Amazing game

So I'm playing as France on hard, hard. It's 1807 and I've almost taken over Russia. I am allies with all minor nations that remain, Spain, Ottomans and have peace and trade agreement with the hostile Britain. So, I'm in the all clear. I have armies in Russia (3), Italy (2) and Prussia (1), so I'm covering quite a distance too. I am just wondering (after finally putting the Papal States to rest) how I can make the Kingdom of Italy my protectorate? I don't particularly want to invade them because:

• My diplomatic relations will go down the hole! (Currently at very friendly with everyone except Britain, Russia and Sweden, despite having trade and alliance with the last).

• And liberating the Italian State just isn't France's style - liberating a republic that hate you? Pointless!

So I'm at a crossroads. I'm offering the Kingdom of Italy all the Italian regions (Tyrol, Venice, Piedmont, Rome, Naples and Sicily) along with 18,000 coins. What's going on? They are just always refusing it. Any help? I was half thinking of placing a few armies around their capital and threatening them, but that probably wouldn't solve it.

Make them vassals then give them the regions(:

Originally Posted by oberst_ag

Make them vassals then give them the regions(:

Sorry to sound like a dunce, but how do I make them vassals (and what are vassals)?

I have found out! But... still, how do I make them owe me something? Any examples? I surrounded their city with three full armies and they still didn't give in when I made them remove all their allies, gave them all the Italian regions and offered them 30k!

Originally Posted by CarradiceFrench

I have found out! But... still, how do I make them owe me something? Any examples? I surrounded their city with three full armies and they still didn't give in when I made them remove all their allies, gave them all the Italian regions and offered them 30k!

No matter what you try, they will never agree to pay tribute. Never. Even if they have one single unit of militia left.

Originally Posted by Basileos Leandros I

No matter what you try, they will never agree to pay tribute. Never. Even if they have one single unit of militia left.

Damn it! What do I do? I've got these silly Italian colonies that I really want to get rid of...

Originally Posted by CarradiceFrench

Sorry to sound like a dunce, but how do I make them vassals (and what are vassals)?

protectorate

Originally Posted by CarradiceFrench

Sorry to sound like a dunce, but how do I make them vassals (and what are vassals)?

A vassal is kinda like this.....say you buy a game that uses steam as drm. You dont actually own the game even tho it is in your possesion.

Originally Posted by Achilleslastand

A vassal is kinda like this.....say you buy a game that uses steam as drm. You dont actually own the game even tho it is in your possesion.

Oh, right! Got you.

This game's gotten crazy. Basically 1808 - everyone loves me, and I've won the campaign (thanks to autoresolve and France's ridiculously good army). Content with everyone. Then Sweden attack Crimea and Ottomans attack Warsaw, the two largest allies I have (other than Spain - who haven't done anything).

So, what do I do? Well, the obvious thing. I join my protectorates in fighting off the silly buggers. I take Hungary, Croatia and the Balkans off of the Ottomans in one turn, yes one turn! Those were territories I gave them to even out the map a little, seems that the sharing of borders with Polish isn't such a good idea. Nevertheless, they'll soon be gone.

Then, I sweep up the Swedes in Russia (yes... I know, I gave them territories there!) and demolished their eastern territories, the Poles have joined in and I'm about to take their Baltic states too.

My power is unrivalled! Mwahahahaa!