How many people just play dukes or counts?

[JC]

I made a post about courts only being for kings, and someone said kings are what the game revoles around.. But i have to ask, how many people just play counts or dukes, or the tribal equal?

I personally find a duke is really fun., It gives you others that are kings to deal with, but also other dukes can be after your lands as well. Not being the dominate ruler in an area i find a lot of fun.

(which is why i really want my own court) But being able to do things in a court above me can also be good)

I swear half the time i restart by the time i make it to kinnd because starting as tribal area single province and playing at that level i just find fun.


How many people are with me on this? Sure painting the map can be fun, but i often find a local area and trying to spread my dynasty power in a tiny area is more fun verse just ruling the world.

Thoughts?

[AdmiralPiett]

I really like playing as a duke, especially as part of an empire with no king in between me and the emperor. Being on an emperor's council as a duke is really fun. i also think playing with smaller domain really allows you to focus on making the highest-quality domain possible, with upgraded buildings, few/no vassals (my land is MINE), and ability to make a lot of friends among your fellow duke vassals

[downntheholler]

Haven't tried that but am still learning the game but I may need to try that one out on my next do over haha

[[MwaH] NeoStarr]

I do it until I'm King.

[Razorblade]

Can't say I've ever desired to play a duke permanently. There are lots of fun decisions that are either kingdom-level, or turn you into a kingdom, but pretty much all counts and dukes have the same, bland flavor.

The only counts/dukes with any special flavor are the Norse with their Varangian Invasion CB, but your adventuring days are forceably brought to a conclusion at the end of the Tribal era, so it's nothing I could spend a full playthrough on, obviously.

Even when playing tall, there are plenty of kingdoms that are smaller than most duchies, so I see very few compelling reasons to remain a duke when I could form a small kingdom and have significantly more gameplay options, while losing none of the options a duke has.

[[OCe]Kagari]

I don't really stay at the ducal level, but nowadays once I reached the king level I immediately search an emperor to swear fealty to. usually the byzantines.

[brownacs]

I never stay at that level but you're not wrong that the early game very often is where the fun is. I'd say it peaks around Duke/King and then slowly fades away as your Empire snowballs.

[Team Triss]

I've been trying to stick to a lower level, but I keep picking a Count that can form a duchy from the get go, and my latest run had my mother installed as Queen, so guess who inherited a kingdom...