You can divert, say, political efforts to the military, but beware of falling into disfavour with the Pope. Diverting military effort to the economy can jeopardize your defenses. In addition to the main window, a tactical window allows you to design and build castles for the defense of your provinces. All combat also takes place in this window. Military gamers take heed.
Armed aggression has no advantage over commerce or diplomacy as a path to victory.
There are a few deployment advantages to be gained in the tactical window, but actual combat plays out automatically. Relying on warfare alone will quickly win you the post of Court Jester, though neglecting one's army and building cheap, flimsy castles will have the same result. If you do please e-mail me. I, like the others, would like to find out where to find the game. Interplay-Store doesn't seem to have it.