Greetings
If you're reading this, it's because you're a terrible ally and here's why:
Analyze the position in the photo below with three ideas in mind:
1. What synergies and efficiencies do I see?
2. What positional discords do I see?
3. Who is the dirt-bag in this coalition?
Please leave a comment with your answers/thoughts, then continue by displaying the spoiler.
If you said East Algeria(Algiers), you are correct.
Let's talk about the synergy at play here:
Spain which allows Oran to take the AI countries. This is perfect harmony in action. They're not interfering with each other's wars.
-Fez is scouting to the west of the coalition's position to identify any threats that may seek to harm the coalition long before they arrive.
-Fez's army is defending the north-north/west and Oran's army is defending the south-west. A solid shield.
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That was a short list of Synergies/Efficiencies. I'm sure if you dig deep enough you can find more in regards to the economy/resources, but i'm just speaking about simple positional/strategic decisions you can make as an ally.
Now, let's move on to positional discords:
-As Fez moved into Spain, Algiers made a lengthy sea-born incursion into Spanish territories, whilst neglecting the AI territories that border his nation, building no eastern defenses and removing every unit on his eastern border resulting in total lack of vision on Tripoli. In fact, this is exactly what allowed the AI to capture one of his provinces.
-These discords are not small chinks in the armor of the coalition. Fez's entire army is in Spain, Oran's entire army is at war in the South-West and Algiers has sent 1/2 his army to Spain, attacking provinces containing only 2-4 defending troops. This is your typical land-grabbing ally that lets you fight the enemy whilst they snatch up the provinces. The coalition's entire Eastern defense is left defenseless as a result of uncooperative play.
-Not only has Algiers stolen this land, but they've also made a grave strategic mistake. The two border-provinces that nudge France are vital defense points and the only available routes of attack via land. Spain will contain half of Fez's empire, yet Algiers has decided to leech from his (Fez's) success in an attempt to claim this province for himself. Now that Algiers has captured the province, he immediately routes his troops back across the sea towards his capital leaving this vital defense point, defenseless.
Summary:
1. Don't land-grab your allies. Fight your own wars and only assist allies if requested.
2. Retain your independence, but strengthen your coalition by identifying weak points you can bolster.
3. Provide as much vision as possible for you and your allies.
4. Read step 1 again.
Honestly, if you and your allies can quit trying to land-grab each other and instead, make solid positional plays you'll find that you and your allies have far more troops remaining during expansions and you'll win more games. Land-grabbing your allies is something I run into every... single... round. It does far more harm than good.
Thanks for reading, I hope the concepts and considerations here help with your thought process and benefit ally-etiquette in future games