Can someone explain vassals to me?

[RootsKW]

I have all of Iberia as Aragon except 3 regions which Portugal has. I don't want to destroy them because they actually helped me in my war against the Moors (while Leon-Castille sat on their lazy asses ). How do I make them my vassal and what exactly do vassals do?

[DeMolay]

You can try to siege their 2 most important settlements as well as blockade their ports , then send your diplomat to ask them to become vassals every turn until they accept .

Or , just take 2 of their 3 cities , then siege the last one , and make your diplomat to propose them every single turn to give back the 2 cities that you took in exchange (+ some money if possibe ) of him becoming your vassal , after some time they will accept , especially if your reputation is very good (ie trustworthy) and if he has almost no army/navy left + his ports blockaded since many turns + his capital or his last settlement besieged .

This way he will get back all Portugal just as he has in your game currently , but as your vassal , he will give you most of his income every turn which is cool (it saves you the hassle of administrating 3 more settlements ) and be your ally , however you really must defend him if he's attacked otherwise he might stop to be your vassal . Once you have a vassal , other factions will respect you more as well .

[Caesar Clivus]

If memory serves, your vassal's regions count towards your victory conditions too.

[Ichon]

Sometimes AI will propose you vassal to them and offer 1 large sum... depending on what else is going on it might be worth it for a few turns. I tried it once and was pleasantly surprised to be HRE vassal as they were excommunicated it seemed my old enemy concentrate on them while I could make new enemies of HRE enemies and gained some power. Even kept it going long enough to help HRE defend vs a Crusade though on the 2nd Crusade called against them I ended the vassal status and HRE vassaled to Danemark 20 turns later.

I don't know about the money as a vassal because it seemed I had normal economy as vassal... it would not be good if were forced to give most income up but otherwise seems a fun game strategy to try occasionally. My FL went completely deranged that game so it was pretty funny that the humiliation led to his derangement... ran all across the land putting up observation towers. I also don't gain that much money when I vassal some other faction so does anyone know what portion of money vassals give?

[Tyrenia]

As far as I know, any spare money in the vassal's treasury at the end of the turn goes to the vassal's protector (usually you). In some versions of SS, where the AI gets massive cash injections by script, you will get A LOT of money from having a vassal, particularly when they have only one region, as the AI will end up getting more money than it can actually spend.

[Ichon]

As far as I know, any spare money in the vassal's treasury at the end of the turn goes to the vassal's protector (usually you). In some versions of SS, where the AI gets massive cash injections by script, you will get A LOT of money from having a vassal, particularly when they have only one region, as the AI will end up getting more money than it can actually spend.

Hmm... I've always had vassals that have 3-4 cities left and in war with some other faction so I guess they never have money left at the end of the turn. When I was vassal I never saved money either, spent down to 100 or less each turn so maybe that is why I didn't notice giving any money to the vassal lord.

[Lord Lancelot]

I always capture theirs all castles and destroy their bigest armyes , thei remains only cities and then they agree the vassalitate.

[gluteus maximus aurelius]

You can't make someone a vassal without declaring war on them, so it might be a better idea just to ally with them, otherwise, you may as well just kill their asses