Relationship with other kingdoms

How should we behave towards others kingdoms in peacetime

As already mentioned, although we are a War Kingdom all that we do outside war interferes on our performance during the age.
Our acts against other kingdoms can put ourselves in a good position or seriously slow us down in our goals.
Let´s divide the enemy kingdoms in three types and see how we should behave in relation to each type of kingdom.

The three types of kingdom are:

• Much bigger than us: Kingdoms that have more than 125% our NW and therefore have advantage against us.
• Same size than us: Kingdoms that have between 80% and 125% our NW and therefore are possible kingdoms to we war.
• Much smaller than us: Kingdoms that have less than 80% our NW and therefore we have dominion over these kingdoms.

All should also be aware about Hostile Meter:

- Most kind of attacks generate 2 hostile points

- Ambush and Conquest generate 1 hotile point and a failed attack has a chance relative to the amount of off/def sent to move the meter a full point.
- Unfriendly status requires 5 points to achieve
- Hostile status requires 15 points to achieve
- On the first of each utopian month, both hostile meters decay by  2 points or one sixth , whichever is greater.
You can learn more about it here.

Knowing all this how we should act:

     Against much bigger kingdoms:

1. Never initiate a hostile act against much bigger kingdoms. Even some thievery operation can begins a diplomatic conflict. The only exception, that should be used very cautiously, is if you find a inactive province with great amount of resources to plunder or rob.
2. Never respond to an act of aggression of a larger kingdom. You gotta hold your pride because they are simply stronger than us, and we can do very little against them.
3. Ambush is always allowed, since do not put us on unfrielndy against the kingdom.

     Against same size kingdoms:

1. Never become unfriendly with them without the council´s approval. They are possible war targets and become unfriendly early can ruin our war, because we would be at the mercy of their thieves and mages  So no more than 2 attacks on the same utopia month should be done, except for contrary orders.
2. Ambush their attacks is always nice, since kill the ofense of a possible war target can help us. But remember that ambush increase in 1 point the hostile meter.
3. If one of these kingdoms wave us they will be looking for war. The best thing to do is wait for the council decision to see if we will war them or will ask a Cease Fire before start some agression against them. 

     Against much smaller kingdoms:

1. They are probably the best targets to our provinces attack outside war without be retaliated, despite the gains will not be as good as attack a same size kingdom.
2. If one of these kingdoms attack us we should retaliate them to show our power. A first attack should be retaliated by two, but do not worry if we get unfriendly with them. Just try to avoid become hostile.
3. Enjoy being more powerful than someone.

     Ceasefire:

Don´t extend agressions against a Kingdom more than necessary is usally the best think to do. If the Kingdom don´t want to fight us we should propose our accept a ceasefire to not create an enemy and at same time decrease the amount of kingdoms that can perform aggressions against us.
 

     Alliance:   

Have some alliances can help us on crucial moments, and can be intersting form some kind of alliance with Kingdoms that share our views of how Utopia should be played. I personally dislike alliances that wants to monopolize the game, also don´t like to use our alliances of dishonored manner, waving a Kingdom before the war start to we take advantage. I think Alliance should be used to protect ourselves from these kind of alliances.