Hostile factions fractrure kingdom whenever new character takes over. HELP!

[unmerged(394433)]

Hello, all.

I'm moderately acquainted with the game concepts and strategies, but this new faction system feature is making the game nigh unplayable.

While I'm playing as a stable, long term ruler with good traits and a generally nice reputation in the kingdom, factions are easy to manage: just keep every new schemer happy (80 or over). Monetary gifts usually do the trick; if not, then vassalage transference or other opinion boosters should keep people from staying long in the faction. If everything fails, take them out. Literally saved my empire from mega civil wars by assassinating just one guy.

Here is my problem.

Now, your old ruler passed away. War, old age, doesn't matter. Your Jr. ruler is now the overlord of a vast amount of people that hold him in no high esteem.
Factions start popping up like crazy and the dreaded independence faction soon gets enough momentum to start a war.

Monetary gifts are much less effective when you are a new ruler, and people really seem to have no reason to like you.
Was playing as a cunning and ruthless Persian Emperor (Shahanshah); nobady was brave enough to seriously chalange him during the decades of his rule. The moment he dies, my new character (which actually has more posityve traits) is imediately surrounded by traitors.

Could someone give me tips on how to survive the transition between rulers under this new faction system?

That would be great!

 

[Vendrin]

When your ruler gets old imprison every vassal you can get away with(plots/excommunication,heresy) and with new rulers preposition retinues and personal levies on independence faction leaders capitals.

 

[Namfuak]

Gamey strategy - If you think your character is going to die (if he is 70, for example), go around imprisoning vassals one at a time, until no one is left to oppose you. Since it is short term, hopefully none will die before your heir takes over. Have your heir release them all for massive relation increases, or keep them there to stifle rebellion without incurring tyranny.

Not as gamey strategy - Give him a lordship to take off the short reign modifier. I'm having trouble figuring out how exactly this would work, there are two possibilities I can see:

1. It is based on how long he has owned property. In this case, making a barony and giving it to your son would help curb his modifier without a lot of risk to him (since he'll have no courtiers save for his family). Simply give this barony to his heir when he takes over to start the process again.

2. It is based on how long someone has been a vassal of him. In this case, give him a king title over a significant portion of the kingdom, with enough counties to quell rebellion, and keep doing the same thing with his heirs when he takes over, so that at least some dukes will have long reign modifiers with him.

 

[mr_human_555]

Hmm, you're a muslim right? Then there's a gamey strategy:

-REVOKE your vassal's duke title. Muslim administration do not get revoked title modifiers for emirates
-Give your new duke title to the count who was previously under that duke. Now you get a +60 opinion modifier with your new duke
-If your duke holds every land in his duchy, prevent it early on using your old character; revoke his count title & give it to a new courtier, and make sure you have at least medium CA to prevent the duke from declaring war to the new count

 

[Miinda]

Change a law immideatly as you take over maybe? Or make sure you have enough prestige on your heir (by giving him titles before he takes over) to host a grand tournament which is a real killer when it comes to securing loyal vassals.

Another neat trick is to make sure your heir raises the children of your most important vassals (prefferably their heirs). That way your heir will have a good relationship with them on his/her own.

The idea of imprisoning everyone seems a bit game breaking to me to be honest xD

 

[nyah]

ow, your old ruler passed away. War, old age, doesn't matter. Your Jr. ruler is now the overlord of a vast amount of people that hold him in no high esteem.
Factions start popping up like crazy and the dreaded independence faction soon gets enough momentum to start a war.

How is that different from pre-factions patch 1.06b, apart from the mechanic of the rebellion? Rebellions on inheritance have always been something you have to deal with.

 

[siis]

You lose up to 54 opinion with weveryone when your ruler dies, +20 from prestige, +18 long reign and you get -16 short reign.
I think it's a way to force us to buy LoR for personal retinues, it seems retinues is the answer to everything. And apparently it's intended and "fun" to have these boring massive civil wars everytime a ruler dies... historically accurate, I guess.

 

[ZechsMerquise73]

And apparently it's intended and "fun" to have these boring massive civil wars everytime a ruler dies...

I prefer imprisoning or giving away titles to plot leaders rather than having to give EVERYONE gold, titles, etc. Did you forget the way it used to work? Constant rebellions of tiny, annoying states. Now its much, much easier to control.

One thing you can do is keep vassal directly serving you until you need to improve relations with dukes/kings or the vassal starts plotting against you. Just hand them over for a +20 opinion boost.

 

[Frozen_Predator]

Not as gamey strategy - Give him a lordship to take off the short reign modifier. I'm having trouble figuring out how exactly this would work, there are two possibilities I can see:

1. It is based on how long he has owned property. In this case, making a barony and giving it to your son would help curb his modifier without a lot of risk to him (since he'll have no courtiers save for his family). Simply give this barony to his heir when he takes over to start the process again.

2. It is based on how long someone has been a vassal of him. In this case, give him a king title over a significant portion of the kingdom, with enough counties to quell rebellion, and keep doing the same thing with his heirs when he takes over, so that at least some dukes will have long reign modifiers with him.

whut... short reign is based on how long he has held his highest title, hence why your short reign penalty resets when you create an empire....

landing your heir should never be the solution to a problem since it will create worse problems in the future.

 

[unmerged(394433)]

Everyone, thanks for the answers and please keep them coming.

How is that different from pre-factions patch 1.06b, apart from the mechanic of the rebellion? Rebellions on inheritance have always been something you have to deal with.

One major difference is that rebellious vassals would generally declare war only if their opinion of you were in the negative range.
Now, with the faction mechanic, anyone can join an Independence faction if their opinion is lower than, say +80. It's really hard to keep everyone that happy when your old ruler dies. As siis mentioned, you get a 54 opinion hit just because your new character is a newbie.

Seriously, I could youse more tips!
Keep them comimng!

 

[Dartheal]

Mass a lot of cash and buy mercenaries when the time comes. Also I hear the Spymasters have a Scheme ability now that can aid in getting rid of factions, also putting your chancellor on potential rebel vassals' counties with the Improve Relations button might help if you get lucky.

 

[Oktobermensch]

You must learn to take the torture in your stride, unfortunately. The only permanent solution is to prepare a good heir. Groom him, give him a good wife and a fief of his own so that he might build up some prestige and skills. as soon as he takes over, he should be good enough stat- and prestige- wise to prevent most of the major plots from ever ocurring.
Also, remember to mend and address all the grieviances that your lord might have- them being angry at you for holding too many titles, them desirign lands or positions and so on. And don't forget piles of cash.

tl;dr - try to be a good king.

 

[Roguedemon]

I prefer imprisoning or giving away titles to plot leaders rather than having to give EVERYONE gold, titles, etc. Did you forget the way it used to work? Constant rebellions of tiny, annoying states. Now its much, much easier to control.

One thing you can do is keep vassal directly serving you until you need to improve relations with dukes/kings or the vassal starts plotting against you. Just hand them over for a +20 opinion boost.

Doesn't that give negative relations in the first place?