On one hand, I get dynastic prestige, on the other hand, I get giant civil wars?
Should I or should I not give family dukedoms and counties?
Should I or should I not give family dukedoms and counties?
To give family lands or to not give family lands?
- Thread starter General Pauper
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I just give single counties, and then only if I really need to. I usually try to make sure no one can make a duchy since duchies are trouble.
I try to make all my count level and higher vassals dynastic where I can.
If they have claims on my main titles or if they are a pretender, then I place them under control of a duke that has no claims, if there are no dynasty members you can land that you trust not to cause you problems, then matri-marry male courties to female dynasty members, the next generation will start giving you dynastic prestige.
This is assuming that I am not a Muslim.
If they have claims on my main titles or if they are a pretender, then I place them under control of a duke that has no claims, if there are no dynasty members you can land that you trust not to cause you problems, then matri-marry male courties to female dynasty members, the next generation will start giving you dynastic prestige.
This is assuming that I am not a Muslim.
Usually, I try to spread my family far and wide. As a rule, any county or duchy that I have extra goes to a family member, preferably one of my culture. (I carefully select them to prevent messy inheritances from creating superdukes. I tend to give a duke all of the counties in his duchy, simplifying vassal management and not letting him plot for other duchies.)
Give to dynasty. Same religion, same culture, same dynasty, gavelkind succession, low to medium crown authority, and generous bribes at successions means that only a ruler with some congenital defects and really bad traits is going to have any succession issues - a situation which is easily enough avoided.
What is even the point of dynastic prestige? As far back as I can remember, there was not even any benefit in pursuing it.
From what I recall, a child is born with a % of the dynasty prestige, also people will be more likely to accept your dynasty marriages.
Dynastic prestige gives all your descendants more bargaining power when choosing spouses. That duchess who would not marry so and so will agree to a normal marriage to your dynasty. Or at least that's how I think it works. And of course, all your descendants start off with more prestige which in and of itself is a benefit. The only civil wars I've ever had to deal with are independence wars, I've never had a claimant successfully start a civil war against me. They can plot but the plot power never gets high enough. I always give land to dynasty members and all my sons and even my son in laws if they are married matrillinially.
As Panzerschiffe said, the higher your dynasty prestige, the more prestige members of your dynasty are born with. If you work on it, come late game you'll be pushing for all your rulers to be "The Great" the moment they take the throne. Its a very nice little boost to have to relations with your vassals.
Although your siblings usually make for untrustworthy and rebellious vassals, their children are actually pretty good vassals. Once their claims on your titles are bred out, you get +5 for same dynasty, and same religion and culture if you're smart about it. Plus, if you happen to lose your higher title, they'll still be your allies and probably help you take back your throne.
It possibly depends on which family I play as but in some situations I prefer to keep land within family, such as when it's a dynasty long connected with the land, ruling from times immemorial or otherwise the clearly ruling dynasty as opposed to an elevated feudal holder. But I don't ignore meritocracy or talent. (More so talent that rewards for merit but those too.)
I like to play elective when possible, so it doesn't make much odds to me if they have land or not. If I am not playing elective & a child/relative is heir I still don't as they are more trouble than they are worth.
I always roleplay my character and the dynasty itself. I prefer giving my family members titles, lands and such. I also tend to give away any "extra" crowns that aren't required for possible Empires that the dynasty might want to form to my cousins or younger siblings as a way of establishing my family as the pre-eminent dynasty in Europe. 