Two Conquering Scenarios (Newbie Missing Something)

[unmerged(138849)]

Some questions in conquering provinces (using earliest Macedonia for explanation purposes):

1) After declaring war on Illyria, I brought an overwhelming force into Taulanti, then Scodra, then Dalmatae. Upon finishing off the foces in Dalmatae, I sued for peace and was shocked that they would not accept my peace terms of total surrender--yes, I'm a newbie. I start trying different peace terms. Nothing is working. Meanwhile, Epirus walks on Scodra, and somehow manages to take it as their own. Finally, I get Taulanti and Dalmatae with Epirus holding Scodra in between.
Several questions:

a) Why couldn't I get peace terms for Scodra? Is it because it is the capital? Why could Epirus?
b) Any way to prevent other countries from taking what I worked for (e.g. Epirus taking Scodra after I did the work)? Any way I can do this myself to other countries?
c) Any similar tips when in a war fighting alongside allies to prevent them from getting all the spoils?


2) 60 years later...I declare war on Epirus who still owns Scodra and also Daci at this point. This has the double effect of drawing their ally Sparta into the war. I rapidly put Sparta down and get them to agree to an Annex. Next, I take out opposing forces in Daci and Scodra. Leaving a few forces behind, I bring my the forces to Epirus. It takes several years for me to finally win the siege (with about 20K troops). After all this, Epirus still refuses to be Annexed and only gives me Daci and Scodra.
Several questions:

a) Guesses as to why wouldn't Epirus give up Epirus itself (but only Daci and Scodra)? How do I take a capital? Is it possible to take a capital but not take other provinces?
b) My guess is that it was possible to get Sparta to agree to my Annexing them due to the fact that they had no other provinces (ie. they were a sole country/province)?
c) Why was it so difficult to win the siege of Epirus with so many troops? Was it because I didn't blockade their port? If this is the reason, why was it so easy to take Sparta (which I also didn't blockade)?

Newbie'ing,
wmeler

 

[Mellon]

You are right in assuming that one cannot completely annex a multi province country in one go, only one province minors can be annexed and this is due to balance issues.
Also, the province containing the capital cannot be ceeded in a peace treaty if the country in question has any other provinces left.


In all other paradox titles blockading ports do cut the siege time and i guess this is the case in Rome to, allthough seige time may vary quite a lot.

 

[GLENN]

A siege usually takes one year.

Make sure to have a good moral.

To improve upon siege time, you need a Consul with a high Martial number.

Make sure to have your Leagate as a high Martial.

 

[unmerged(139099)]

help me understand

why does the game stop at the year 731.What is the goal if not to rule the world and win the game? I feel dissappointed that i did all that work i had gotten so powerful and the game just stop and it gave me the only option of quiting

 

[Cheexsta]

a) Why couldn't I get peace terms for Scodra? Is it because it is the capital? Why could Epirus?
b) Any way to prevent other countries from taking what I worked for (e.g. Epirus taking Scodra after I did the work)? Any way I can do this myself to other countries?
c) Any similar tips when in a war fighting alongside allies to prevent them from getting all the spoils?

a) Scodra, as the capital, can't normally be taken in war unless it's their last province. I'm not entirely sure what happened with Epirus here. Did you already occupy Illyria's provinces and Epirus just gained it by walking on it? Or did you already make peace with Illyria, leaving them with just Scodra before Epirus declared war and besieged it?
b) It depends on the exact situation.
c) Just make sure you don't send troops to besiege a province that is already under siege, since even if you have more troops and a better general, the province will go to whomever besieged it first.

a) Guesses as to why wouldn't Epirus give up Epirus itself (but only Daci and Scodra)? How do I take a capital? Is it possible to take a capital but not take other provinces?
b) My guess is that it was possible to get Sparta to agree to my Annexing them due to the fact that they had no other provinces (ie. they were a sole country/province)?
c) Why was it so difficult to win the siege of Epirus with so many troops? Was it because I didn't blockade their port? If this is the reason, why was it so easy to take Sparta (which I also didn't blockade)?

a) You can't take a capital unless it's their last province (or you're using Total Conquest mod...PLUG )
b) Yes.
c) Just lucky, at a guess. If you have 20k troops and most of them are infantry, you might as well assault before attrition gets to you. Otherwise, just leave enough troops behind to cover the siege (you only need to have as many or more besiegers as there are defenders) and move on with your army to avoid losing lots to attrition.

why does the game stop at the year 731.What is the goal if not to rule the world and win the game? I feel dissappointed that i did all that work i had gotten so powerful and the game just stop and it gave me the only option of quiting

If you're asking about why the game just gives the option of quitting and nothing else, then I think you've missed the point of the EU series. They're meant to be open-ended and allow the player to set his or her own objectives. World conquest, economic superiority, empire reunification (Rome and Alexander's Empire are popular ones), colonisation of Britain as some obscure country, etc etc. EU games are sandbox games, it's up to you.

It'd be nice to have the option of continuing the game, though...

 

[GLENN]

"a) Guesses as to why wouldn't Epirus give up Epirus itself (but only Daci and Scodra)? How do I take a capital? Is it possible to take a capital but not take other provinces?"

Are you sure Eprius didn't have any other provinces like Crete?

Were they allied? If yes the allied party may be the decision maker.