Hi Guys, I am new to game. Asking here because a lot of the guides I've read are for old patches of the game and everything has changed.
I've started an Ireland save with Dublin and just taken Kildare when inherited Leinster (took a few goes because I didn't realise how important best general is, or how crap initial ruler marital stats are). From a LP video, when the guy took it he was able to turn the Count into a vassal, but when I took the holding, the count became a prisoner, I forced a win condition to get the country but instead of him becoming a vassal he ran off to another court. So I'm confused there, how do you make them into vassals? Because I was over demense I gave it to my first pretender son, is that going to cause any problems?
One more thing too, I am confused by the marriage system and how to get vassals/counties into your kingdom that way, it doesn't seem to make sense. I can marry half-brothers and young sons to daughters of William of Normandy but I can't wed any daughter close to the line of succession of Irish Counts. Whenever I try to marry any them to sons or grandsons they say 'Wants Better Alliance' or 'Political Power'. How do you overcome that? I could marry someone further down but don't fancy killing into claim because plot power is so low (about 20%) to work.
Thanks.
In order to force someone to be your vassal you must first be high enough rank to
have them as vassal (I understood from your post, that you only became duke
after taking Kildare). As a count you can never under any circumstances have other count (or higher rank) vassals.
Secondly, if you are pressing a regular claim (your own or someone else's) as you were with your fabricated one, you are explicitly attacking to
take the land, meaning that the former owner loses it. For him to become your vassal, you would have to press a de jure claim (and be high enough rank to have him). Note that when you press a regular claim against someone and win, all of their former vassals become the claimants vassals.
Regarding the marriage, rulers in CK2 are often wary of entering unions that can put themselves at risk. When they list "political concerns" as a reason not to give you their daughters, it can be because they don't want to give you claims on their land though them, or simply because they don't want to be your ally, because
they want to attack
you. When they list "wants better alliance", they want to ally with someone more powerful or someone they believe is in a position to help them. Also, if the daughter is a pretender or heir to a title they will attempt to get a matrilineal marriage.
