AI declaring wars

[johnknott]

I'm quite new to this but I've played a few games and thought I had a handle on how it works. Not so sure now.

I'm Russia, it's the 1910s, I'm "At Peace" and my infamy is a bit under 4.

I'm tinkering about and suddenly Austria declares war on me. They want one of the bits of Poland I took off Prussia about 50 years earlier.

Fair enough but (first question) aren't I supposed to get some warning in the form of them justifying the war? Am I missing something here?

I play a lot of HOI IV and you get plenty of warning. Victoria 2 seems to tell me a lot about stuff going on around the world but not an imminent invasion from a major power?

In fact, not just a major power, but six of them in the form of allies. And then, to add insult to injury, France add a "cut down to size" goal. With my sizable navy sunk (vs Royal Navy and French Navy) and my army down to a handful of brigades I decide I can take the hit and give everyone what they want.

So with the immediate crisis averted I resign myself to at least 5 years of peace with practically no military presence (although I'm still 5th biggest power).

Then no more than a few weeks later, Austria declare war again! This time they want the other bit of Poland I took off Prussia 50 years ago,

Again no warning, but hang on, haven't we got a truce? I can't declare wars of people twice within weeks just because I've thought of something else I'd like? Especially when I just disarmed them.

So second question, how did they manage that? Again, am I missing something here?

Surely the AI has to play by the same diplomatic rules?

As I say, my infamy was less than 4 (because I've got caught out on that before and know the consequences). I was behaving and the model of a major power.

[ShinyCarman]

they probably have gotten nationalism and imperalism and because you own a German core province and you not having German as your primary culture they get a free cb to take the land you took from Prussia. Now for the truce you say you had, the ai could technically declare on you even though you had a truce because they still have the cb on you as you still had German cores but they should not be able to truce break so I dont know how they declared on you the second time unless you were just not paying attention and the truce passed without you realizing.

[johnknott]

Thanks. Even more complicated than I thought.

But the truce definitely hadn't passed. It was no more than weeks (possibly only days) after the truce was agreed. I still couldn't build any brigades when they declared the second time (making it all the more galling - effectively it was just taking something extra that wasn't part of the first war as the outcome wasn't exactly in doubt).

[jswilliams]

I'm pretty sure you can break truce with a core CB but there is an infamy penalty.

As far as cost-benefit and how the AI decided 1910ish was the time for Austria to strike is up in the air. Russia was lacking in allies, its military score was higher, vulnerability, etc.

If you can load an earlier save in that period of peace go into it as Russia,
open console with `
type tag AUS to take control of Austria, then look at your diplomacy options against Russia. You'll probably see a DW action because of the above mentioned core.

Or just go to the earlier save and choose to play as Austria.

[ShinyCarman]

the ai cant truce break, so I did not mention it

[johnknott]

"the ai cant truce break, so I did not mention it"

Well that's the most baffling bit. We did have a truce. Or I assume we did. The previous war was ended and I was "At Peace" again unable to field any new brigades. Then bang, they declare war again.

They may still have a CB due to core reasons (which I find puzzling in itself as I thought it was Prussia who had those claims rather than Austria - I'll have to check that) but I thought a truce trumps everything. I suppose it'd be OK if you broke it and got an infamy hit, but as far as I thought I understood it, that's not an option. (Possibly you might be allowed to join in someone else's war against the same opponent - I'm not sure - but you can't declare another war yourself and this was definitely Austria both times)

[johnknott]

"I'm pretty sure you can break truce with a core CB but there is an infamy penalty."

Next time I fire it up I'll check Austria's infamy. Searching various forums suggests that you can break a truce with a CB for an infamy hit.

But does that apply to the AI? I've never noticed an AI nation clocking up vast amounts of infamy.

[ShinyCarman]

the ai tries to not surpass 20 infamy

[Dan]

Originally posted by ShinyCarman:

the ai seems to make sure they never surpass 20 infamy

It's rare, but it DOES hapen though.

[johnknott]

I've now realised I've got no idea how to find AI nation's infamy. I'm told it's in diplomacy under the war tab. Can't see it. Anyone help?

[jswilliams]

If remembering correctly click on nation then go to the second tab. Oh wait if its not a GP you need to diplomacy screen then click on country then second tab.

You want the tab where you can see its brigades ships war exhaustion infamy etc

[KillerTaco69]

If you're playing as Russia you should have a huge military by 1910 and be able to pretty much take on everyone else. I recommend allying France on the first day and focusing on taking land from China early on. You'll get valuable resources like tea and silk and millions of new pops. Train soldiers from these Chinese provinces and have them fight your wars in Europe. Make sure you sphere Mongolia and Manchuria to get military access to China.

[johnknott]

Found it! Not intuitive but got there in the end.

One of these days I'll have a huge Russian army that it isn't chasing Jacobean rebels all round the map. ;)

[johnknott]

Thank you all.