>>1991167
I need some advice regarding vanilla Medieval 2. When I first got the game as a kid I didn't understand the mechanics and for roughly a decade I didn't touch it. Now I'm playing it again and have great fun this far. But I have a few issues I need some help with. For the background of my current game: I'm playing as the HRE with campaign and battle difficulty on medium.
Now firstly I'm currently in a war with Milan and Venice - both of them attacked me and this far I have beaten back every attack. But I only have one larger army in northern italy, which I use to defend Bologna and Florence. Another army is stationed in Bern - here Milan often attacks. And another is in Vienna - often attacked by Venice.
My other armies are in the north and east capturing rebel provinces but I'm hesitant of moving them south as I don't know if the other kingdoms (France, Denmark, Poland) will attack me as well.
Thus far every diplomatic attempt of making peace with Milan and Venice have failed - I didn't try to bribe them and always have ransomed their captives but occasionally they wont pay and their captives get slaughtered (I assume). Is it better for me to just release them without any ransom in order to improve my diplomatic relations?
Additionally I have a really weak (3 or 4 papa points) with the Papacy - is there a way to increase my standing? I built churches/chapels in every settlement and have many priests in order to convert the eastern provinces but this doesnt seem to work.
Additionally the Pope has called for a crusade but I really can't spare an army for the Holy Land at the moment.
So what would you do?