Prevent rebellions within Vassal empires?

[Eona]

As the title says, is there any way to prevent this?

I tried not overtaxing them with tributes, so they have enough resources to keep their planets in order, didn't work.
I tried increasing the AI difficulty and scaling so they get more bonuses to their planets, didn't work either.

In literally every game, around the year 2300 (midgame start), Rebel empires pop up in every single vassal like no tomorrow, sometimes before that point. And it never stops, more and more rebellions pop up everywhere, it's impossible to get under control. The only exception to this is gestalts, they never have revolts within them.

To be very clear: I am NOT talking about vassals rebelling against ME! They'er all 100% loyal and love me to no end. I'm talking about planets revolting WITHIN the vassal against the vassal!

Tips to prevent this from happening are greatly appreciated as I couldn't find anything online.

[monkeypunch87]

You could send them resources via trade or vassal contract. They might have a deficit which causes situations like we get which impact stability and happiness.

But I don't remember having this issue before, so I'm kind of guessing and not talking out of experience.

[DV]

In most situations, it's a resource shortage that is causing it unless they have taken over a world from another empire. If you can figure out what is the shortfall and trade it to them, trading/gifting them that shortfall usually is enough of a bandaid to keep them afloat.

[Sedmeister]

I used to have a severe case of vassals losing parts of their Empire. Then I tried the following.

Before I release a vassal, I try to stablise the planets, like building a holo theatre, so the planets continue to be somewhat stable. I try to ensure the sector is reasonably balanced before setting them free. Also, I try to make sure that the species that rules the released sector is the dominant species in that sector.

It didn't eliminate the problem but it drastically reduced it.

Also, these days, if a vassal experiences rebellion, when I reconquour then, I often set them up as a new vassal to prevent a recurrence.

[Eona]

Thanks for the tips everyone, but what is even the point of a Tributary or Prospectorium if even taxing them the minimal amount possible sends them into ruins? Why do I need to give them back the resources they're selling me? That's the whole point of having a vassal.

As for the stabilizing the sector before releasing them as vassal: I did think about that, but it requires claiming all their planets (and systems you don't want them to lose) which is very expensive and slow. And it also only works for a single sector, you can't vassalize entire empires with that method if you don't want to go over the very tedious process of gifting them neighbouring systems one by one. It also doesn't work with gestalts.

And speaking of gestalts: I just had it happen again with a gestalt empire, so I guess they aren't immune after all. Not even 2 months after succesfully vassalizing them, they lost 4 out of their 6 planets to a new swarm that popped up within their systems. And it wasn't even a revolt, they didn't declare war to me or my vassal, they just started existing -.-

[monkeypunch87]

Originally posted by Eona:

Thanks for the tips everyone, but what is even the point of a Tributary or Prospectorium if even taxing them the minimal amount possible sends them into ruins? Why do I need to give them back the resources they're selling me? That's the whole point of having a vassal.

Well, it is kind of "realistic" (as far a Sci-Fi-game like Stellaris can be). Also, I approve that vassals don't create resources out of nothing just because they are vassals.

[DV]

Originally posted by Eona:

Thanks for the tips everyone, but what is even the point of a Tributary or Prospectorium if even taxing them the minimal amount possible sends them into ruins? Why do I need to give them back the resources they're selling me? That's the whole point of having a vassal.

As for the stabilizing the sector before releasing them as vassal: I did think about that, but it requires claiming all their planets (and systems you don't want them to lose) which is very expensive and slow. And it also only works for a single sector, you can't vassalize entire empires with that method if you don't want to go over the very tedious process of gifting them neighbouring systems one by one. It also doesn't work with gestalts.

And speaking of gestalts: I just had it happen again with a gestalt empire, so I guess they aren't immune after all. Not even 2 months after succesfully vassalizing them, they lost 4 out of their 6 planets to a new swarm that popped up within their systems. And it wasn't even a revolt, they didn't declare war to me or my vassal, they just started existing -.-

AI empires do not generate resources out of thin air, they get bonuses on resource production. Think of the vassals as growing plants. You can throw the seeds out on the ground and some of them will grow. But if you take the time to plant them in a growing pot with good soil, you have greater odds of a successful plant and are able to enjoy them better.

If you are wanting to just treat the vassal empires like throwing seeds on the ground, you will get the most success out of playing at difficulties Commodore, Admiral, and Grand Admiral. Those are the difficulties that provide resource bonus production to your vassal empires and you don't have to babysit.

[mss73055]

authoritarian and/or militaristic vassals will disintegrate
prospectum subs will disintegrate

[Eona]

Originally posted by DV:

If you are wanting to just treat the vassal empires like throwing seeds on the ground, you will get the most success out of playing at difficulties Commodore, Admiral, and Grand Admiral. Those are the difficulties that provide resource bonus production to your vassal empires and you don't have to babysit.

That's exactly what I tried, upping the difficulty to Admiral so they have more resources to prevent them from collapsing, but it didn't change anything. Sooner or later, they collapse.
And I understand your "grow a plant with care" approach, and I'm sure it will work when you take your time, effort and resources, but it's not really an option once empires get bigger, like 20 planets and 5-6 sectors kinda big. They need to be forcefully vassalized in one big swoop. But judging by how fast they fall apart (literally), the AI has troubles to keep their planets in order to begin with.