Assassination as easy and commonplace as it sounds?

[unmerged(196495)]

So I've read lots of suggestions about how to peacefully expand when BB/finances/neighbor too strong is an obstacle to war.....and they often seem to involve the Habsburg plan of marrying into strong houses and killing off rival heirs.

Perhaps my initial impression is suffering from a lack of experience, but assassination seems to be really difficult (and I'm talking non rulers/non cabinet members here). I realize sample size is a problem with my example but in my game I've attempted assassination of a child with an intrigue of 1 in a court where ruler/spymaster intrigue was 14 and mine was 40......first two attempts fail and are discovered (his counterstrikes succeeded first time, failed and discovered the second time).

Sorry, the above turned out to be more like me whining.

But my question is:

What is a good baseline of intrigue difference to go with when determining whether assasination risk/reward is favorable? I mean at what point would you experienced crusaders decide that it is worth the attempt? Especially if kinslayer trait risk is involved? Only attempt if target court has thieves guild?

 

[unmerged(133776)]

As far as I'm to understand, Assassination chances's are hard-coded and no-one (outside of the original programers) knows exactly what the %'s are (just that success/undiscoverd seems to be really low). I've never seen any discussion that mentioned player-editable event files that deal with this subject. Also, I don't think there's any 'Intrique superiority' that will give a 100% success rate.

As for the 'Thieves Guild'? I too would be interested in hearing if that indeed has an effect (and what that effect is).

 

[unmerged(196495)]

Thanks for response, I don't remember exactly where I read something about needing higher intrigue than the target in order to succeed, but I'm fairly certain that I did.

I mentioned the thieves guild because on the province menu it says something to the effect of 50% more vulnerability to assassination for whoever resides there.

 

[unmerged(133776)]

Thanks for response, I don't remember exactly where I read something about needing higher intrigue than the target in order to succeed, but I'm fairly certain that I did.

I mentioned the thieves guild because on the province menu it says something to the effect of 50% more vulnerability to assassination for whoever resides there.

My apoligies for not fully answering your question. Yes, it is widely mentioned that having a higher combined Intrigue score over the destination Court's Intrigue score improves the chances of a successful assassination. But in my own personal opinion, success is still low even with a much higher Intrigue Total. It's also recommended that you should first assassinate the target's Spymaster, and then hit your Target (as this should improve your chances). There are also two opinions on whether to 'Pause' the game while doing it (so the target doesn't appoint a new SpyMaster) or to do it while the game is running. (The Purists also say that you must play with the highest speed possible at the same time, but for me it's a constant 'click fest' that takes away from the game - but that's ammo for a different time).

As for the Pop-up on the Thieves Guild, I wasn't aware of it. So no opinion if that is implemented in-game or not (CK is known for some Pop-up info being wrong - Religious Laws being one instance).

 

[Sgian Dubh]

I have yet to have an assasination campaign go well for me in any game.

But I have never had a game yet where a single assasination stood between my ruler or his heir and inheriting a title. Usually you have to be prepared for a string of assasinations that will cost a good deal of money, and will probably cost you prestige and piety along the way. Not to mention reputation issues.
So I rarely or never use it anymore. FOr me it has always led to a downward spiral of some kind that I regretted latter in the game.

 

[TempestDK]

I have yet to have an assasination campaign go well for me in any game.

But I have never had a game yet where a single assasination stood between my ruler or his heir and inheriting a title. Usually you have to be prepared for a string of assasinations that will cost a good deal of money, and will probably cost you prestige and piety along the way. Not to mention reputation issues.
So I rarely or never use it anymore. FOr me it has always led to a downward spiral of some kind that I regretted latter in the game.

and there is the human cost, as the opposing ruler will most likely retaliate, and off some of your kids or family or even your ruler.

 

[Sgian Dubh]

of course, as a story telling device it has its merits - I am thinking of the great Phargle AAR here...