Point of a vassal?

[Alter Ego]

What is the actual point of having a faction as your vassal? because if im right you have to surround thier last few cities/castles with a big enough army, and after they become your vassal, you gain an income from them? surely its best to just take over that factions last few cities, because it would save time and reap maximum benefits wont it?

[Magnificent One]

Yep.But it just basically shows you are awesome.But they usually attack you.Well,spain did to me when i was Portugal.

[Alter Ego]

Fair enough and yeah i managed to make england my vassal while i was playing as scotland lol but in the end i had to just finish them off because the danes started attacking me so i needed a bigger economy for my bigger army

[Nazgûl Killer]

Actually, a vassal can be quite useful.

I'm playing Stainless Steel, which has far more improved AI than the "Vanilla" game, and I have Scotland as my vassal there.
Once I allowed it to grow stronger, it proved to be a very, VERY effective ally in my wars against France and so on.

In addition, they can prove to be very useful as they can give you an excuse to start a war without losing any reputation (Give them one of your frontier settlements, wait until your want-to-be-foe attacks, promise your vassal protection, promise everyone at war with that faction help against your foe, and attack him, your reputation will actually rise).

Besides, having vassals is just awesome. In the "Vanilla" game as well - If you don't engage in diplomacy about 10 turns after making them your vassals, and if you give them a city or two back (Capital is the best choice, usually), they simply don't want to fight you anymore, and accept their existence, helping you.

[Alter Ego]

Hmm i never thought of it like that, maybe i shall continue strategic vassal making lol

[Double A]

Dude, they give you half their income. You get half their income and you don't have to worry about building stuff, they do it for you. And then you get more money.

Also it shows everyone your pair is the biggest.

[Viking Prince]

Well there can be a quick windfall on the first turn following a vassal treaty. For example, in a recent Polish campaign the Danes became a vassal and I think 75,000 fl came in on the first turn. Also, it is more of an advantage to consider vassals if your campaign goals are not to conquer the entire map. If you a playing a shorter campaign, a couple of vassals can go a long ways towards meeting your victory conditions.

[Holy winter]

Vassals look very interesting (I never had one), but I have a few questions.

1) Is a neighbour faction vassal very interesting (example: you England, vassal Scotland)? After all the cities they have could be yours to. And if they become to strong can they attack you?

2) Is a vassal on the other side of the world not much more interesting (if possible)?
Exemple: in my SS Portugal Late campaign, The Teutonic Order and HRE are almost destroyed. If I siege their last city/castle will I be able to turn them into a vassa? Or is it to far away?

If they become a vassa and I make them stronger, won't it be much more interesting? Because we won't stand in to eachothers way.

[miniwally]

You can turn anyone into a vassal if you've crushed them enough and yes vassals can attack you.

[Alter Ego]

see thats why i dont see the point in them, id feel more powerful if id have taken them completely over with military might lol

[miniwally]

Yeh but whats the point then you're getting a worse reputation world wide, killing people, making less good settlements, getting reid of an ally in battle.

[Alter Ego]

hmm fair enough lol

[Holy winter]

"Let them hate us, as long as they fear us"

[Double A]

Yeah pretty much. And even if they do attack you, you'd still have gotten half their income for a long time. So you get more and they get less. Guess what that means? Yes that's right you got more money than whichever god your faction worships.

[Holy winter]

Yes, but its not about the money for me.

It's about POWER, ENDLESS ROWER!!!

[Magnificent One]

ENDLESS ROWER!!!

Wouldn't endless rowing damage your arms in a way?

[InsaneHanz]

What I do with my vassals is I give them an island and make their other settlement revolt, then I take it. Keeps them from attacking me.

[Holy winter]

Wouldn't endless rowing damage your arms in a way?

After thinking over this question for 5min (and keep staring to that funny avatar of yours for 2min)
I think (think, think, think) this:

1) Yes I think that would damage my arms (not sure).
2) But I don't think endless power in TW would damage me.
3) Did you never see Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith?
4) Anyway, does someone has a good answer for my second question?

['nezau]

4) Anyway, does someone has a good answer for my second question?

This is your second question. And... NO.

[Holy winter]

This is your second question. And... NO.

I will try to explain it slowly.....

4) Anyway, does someone has a good answer for my second question?

This is question 4

2) Is a vassal on the other side of the world not much more interesting (if possible)?

This is question 2