Court

[orielense]

Is there an optimum number of courtiers? If so, what are the consequences of exceeding (or failing to reach) that number?

 

[Kurblius]

There is none I'm aware of except on the matter of reproduction. A court with over 30 courtiers will result in un-landed courtiers not producing many children. The exception are with those courtiers that are expected to gain landed titles. So if your sons and daughters will not have children unless you land them or make them heir to your titles.

 

[Voy]

You can have as few as you want, but keeping in mind that a too small court means that there isn't enough people to host a council. The early days of the Merchant Republic was a good example of this, since you don't really have vassals as patricians at start.

Exceeding a number of 30 in your court means less children being born to your courtiers. Heirs and Heiresses are exampted from this rule.

 

[orielense]

Thanks.

What can the court be used for?

 

[Voy]

Your own sick amusements. The Courtiers aren't allowed to say no to most of your requests. So marry them off, marry them to each other, marry them to your family etc. Or imprison, force into monastery, plot against, promote to councilors, seduce them, have them educate your relatives as younglings. Or Grant them land, titles or minor titles. Or you'll find some of them involved in your events, but that's not too common or too interesting always. Some will be your friends, some will be your rivals, all are ment to serve their lord (which is you).
Anyways, their purpose is just to give you something to do.

Vassals in your court can't be treated the same however so don't do anything reckless.

 

[Dahoota]

Thanks.

What can the court be used for?

Usually my eugenics program. Selective breeding.

 

[Chlodio]

Speaking of courts, every court has at least one auto-generated lowborn... In a game which only portrays small fraction of all nobles rendering such lowborn is really wasteful.

 

[CaptainPolyp]

Well, In France, Jeanne Antoinette Poisson (later Marquise de Pompadour), Louis XV's chief mistress, who had a strong influence on the king, was from a lowborn family (high bourgeoisie tho). It was after the period covered by CK2, but still. Not only people from noble families can play a role in the rise and fall of kingdoms. Plus, is you land a lowborn, he will create his dynasty ^_^.

 

[Voy]

Well, In France, Jeanne Antoinette Poisson (later Marquise de Pompadour), Louis XV's chief mistress, who had a strong influence on the king, was from a lowborn family (high bourgeoisie tho). It was after the period covered by CK2, but still. Not only people from noble families can play a role in the rise and fall of kingdoms. Plus, is you land a lowborn, he will create his dynasty ^_^.

You know very well that there is no such mechanic in CK2 besides the regent, but that's rarely unlanded anymore. Landless means insignificant and will never amount to anything in this game sadly.

 

[CaptainPolyp]

Court relation could be better prtrayed but you can already do a few things

like all noble characters:
you can appoint lowborns in the council, as commander, marry or choose them as concubines (for pagans and nomads), land them...
you can use them to back your plots in foreign courts, make good character come into your court through marriage (especially good commanders)

Maybe I micromanage things a bit too much (I like to play Bene Gesserit engineering geniuses in my realm), maybe I am drawing a story in my head but I really have the feeling that some of my commanders played a significant part in my conquests (and most of them are lowborns... especially the best ones). I even gave one of them a kingdom at some point.

Having only noble families (with only one or two members for the most part) would be a bit boring and unrealistic since a lot of mayors or priests are lowborn which is actually normal
And without them, you would not have the pleasure to bring your prestige to the negatives just to marry a genius lowborn ^_^

 

[alextarg]

Do the prisonners in your court count as members too?

 

[Dragatus]

Do the prisonners in your court count as members too?

In some ways. They are considered to be in your court for purposes of location and maybe for triggering events, but you don't have control over foreign prisoners in the same way you have over your own courtiers (you can't force them to marry or educate captured children for example).