I usually invite pretenders only after reaching empire status and give preference to characters with my religious group. I can fight for Serbian orthodox claims as catholic, but I would not invite Shia Fatimid. Of course, I can invite him and convert, but what if he remains crypto-Muslim/different religion? (Not only through game mechanics, but also from an abstract roleplay perspective).Minor benefits, you can farm courtiers through your prisons anyway also allowing pretenders makes this rule pointless
As for prisoners – I also follow some rules, that I didn’t post here. I rarely invite someone who have liege – in medieval times loyalty to liege was one as important as religion, so I don’t want a courtiers who betray their liege so easily (from RP perspective, of course). But if prisoner doesn’t have liege and doesn’t have traits like Deceitful, then I can recruit him. Also, I can make an exception for knights of different faith that serve liege without choice – like recruiting Armenian knights from Abbasid army as Greek Orthodox ruler.
Changing your taxes/levies won’t give you the same bonuses as special contract conditions, like stewardship advisor free money or mentioned religion protections. By the way, in clan government player already can’t change any conditions without hook – I think developers must expand that on feudal.I only do this to give religious and revocation protection anyway, allowing tax changes makes this rule pointless
I’ve twice encountered a problem with finding archer accolade candidate in regions like Nubia or India. Archer accolade require Forest Fighter or Hastiluder with 20 Trait Experience in Bow and Forest Fighter is almost impossible to find in those regions. So, I have to search him manually. But that was an exception – usually I recruit knights through decisions, tournaments and events.If the rule only holds when you don't need it why have it?
Garden Hermit is another exception, because it require Wise Man trait with 50+ experience which is even more rare than forest fighter in deserts. I usually seek for such courtier only when I am a Mystic myself or a witch (mostly for RP).
In giant empires some Grand Tours may cost even more than 30000, so I have to break this rule if I want to start a long tour half the map. But this rule I break the most – simply because I have too big income in late game and I don't have time to spend it because of event spam or army control.Limit too high to be a constraint
That’s actually a great point for nomads and tribes, at least on low crown authority. Also, I forgot to mention that I send gifts to child rulers. I think this can't be considered as embarrassment (rather manipulation).I would say it depends on the government type. For tribal and nomad rulers, gift giving was a core aspect of politics and showing largesse was a good way to turn an opponent into an ally if you wanted.
In my game rules exclaves are always allowed for everyone (Off in game rules). I have to set it after I saw how Hungary exploded when their king, who was also a ruler of Denmark, died.Enclave independence set to the most restrictive (realm gets split in half, you lose disjointed lands).
I demand payment only from hooks from people my character really hate or if he is greedy. Same apply to the Extort Subjects Decision (Greedy Trait).This means I don't use anything in the first stewardship tree (no cheesing payments for hooks, or extortion). I've never seen the AI use those.
I help my liege against hostile religions wars (if my character is pious enough to care about them) and wars for my personal domain. Also, I can help him against my personal enemies or if our state existence is in danger.I don't give military assistance to the liege in wars (even if it is for my own land, unless it is a populist uprising, which the AI will help the liege with). I will however, send gold to my liege. I have seen the AI do this if they are generous and your friend, and they see that you are in a war.