Help with CB, war aims, and expansion

[OldRanger]

So I have been playing a first campaign through (much fun), but have gotten stuck in a repetitive loop that is not too fun, thus my question. So I fabricated a few claims to French counties, fought a war and got several at once. That lead to a couple of dutchies with a number of de jure claims. So now I seem to be in this cycle of fighting the same war with France over and over again to advance one county at a time. I am sure there must be a better a approach but I am not seeing it. Any stragety tips would be grand.

Also, one other question. When pressing a courtier/vassal's claim how do you make sure that they will end up as your vassal after the war is over rather than you opponent's vassal (have made that mistake tooO.

Thank you for your help.

 

[yezhanquan]

1st part: Try to get higher titles, which allow you to push claims for duchies and even kingdoms (if you're an emperor).

2nd part: I encounter this situation more often with inheritance from outside the realm. When pressing claims in war, make sure that the fellow is landed, and he is already your vassal. Also, you cannot help push for claims equal to your highest ranking title. If you do so, they go independent.

 

[Alyiakal]

What is your character's current rank and realm? Judging by the fact that you're attacking France, I'm guessing that you at least have another kingdom at your disposal. At that kind of power, it generally becomes inefficient to fight wars over fabricated claims, as you'll be fighting a huge war for one county, or at best a duchy.

What you can do to make taking over France faster is to marry a French princess. Your heir will inherit her claim when she dies, and thus you will be able to push that claim (albeit a weak claim), or you can request an invasion from the pope, after you take over as your heir.

Alternatively, if you happen to be an emperor, you can find a claimant to the French throne (usually a younger brother or something) who is unlanded, and invite him to your court and matrilineally marry him to a dynasty member. You can then land him and push his claim.

 

[yezhanquan]

To add on, weak claims can only be pushed under certain conditions. They can be found in-game, and I cannot recall all the conditions.

On duchies, you can find large duchies to press for. It can take a big piece out of France, and if you ever get 50% of the de jure territory, usurping the title can be helpful as it allows you to declare war on the dukes.

 

[OldRanger]

Thanks for the suggestions.

FYI: I am currently just King of Ireland. I am drifting England, Wales, and Scottland into Ireland before creating the Empire. I will take a look at the marrying a princes idea, but given our recent string of wars it seems unlike the French king would agree.

Also FYI: Tried the invasion request, Pope no go. He likes the French king.

 

[yezhanquan]

Thanks for the suggestions.

FYI: I am currently just King of Ireland. I am drifting England, Wales, and Scottland into Ireland before creating the Empire. I will take a look at the marrying a princes idea, but given our recent string of wars it seems unlike the French king would agree.

Sounds like you already have the de jure territory for Britannia. But, I'm not sure if you can create the empire without having the component kingdom titles already created.

 

[Alyiakal]

You need to hold at least 2 king titles to form an Empire. Drifting the territory is a decent idea, as the second king title will be titular and no one will desire it, so that's good.

As for a prince or princess, you don't necessarily need the permission of the French. Take a look at the claimant panel for the Kingdom of France, and see if you can invite a dissatisfied princess to your realm or anything like that.

 

[OldRanger]

Where can I find the claimant panel?

 

[Alyiakal]

Go to the title holder's character panel, and click on the title in their list of titles. A page will pop up with some information about the title, and there will be 4 buttons at the top of the panel: Create/Usurp, Destroy, Claimants, and History.

 

[OldRanger]

Thank you.