Background: I'm playing the Duchy of Brandenburg. My original duke died, and the duchy passed to his son. That was OK for a while, but he was excommunicated for no apparent reason (I was at peace and hadn't offended anybody as far as I know). This went on for some time. There were no obviously bad immediate consequences, but everybody's loyalty to my duke deteriorated over time. Even his own close relations became severely disloyal.
Finally I got an event that would lift the excommunication -- for a high price. This actually sounded pretty realistic for the times. I could pay a modest sum for a 30% chance, or a very large amount for a certain lifting of the excommunication. I was desperate enough that I agreed to the high amount, even though it put me into debt by nearly 500 ducats.
Apparently you just run at a negative balance, rather than taking a loan. Cash flow was positive, so I was gradually improving, though it would take several years to get out of debt.
However, at one point I got a message that, due to continued debt, my home province's hill fort fell into disrepair due to lack of maintenance.
Was that just bad luck, unfortunate timing? Or is this just a sample of the bad things that can happen if you stay in debt for a long time?
My treasury balance did eventually come into the black so the loss of the fort was the only clear consequence of my debt.
Finally I got an event that would lift the excommunication -- for a high price. This actually sounded pretty realistic for the times. I could pay a modest sum for a 30% chance, or a very large amount for a certain lifting of the excommunication. I was desperate enough that I agreed to the high amount, even though it put me into debt by nearly 500 ducats.
Apparently you just run at a negative balance, rather than taking a loan. Cash flow was positive, so I was gradually improving, though it would take several years to get out of debt.
However, at one point I got a message that, due to continued debt, my home province's hill fort fell into disrepair due to lack of maintenance.
Was that just bad luck, unfortunate timing? Or is this just a sample of the bad things that can happen if you stay in debt for a long time?
My treasury balance did eventually come into the black so the loss of the fort was the only clear consequence of my debt.
), but the AI doesn't have the same challenge, so it is kind of annoying to keep a good balance sheet. I would go after your pagan neighbors along the Baltic if they still exist in your game, to expand your tax base. If other Germans, Scandinavians, or Poles haven't already taken Prussia, Mecklenburg, and Pommerania, you might want to move in that direction.
