List the most powerful opening moves you've found out about so far in 1066

[Samitte]

I found that becoming ''King of the North'' (Norway, Sweden and Finland) was quite easy in first game I tried. While I was conquering away the Fins I went diplomatically bezerk on Norway via assassinations and marriages, leading to me having 95% of those 3 Kingdoms (Lacked the Finnish provinces of the dude that rules the one next to Vodi and one or two small soon-to-be-my-vassal independents).

Loads of titles to keep my massive extended family well satisfied, and me with the most actual fighting power.

Gonna try this again with the release, then add Duke of Iceland and King of Denmark to my list and voila, one super power is born!

 

[asix79]

What are the current thoughts on marrying female courtiers matrilinearly, at the start of the game, to ensure that your council is as good as it can be? In my last game, not every character approved, but it does feel slightly gamey. It reminds me of crafting iron daggers endlessly in Skyrim, in order to power-level the smithing skill. At the end of the day, I still had to manage my vassals correctly. In fact, I nearly lost a war, because I didn't realize my target was allied with the King of England.

I can't wait until next Tuesday.

 

[boies00]

Playing as Mathilda, I married the king of England's brother then assassinated the king and his heir. My husband became king and I was now queen consort of England.

It's just a shame I can't save my game to continue it when the game is officially released

 

[Hashoosh]

Did you matrilineraly marry? I thought you didn't get Queen Consort when you did that, just stayed duchess

 

[InnocentIII]

Having my siege of Connaught stolen by the King of Scotland, but then ordering a suicidal assault because I was there first, and then ordering another so that all troops were chased off by the 80-man force which fled before the siege began. Then hiring Mercs to complete the win while old Scottie ran off with his tail between his legs.

 

[boies00]

Yes, I married matrilineraly. Mathilda was Queen Consort, and the heir to the throne of England, as were all her children, was from her dynasty.

I just had to wait a bit so prince Edmund was no longer first in line for the throne of England.

 

[fenwayb]

I've found it to be very useful to invite powerful claimants to your court, matrilinearly marry them to family members, and then press their claims. A great one for this at the beginning of the game is there is a guy who had a claim to the english throne (of wessex), who you can invite just a month or two into the game when he turns 16, and then just press his claim once the war for england peters out.

 

[N Katsyev]

It sounds like a lot of people are relying on assassinations to have 100% success rate for these. After all 50+ is a good bit to spend on an event that'll likely lead to loss of prestige and worse relations, kin-slayer, etc. I just can't imagine spamming them, even with a really good spymaster.

 

[fenwayb]

It sounds like a lot of people are relying on assassinations to have 100% success rate for these. After all 50+ is a good bit to spend on an event that'll likely lead to loss of prestige and worse relations, kin-slayer, etc. I just can't imagine spamming them, even with a really good spymaster.

kinslayer isn't all that bad if you're on the last legs of your life, and have a ton of prestige/piety to eat some failed assassinations.

 

[N Katsyev]

kinslayer isn't all that bad if you're on the last legs of your life, and have a ton of prestige/piety to eat some failed assassinations.

Sure but how many rulers are in that position in 1066?

 

[Alerias]

Sure but how many rulers are in that position in 1066?

Honestly in a 1066 with no saves allowed Ill readily admit my willingness to reload a few times to get the desired outcome on my first move was greatly lessened Then again, much of that was precisely to test the system and find its quirks.

 

[Acularius]

As Poland, Boleslav, marry Adelheid the sister of Heinrich IV Emperor of the HRE, milk that alliance for all its worth and smash the pagans of the Baltic. (Although try to do it before and after the Hungarians do their war for Wallachia and before they go for Pomeralia [ or Pommerania])

 

[Pode]

Start as Najera (sp?) younger brother and heir to the non-recreatable Kingdom of Navarra. Odds are good you'll be one of your brother's councilors, and you have two younger brothers at his court regardless, so it's very easy to plot his death and immediately go from count to King. Manufacture claims on one county to depose Aragon. Marry your cousin the countess of Zamora (matrilearly if need be, since it won't change your heir's dynasty.) She's a pretender to Galicia, Leon, and Castille. The death (arranged or in combat) of one of those three will trigger an inheiritance war between the other two and give her a claim that your child will inheirit. If you're lucky and get a son quickly, try to betrothe him to Aines of Aquitane for a huge inheiritance. Use your mother, 3 royal sisters, 2 younger brothers, and recognized bastard half sister to marry out for prestige, inheiritances, and to steal El Cid from Castille. Sit back, mind your own business amidst the chaos and pounce on opportunities.

 

[Nitt the Mitt]

As the Duke of Ostergotland, marry any Princess of HRE. About 20-30 years into the game, vassals of King Stenkil I will receive a free claim on the crown from the Pope. Plot (usually 200%+ Power) then take the crown. If it all goes right, you'll have the crown of Sweden with reliable vassals and allied with the major powers on continental Europe.