Does offering to Join War against X have any down sides?

[Lampros]

It just seems like an exploit if the war target is too far to attack you?

[BiteSizeCenter]

Other than possible diplomatic ramifications, not really. When I'm planning to declare war on a faction, I always check who else they're at war with first, then I'll go to that faction and offer to join their war for a payment. It's usually not much, but hey it's basically free money so why not.

[Cenwalh]

It can lead to other factions not wanting to deal with you, for once. Number of wars can impact how they see you, i.e. if you are in too many wars they might deem you to be a risk.

It can also bite you in the ass later down the line. Never underestimate the A.I.'s capability to send 2 full stacks from across the world to beeline to your settlements.

It might also impact your standing with other factions that you might want to trade with or befriend. Maybe they like the faction that you declared war on, etc.

[Siodog]

Yes, factions might beeline for you and ignore the one they are at war with and in fact they could make peace and you end up being the only one at war just that downside

[Lampros]

Originally posted by BiteSizeCenter:

Other than possible diplomatic ramifications, not really. When I'm planning to declare war on a faction, I always check who else they're at war with first, then I'll go to that faction and offer to join their war for a payment. It's usually not much, but hey it's basically free money so why not.

I use it constantly to get trade agreements in the beginning of the game or get some spare cash, LOL! ;)

Originally posted by Cenwalh:

It can also bite you in the ass later down the line. Never underestimate the A.I.'s capability to send 2 full stacks from across the world to beeline to your settlements.

That is true. So these days I pick against factions that are either 1) really far away or 2) really weak! ;)

[BiteSizeCenter]

Yeah I'd avoid doing this too much to factions that you don't actually plan to attack. Anti-player bias is definitely a thing. Probably best saved for when you're desperate for some cash or you're playing as Orion.

[Alan]

Originally posted by Lampros:

It just seems like an exploit if the war target is too far to attack you?

Targets have friends.

The only "no downside" strategy is to offer to declare war against people who you are already about to go to war with anyway. THAT is just free money/diplomacy points. Highly recommend.

[pascal.difolco]

Originally posted by Lampros:

It just seems like an exploit if the war target is too far to attack you?

Enemies of player will beeline for you and mostly forget about their other enemies...
If they're half the map away they won't tho

[Taifun_Vash]

If you play Cathay, or Chaos Dwarfs, it can be a bad idea to join wars where your caravans are running. I already had a faction not wanting to join in a defense alliance because I was at war with to many other factions, it was not the case of that faction liking this factions, but just that it was to many other factions.

[Tr4cker0]

Originally posted by Lampros:

It just seems like an exploit if the war target is too far to attack you?

Yes indeed i consider it myself as an exploit since a far target will not attack you so it's free money + opinion gain on the faction "helped". Also even when the target is not far i don't use it since AI never use it except if you are already allied with them so to be on par with Ai i use only the asking to join war button to ask an ally to join my own war.

[Seraphiel]

If at war with you then the AI will focus on the player and march all of its armies across enemy territory while ignoring the war it is currently fighting just to mess with you. No matter how many turns it takes, they'll sail across oceans for 30 turns just to attack you.

It is never worth it, IMO.

[Tr4cker0]

Originally posted by Seraphiel:

If at war with you then the AI will focus on the player and march all of its armies across enemy territory while ignoring the war it is currently fighting just to mess with you. No matter how many turns it takes, they'll sail across oceans for 30 turns just to attack you.

It is never worth it, IMO.

I disagree, the anti player bias has been wattered down by Ca recently and the worse think it can happen is that this far country will left unprotected their land so they will be annexed by your new ally and those traveling armies will give you money from battle loot and xp. Ofc you should not accept to join war in the looser side esp if it's a more powerful ruler than you that may kill it's neighbour fastly and then full focus on you.