In-game examples for succession law usage?

[joeyeti]

Hi folks,

I have read about the various succession laws in theory, but nowhere have I seen some in-game examples of the more tricky ones - how to use them for your advantage versus other rulers?

For instance I know that under salic consanguinity it is quite easy - the strongest son inherits, so if you wish to exploit your neighbouring king's/duke's inheritance, you can try to marry his only daughter to your son and with some luck your grandchild will inherit his provinde/demesne (especially if you "help" the old man to his early grave).

Am I correct here?

And subsequently, how would those more tricky laws work in a game?

 

[TempestDK]

Hi folks,

I have read about the various succession laws in theory, but nowhere have I seen some in-game examples of the more tricky ones - how to use them for your advantage versus other rulers?

For instance I know that under salic consanguinity it is quite easy - the strongest son inherits, so if you wish to exploit your neighbouring king's/duke's inheritance, you can try to marry his only daughter to your son and with some luck your grandchild will inherit his provinde/demesne (especially if you "help" the old man to his early grave).

Am I correct here?

And subsequently, how would those more tricky laws work in a game?

Well, Salic consanguinity is good for your own realm, as you can "choose" which son inherits by giving him more titles than his brothers. It is not so good for neighboring realms, where you want to inherit the title (eventually). As Salic only allows for inheritance to be traced through the males. So a Duke with only daughters, will pass his title(s) on to an heir in his family .. f.x. his brother or nephew. Not his grand-son through his oldest daughter.

For that strategy, you will need semi-salic law, where the inheritance can be traced through females. So marry your heir to his daughter, and your heir's son will eventually inherit the duke's title, and perhaps yours (depending on your laws).

Elective law is good if you only have a bastard son to inherit. He just have to be the most powerful vassal in the realm. It can also be used if you will rather have a brother/uncle/nephew etc. inherit instead of sons. The vassals on the succession list gets a loyalty bonus if I remember right.

The last one, which I forgot the name of, divides the titles amongst the sons/heirs more or less evenly. But the game is not good at dividing them neatly. It is mainly in the game to be used to break up the mongol empire once the Khan dies. For you it would be good for a challenge, and making sure that you will not conquer 8 kingdoms and keep them for 8 generations

 

[Canenald]

I prefer Salic Consanguinity because it lets me choose which son will inherit. Switching to Primogeniture is useful when you change your mind and want your oldest son to inherit instead of a younger one whom you made the strongest vassal.

Semi-salic laws are good exploits if you wish your heirs to take over realms through marriages, but the inheritance is difficult to control without assassinations.

If you are non-ruler part of a realm with Elective Law, you have a great chance of becoming the ruler.

Btw, I don't know if this is a vanilla feature or one from DVIP, but changing succession laws will ruin your relations with those who are thrown out of the line of succession by the change. However, you don't have to care much about relations with your vassals if you are running the realm under Feudal Contract, unless your ruler is a two-headed, excommunicated, blind, 5 years old mutant that ate his father in order to inherit the throne.

 

[TankRush]

I know I've been using it to good effect.

I'm about 90 years in and still haven't passed the crown of England on to one of William the Conqueror's grandsons. I chose his second son to suceed, and he's reigned for the last 50 years to become ruler of a small empire (King of Whales, Sicily and England). He's 67 now though, and will kick the bucket any time now, allowing his 20 year old 5th son to inheret the throne...

Things are going to get wierd after that, since I married him to a muslim woman who had defected to my court along with her husband (who later died, but not before leaving me with a bastard son who's also a Prodigy).

I was favouring the first grandson for a while, but after his eldest turned out to be a maniac I started to shop around.