plotting, clan invites and sowing dissent

[Ebenweb]

i've been trying unsuccessfully to run plots and invite various enemy land holders to join my clan, with both failing. i've read this post (http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?560498-Guide-How-to-do-Plots-Successfully) and it seems that "sow dissent" takes far too long to be practical (avg 80 months!). If that's still the case (patch fix since the post?) and plot invitees must hate the target (have low relations), then how else can one do it except constantly checking for the perfect array of bad relations between neighbouring clans and/or vassals and their lieges?

the guide above recommended sending waves of ninjas to assasinate the target clan leader until all the heirs have been killed down to an underage leader, who apparently is more likely to spurn pretenders and consequently vassals with low relations to the leader. then more ninjas to lower honor.

it all seems a bit too hard and gamey, what with all the ninjas involved.

also, it appears from the above post that "invite to join clan" doesn't work. i'm not sure if that's because it's hard to find the right combination of stats and relations or if it's simply broken, but i haven't managed it yet myself even with high relations for my clan leader and the person being invited plus low relations between the invitee and their own cland leader.

does anyone have any recent successes to further illustrate the "plotting guide" who's link i included above?

 

[GShock]

You must work your way with a vassal you mean to attract to your plot in multiple ways.
1) Damage the honor of his liege with ninja.
2) Sow dissent at the vassal you plan to attract (the AI will sow dissent in your capital but the tooltip states it's between vassal and liege so it's likely a bug for the AI)
3) send gift to the guy you want to join you and improve relations with your master of the guard.
4) Offer marriages to the guy and his family with your heirs/children/daughters (even bethrotals help)
5) Start the plot and make sure you invite them to join the plot against their vassal.
6) Activate the plot and they will join your clan fighting as your vassals against their ex liege.

You're right with the Invite to clan, it doesn't seem to work but the sow dissent and improve relations has been improved and it doesn't take that long anymore to have some effect.
Keep us posted on your attempts. Here, it worked twice. The game IS difficult... takes a bit to master. Keep trying and hope these suggestions help.