This happens on vanilla at the moment too, so dont think its related to mod

It's a general problem with this region (The Empire) - it's central on the world map, and thus is completely surrounded with factions, who sooner or later will start giving you the looks.

You simply don't have a geographic "hinterland" that you can leave unprotected - most of the settlements are reachable within 2 turns. Unlike, for example, Norsca, who after consolidating their peninsula can leave northern regions with minimal protection.

Throw in some hidden dangers - like skaven and beastmen doomstacks that love randomly ambushing your stuff - and it can be super frustrating to play.

I had 3 starts as Karl Franz on Very Hard campaign difficulty, and each time within 5-7 turns I usually have to fend off the following factions:

- Empire Rebels (to finish clearing them out, usually by besieging their mountain fort)
- Khazrak-One-Eye, who just oneshots your northern subject 100% of the time and tends to wreck havok on your lands.
- Helmut and his stinky mountain undead (who like attacking you as you're besieging that mountain fortress)
- Nearby Wood Elves adore suiciding themselves by assaulting Helmgart (declared on me unprovoked in 2 playthroughs out of 3)
- And, while you're dealing with this free-for-all mess, Marienburg usually likes to sneak their finger in your stinky as well.

It's just too much, lol. Oh, and I forgot the obligatory Skaven undercity\blight within first 5-7 turns.

Originally posted by Captain Butthurt:

It's a general problem with this region (The Empire) - it's central on the world map, and thus is completely surrounded with factions, who sooner or later will start giving you the looks.

You simply don't have a geographic "hinterland" that you can leave unprotected - most of the settlements are reachable within 2 turns. Unlike, for example, Norsca, who after consolidating their peninsula can leave northern regions with minimal protection.

Throw in some hidden dangers - like skaven and beastmen doomstacks that love randomly ambushing your stuff - and it can be super frustrating to play.

I had 3 starts as Karl Franz on Very Hard campaign difficulty, and each time within 5-7 turns I usually have to fend off the following factions:

- Empire Rebels (to finish clearing them out, usually by besieging their mountain fort)
- Khazrak-One-Eye, who just oneshots your northern subject 100% of the time and tends to wreck havok on your lands.
- Helmut and his stinky mountain undead (who like attacking you as you're besieging that mountain fortress)
- Nearby Wood Elves adore suiciding themselves by assaulting Helmgart (declared on me unprovoked in 2 playthroughs out of 3)
- And, while you're dealing with this free-for-all mess, Marienburg usually likes to sneak their finger in your stinky as well.

It's just too much, lol. Oh, and I forgot the obligatory Skaven undercity\blight within first 5-7 turns.

I don't think it's tied to a specific reason.
I did a full run on Aranessa mostly staying in Tilea, Bretonia and Woodelves Land for the first 80 turns. Skrolk with his 3 Settlements declares war on me, sets sail with a full stack and decides to turn around after nearly getting wiped by ocean attrition.
Guess, it's just that the AI decides to declare war by their attitude towards you. They will beeline to your settlements without any regard to their own defenses or easier targets