Moral authority takes a dive

[gregoryk64]

I've finally gotten around to playing again since the release of the new patch and Holy Fury, and after starting a couple of campaigns as the Petty King of Essex in 769 (one of my preferred Catholic starts) I've noticed something annoying. In each campaign I've started (three or four now), it seems that after 50 - 60 years Catholic moral authority tends to fold quicker than a bad poker hand. In each game, usually about 5 -10 years after the rise of the Norse, moral authority dives below 30%.

I understand why it is happening, what with the vikings raiding and looting temples and Muslim Spain having conquered most if not all of Asturias by this time. But I don't think I've ever seen it this bad playing as Essex before the new patch. Anyone else seeing this happen?

Although I'm still not getting actual Norse raiders landing on my shores (there have been a couple of planned invasions, but no raiding parties), they seem to have been replaced by constant heretic rebellions. Since they are spawning at usually 2-3 times the size of my levies they can take a while to put down, and almost immedaitely after one rebellion is crushed another rises up. Pretty annoying to have to spend all of my resources fighting Lollard rebels for a couple decades.

Any ideas on effectively dealing with this short of converting religion? I can't really use my marshal to put down rebellions since I need him training troops to keep my levies up, my court chaplain is completely ineffective at proselytizing regardsless of how high his learning stat is, and any attempts by the pope to intervene is putting down the heresies seems to end in failure. Suggestions are welcome.

[Merkatz]

Catholic MA in 769 is a roller coaster. In my experiences it's like the Iconoclast/Orthodox switcheroo(s) over in the ERE.

I deal with it by either weathering it out (become a vassal to a powerful Catholic liege) or adopt a heresy until you're 'large enough' that you can convert back and then deal with rebels. Also, don't adopt a heresy if you're surrounded by powerful, or multiple Catholic realms. Great recipe for getting Holy Warred. I'm Fraticelli in my current game. I'll probably stick with it this time since it's basically the same, mechanic wise and I'm over in Portugal fending off the Umayyads so there's little threat from Catholics.

When I do 'weather' it, MA usually tends to recover eventually... but then it'll tank again.

[Jonnyseegs]

I have to say that this has been a major issue for me since Holy fury was released. I like to play multiplayer with 3 or 4 friends, and in the 4 games I've attempeted since holy fury, at least one of us is wiped out by the year 800.

It's pretty ridiculous, and before you ask, all of us have played from count to emperor, and know the game very well.

Merkatz suggestion isn't bad in a normal game, but playing with a shattered world, there are generally no rulers more powerful than us. and even when all 4 of us allied, the cather revolt was as large as our army. I had 4 counties convert to cather in about 20 years, and my chaplain was unable to convert a single one before the revolts started.

This is clearly a game breaking oversight for anyone who wants to play as a catholic ruler.

Edit: I always had the best possible chaplain recruited, with learning of 20+ before the year 800. I also controlled kent, which is a holy site, and was exclusevily trying to convert with my chaplain.

[Varainger]

I saw that all the time in old patches, the down to 30% MA, as long as raiding wasn't broken, which was the case in 2.8 until the last patch 2.8.3.4, so it's likely you all just remember the more recent peaceful times when raiding didn't happen. Usually recovered later on, especially if the player is catholic. Perfectly fine historically as well for the time period (earliest start date as mentioned in the OP).

That it might be more of an issue in a shattered world scenario has different reasons, but there the complaint i read some days ago, made admittedly sense in the context of that mode.