Played a GC as France, and had a terrible time with Parma, Genoa and Milan. I was planning to annex them diplomatically, so was giving them lots of money, and was plus 170 (or better) with them for much of the campaign.
But they kept getting into allicances as minor partners of other countries (Spain, Austria, England) with whom they were often only plus 60 or so, and you can't vassalize what you can't ally with.
Then that country would declare war on me. Despite messages telling me "They should be considered our oldest friends," the three minors never took an early offer for a separate white peace, so I'd have to kick their butt(s).
So I'd crush them, but wasn't able to annex them militarily (read in one of the FAQs that, as long as they're in an alliance, they won't accept an annex offer because they hope the other member(s) will save them.)
Then they'd either get a white peace imposed because they'd been cowering for 36 months, or I'd eventually have to accept a peace with the alliance leader.
After the war, they'd still be plus-whatever and my "dearest friends."
Can anybody figure a way out of that loop?
And here's the kicker: just started a new GC as Spain, and in the first eight years, France began a war against an alliance including Milan, blitzkriegs them in about two months, and they accept a French annexation while their alliance is still viable. (Only to declare their independence 10 years later
)
All I want is for those little SOBs to roll over and play dead so I can take their puny states as my rightful playthings. What's so wrong with that? And more to the point, does anyone have any hints how to make it so?
Thanks
But they kept getting into allicances as minor partners of other countries (Spain, Austria, England) with whom they were often only plus 60 or so, and you can't vassalize what you can't ally with.
Then that country would declare war on me. Despite messages telling me "They should be considered our oldest friends," the three minors never took an early offer for a separate white peace, so I'd have to kick their butt(s).
So I'd crush them, but wasn't able to annex them militarily (read in one of the FAQs that, as long as they're in an alliance, they won't accept an annex offer because they hope the other member(s) will save them.)
Then they'd either get a white peace imposed because they'd been cowering for 36 months, or I'd eventually have to accept a peace with the alliance leader.
After the war, they'd still be plus-whatever and my "dearest friends."
Can anybody figure a way out of that loop?
And here's the kicker: just started a new GC as Spain, and in the first eight years, France began a war against an alliance including Milan, blitzkriegs them in about two months, and they accept a French annexation while their alliance is still viable. (Only to declare their independence 10 years later
All I want is for those little SOBs to roll over and play dead so I can take their puny states as my rightful playthings. What's so wrong with that? And more to the point, does anyone have any hints how to make it so?
Thanks