Tweaks for a passive game?

[Gallowglacht]

By passive I mean don't follow the default behaviour of sucking up provinces like a coked up hoover.
I was playing as a nice peaceful England. Allied to Munster, Burgundy and Portugal. A few marriages but nothing crazy, high relations generally, papal controller, zero badboy and early in the game.
Tyrone attacked Munster, I answered the call. Scotland is on their side. I defended my border against Scotland and sank their fleet, simply holding until Munster beat Tyrone, then offering white peaces. Scotland refuse. All of Scandinavia, Holstein and my own ally Burgundy declare on me. Later France etc declare on me.
Seriously? So far my only war had been supporting Burgundy against the French.

What the hell? Is the game solely balanced to counteract aggressive play? Will this keep happening, or was this a one off?
I don't mind being dog piled when I've been bad, or am a threat or so on. But all game I'd just been a good ally.

Do I need to tweak game settings? I was looking forward to just playing a peaceful, well developed England rather than a titanic British Empire and seeing how the world developed, maybe help Ireland and Holland form, that type of thing.

Was this an unlucky one off or do I really need to kick western Europes teeth in just to get a little peace and quiet?

[Note: I don't mean this to be a whine, if the game is set up to challenge and harry you on the assumption you are aggressively expanding, cool, that's how most of us play anyway. I just don't want to waste a load of time trying to stay small if the computer is going to keep dogpiling me...]

 

[unmerged(465279)]

Just because you're a nice ally doesn't mean you wont get betrayed and backstabbed. The only way to "never" get attacked, is to just be the best. Biggest army capped to forcelimits, good economy, no infamy, high prestige, etc. I would just sit back and wait until they're all done messing about, then continue your game without giving it a second thought.

 

[unmerged(76560)]

A peaceful game with a nation such as England ? I would not take any ally, would not guarantee anyone, would not have a sphere of influence... well nothing which can bring me into problems which are not mine

 

[Gallowglacht]

Peaceful might be the wrong word for what I'm looking for. I'm just trying not to be forced to "into space" by owning the British Isles, France, half of Burgundy and so on.
Just hold my own for a while, build up my kingdom, colonise somewhat historically rather than trying to take all of NA.

So far I get dogpiled every time I sneeze. It seems a little personal given that most other European powers don't get dogpiled and hated enemies seem overly eager to make friends and punch me.
And my Idiot allies not asking for help in wartime. Munster, what are you thinking? Just tag me, I'm right here buddy, one island over.

It's ok, just takes a bit of getting used to. Winning a war and not dismembering my opponent. Even the shocking new experience of losing wars *GASP* that's kind cool.

 

[grommile]

Peaceful might be the wrong word for what I'm looking for. I'm just trying not to be forced to "into space" by owning the British Isles, France, half of Burgundy and so on.

The game doesn't care.

It's ok, just takes a bit of getting used to. Winning a war and not dismembering my opponent. Even the shocking new experience of losing wars *GASP* that's kind cool.

I routinely "lose" defensive wars. They're often not worth the hassle of winning.

Try playing on Low Aggression. Also, try not allying OPMs.

 

[Emeny]

The answer your basic question: Yes, the AI is specificly crafted to be jerks to the player and tolerant of other AI. They will often answear the calls of their allies against you even if you have max relations with them, especially if you aren't war leader. You need to be careful about which wars you get yourself into, especially if your allies don't share your goals.

There is also the fact that as England you really have to be prepared to fight if you want to keep your continental possessions. If you want to avoid wars you have to avoid giving the AI CB's on you, and that means giving them their cores. It's unlikely the AI will declare no-CB wars on you unless you are an extremely temping target, which you won't be with a few decent allies. Of course, Scotland is always going to have it out for you so you will likely want to make them your vassal the next chance you get.

In the end being passive is a perfectly valid way to play, but you have to remember there is a difference between being passive and being a pushover. Don't start unnessacary wars or demand huge chunks of land, but also take wars that arise seriously and fight them like you mean it. Even on low aggressiveness the AI is still ambitious!

 

[Gallowglacht]

Thanks guys. That seemed to be the way in play, but it's nice to have it confirmed.
I seem to be settling into the right sort of groove now. Magnanimous in Victory and obstinate in defence. I have been forced to give up Meath and my claim to Paris, but gained Normandy, Caux and Armagnac.
Honestly, it seems a little harder than my normal style of play but fortunately the Royal navy means the the dogpiles are quite manageable.
I like it, it's fun.

 

[TheArchMede]

If you don't want your allies to be called in by your enemies, you need to call them in yourself. You can safely leave vassals on the sidelines, but wars often cause alliance reshuffles, and a country allied to both sides will usually join the first one to ask (the defender gets considered first if both sides ask at the same time). Just because its not allied to your enemies at the start of the war doesn't mean it won't be a year later. Use them, or lose them.