Can I win a war with everyone? Advice?

[DrPraetorious]

What should I do when I'm at War with the entire world? I'm Niefelheim, strong income scales, E9N9 imprisoned cyclops.

I *was* the biggest and most powerful player by a considerable margin, but I chose the wrong ally, and generally mishandled the diplomatic situation.

However, my desperate ploy with an army of more-or-less-exclusively niefel jarls seems to be paying off, and I'm smashing the armies that were besieging my home fortresses, with surprisingly few losses.

Now, however, I'm in a poor state. I'm down to very few provinces, most of my bloodhunters are dead, as are the residents of one of my research gardens and my only source of earth magic outside of my God.

All five enemy players are continuing to pursue economic warfare against me - retaking provinces as soon as my armies vacate and I can barely pay the salary on my troops, let alone buy province defense.

I need some way to get my enemies to break ranks, just for a bit of breathing room, but they've shown no signso f that so far.

Advice?

[Ironhawk]

Bribes. Massive ones. Go to the weakest player and promise him a fortune in gems, gold, or items.

[alexti]

From your description the situation looks hopeless. You can only hope for some diplomatic miracle, but I can't imagine why any of the opposing players would risk angering his allies no matter what you offer.

Generally, this situation (getting a big alliance going against you) comes sooner or later if you're winning. Good diplomacy can only delay it or make it less synchronized. Fighting defensive war in such circumstances is very difficult (unless you're undead Ermor or water nation). I was usually going for the opponent I could conquer quickest. Don't bother about provinces much, take his capital and/or other fortresses. The time is critical here - you're racing against them destroying your income. Then go for the next opponent etc... They will still hurt your economy pretty badly, but at some point you'll be able to start taking provinces back. It looks you could have managed it if you went for it right from the start of the war; now it seems unlikely to happen, but if the map is small you can still try. Besides, when the opponent loses most his army and crucial fortresses and faces total obliteration he might be more open towards peaceful talks

[DrPraetorious]

I conquered one of my opponents, but it didn't do much good - the remainder were still more than I could handle . At some point I decided that taking the last of his provinces wasn't worth it and marched my army back home.

I could've finished him off, I suppose, but I didn't think he'd be able to do much (as it turns out, I was wrong.)

[Sandman]

Whatever you do, don't let them know that their strategy is working...

[llamabeast]

You're doomed! Muwahahaha!

(which opponent did you conquer by the way?)