Best Ways to Expand?

[TheRealConner]

I recently purchased the game, and it is an amazing game.

My question is: what is the best way to expand rapidly?

I have followed the many tips to start in Ireland. I didn't want to start too "easy", so I still decided to start as a count. Needless to say I'm having a lot of trouble expanding my claim. I have my Chancellor fabricating claims; I understand that this method is unreliable and time-consuming. I've also taken the advice from an old Reddit post that mentions accruing people with strong claims in my court, and pressing those claims in war. I have discovered that once the war is won, the person in my court with the strong claim becomes the count and not me. I also have read that someone (I'm assuming an experienced player) can unite Ireland in 20 years. I find this mind-baffling at this time, because I'm 20 years in, and still own a single county.

Any suggestions in regards to expanding as a Count would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sigeena]

If you're learning the game, and trying to expand, you'll need to know more about Casus Belli (CB)

Pagans and Muslims have the best CBs. They can typically do an invasion without even a claim.

For your Ireland learning game, most of your useful CBs will be either fabricated claims, or marriage to a potential heir. For the marriage to be successful, you'll need to murder your way up the family chain so that your spouse ends up as the eventual heiress. And your own dynast heir will inherit both counties.

 

[AchedTeacher]

I'm assuming you're a Catholic feudal ruler. This has its upsides and its downsides. As an upside, you are in a generally stable environment where the status quo is king and the Pope is Europe's arbiter. As a downside, this means your options to expand aggressively are also limited. You can fabricate claims on counties with a chancellor, and marry strategically. For example, you might marry a daughter of one of your neighbors to your son set to inherit, and perhaps you will merge your two fiefdoms together.

 

[josefrees]

The reason that the people you are inviting to court get the county and not you is because you are still a count and counts can't rule over other counts. So to press other people's claims and still make it part of your lands you have to be a higher title. Duke. So you have to get the other county that is part of the duchy your county is a part of. There is a map option that says show dejure duchy. Once you claim that one through fabrication and create the duchy title you can then press people's claim and benefit.

 

[AchedTeacher]

The reason that the people you are inviting to court get the county and not you is because you are still a count and counts can't rule over other counts. So to press other people's claims and still make it part of your lands you have to be a higher title. Duke. So you have to get the other county that is part of the duchy your county is a part of. There is a map option that says show dejure duchy. Once you claim that one through fabrication and create the duchy title you can then press people's claim and benefit.

Unless this changed recently, this isn't how it works. They need to already be your vassal or a member of your dynasty for this to work. But you also need to be a higher tier.

 

[Sonmi]

I recently purchased the game, and it is an amazing game.

My question is: what is the best way to expand rapidly?

I have followed the many tips to start in Ireland. I didn't want to start too "easy", so I still decided to start as a count. Needless to say I'm having a lot of trouble expanding my claim. I have my Chancellor fabricating claims; I understand that this method is unreliable and time-consuming. I've also taken the advice from an old Reddit post that mentions accruing people with strong claims in my court, and pressing those claims in war. I have discovered that once the war is won, the person in my court with the strong claim becomes the count and not me. I also have read that someone (I'm assuming an experienced player) can unite Ireland in 20 years. I find this mind-baffling at this time, because I'm 20 years in, and still own a single county.

Any suggestions in regards to expanding as a Count would be greatly appreciated.

The many suggestions to start in Ireland are misleading, while it's by far the most stable place to learn the game, you won't exactly have much opportunity to grow or learn about warfare. I'd suggest restarting a game as one of the HRE dukes bordering pagan lands, this way you won't have to wait forever for CBs. (Though you will have to deal with having a liege, which is also a good thing to learn about)

 

[AchedTeacher]

The many suggestions to start in Ireland are misleading, while it's by far the most stable place to learn the game, you won't exactly have much opportunity to grow or learn about warfare. I'd suggest restarting a game as one of the HRE dukes bordering pagan lands, this way you won't have to wait forever for CBs. (Though you will have to deal with having a liege, which is also a good thing to learn about)

I disagree. For a starter game, becoming King of Ireland in the 1066 game is an absolutely fine way to learn the basics. You don't need to expand much beyond that, becoming King of Ireland is already a win for that level. Scotland is generally fine too since England is too busy internally. Playing as an HRE prince is a bit more complex.

 

[Sonmi]

I disagree. For a starter game, becoming King of Ireland in the 1066 game is an absolutely fine way to learn the basics. You don't need to expand much beyond that, becoming King of Ireland is already a win for that level. Scotland is generally fine too since England is too busy internally. Playing as an HRE prince is a bit more complex.

Fine to learn the basics, but as I said, it's not very exciting and mostly reliant on RNG, while HRE Prince offers more interactivity. Not only that, but Ireland can also lead to a disaster 200 years in if Sunset Invasion is active.

The OP wants to expand rapidly, and a Catholic count surrounded by fellow Catholics is probably as slow as you can get as far as expansion goes, with maybe the exception of Jains.

 

[Madae]

My only beef with Ireland is you usually run into problems with Scotland and England. Scotland just about always expands into Ireland. Both of them are not very forgiving enemies since they start large and powerful.

My vote would be for Spain in 1066. Lots of easy pickings if you're aggressive.

 

[Naughtius Maximus]

Play as the Duke of Apulia. He is an amazingly active and fairly forgiving start. HRE and Byzantines are right at your door, but neither really have much interest in your lands.

You get easy holy wars with the small nations in Sicily which will allow the formation of the Kingdom, followed by an easy de jure war versus independent counts to complete one of the richest Kingdoms in the game (Sicily + Capua.) Even more so because you are in close proximity to Merchant Republics, meaning your ports get trade posts earlier than others. You have two extremely large neighbors who either have no interest (HRE) or are too preoccupied (Byzantines vs Seljuks in Anatolia) to bother with you. Both will happily accept vassalizing you should you choose to do so.

Croatia and Serbia are weak and for the taking. They're good practice for marrying and pressing claims. The rich duchy of Tunis and eventually Africa is a stone throw's away.

Your only actual threat is that **** in Taranto, but he's just a single county count.

The only real drawback to this start is without custom empires from Charlemagne DLC you have no realistic way to independently become an emperor. At least, not quickly.

If you wish for a dash of intrigue as well, as the above poster mentioned Spain in 1066 is great also. Murdur your brothers/fellow kings and complete the Reconquista for the Empire of Hispania.

 

[TheRealConner]

Thanks to everyone for all of the replies. I now understand the claim system better!