Make a faction start as a vassal / protectorate

[Edon]

Hi, I am in the process of adding Norway as a nonplayable faction to vanilla, and I have finally reached the point where I can start the game . I would like to make Norway start as Denmark's vassal state, but so far I have only managed to make them the Danes' allies. Has anyone figured out how to do it?

I think it might be a special keyword that you need to write on the bottom of descr_strat, faction_relationships. I have tried; vassal_of, vassal, vassals, protectorate_of, protectorate, vassal_with, and similar...

[Hellvard]

It's impossible to make faction a vassal of another one from the very beggining, but you can achieve that with script after first turn Check this thread:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...1#post13671648

[Edon]

Well, I tried it, and it worked one-way... It's possible to make the AI offer me to become his protectorate, but I would prefer it to be the other way around.

I tried to make some entries in descr_campaign_ai_db.xml, but I don't really get it, and it won't work ...

[Hellvard]

Unfortunatelly there isn't another way (as far as I know). You can set high relathionship level between those faction, then your vassalisation proposal will be accepted.

[Edon]

Well, I have done that, but even with a 0.9 value, the proposal is "very demanding" . Do you know how I can modify this variable ? And turn it from "very demanding" to "very generous".

[Kiliç Alì]

I suspect you want to tweak the descr_diplomacy.xml

[gsthoed]

Follow this advice.

[Edon]

Thank you for your reply, gsthoed, but I have already tried it. It only works for AIs;

"diplomacy_mission <ai_faction> <target_faction> <mission_type> <opt:mission_target>"

Ex. console_command england scotland protectorate

I can make the AI propose that I become his vassal, but what I'm trying to do is to make the AI faction accept my demand.

I have looked at descr_diplomacy, and I believe this entry is relevant;

</item>
<item name="demand_protectorate">
<cost modifier="1.0"/>
<faction_standing modifier="0.25"/>
<global_standing modifier="0.5"/>

I don't really understand what these numbers really mean and do... So if I lowered the cost to 0.5, does it mean that it would be twice as easy to persuade factions into accepting vassalage demands? Also, does it mean that I would need at least a 0.5 global standing reputation to succeed in my demand?

[Edon]

Does anybody know how to modify descr_campaign_ai_db? For example, this is one of the few entries regarding protectorates;

<decision_entry>
    <!--
     if we're at war && he borders all our groups && his frontline strength is more than thrice as large as ours &&
     his free strength is more than four times as large as ours, AND IS NOT OUR SHADOW FACTION >>> propose become protectorate
    -->
    <min_entry stance="AtWar" borders_all_our_regions="true"/>
    <max_entry frontline_balance="0.3" free_strength_balance="0.3" production_balance="0.5" target_is_shadow="false"/>
    <faction_attitude defense="defend_deep" want_peace="true" want_be_protect="true" alliance_against="7"/>
   </decision_entry>

Is the text between "<!--", ">>>" and "-->" of any importance? Would the entry fail, if the text was deleted?

And what exactly is "free_strength_balance" and "production_balance"? Does free_strength_balance refer to free upkeep units, and does the production_balance require that the faction is currently producing units and constructing buildings?

[Withwnar]

descr_diplomacy.xml will affect the decision making of all factions; everybody will be more willing to become a vassal to everybody else.

descr_campaign_ai_db.xml: http://rtw.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/f...ct&f=9,6718,,1
<!-- ... --> are just comments, ignored by the game, intended for the reader/modder.

You could alter descr_campaign_ai_db.xml for your needs but they still won't agree if the conditions of descr_diplomacy.xml aren't met.

As for the player asking it and the AI agreeing to it you could use this: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...16#post9889216

[Edon]

Thanks you for clarifying the comment parts of the campaign_ai_db, Withwnar. Your codes probably work well, but unfortunately I have not tried it yet.

I have tried to edit the campaign_ai_db for some time now, and I think I have found something that could make vassalage possible on the first turn - regardless of military strength conditions.

<decision_entry>
<!--
-->
<min_entry stance="AtWar" borders_all_our_regions="true" is_neighbour="true"/>
<max_entry turn_number="1"/>
<faction_attitude want_be_protect="true" continue="false"/>
</decision_entry>

Just paste it above the first entry, which contains want_be_protect="true".

Well, just to be sure, anyone who wants to test to confirm whether it really works, can try to paste all this under <faction_ai_label name="catholic">, and for example try as Scotland > demand vassalage of England, or England > demand vassalage of France etc.:

   <decision_entry>
    <!--
   At war, borders all our regions, is a neighbor, only for the first turn, guaranteed acceptance of vassalage demands (?), no continuation of decision entries
    -->
    <min_entry stance="AtWar" borders_all_our_regions="true" is_neighbour="true"/>
    <max_entry turn_number="1"/>
    <faction_attitude want_be_protect="true" continue="false"/>
   </decision_entry>
   
   <decision_entry>
    <!--
    At war, borders all our  regions, strongest neighbor, min global standing 0.5, thrice as large frontline balance and military balance > offer to become a vassal
    -->
    <min_entry stance="AtWar" borders_all_our_regions="true" strongest_neighbour="true" global_standing="0.5"/>
    <max_entry frontline_balance="0.3" military_balance="0.3"/>
    <faction_attitude defense="defend_deep" want_peace="true" want_be_protect="true" alliance_against="0"/>
   </decision_entry>
   
   <decision_entry>
    <!--
    At war, borders all our  regions, strongest neighbor, max global standing 0.499, thrice as large frontline balance and military balance > offer to become a vassal
    -->
    <min_entry stance="AtWar" borders_all_our_regions="true" strongest_neighbour="true"/>
    <max_entry frontline_balance="0.3" military_balance="0.3" global_standing="0.499"/>
    <faction_attitude defense="defend_deep" want_peace="true" want_be_protect="true" alliance_against="7"/>
   </decision_entry>

   <decision_entry>
    <!--
    Twice as large frontline balance, AtWar, borders all our regions > want peace
    -->
    <min_entry stance="AtWar" borders_all_our_regions="true"/>
    <max_entry frontline_balance="0.5"/>
    <faction_attitude defense="defend_deep" want_peace="true" alliance_against="7"/>
   </decision_entry>

[Kiliç Alì]

A nice trick can be to use a custom label to link a faction to, and then switch to default, doable in campaign_script;
the command is

link_faction_ai [faction_name] [ai_label_name_as_per_campaign_ai_db]

useful when you want AI to do consider only one thing without any other potentially disturbing behaviour.