What's the ideal crown authority level?
I always though the bigger the better, but it seems if I do this the realm implodes whenever it's succession time
I'm a big fan of Low/Medium. Being able to revoke titles is a must, and if you have significant external threats, the no internal wars is very nice. You should generally be able to keep the relations above the point that minimum levy numbers matter, and those laws also come with a increase to revolt risk, in addition to the decreased relations.
My oldest daughter, who is my heir, has a claim to the kingdom of France. France has agnastic succession though. Does this prevent women from ever pressing their claims, even if they are landed? :sad:
She should be able to press them, just not inherit.
Technology tab:
What exactly is it telling me when I click on Demesne vs. Realm? Here is what I am theorizing:
The Demesne button shows me the average value for my Demesne and the Realm button shows me the highest value in the Realm. That seems to correspond to what it says on the tab, but since I have only a county Demesne my Demesne is 1. My Realm is 3 because of the 2 holdings in my county. However, since I see different data on the Tech tab when I switch from Demesne to Realm what exactly is being included in the Realm? Since my Demesne and Realm are only one county shouldn't these values be the same, i.e. the highest == the average. Is Realm including my king's territories, as well? If so, then we seem to have multiple uses of the term 'Realm' being used.
If I remember correctly, the gold stars (it's more brown) are average, the blue are highest, for which ever view you have it set to. The demesne and realm buttons select the two different views. So if demesne is selected, the blue is the highest of your counties, the gold is the average of your counties. If realm is selected, it is the highest of you and your vassals. Realm goes down in tier, but not up, so a duke, isn't checking his king's tech on that screen.
I have no clue what realm average is showing. A useful thing on that screen, to the left of each tech is a button that changes the map mode to tech spread mode, fun to look at, and to use for targeting the spy master.
Three Questions:
I'm playing as the Dutchy of Holland, after 60 years I've successfully expanded my realm, but as my successional laws are Agnatic-Cognatic Gavelkind the Dutchy of Brabant which I spent the last 20 years gaining control of through claims etc has now passed to my Duke's half brother when his father died, which would be fine but his allegience seems to be to the Kaiser instead of to my Duke. Are my only options here to declare war on my half-brother or assassinate him?
Secondly: How can I possibly change my succession laws when the HRE's Crown Authority never increases, am I basically going to have to deal with this problem over and over now I've got a second Dutchy? I've contemplated declaring independance from the Empire but the HRE has a super stack of 10k and I can barely field 2k troops
Lastly: Is there anyway to pick a side in a civil war / plot after its started. The HRE has fractured into two halves over Crown Authority, and the faction that is at war with the Emperor is the faction my family has strong marital ties to but the game forces me to fight on the side of the Kaiser. Is there no way for me to switch sides? Whilst lowering Crown Authority is not really in my best interests game wise, in terms of story/role playing its ridiculous for my troops to be levied to put down this civil war.
If you are next in succession you could kill him, or you can go to war to press the claim.
I believe, if you declare independence from the HRE you are still effected by it's crown authority, you are in it's de jure lands. I'll try to confirm this later. Just checked with Lubeck, even while not part of the HRE, since Lubeck, and Holland, are de jure vassals the crown law effects them. If Italy or sicily the Kingdom title would provide escapem but... Going elective will solve your gravel kind problem though, just maintain good relations with vassals.
You and you levies are bound by law to fight for the empire, you must do that unless you declare independence, or are called into the war by an ally. You could attempt to sour relations to decrease the portions of you levies he gains, or call them all up yourself, not worth it though.
My succession law is cognatic gavelkind
My character is a duke in duchy of 4 counties. 3 land vassals : brother, nephew, non-related.
Duke is pretty old and has only 4 daughters. I understand when he dies his eldest daughter will inherit the Duchy and the only directly controlled county. She is married though and have 2 sons and 2 daughters from her husband from other dynasty. All of the children have his dynasty badge.
Does this mean that (if I don't change my succession law) when duke's daughter dies is game over ?
Switch to elective and find a blood relative to nominate. The brother will do, or have one of the daughters get into a matrilineal marriage, which means the kids will be her dynasty, so that she could pass it on. You could kill off/divorce the first daughter husband, and then kill all the kids, then have her matrilineal marry, but that'sa bit much. Use either the brother or another daughter, and go elective.