vassal state?

[RomaJilo]

What does it mean to become a vassalstate to another faction?:hmmm:

[♔ST0MPA♔]

It means you are now there subordinate, you will have to pay them a tribute each turn. The game also implies that they are now your protector, but dont rely on them doing that, they will soon as cut your throat then step in and protect your land. It also gives them the run of your lands by having military access

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The term vassal state commonly refers to any state that was subordinate to another in the pre-modern international system. The 'vassal' in these cases was the ruler, rather than the state itself. Being a vassal most commonly implied providing military assistance to the dominant state when requested to do so; it sometimes implied paying tribute, but a state which did so is better described as a tributary state. The terms 'vassal state' and 'tributary state' are best reserved for the pre-modern era when there was no clear concept of modern state sovereignty.

[Kahn]

If you try to get somebody to be your vassal, is that a bad thing?

what i mean is, is it a negative thing to demand, or is it a nice thing to do to a smaller faction? How does the AI take this ? Do you have to say "...or I will attack?"

[♔ST0MPA♔]

It could cause complications if you are allied with another country who attack your vassal, causing you to have to decide which faction you will support. I should also add that any region the vassal has will now fall under your regions controlled which will nudge you closer to the required regions you need to win, this is also a tactic the AI likes to use, which is why they they tend to get a lot of vassals, but after saying that, a lot of the time they can break them in the first turn. basically it will give money through tributes from the vassal, place their regions in your control as far as on paper, you cant interfere with what they build there, also gives military access to both factions. One I have noticed is that the vassal will tend to stagnate because much needed funds to progress their faction are now helping to progress yours. They will also possibly decide later on to attack you and effectively break the shackles you have placed on them, or attack one of your allies to force you to have to decide which one you will support.

Edit: answering your question I have never forced a faction to become my Vassal, but I have worn them down to the point a ceasefire is placed on the table by their diplomats and have offered the to become my vassal instead along with some persuasive florins, I think looking at the standing between each faction at the time helps considerably, dont think they will accept if relations are terrible, so softening them up with money or releasing prisoners in battles before the ceasefire helps. There are also triggers like being 3x stronger than they are helps. As far as reputation hits, I think that only matters if you decide to attack them or are forced to make a choice when they or your allies attack each other.