get for your effort will be to not lose. This time.

 

[billydilly]

I think you just have to attack Palermo before they attack you. Ally with someone strong (Hungary helped me a lot) and hire mercs.

 

[Enoch Root]

I think you just have to attack Palermo before they attack you. Ally with someone strong (Hungary helped me a lot) and hire mercs.

I conquered all of Sicily decades ago. Palermo is tricky, but doable without mercs (just make sure the sheikh has no allies and not enough piety to hire the Hashashin). But once you conquer Sicily you will spend the rest of the game being DOW'ed by the three north african emirates, one at a time.

 

[beegee84]

just spent the day doing the exact same thing i took all of scisily but when i did i was at endless wars with everyone i didnt even have time to build a single castle it was horrendous rebelions were endless holy wars endless n even the pope excommunicated me...... i dont think i was at peace for longer than a month at a time

 

[Hamanu]

Just started a game with the de Hautevilles. Took Palermo right away, conquered all of Sicily in a few years and then had enough firepower to fend off the 3 emirates without a problem. Now 20 years later I'm king of Sicily and loaded with money for mercs.

 

[AtreyuAtreides]

As Apulia I married into the duchy of Toscana and was able to draw on their manpower to help the conquest of Sicily and Malta. Wasn't too much trouble though, you just have to pretty much declare war day one block the straight of Messina and the defensive modifiers will usually grant you a complete victory.

 

[RickMP80]

The hard is conquer Palermo, but a time you conquest it is more easy. I conquest Palermo thanks mercenary and a war Palermo-HRE for Capua.

 

[Avior]

Can holy orders help in situations like this, or can they only help in crusades?

 

[KroganElite]

I'm currently playing as King of Siciliy(former duke of Apulia). The first thing you have to do is choose where you want to be focused, to the east(Byzantine,Egypt,Holy Land,etc) or west(HRE + Most of Europe). I chose to offer allegiance to the Holy Roman Emperor. The first thing he did was decimate all of my enemies in North Africa. Furthermore, there is hardly any downside to this. With careful breeding and political intrigue, you will become King of Italy and more!

I'm only about 90 years in and I am King of Sicily, King of Croatia, Duke of Sicily,Tolouse,Anjou with my second cousin(same dynasty) as King of England. My next move would be to grab some land from recently fragmented Byzantium and Hungary(thanks to my spymaster ).


Edit:

Can holy orders help in situations like this, or can they only help in crusades?

They will not fight fellow christians. It's also important to note that they are free while crusading, but cost a lot if not.

 

[repent]

I'm only about 90 years in and I am King of Sicily, King of Croatia, Duke of Sicily,Tolouse,Anjou with my second cousin(same dynasty) as King of England. My next move would be to grab some land from recently fragmented Byzantium and Hungary(thanks to my spymaster ).
View attachment 47460

Nice Screenshot. Has the HRE capital really moved to North Africa? How would that even happen in real life?

 

[unmerged(30644)]

Alliances are useles: I am allied to Byzantium

Byz saved my ass coming in with 124 ships! I supported all their wars I could never attend and it worked out well.

Byz attacks

 

[erekose123]

I'm currently playing as King of Siciliy(former duke of Apulia). The first thing you have to do is choose where you want to be focused, to the east(Byzantine,Egypt,Holy Land,etc) or west(HRE + Most of Europe). I chose to offer allegiance to the Holy Roman Emperor. The first thing he did was decimate all of my enemies in North Africa. Furthermore, there is hardly any downside to this. With careful breeding and political intrigue, you will become King of Italy and more!

I'm only about 90 years in and I am King of Sicily, King of Croatia, Duke of Sicily,Tolouse,Anjou with my second cousin(same dynasty) as King of England. My next move would be to grab some land from recently fragmented Byzantium and Hungary(thanks to my spymaster ).
View attachment 47460

Edit:


They will not fight fellow christians. It's also important to note that they are free while crusading, but cost a lot if not.

OMG Man please please write a detailled AAR about this !! It would tremendously help me and many many others understand the basics of this game.

please please !!??

 

[Swuboo]

That's a helluva game you've got going, KroganElite. My Sicily game's a little less dramatic.

On the bright side, the ledger says I've got the largest army in the world at the moment, bar none. Next stop, Jerusalem.