If I start as a count, does my liege or king request me for soldiers as I would do if I were king?

[Nalicko]

I just started playing and curious if I start as a count, will the king of the nation I am under ask me for a levie and will control my troops or do I remain in control?

I have yet to touch the surface of how deep this game goes. If I simply want to play it as a story and not looking to dominate the map, does it still push me to rise above my station to be a king or emperor? Would the game see me as being defeated if I'm not a king or emperor by the end of the game?

[galadon3]

Your liege can call levies from your county but as well as you can't call all the vassals troops when playing a king, he never can call all of yours.

https://ck2.paradoxwikis.com/Levies#Liege_Levy

CK2 doesnt have "victory-conditions" there is only the prestige-counter of your dynasty as a whole that gives you an idea how well you did when you end the game, by giving you a rough comparison with historical dynasties.

[The Crab Ran Goon]

In a feudal government, part of your levy will automatically go to your liege that he will raise during wars. You have the option to raise your personal levy to help him if you want. Even as a count you would have access to part of the levy of the city and church in your county.

The score at the end doesn't really matter. The goal of the game is really up to you. Form a specific kingdom / empire and hold it to the end, have the largest family in the world, reform a religion, have your satanic uncle become pope, etc.

[sudokek]

It depends on your government. If you are tribal you will control your own troops in war when your liege calls you to arms. If you are feudal, he will take your troops without permission.

[[PBS]RustyFork]

He takes a percentage of your levies and income, the percentage change according to the laws in your duchy, or kingdom.

[Nalicko]

Originally posted by sudokek:

It depends on your government. If you are tribal you will control your own troops in war when your liege calls you to arms. If you are feudal, he will take your troops without permission.

Is there any way to refuse to provide troops?

[WolfWhiteFire]

Originally posted by Nalicko:

Originally posted by sudokek:

It depends on your government. If you are tribal you will control your own troops in war when your liege calls you to arms. If you are feudal, he will take your troops without permission.

Is there any way to refuse to provide troops?

Unfortunately not, same with taxes.

[Valentine Michael Smith]

Originally posted by Nalicko:

Originally posted by sudokek:

It depends on your government. If you are tribal you will control your own troops in war when your liege calls you to arms. If you are feudal, he will take your troops without permission.

Is there any way to refuse to provide troops?

revolt. Giving troops to your liege is your part of the feudal vassal contract.

[[PBS]RustyFork]

Originally posted by Nalicko:

Originally posted by sudokek:

It depends on your government. If you are tribal you will control your own troops in war when your liege calls you to arms. If you are feudal, he will take your troops without permission.

Is there any way to refuse to provide troops?

As tribal, you can juat refuse to join his war, and risk the prestige penelty.
As feudal, haveing a negetive opinion of your ruler, will decrease the number of troops you provide him with.

[Varainger]

Originally posted by Nalicko:

...
Is there any way to refuse to provide troops?

Indirectly, but reducing your opinion of your liege so it goes below zero.
Vassals who don't like their liege don't provide troops nor taxes.
At least that's how it used to work.

That's ignoring Crown authority levels and Conclave specific rules though.

edit: Oh..., in parts already mentioned by RustyFork21 above, sorry.

[al_x_ator2411]

The one time I played for many decades under a liege as a feudal lord (Matilda of Tuscany) I didn't even realize the realm was at war most of the time. I had to fiddle with message settings and make the Kaiser a special interest person to get notifications. So he'll get troops and money from you but it will be automatic and you want feel it (not like being a tributary which can cripple your income).