CK3 is all about character interaction, and yet it's sorely missing in one of the most prominent aspects of the game: vassal management. If your realm is feudal, you have no reason to care about the opinions of your vassals as long as their mouths aren't foaming with rebellious intent. Their contributions aren't all that great either, and increasing them a minor amount comes with a major opinion malus, and requires a hook if you don't want to be labelled a tyrant. Meanwhile the importance of your domain cannot be understated, which is why the new AI can't help but revoke holdings from its capital duchy vassals whenever that limit isn't met. What story does this tell? Vassals are merely an inefficient extension of your personal domain. I don't like that. Collaboration could and should be a major part of the game, insofar that it alone competes with having a large domain. To realise this, vassal contributions need a much greater potential. In fact, loyal vassals should be invaluable to one's power base!
I propose the addition of a "supportive" and "loyal" status, which are shown on portraits akin to "powerful vassal": supportive vassals will always join their liege in defensive wars, loyal vassals will always join their liege in both defensive and offensive wars. A vassal will be supportive if their opinion of their liege is equal to or greater than 1+[honour]/2. A vassal will be loyal instead if their opinion of their liege is equal to or greater than 100+[honour]/2. That means a just vassal will be supportive down till -50, whilst an arbitrary vassal will never be loyal.
Per consequence, it will be normal for vassals to aid in the defence of the realm, as they should! The increased army potential mainly serves as a deterrent, and provides more certainty as a disastrous offensive war won't leave the entire realm helpless afterwards. Offensive wars will require more time and resources, though rulers will have a new tool to their disposal: the spymaster's "libel" task. This task can target any ruler and, if successful, decreases opinion with all vassals of theirs; after all, slander was a prominent feature of conflict between lords!
I predict this simple addition to add a lot more dynamism. For example, a king could gain more military strength by granting a county in their domain to a duke, but only in the short-term; a common reason for giving away estates! Granting your honourable heirs appanages would be viable even when you're short on counties, because they lend back the military strength you lose. Furthermore, the overall power of polities could change drastically over time, in accordance to the popularity of rulers and the personalities of their vassals. Just characters will finally be able to compete with the despots who dominate currently!
PS: vassals should get +50 opinion of you while you're defending one of their titles, to entice them to join the war. If you win the war as well, they should get a permanent +25 opinion of you.
PS: vassals shouldn't join their liege in wars if they're allied to the enemy. Perhaps you should negotiate an alliance with your nemesis' strong but loyal vassal?
PS: vassal contracts (and their counterparts) remain valuable as they provide a reliable source of tax and levies at all times. But maybe you want to lower them for your deceitful duke, that way he will join in the defence of the realm?
I propose the addition of a "supportive" and "loyal" status, which are shown on portraits akin to "powerful vassal": supportive vassals will always join their liege in defensive wars, loyal vassals will always join their liege in both defensive and offensive wars. A vassal will be supportive if their opinion of their liege is equal to or greater than 1+[honour]/2. A vassal will be loyal instead if their opinion of their liege is equal to or greater than 100+[honour]/2. That means a just vassal will be supportive down till -50, whilst an arbitrary vassal will never be loyal.
Per consequence, it will be normal for vassals to aid in the defence of the realm, as they should! The increased army potential mainly serves as a deterrent, and provides more certainty as a disastrous offensive war won't leave the entire realm helpless afterwards. Offensive wars will require more time and resources, though rulers will have a new tool to their disposal: the spymaster's "libel" task. This task can target any ruler and, if successful, decreases opinion with all vassals of theirs; after all, slander was a prominent feature of conflict between lords!
I predict this simple addition to add a lot more dynamism. For example, a king could gain more military strength by granting a county in their domain to a duke, but only in the short-term; a common reason for giving away estates! Granting your honourable heirs appanages would be viable even when you're short on counties, because they lend back the military strength you lose. Furthermore, the overall power of polities could change drastically over time, in accordance to the popularity of rulers and the personalities of their vassals. Just characters will finally be able to compete with the despots who dominate currently!
PS: vassals should get +50 opinion of you while you're defending one of their titles, to entice them to join the war. If you win the war as well, they should get a permanent +25 opinion of you.
PS: vassals shouldn't join their liege in wars if they're allied to the enemy. Perhaps you should negotiate an alliance with your nemesis' strong but loyal vassal?
PS: vassal contracts (and their counterparts) remain valuable as they provide a reliable source of tax and levies at all times. But maybe you want to lower them for your deceitful duke, that way he will join in the defence of the realm?
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