I have finally achieved a level where I have obtained landed titles. I am confused about vassals. Do I create a landed title? How do I create vassals? Do I even want to? Do I grant a landed title? Any help or suggestions will be appreciated.
Question about landed titles
- Thread starter Jeff67
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There's different ranks of landed titles- Baron/Barony, Count/County, Duke/Duchy, King/Kingdom, and Emperor/Empire. Barons are not playable, so you are at least a Count.
At any rank, your demense (demense is based off of the word "domain" as in your personal domain) limit is limited and you can hold a few counties without penalty. If you have exceeded this limit, you need to create a vassal by granting one of your counties to another character (typically an unlanded courtier). This is done via the diplomacy menu, which you access by right clicking on a character's portrait (this also where other important interactions are). The problem however is that as a Count, you cannot have another Count under you so you need to create a Duchy title, which makes you a duke. If you look at the de jure map modes, you'll see all counties belong to a duchy, which in turn belongs to a kingdom, which in turn belongs to an empire. When you have 51% of a title de jure (de jure basically just means "legal"; if you're familiar with the other Paradox games this is the same idea as cores), you are allowed to create it. A notification will appear and then you will spend gold (and also piety if a kingdom/empire).
So yes, you do need to have vassals and you do need to create other titles. The game's goal is pretty much to accumulate wealth, titles, and prestige for your dynasty. Just remember though you can't hold it all for yourself, but you can you try and aim for characters with high stewardship or increase your centralization laws in order to hold more. Also, when you do have to give away titles be mindful of the de jure layout. Keep corresponding titles together if you can help it, since you'll end up angering your vassals since they'll desire those titles otherwise.
Finally, when you've grown larger to the rank of King, you'll want to give away duchy titles as well for the sake of organization. It also makes things easier to manage, since the vassals that are placed under another are no longer your problem. Therefore, the fewer vassals you have the easier time you'll have managing them. Of course, you have keep things balanced though. You do not want one or two powerful vassals that might later turn on you. Keep your vassals weak by only giving out one county per character and later a single duchy or kingdom.
At any rank, your demense (demense is based off of the word "domain" as in your personal domain) limit is limited and you can hold a few counties without penalty. If you have exceeded this limit, you need to create a vassal by granting one of your counties to another character (typically an unlanded courtier). This is done via the diplomacy menu, which you access by right clicking on a character's portrait (this also where other important interactions are). The problem however is that as a Count, you cannot have another Count under you so you need to create a Duchy title, which makes you a duke. If you look at the de jure map modes, you'll see all counties belong to a duchy, which in turn belongs to a kingdom, which in turn belongs to an empire. When you have 51% of a title de jure (de jure basically just means "legal"; if you're familiar with the other Paradox games this is the same idea as cores), you are allowed to create it. A notification will appear and then you will spend gold (and also piety if a kingdom/empire).
So yes, you do need to have vassals and you do need to create other titles. The game's goal is pretty much to accumulate wealth, titles, and prestige for your dynasty. Just remember though you can't hold it all for yourself, but you can you try and aim for characters with high stewardship or increase your centralization laws in order to hold more. Also, when you do have to give away titles be mindful of the de jure layout. Keep corresponding titles together if you can help it, since you'll end up angering your vassals since they'll desire those titles otherwise.
Finally, when you've grown larger to the rank of King, you'll want to give away duchy titles as well for the sake of organization. It also makes things easier to manage, since the vassals that are placed under another are no longer your problem. Therefore, the fewer vassals you have the easier time you'll have managing them. Of course, you have keep things balanced though. You do not want one or two powerful vassals that might later turn on you. Keep your vassals weak by only giving out one county per character and later a single duchy or kingdom.
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You create vassals by right-clicking an NPC's portrait who's in your court, and selecting "grant landed title." If you don't have the option, either you don't have any titles to grant, or the person isn't eligible for a title.
Yes, you'll want to generally create a vassal when you're above your demesne limit, because when you're above the limit, you receive a penalty to your income (and a negative opinion modifier across your court? That might only be exclusive to CK2+ maybe). Having a vassal also grants him his own exclusive Council, because as a player, you're only limited to one Council, but with each vassal, you're fueling your realm with additional Council's. Vassals will also sometimes help construct things in the holdings you've granted them, saving you the gold of doing it yourself. Some people are fine being +1 over the Demesne limit. I personally am not, but do what works for you.
Ideally, create vassals from within your own dynasty with good stats and the Content trait. If you're a warmonger (esp. pagans), assign vassals with high martial to boost his holdings levy size. If you're economical, focus on vassals having high stewardship.
Yes, you'll want to generally create a vassal when you're above your demesne limit, because when you're above the limit, you receive a penalty to your income (and a negative opinion modifier across your court? That might only be exclusive to CK2+ maybe). Having a vassal also grants him his own exclusive Council, because as a player, you're only limited to one Council, but with each vassal, you're fueling your realm with additional Council's. Vassals will also sometimes help construct things in the holdings you've granted them, saving you the gold of doing it yourself. Some people are fine being +1 over the Demesne limit. I personally am not, but do what works for you.
Ideally, create vassals from within your own dynasty with good stats and the Content trait. If you're a warmonger (esp. pagans), assign vassals with high martial to boost his holdings levy size. If you're economical, focus on vassals having high stewardship.
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As a general rule, if you are not over your demense limit, do you want to grant landed titles or keep them for yourself?
Definitely want to keep them to yourself if you can. Your titles/land directly influences your taxes and levy, which you will always get 100% of versus your vassals that will only provide a percentage based on laws and opinion. Your capital/primary duchy also gets a slight boost to tax and levy, so pick a large duchy for yourself such as Baghdad, Brittany, Sicily, or Flanders to get the most out of that bonus.
Thank you for the feedback! Much appreciated. Wonderful game and getting assistance helps navigate the complexity of all of it!