Vassals for fun and profit

[Oaks]

I really like vassels in this game. I like to have big empires, but not have to manage every state within my nation.

However, I haven't quite been able to tell how profitable a vassal can actually be. In my current game, in the Renaissance, I only have one vassal. They are nice to have, but only pull in a point or two of income in each resource. I think at 300% prosperity it was like a few gold, one knowledge, and one improvement point.

Questions:

- Can having a few vassals actually be profitable? Clearly they are great for denying you opponent if land, but can they also offer more benefits? I see that there are a few governments and National Spirits which seem to beef them up.

- Do they ever pass a population cap on their own? My sweet little vassal had tons of land but was stuck at five population. I build them a town, which seemed to do the trick.

Thanks in advance!

[chaney]

They can build to very substantial income (not just coins) as they grow.

They have the 5/level population limit, adding Towns and upgrading them lets them grow more.

Growing their Prosperity with Merchants or other methods makes them much stronger.

Get 'em all!!!

[archonsod]

Originally posted by Oaks:

- Can having a few vassals actually be profitable? Clearly they are great for denying you opponent if land, but can they also offer more benefits? I see that there are a few governments and National Spirits which seem to beef them up.

Yes. Assuming you look after them, first problem you have likely being ...

- Do they ever pass a population cap on their own? My sweet little vassal had tons of land but was stuck at five population. I build them a town, which seemed to do the trick.

Nope. You need to build / upgrade the town each time they hit a cap.

The income from vassals is pretty much directly linked to their size in terms of population rather than tiles. If you're not growing them past single figure population sizes then their income is naturally going to be small. Start adding towns and letting them grow on the other hand and you'll find that income ramps up accordingly (and then you apply the prosperity bonuses from national spirits / governments and the income gets ridiculous ...)

[rdngmikey]

Originally posted by archonsod:

Originally posted by Oaks:

- Can having a few vassals actually be profitable? Clearly they are great for denying you opponent if land, but can they also offer more benefits? I see that there are a few governments and National Spirits which seem to beef them up.

Yes. Assuming you look after them, first problem you have likely being ...

- Do they ever pass a population cap on their own? My sweet little vassal had tons of land but was stuck at five population. I build them a town, which seemed to do the trick.

Nope. You need to build / upgrade the town each time they hit a cap.

The income from vassals is pretty much directly linked to their size in terms of population rather than tiles. If you're not growing them past single figure population sizes then their income is naturally going to be small. Start adding towns and letting them grow on the other hand and you'll find that income ramps up accordingly (and then you apply the prosperity bonuses from national spirits / governments and the income gets ridiculous ...)

Vassals can and will surpass the 5 pop limit if that vassal builds a region increasing building, such as granary or aqueduct. Not only that, but you can benefit from other things that your vassals might build, such as the Baroque Musician from the Age of Discovery. That will give you a Social Wildcard every time you or one of your vassals build one. I'm not sure if receiving this when your Vassals build one is intentional or a bug, but it is currently an easy way to Transcendence victory.

[Oaks]

Great info, thanks team!