Getting a first vassal, help please :)

[Kristian37]

I tiered my clan up high enough to make my kingdom and chose the non imperial questline. I can comfortably take on armies 200-300 but need some vassals to do anything.

Every single person I talk to says they are happy with their liege and won't talk about leaving. I found a single guy out of the 40 i spoke to that I was able to convince, then he wanted over 200k? Is there any way to get vassals a bit easier?

[Urmel]

join a faction and get voted for king when the old one dies.

this is the only acceptable way to play a own kingdom if you are not a god (means u cant die for any reasons... in real live)

[RJboxer]

you can quite easily make your own kingdom as you have. It takes some work to keep it running.

When you first start campaign, it's a good idea to always release everyone. Whenever you capture a lord just release him. This will raise your charm, and his relation with you. You miss out on some gold from ransom, but it is a great trade off.

As you are a vassal you will capture enemy fiefs, as will your allies. This most likely causes 1 or more lords in that other kingdom to be homeless. They now are 'poor' as well.

So, after you do this for a few years. Probably longer (I tend to make a kingdom around year 5+) . You eventually declare, and if that AI lord on other side has no fiefs, this means his Lord didnt give him any. (probably because he has none to give but perhaps because of votes). So, he will slowly start to dislike his lord. But he still has a positive relation to you. Eventually you can talk to him and he will be receptive. It will still be a challenge to convert him but not too difficult.

The only think that changes this that I have noticed, is if they are intermarried. (He and his lord)> I believe this makes it so they are always loyal. I am not sure, but it seems that way to me. My current campaign I recruited 7 vassals. I talked to 8. only 1 was like "I'm happy with my lord, go jump in a lake".

Every prior campaign i've played (many) it is the same way. In other words, catch/release lords for charm increase. Look for some with no fiefs (though you can easily recruit some WITH 1-2 fiefs as well.. it's just a little harder). And preferably who is enemies with their Faction leader. (click on that clan leaders picture , go to his relations, he should have YOU as a friend, listed first. and HOPEFULLY has his King as an enemy listed below. easy pickens.)

[Swordmouse]

Positive reputation makes the conversion attempts easier and cheaper, but when they say they have "No interest in serving anyone else" what they mean is, you don't have enough money to buy them off. This is to keep you from going through the dance of skill checks only to find out you can't afford them anyway.

So, 3 things:

Positive rep helps. Do catch and release.

Amass a fortune via battlefield looting, workshops, caravans, smithing, trading, fiefs, or any combination of these to your taste. Note: a gold saved is a gold earned, so managing your finances and not draining your bank with units/high tiers you aren't using is equally important.

Lastly, target clans who DON'T have fiefs first. (Check out the clans in the encyclopedia by pressing N) - clans that don't have much to lose (meaning castles and cities) are *MUCH* cheaper to recruit.

This allows for a follow-up strategy where you prioritize targeting weak clans with only one or two holdings first, if manpower allows. Displace them from their 1 castle/whatever, and suddenly they're much more affordable.

[Clovis Sangrail]

200k is a bargain. Snatch him up.