Summary
Vassals are absolutely essential for ruling large realms inCrusader Kings 3. They manage domains, help out on the council, support their liege in war, and most importantly pay their taxes. However, they can also cause the player plenty of problems.
If vassals have a low opinion of their liege, they may grow resentful and form factions that could result in the player having to make concessions or fight a civil war. On the other hand, happy vassals inCrusader Kings 3will also make other things easier. For example, they are more likely to accept ultimatums from the player, and Clan vassals will even provide more levies and tax the happier they are.
7Send Them A Gift Of Gold
Money Talks; Great for Thoughtful Characters
One of the simplest ways to keep vassals or any character happy is to send them gold. For players who haveamassed considerable wealth inCrusader Kings 3, this is no problem at all, but players with limited funds will have to be selective with whose loyalties they buy.
To make gift-giving even more effective, players can pick up the Thoughtful Perk, which is the first Perk in the Diplomat Perk Tree for any players going down the Diplomacy Lifestyle. This gives 100% Opinion Gain from the Send Gift action, allowing players to make their recipients like them even more.
6Lower Crown Authority
And Keep Your Vassal Contracts Reasonable
One simple way to keep vassals happy inCK3is to not give them any reason to be resentful. By lowering the crown authority and not enforcing strict vassal contracts, players will avoid the negative opinion effects that accompany a tighter rule.
There are otherthings to avoid as a ruler inCrusader Kings 3, such as holding too many Duchy rank titles, or specific titles that vassals feel are rightfully theirs. By giving vassals titles and assigning them other lesser vassals of their own, the player will keep them more than content.
5Keep Them Happy To Be Alive
Fear is Also a Powerful Motivator
Some rulers just aren’t capable of inspiring love or loyalty, and instead, the only option is to rule through fear or in other words torule via dread inCrusader Kings 3. While a tyrant’s vassals might not necessarily be happy, they will be happy to still have their heads firmly attached to their necks, and they will also be grateful for the lands they pay homage for.
Having traits such as Arbitrary, Wrathful, and Sadistic will help players amass more dread and keep it, and taking certain decisions will align with this too. Naturally, vassals with traits such as Craven will be easier to intimidate and bend to the player’s will.
4Make Marriage Alliances With Vassals
Force Their Hand…til Death Do You Part
While players may often look to foreign realms formarriage alliancesin the hope to nullify a threat or secure a massive allied army in war, they can also strengthen their realm by arranging marriages with their vassals.
Any vassal who is allied to their liege through family ties is unable to join factions and thus cannot rise in revolt. There is even a chance to end up with dynasty members as vassals if the succession of vassal titles is managed well. For example, if the player marries a younger son to an heiress, their offspring would be of the player’s dynasty as long as a matrilineal marriage wasn’t used.
3Sway And Befriend Your Vassals
Rule by the Power of Friendship
Using a personal scheme to sway an individual is one of the easiest ways to increase their opinion, and players will want to use this on disgruntled vassals, especially those with power. Having high Diplomacy andlikable traitswill help with the success rate of these schemes.
Players with the Befriend Perk from the Family Hierarch can instead attempt to befriend their vassals, as this will create a permanent bond with other benefits, such as friends not being able to join factions. Players without this Perk can instead use the Befriend Intent when attending or hosting activities.
2Go On Grand Tours
For Majesty, Intimidation, or Cold Hard Cash
Players who own theTours & TournamentsDLC are able totake Grand Tours around their realm, visiting vassals of their choice in an attempt to improve relations. While this can be costly, the rewards go well beyond getting a better grip on one’s vassals.
There are three types of Grand Tours that players can take: Majesty, Intimidation, and Taxation. Out of these, unless players are ruling through dread, the best to take for keeping vassals happy would be the Majesty Tour as they will be more impressed. The Prestige gains will also increase the player’s fame level, making people respect them more.
1Host Feasts And Other Activities
Let Loose and Have Fun with Your Vassals
The easiest way by far to keep vassals happy inCrusader Kings 3is tohost feastsand other activities as often as possible and invite all the disgruntled vassals. For feasts, vassals who attend will gain opinion of the host, but by spending more and serving more courses the player can make an even greater impression, particularly on Courtly Vassals, one ofthe new Vassal Stances.
How well the feast goes will also affect opinion gain, so while luck is a factor players should try and make the right choices when confronted with dilemmas while hosting. Players can also assign an honorary guest who they can choose to toast at the end. Hosting other activities can also boost opinion, but feasts are the most consistent for those with vassals of dubious loyalties.
Crusader Kings 3is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Crusader Kings 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Your legacy awaits. Choose your noble house and lead your dynasty to greatness in a Middle Ages epic that spans generations. War is but one of many tools to establish your reign, as real strategy requires expert diplomatic skill, mastery of your realm, and truecunning.Crusader Kings IIIcontinues the popular series made by Paradox Development Studio, featuring the widely acclaimed marriage of immersive grand strategy and deep, dramatic medieval roleplaying.Take command of your house and expand your dynasty through a meticulously researched Middle Ages. Begin in 867 or 1066 and claim lands, titles, and vassals to secure a realm worthy of your royal blood. Your death is only a footnote as your lineage continues with new playable heirs, either planned… or not.Discover a sprawling simulated world teeming with peasants and knights, courtiers, spies, knaves and jesters, and secret love affairs. An extensive cast of historical characters can be romanced, betrayed, executed, or subtly influenced.Explore a vast medieval map stretching from the snowswept Nordic lands to the Horn of Africa, and the British Isles in the west to the exotic riches of Burma in the east. Claim, conquer, and rule thousands of unique counties, duchies, kingdoms, and empires.
