Can Paradox Limit Eldership Succession to Close Relatives?

[junassa]

So in general I like eldership and generally keep it, even if I go feudal, however there is one thing I don't like and that is the pool of potential heirs. It's fine when you are just starting out, because (at least in my runs) the potential heirs are your children. As your realm grows though so does the list of potential heirs (assuming you aren't pruning your dynasty, which I only do as a Muslim).

As far as I can tell, the elders don't prioritize close kin or bloodlines. Normally it doesn't bother me, but in one of my saves it took over 2 centuries of eligible rulers to get Blood of Alexander, I had 4 sons and outlived 3. I've ended up giving land to my grandsons. One of them died. Instead of the land going back to me, or the uncle, brothers or cousins, it went to someone who wasn't even my cousin. This to me is unacceptable.

 

[Zsrai]

That's the downside of the law though. It's a pretty strong law, so it having a decent downside is entirely in line with it. It's similar to Tanistry like that where you just won't ever have the title pass outside of your dynasty, and that's a pretty solid boon.

If not having direct control over your succession isn't acceptable to you, you need to change your laws to something like Primo so that you do have that control.

 

[Ghisso]

No it’s amazing as is.
It allows to do some great stuff. For example,
I got a claimant to the Abbassids in my court, converted him and matrimarried him to one of my distant dynasts (didn’t have any daughters then and my sisters were all married) and then pushed his claim. I just had to help him fight a few revolts to stabilize. He had a son and heir which I nominated as my heir too. Once my emperor died, i inherited the whole Abbassids just like that!

 

[Woifee]

Eldership is even a little to easy to controll. Buy a few favours and you always get the heir you want.

 

[junassa]

No it’s amazing as is.
It allows to do some great stuff. For example,
I got a claimant to the Abbassids in my court, converted him and matrimarried him to one of my distant dynasts (didn’t have any daughters then and my sisters were all married) and then pushed his claim. I just had to help him fight a few revolts to stabilize. He had a son and heir which I nominated as my heir too. Once my emperor died, i inherited the whole Abbassids just like that!

Right but you nominated him yourself, not the elders.

That's the downside of the law though. It's a pretty strong law, so it having a decent downside is entirely in line with it. It's similar to Tanistry like that where you just won't ever have the title pass outside of your dynasty, and that's a pretty solid boon.

If not having direct control over your succession isn't acceptable to you, you need to change your laws to something like Primo so that you do have that control.

It's not my own succession I worry about, but yeah if I'm Emperor and i"m handing out kingdoms from now on I'll change succession of those kingdoms to primo or something.