Taking a Vassal Faction? How?

[Divinus Arma]

Just like RTW. Nobody wants to surrender. Anybody have any success with this?

[IPoseTheQuestionYouReturnTheAnswer]

Give them lots of money and all your settlements and it will work.

So basically, no, it doesn't work.

[chunkynut]

Playing on M/M as Danish and I'm the most powerful faction the HRE had been left alone for too long being a frightened neighbour who kept on allying with my enemies. Attacked and took Frankfurt and opened diplomacy offered vassal and got it for 6600 for 2 turns, which isn't bad for gaining 6 more territories towards the victory goal.

Had over 100000 FL at the time and had already offered peace before for Metz region and got it. Also France decided to give me Rhiems rather than face my armies.

Try to have a stack of troops just bumming around in one of their regions and then attack.

[Temujin]

I did it to the portuguese, by grinding them down to one province and asking right after winning a field battle over their last functional army. Only cost me around 8000fl to get the deal up to "generous".

Of course, they cancelled their vassalage status at the first opportunity, so it wasn't really worth it, I think.

[Haudegen]

It works sometimes when an enemy offers a ceasefire to you. Don´t accept it but make a counter-offer and demand them to become vassals. Offer some money as well. And it is necessary that you are substantially stronger than your opponent. Eventually you´ll have a vassal then. As long as your settlements boardering that vassal are strongly garrisoned the vassalage will remain intact. Avoid diplomatic negotiations with the vassal because in these occasions he may declare an end of the vassalage.

[danfda]

I get lots of offers (demands, really :P ) to become an enemy's vassal. Naturally, I say no, usually by counter-demanding that they become my vassal. To which the AI indignantly replies that I am a fool for suggesting they cede their soverignty [sp?] and their pride.

No, really, AI? [/sarcasm]

[Midnight]

So, if it costs you (lots of) florins and territory, and they can just back out whenever, what's the point? Why should you go this way rather than just crushing your enemies and taking their lands?

I never used it in RTW, and I've yet to use it in MTW.

[Haudegen]

The best reason in my opinion is that the vassal can serve as a buffer to other potentially hostile factions that don´t border your empire yet. Additionally the vassal gives you all his surplus money every turn as tribute. But usually it isn´t much if any.

[Jacque Schtrapp]

The best reason in my opinion is that the vassal can serve as a buffer to other potentially hostile factions that don´t border your empire yet.

Only problem with that is your vassal is probably allied with the potentially hostile faction which will cross your vassal's land and attack you anyway thereby causing your "vassal" to side with his old ally and drop his vassalage on the spot.