Is hard campaign really just bull crud?

[S A I N T P E P S I]

tl;dr I'm angry
So I've been trying out the hard campaign, and I'm really sure that everything that happens is just chicken ♥♥♥♥, not any difficulty.
Like I played as Austria, and Poland, Russia, Prussia, and the Turks all wanted war with me all the time. They would demand Hungary and all my provinces, so I would so no, thus war. Even after I fought them all back and forced peace treaties, they'd only return with 20 stacks of line infantry from 1 city (I can barely support 10 line infantry with 15 territories). Then don't even get me started about all the minor nations who just throw row after row of full stacks at my cities that I just conquered with a beleaguered army. I was one territory short of winning the short campaign until I was steamrolled from 4 sides.

So now I started again as France, and, turn 10, the Huron, the British, the Dutch, the Savoy, the Westphalians, the Iriquios, the Inuit, and the Westphalians all want to war me, all declaring war for some pretence. All I'm able to do take 2 Iriquois lands as the British take all my territories in the Indies, because "lol you were building and researching land infantry? Here's a full navy + 10 line infantry that will still beat your upgraded militia."
And so, the moment I march off to fight the Savoy, the Dutch suddenly have 15 line infantry that have been stuck up their bums, and all my trading lines are being blocked by Pirates.

So are hard campaigns just the AI toying with you because they think you suck because you have to expand to "win" while they can just sit in one spot and all prey upon you? Because I've played the long and hard campaigns of both Medieval and Rome, and I managed to win those with several close calls, but this is just chicken ♥♥♥♥. Even with all my upgraded income sources, I can barely stand in Europe, let alone the colonies.
Is this just the way Emprie works?

[Insaniac]

That's why I play on very hard battle difficulty and not campaign. It's stupid because diplomacy breaks even worse on hard. Alliances aren't respected, factions declare war on you for no reason. The best thing I could suggest for you would be to start out as a faction that's isolated from everyone else. Perhaps the Marathas or British would be less prone to getting jumped early in the game.

[Pirate Beard]

Originally posted by Kumelowski:

That's why I play on very hard battle difficulty and not campaign. It's stupid because diplomacy breaks even worse on hard. Alliances aren't respected, factions declare war on you for no reason.

Pretty much this.
The main thing I hate about the game industry is that if they can't make the AI smarter, they just give them unfair bonuses.
You ever look at the happiness levels in AI controlled cities? They get to be up in their 20's, meanwhile you're barely keeping it at 12 at the most (At least in my experience).

[believeinbigfoot]

In some aspects I agree.
On Hard and Very Hard difficulties (both battle and campaign), the AI is simply given more bonuses, such as higher moral or far more income.
That being said, I still play on Hard battle and VH campaign. Yes, some of the mainland nations are a bit difficult in the beginning of the game, but once you get past that (and it is possible, I've beaten the game with both Prussia and Austria before) the very hard difficulty really does make it a lot more fun.
Yes, the computer cheats but at least its not a later-game cake walk like normally on Total War. For example, right now I am playing as Sweden and there is a Huge world war going on between Me, Britain, UP, Austria, and Hannover against France, Spain, Ottomans, and Maratha. And it is the most fun I've had in a Total War game to date (and I've been playing since Rome 1).

[Xx420Sh4dOwBrUhSwAgxX]

It's not crud, rigged maybe but it's very possible for you to win. Most of the things you mention happen to me as well. Random full stacked armies, being declared war upon by multiple nations, A.I's infinite money and no rebellions (for them). Or when im France or Britain they declare war on me after 3 turns usually and if im another nation like Prussia they will declare war on me before eachother. I guess it just takes playing this game over and over to understand how certain things will play out.

As for me, I've had 2 campaigns that were the most fun i ever had playing total war, those being with Prussia and currently the U.S. As Prussia i researched cannister shell first. Most people say go for the infantry but i feel that you can shred Austria's army quicker with cannister. The key is to fight the battles so you dont waste money replenishing troops(you'll need to save as much as you can) And making sure your government is at its best is pretty easy ( that should be taken care of 1st turn) And do everything you can to avoid a war with Sweden. I was able to which made the campaign so easy for me. So I'd say after turn 3 you should have an almost full stack army including 3 or 4 artillery ready to fight and win a quick war with Austria and about 7 to 800 troops fighting Poland (which can be done).

After you wipe out Austria's army, it shouldnt be much longer before you take their capitol and at the same time almost be done with Polands capital. Mostlikely at this point Britain will send an army to attack Brandeburg. What i did was build fortifications on the 1st turn and was able to keep 5 or 6 line infantry along with the militia and was able to win and crush the British army. Also i didnt declare war on saxony as i thought it was best to avoid whoever i could. Saxony will give you money when you ask for trade rights, deny the first attempt and on the second they'll offer like 790 or 1000. That's mostly it, once Venice and Italy are within your grasp it's pretty easy. so ya heres my story lol

[Big Moustache]

On hard difficulty you are up against a cheating and cheap game. On normal difficulty pirates still attack others, on hard they ignore everyone but you. Kill em of early game. Only capture regions with other neighbours if you are ready to crush those neighbours. Do not make alliances, the game uses your allies against you on hard and than they will turn on you eventually. Easiest for hard mode is Pruissia, capture Denmark first and vassal Hannover. Russia second, only Sweden is a pain for them early game. Stampede your cossacks to Rumelia and the Ottomans are broken. They will keep spamming galleys lol.

[Dumais]

AI cheats when playing on Very Hard. However, you can easily avoid most of the problems you mentioned when you are playing as France.

[Dumais]

Originally posted by Swag Master D:

So now I started again as France, and, turn 10, the Huron, the British, the Dutch, the Savoy, the Westphalians, the Iriquios, the Inuit, and the Westphalians all want to war me, all declaring war for some pretence. All I'm able to do take 2 Iriquois lands as the British take all my territories in the Indies, because "lol you were building and researching land infantry? Here's a full navy + 10 line infantry that will still beat your upgraded militia."
And so, the moment I march off to fight the Savoy, the Dutch suddenly have 15 line infantry that have been stuck up their bums, and all my trading lines are being blocked by Pirates.

*Note: This is what happens in Darthmod as France on Very Hard.

Britain will usually decalre war at turn 8-10. (When the brits declare war on me, I will offer them my indian region for peace when I see they are about to attack any of my regions.).
India is simply too expensive to expand in during the early game so I don't bother with it.

The Dutch will declare war on you since its scripted at the end of your first turn. These guys are really not a problem, you just need to take the region of Dutch Guyana in South America. In Europe, you have Spain, Westphalia and Wurtemberg fighting them (when the game starts and your on your first turn, offer Westphalia and Wurtemberg an alliance and a trade agreement, they will accept).

I've never had the Hurons delcare war on me, they are always too busy vs Britain or they are friendly towards me.

Savoy is another scripted enemy in the French campaign. These guy will also declare war on you around turn 8-10 but are very easy to deal with since the Dutch are fighting Spain and Westphalia, you can send your starting army to deal with them.

Iroquois is scripted also, they declare war around turn 2-4.

Inuits never declare war on me either since they are always friendly.

[Kilrathii]

On VH campaigns i always try to get a foothold in south and central america and build that region up. Keep your main army in Europe and have a small force slowly conquer those provinces. Any badly depleted units i send to guard ports in american theatre. Its a very easy to manage region even when you start to push into north america.

In my current game as England the Iroquis have most of north america while i hold all regions in the south. Ive done the same thing playing Prussia and Sweden. The income in that region is really helpful in VH campaigns.

[Eat3n]

Originally posted by Outrageous French Taunter:

The main thing I hate about the game industry is that if they can't make the AI smarter, they just give them unfair bonuses.

Thank you! You've have summed up all of my hate of video games in a nice concise sentence. It's why i rarely every play games past medium difficulty because it just gets stupid, especially with total war games.