Reputation is everything, but I don't get it

[unmerged(277230)]

Over the entire game I racked up a infamy that wrecked my country and basically dissolved the kingdom of italy. What I ask is, what brings it up, and what brings it down? When a vassal declares war on me (which is very frequent...) should I only re vassalize them, and press no claims? Does recognizing them remove infamy?

 

[Haramir]

This is the link to the FAQ about reputation http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?162777-BadBoy-What-gives-it-and-what-takes-it

BTW everything is very well described in each topic of the game in the FAQ sub-forum

 

[unmerged(88697)]

Yes, the FAQ is very helpful, but what I've found is some cracks in the scheme of things that seem to help keep a reputation intact.

Firstly, BB status does have a decay rate, though I don't know what that is per' se. Still, if one waits long enough it will come down eventually.

Secondly, strategy plays a large part in controling BB status.

Let's say there is this break-away count. What the soverign need do is bring him back into the fold, but avoid the BB hit.

If one already has a claim to the count demise, that's cool, otherwise one must grab the title and suffer a slight hit to BB.

Now, with title in hand, attack the count and storm the castle. In the negoitions to follow, simply force the count to become your vassle and return the demise back to him. This strategy avoids the larger BB hit that would accrue if U kicked the count out.

 

[Zsrai]

Yes, the FAQ is very helpful, but what I've found is some cracks in the scheme of things that seem to help keep a reputation intact.

Firstly, BB status does have a decay rate, though I don't know what that is per' se. Still, if one waits long enough it will come down eventually.

Piety decreases BB, but I'm not sure what the equation is. Simplified, the more piety you have, the faster BB decays. If you're struggling with a poor reputation, you can always create rich bishoprics and archbishoprics!

 

[unmerged(277230)]

What if I just re vassalize him without pushing any claims at all? Or even what if I vassal him bit recognize his claims?

 

[Zsrai]

That works too. If a vassal breaks away (so you have a claim), you can just force vassalize in the peace agreement while recognizing his claim(s). That's what Valentinan was describing. I'd have to check that BB FAQ again, but I think doing that is a net less of 0.5 BB for a 1 province count. Some people consider it kind of gamey though.

 

[feelotraveller]

I've been playing DV2.1beta and it costs me 1 badboy to force vassalise (mostly, although there is at least one weird exception...) a one province count. So no gain (or loss) if they rebel and you give up the claim when re-vassalising them.

 

[unmerged(277230)]

That works too. If a vassal breaks away (so you have a claim), you can just force vassalize in the peace agreement while recognizing his claim(s). That's what Valentinan was describing. I'd have to check that BB FAQ again, but I think doing that is a net less of 0.5 BB for a 1 province count. Some people consider it kind of gamey though.

So what if I have claims to all his proovinces, and he declares war on me? Instead of re-vassalizing him war after war, can I not just enforce my claims?

 

[TempestDK]

.... second reduces significantly your income.

But significantly increases the number of troops the vassal has available for your use (or his own, if he doesn't like you)

 

[unmerged(277230)]

You can, but that's more infamy for you. Besides, whenever your vassal declares independence or war on you, you get claim on his titles automatically. If you recognise his claims and revassalise him - you are actually burning your infamy that propably caused his behavior in the first place (except if he had rebellious trait or was your rival). So, as it seem tedious, it's actually beneficial to you.


Also, you probably know this, but i mention it anyway.

* Try not to conquer too much lands in one go.

* On page 4 in your ledger you can see loyalty of your vassals and it's change. This change part is important and you get it's causes when hoverng your mouse over it.

* The dagger banner warns you if things are going bad in the vassal department.

* Feudal contract law and lowering scutage slider increases your vassal loyalty. First can cause both positive and negative events and second reduces significantly your income. (doesn't solve the problem when you have huge infamy, but can help if you need that little loyalty boost)

A few of these things I noticed, but the main thing that detracts from my vassals loyalty other than infamy is traits. And I don't understand whos traits are doing what!

But significantly increases the number of troops the vassal has available for your use (or his own, if he doesn't like you)

I do have the problem when my vassals rebel, they bring about 8k troops to places where I cannot always conjure up an army of equal size, and so the war becomes very, very tedious.

 

[TempestDK]

A few of these things I noticed, but the main thing that detracts from my vassals loyalty other than infamy is traits. And I don't understand whos traits are doing what!
.

Check traits here: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?380922-New-Traits-FAQ-for-Deus-Vult

There you can see which are opposite to which other traits. These are the ones that give malus to loyalty. Chaste people don't like Lustful people etc.

So if your ruler has Lustful, Forgiving and Lazy traits, then a vassal (or other character) who is Chaste, Vengeful and Energetic will probably have quite a big negative modifier to his loyalty because of traits.