Which holdings to keep

[Stormbringer]

So in my Sicily game I have played for quite a bit and have run into a problem of not knowing which county-level holdings I should keep. I've seen advice that suggests you keep all counties in two duchies in order to avoid any negative opinion modifiers. I've figured out I can keep all counties in a third duchy as long as I don't create that duchy-level title. However, typically some counties in a duchy are better than others and so it seems like it may be worth it to keep only the best 2-3 counties in multiple duchies. Does anyone have any opinion/advice on this?

Thanks!

 

[NikkTheTrick]

You should make sure counties owned by you are spread among the two duchies you own and duchies not formed at all (duchy not formed --> no duke to get pissed at you).

However, you should also make sure that no one can form a duchy where your holdings are located, so if you get a duchy with 3 counties, 1 good and 2 poor ones, do not give those 2 to the same person since will form the duchy title and then he and his descendants will be upset at you for owning "rightfully theirs" land.

Now, that said, keep counties that have a lot of holdings and, preferably, are near the coast.

 

[Stormbringer]

That's a good thing to keep in mind that I haven't thought of. Thanks NTT.

 

[noobermenschen]

You can destroy duchy titles and keep the provinces. Best not to hold counties withing a vassal's duchy, the opinion hit just becomes a pain in the ass.

Some like to hold manu castles in a few provinces, better payoff to have your marshal train troops there. I differ from that opinion, I suggest one holding in many counties, more income from cities and you can build up vassal baronies if you're in the chips and can afford it.

Which counties to hols? depends on your strategy. I like to hold newly conquered territories for a while to convert/build them up/flip culture before handing them off, though some like tokeep all their holdings together to raise a quick army, the better to deal with unruly vassals.


EDIT: Nikk!!!

Good to see you.

 

[Ritzzz]

Well generally aim for coastal counties with large holding limit. Coastal because the cities will have ports which extra gold . So to use your Sicily as a example:

You could hold the all the counties of duchy of sicily and another coastal duchy of your choice, with Parmelo as your capital (it has high holding limit, so build all cities in those for super high tech growth). Then depending on your choice of demense limit (generally I aim for 11-12 since I prefer midas-touched kings), keep several coastal duchies, destroy the duchy title, then keep as much counties as you can.

 

[Divi]

Dukes are very convenient as vassals if you give them subordinate counts; they should be kept busy by their own plotting vassals. Better than having every count in the kingdom ready to take you down. Also the duchy of Sicily is one of the game's best duchies; hold the whole thing if you can (maybe keep Malta as an appanage); ditto, try to keep hold of Capua if only because of Naples.

 

[unmerged(100125)]

always get venice as soon as you can!