Any count who begins with a baron vassal: you can double or better your early game income by seizing your barons' castle holdings. You may have to hire a mercenary band in order to intimidate your vassal into giving up the holding.
List the most powerful opening moves you've found out about so far in 1066
- Thread starter Alerias
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another good starting option is the count of dublin! his father is the count of leinster and so you will get this province as soon as he dies (hes and very old men in 1066)But my tipp, retake the city of dublin for your own right at the start. The only person who likes you now a bit less is your bishop and by doing so you have a good income.After the death of your dad you can create 2 ducky titels which give you the right to attack 2 other counts to make them your vassel. After that you are 4 provinces strong and now you have to fabricate claims up in north 2 times to be able to cerate this ducky, too. This ducky claim allows you to make another count your vassel.
At this point you will be in control of 50% of Ireland and you can become King. Its possible to reach this goal in 20 years.
At this point you will be in control of 50% of Ireland and you can become King. Its possible to reach this goal in 20 years.
How are you guys playing rulers not playable in the demo? You must have the 'beta' copy?
Find the ruler you want to play as, click play as one of the 4 demo rulers, and before the game loads click the province of the ruler you want to play.
Pretty much anything you do meets little opposition. Emperors are not unlikely to marry their daughters and sons to children of poor counts that are miles away. A pretty useless and illogical alliance for the emperor, but because it's not hard to get them to accept calls to arms, it is often a dominating advantage for the count over most enemies.
Usually it's someone deep down in the line of succession. Primary or secondary heirs you won't get a look in on.
This makes sense to me, actually. I do a lot of the same thing in the hopes of getting some inherited turf with an otherwise useless sibling.
I managed to change the from elective to gavilkind for the HRE by 2 Jan 1067
What I did was I looked at all the required rulers that had to like me in the list. I made those who liked me least like me more by transferring vassals to them and bribing some of the cheaper ones, or giving them honourary titles. Anyway when I got to the point of having people on minus 5 I let the game play fast and did nothing then I found everyone who mattered liked me and I could change the law.
You might want to take more care over who you trasfer vassalship to though. I transferred all vassals possible in the end but hey it worked.
What I did was I looked at all the required rulers that had to like me in the list. I made those who liked me least like me more by transferring vassals to them and bribing some of the cheaper ones, or giving them honourary titles. Anyway when I got to the point of having people on minus 5 I let the game play fast and did nothing then I found everyone who mattered liked me and I could change the law.
You might want to take more care over who you trasfer vassalship to though. I transferred all vassals possible in the end but hey it worked.
How is that a winning move, though? Gavelkind means you split the inheritance if there's more than one eligible child. You'd be going the way of the Carolingians, splitting the realm and sowing the seeds for endless fratricidal wars.
but at least he insured that the Emperor title stays in his family, i think that's his goal. Besides, he can always make the best title his main one, so his heir inherits it while the other sons get the less profitable ones.
But yes, he really empowered his vassals. Le'ts hope they bite themselves rather than him...
I had exactly the same feeling. He starts as Harold's courtier, so if you want to play as him, just start as Harold and give Aedgar a title. That's what I plan to do
as king of leon assasinate your brother the king of castille and voila witness Iberia being crushed.
As Wales, conquer the lesser principalities first (obviously by forging claims), starting with Deheubarth (because it's a pain in the ass to conquer later on, esepcially when they are a Duchy and can form Wales almost as likely as you are if they control all of South Wales) while forming the Kingdom of Wales as soon as possible. (What I personally like to do is to convert to Orthodoxy by pledging allegiance to Nubia, [since Nubia gets steamrollered by Egypt early in the game] if all my courtiers do not have the Zealous trait; but you don't get to form the kingdom of wales early on because of the massive 500 Piety requirement) Then after that, race to unify Ireland as soon as you can, starting with forging claims against Desmond. At the same time, you could also expand east to England provided if England is weakened and divided. I made a few mistakes here and there, though.
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Using the move I outlined in the OP, assassinating Tuscany without getting caught (which requires a bit of luck) I managed to GAVELKIND THE HRE BEFORE UNPAUSING THE GAME :rofl:
I gave away my new ducal titles to remove the elective penalties, then gave a couple counts to the rebellious Savoyard Duke who wants them as vassals, and bribed the other negative-relations counts with either upgrades or minor titles. Managed to get everyone to have a 0+ opinion of me this way and then BAM, Gavelkind was available.
Now of course Im sure I'll die heirless within a few minutes...
Sadly, this may not be fully reproductible as I think I lucked out with a couple random traits that helps all my vassals like me better. But Mathilda's death gives you alot of counties and shit and if you're willing to give them to people who dont really like you... well those +40s and +60s add up quick.
I gave away my new ducal titles to remove the elective penalties, then gave a couple counts to the rebellious Savoyard Duke who wants them as vassals, and bribed the other negative-relations counts with either upgrades or minor titles. Managed to get everyone to have a 0+ opinion of me this way and then BAM, Gavelkind was available.
Now of course Im sure I'll die heirless within a few minutes...
Sadly, this may not be fully reproductible as I think I lucked out with a couple random traits that helps all my vassals like me better. But Mathilda's death gives you alot of counties and shit and if you're willing to give them to people who dont really like you... well those +40s and +60s add up quick.
As any duke, marry with any high-stewardship woman and then revoke every single county under you. Bingo, from a powerless figurehead to a regional power in less than 5 years, and after another ~10 you have good relations with your bishops and mayors again.
With a decent chancellor, I got 4 duchy titles, a demesne of 7 and another 2 provinces under my hair, starting with only a single barony as the Duke of Provence.
Lesson learned: it's a good first step to reorganize your vassals while they're few and weak, even if you're only a small duke.
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Another interesting observation: as a duke, Ellective is far better than Gavelkind, far better, as you keep your domains united and all the vassals like you.
With a decent chancellor, I got 4 duchy titles, a demesne of 7 and another 2 provinces under my hair, starting with only a single barony as the Duke of Provence.
Lesson learned: it's a good first step to reorganize your vassals while they're few and weak, even if you're only a small duke.
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Another interesting observation: as a duke, Ellective is far better than Gavelkind, far better, as you keep your domains united and all the vassals like you.
Using the move I outlined in the OP, assassinating Tuscany without getting caught (which requires a bit of luck) I managed to GAVELKIND THE HRE BEFORE UNPAUSING THE GAME :rofl:
I gave away my new ducal titles to remove the elective penalties, then gave a couple counts to the rebellious Savoyard Duke who wants them as vassals, and bribed the other negative-relations counts with either upgrades or minor titles. Managed to get everyone to have a 0+ opinion of me this way and then BAM, Gavelkind was available.
Now of course Im sure I'll die heirless within a few minutes...
Sadly, this may not be fully reproductible as I think I lucked out with a couple random traits that helps all my vassals like me better. But Mathilda's death gives you alot of counties and shit and if you're willing to give them to people who dont really like you... well those +40s and +60s add up quick.
So you can do it this way or my way but hey at least we now know it is possible. Hi 5 mate.
P.s I played on the only one giving me any problems was Bohemia and i have just imprisoned the Duke after he rebelled. So go figure I am winning. Also I have heirs yay go me.
Another one when playing the HRE Kaiser: Again YMMV but after sending a single gift to the Count of Lubeck, he accepted Vassalization whereas he previously wasnt interested.
Yes but cant you lose your dukedom once you die if your child cant command support?
Yes but cant you lose your dukedom once you die if your child cant command support?
As lancaster I knifed the norwegian king, poof white peace. William amusingly died in battle in his first fight so I didnt need to do anything there. England won both wars. As Castille I knifed all my blood relatives that held land I was the hier of, did it as leon too. And poof instant kingdom. Bad part with spain though is you get vassals that are ready to rebel. I didnt hand out the ducal titles and this apparently bothered some vassals.
There are actually three you can benifit from, the sister who has a single fife in Leon, and another brother that holds lands and vassals in NW spain. So you can actually create a big kingdom quickly.
