What to do when surrounded by way bigger countries

[Aradhor]

Hi

I'm currently trying to understand the game and all the small things that make it so great, so I've got a bunch of question, so here's one.

After some easy runs, I'm starting to try other things, but I don't know what I can do when I'm surrounded by bigger countries. I can't go at war, can't inherit title by marriage, etc...

So what is the best thing to do ?

Thanks

[gregoryk64]

You don't mention which part of the map you are playing, but if you are a Catholic count bordering a huge kingdom that shares your religion, you may want to consider requesting vassalization. This will make it easier for you to enter into marriage contracts with your liege's other vassals, or press claims against them.

Also, it gives you the opportunity to kiss your liege's ass and make him like you enough that he may grant you additional titles, put you on his council (if you have Conclave DLC), or even marry your dynasty into his.

[eastcoastceo]

Swear fealty to one of the stronger rulers, usually the one that likes you the best, or best aligns with your ambitions.

Then marry your children to that ruler's children. Use kill plots as well to open opportunities for you to marry into important families. Once vassalized to a powerful liege, you can't be attacked unless a neighbor declares war on your liege.

[Aradhor]

Originally posted by eastcoastceo:

Swear fealty to one of the stronger rulers, usually the one that likes you the best, or best aligns with your ambitions.

Then marry your children to that ruler's children. Use kill plots as well to open opportunities for you to marry into important families. Once vassalized to a powerful liege, you can't be attacked unless a neighbor declares war on your liege.

I already tried once to marry my child that way but he refuse, don't know why exactly.

So, what you're saying is that the best way to beat a powerful kingdom is to be a part of it ? I'm gonna tried that.

Originally posted by gregoryk64:

You don't mention which part of the map you are playing, but if you are a Catholic count bordering a huge kingdom that shares your religion, you may want to consider requesting vassalization. This will make it easier for you to enter into marriage contracts with your liege's other vassals, or press claims against them.

Also, it gives you the opportunity to kiss your liege's ass and make him like you enough that he may grant you additional titles, put you on his council (if you have Conclave DLC), or even marry your dynasty into his.

I'm not playing anyone in that position atm, I'm just asking for future runs

[Joe Danger]

Depends on situation, for the most part it's probably a good idea to offer vassalization like the other guy said as long as they are the same religion as you. Once you are a vassal just work your way up through the ranks of the kingdom until you have enough power to start an independence faction

[bri]

Originally posted by Joe Danger:

Depends on situation, for the most part it's probably a good idea to offer vassalization like the other guy said as long as they are the same religion as you. Once you are a vassal just work your way up through the ranks of the kingdom until you have enough power to start an independence faction

Independence? Bah, just take it over from within...

[Joe Danger]

Originally posted by bri:

Originally posted by Joe Danger:

Depends on situation, for the most part it's probably a good idea to offer vassalization like the other guy said as long as they are the same religion as you. Once you are a vassal just work your way up through the ranks of the kingdom until you have enough power to start an independence faction

Independence? Bah, just take it over from within...

That's a lot more work lmao, I usually just wait till I'm a double duke and peace out and go do my own thing

[SKull]

Generally you want to play one large power against another. Pick one and do everything you can to suck up to them, and conversely everything you can to sabotage the other one. This is definitely an extremely random thing though. I have experienced trying the same start multiple times as the same count in France, and sometimes I end up as the King of a massive country with everything else collapsed around it and sometimes I can barely make it past the county stage.
Look for opportunities, like civil wars, third party invasions etc and expand into the chaos. Make the wrong decision though and you will be stomped, so it's a little tricky. One thing that definitely works in your favor is that small realms are usually very stable, while large realms are not.

[gregoryk64]

Originally posted by Joe Danger:

Originally posted by bri:

Independence? Bah, just take it over from within...

That's a lot more work lmao, I usually just wait till I'm a double duke and peace out and go do my own thing

Or sometimes a lot less work. Recently I was playing with a 769 start as the Count of LaMarche. Worked my way slowly up to Duke of Bourbon and Auvergne, trying to keep everyone happy and stay alive while the usual Karling shenanigans played out to form the empires of Francia and Ragusa. Suddenly there was a huge revolt that resulted in the overthrow of the Emperor of Francia that I was not even a part of. When the smoke cleared, I found myself installed as the new Emperor. And I didn't do a thing to make that happen.

[Luzilyo]

swear fealty to the strongest one and devour his empire by taking over stuff from his vassals. gotta think like some kind of parasite insect worm thing. allow your prey to swallow you with no resistance, the less you make it chew the less damage you will take in the process. and once you got into it's stomach you can eat it from the inside with much less resistance. it's scary claws and fangs will be no danger to you at all anymore, they will actually serve to protect you from other big kingdoms/empires. when you're big enough (usually should be at least a little bigger than half the entire kingdom/empire, the bigger you are, the easier it will be) you can just start a faction to become king/emperor yourself and usually you should be able to not even need support from any other dukes to win the war.

[Chinggis Khaan]

usually as of 1066 start, the HRE won't try to kill you, but with their low CA some kingdoms will try their luck (the bohemian bastards once took over my poland after a disastrous war..)
keep claimants dead and pray the byzantines are too busy dealing with kebab

[TotallyNotASquirrel]

pray to watever gods you believe in and hope they dont think you look tastey :P