Rebellious vassals, factions and a suggestion

[Maccius]

Why isn't there a concept of "fear" or "terror" in the game?
I mean, I'm playing as a custom ruler in Francia Orientalis in the game, I created the HRE and every 2-3 years factions declare war on me (well... They declare war on me when I don't accept their "suggestions" hehe )
Then, after defeating the rebels I behead or take titles from those nobles... So... Why after a couple of years there is another rebellion? I mean, I defeated 2 rebellions with more support than yours and I killed all the nobles that partecipated why you think that you may win this time? Aren't you afraid of my power?
There should be implemented a "terror" thing like relations, so vassals or even enemies who are afraid of your power would be too scared to attack you or to even join a faction who is against you...

 

[Asiak]

Having played Conclave as a Byzantine emperor a bit over the weekend. In my previous play through as a duke and then King under the HRE the council mechanics combined with the powerful vassals seemed engaging if not a bit much. Yes vassals would push for more power, he would abolish the power we seesawed back and forth. And yes there were a bit many factions against him at any given time but he was skinnier then the Byzantine Empire. It wasn't 4 or 5 ultimatums within 20 years.

But the Byzantine Empire is just to wide to accommodate conclave, not with all those dukes. In one reign I accepted one ultimatum (my father also being forced into something) and every what felt like 5 years years a group of 5 or 6 vassals (who aren't on the council) would always come knocking for more council power.
And I'm a great character, purple, pilgrim, all good or neutral traits, but if I didn't drop 1000-1500 gold every 5 years on the same 6 vassals we would be voting on when I get to go to the bathroom. Ironically I think I survived the the council being discontent by succession, only to be forced by everyone else later.

I think to myself the new council mechanics, and laws, and powerful vassals system aren't that bad. But there needs to be a discussion about what the AI wants and why it wants it.

Because this mob of non-council vassals fighting for democracy that they can't be a part of is the most arbitrary increase in difficulty I've seen. And as the Byzantine Empire you either have to drop a lot of gold every so often or divvy it up into Kingdoms sooner. And I really just find it arbitrary and annoying. And I get it yes vassals did group up and randomly say f u we want more power even if it doesn't make sense.

But it should not boil down too do you wanna send out 1-2k in bribes every 5 years it shouldn't be that frequent, the Byzantine Empire is to wide for Conclave.

 

[indika_tates]

Stewardship education + gavelkind succession is the way to go (empire title on gavelkind and kingdom where you have your demesne on primogeniture/elective monarchy) . Early game is very easy to have a demesne of 13-15 counties. If you have enough levies and retinues your vassals won't declare war on you. Try to marry your daughters to your powerful vassals or their heirs and they can't join a faction against you.

Pledging to their demands doesn't solve anything because they will push again endlessly for a complete council power.

 

[Asiak]

Stewardship education + gavelkind succession is the way to go (empire title on gavelkind and kingdom where you have your demesne on primogeniture/elective monarchy) . Early game is very easy to have a demesne of 13-15 counties. If you have enough levies and retinues your vassals won't declare war on you. Try to marry your daughters to your powerful vassals or their heirs and they can't join a faction against you.

Pledging to their demands doesn't solve anything because they will push again endlessly for a complete council power.

Honestly I understand what your saying, I understand the strategy of using gavelkind that way, I just. I'm so hardwired the other way that I don't know if I could ever bring myself to actually make an existing primo or elective empire into gavelkind.

Why so I have brothers and uncles who gain titles and hate me because they have a right to the throne? Another option for everyone else to put up.

. Try to marry your daughters to your powerful vassals or their heirs and they can't join a faction against you.

Why so their children can hate me because they think they have a right to my throne?

That's my real problem with Conclave. That I've developed this strategy as an Emperor or even King where I strictly don't marry below me within the realm. To avoid these problems or claimants, negative opinions, potential replacements. But it isn't nearly compatible with Conclave, because you simply don't have the tools in your arsenal to please that many vassals without sacrificing a kid or two.

 

[indika_tates]

Why so their children can hate me because they think they have a right to my throne?.

They don't gain any kind of claim to your throne because you don't marry your daughter matrilineal. And they can't longer join any faction against you, so is a net gain. An empire can't be divided this is because gavelkind inheritance is the best law for it. If your primary kingdom is primogeniture/elective your demesne can't be divided. Just make sure if elective you choose the oldest heir.

 

[jpinard]

They don't gain any kind of claim to your throne because you don't marry your daughter matrilineal. And they can't longer join any faction against you, so is a net gain. An empire can't be divided this is because gavelkind inheritance is the best law for it. If your primary kingdom is primogeniture/elective your demesne can't be divided. Just make sure if elective you choose the oldest heir.

What if you have no daughters? Also, after the split from a gavelkind sucession, is it easy to put the empire back together? Otherwise don't y end up with an Empire wayyyyy smaller than you had before?

 

[indika_tates]

What if you have no daughters? Also, after the split from a gavelkind sucession, is it easy to put the empire back together? Otherwise don't y end up with an Empire wayyyyy smaller than you had before?

There is no split because a empire can't be divided and the primogeniture/elective rules of your main kingdom has it own inheritance laws. That's the trick.