Strategy: Scotland

[unmerged(182861)]

New to the game (and Paradox in general). I've managed the basics of the game (i.e. my vassals no longer rise up in mass revolt), but I feel that I am missing some of the deeper strategy. With that in mind....

I'm playing as Scotland and I've brought my few rebellious vassals under heel (I'm looking at you, Duke of Moray) and I've kicked Norway out of Scotland. My ultimate goal is to become the ruler of the British Isles, but unfortunately England is so much more powerful than I, that directly confronting it is out of the question. My initial strategy was to peel away rebellious vassals from England. I conquered Northumberland and Durham this way, but since England held the title to Durham and it was able to reconquer it many year later. I feel that this will generally be the case - I may be able to get a few provinces, but England will hold the title and be able to reconquer most of the provinces I take control of. What is an alternate strategy? Marriage? Conquer Norway/Ireland/Wales and then take on England? Hope England has a mass revolt of vassals and pick them off?

 

[jordarkelf]

The last thing. England WILL face a revolt eventually (all realms do), so wait it out.
You can prompt it a bit by assassinating the king when his heir is a young child: rulers with weak stats face revolts much earlier, and in any case whenever the liege changes all vassals get a loyalty hit.

 

[unmerged(133776)]

My initial strategy was to peel away rebellious vassals from England. I conquered Northumberland and Durham this way, but since England held the title to Durham and it was able to reconquer it many year later. I feel that this will generally be the case - I may be able to get a few provinces, but England will hold the title and be able to reconquer most of the provinces I take control of.

I take it you mean you vassalized them while they were still at war with England? Yes, the AI seems to be very tenacious when it comes to reconquering rebellious vassals, as long as the current Ruling Family still rules that province. One thing that might help, is to make sure your new vassals still has Gold, the odds seem to go up for (England in this case) to settle for Peace in exchange for Gold. England would also be more likely to settle for White Peace if she's at war with lots of former vassals/outside enemies at the same time.

Another option would be to take those provinces over directly (that would end England''s war immediately with that province), but that would give you more BB to deal with, then hand them out to whom you wish. Of course, England would still have a Claim on those provinces, and might DOW your vassals/you later on.

Marriage? Conquer Norway/Ireland/Wales and then take on England? Hope England has a mass revolt of vassals and pick them off?

Definitely work on all 3 of those possible solutions, it's a long game after-all.

 

[blue sam3]

I find that Northumberland usually revolts against England early on, so helping them out would probably help.

 

[Nick B II]

After you get Scotland sorted out you should probably start working on Ireland and Wales. You ain't gonna beat England unless a) you've got all three Celtic Kingdoms, or b) the English have collapsed totally. Preferably both.

If I was you I'd ignore the northern rebellions. In 1066 you don't have the prestige to take their count-titles, which means the best you can do is force-vassalizing them, and if you force-vassalize them you'll have to declare war on the English to protect them. Unless you're a truly Machiavellian bastard, and you only attacked them for the free claims you'll get when William crushes them.

And, of course, if by some unlikely twist of fate it looks like the rebels actually have a shot at victory you should join in. That's extremely unlikely -- the Leofricksens always die in my games -- but if it happens take advantage of the situation.

You've got 400 years. You can afford to spend the first 50 acquiring a few more King-titles and waiting for the Normans to have a major civil war.

And if you get all three King-titles and the English still have more men than you, or you still haven't managed to get a claim on their crown, you should expand to Norway.

Nick

 

[unmerged(182861)]

Another option would be to take those provinces over directly (that would end England''s war immediately with that province), but that would give you more BB to deal with, then hand them out to whom you wish. Of course, England would still have a Claim on those provinces, and might DOW your vassals/you later on.

This is what I did. I conquered Northumberland and Durham. England ended up with a claim on Durham (but not Northumberland for some reason) and retook it 10 - 20 years later....

Thanks for the replies, the suggestions agree with my generally plans - I just didn't know if there was some basic strategy I was missing.

 

[unmerged(84239)]

Easiest is to
- marry your son to his daughter
- assasinate the english king's boys if he has any
- and his 'older' daughters too

Preferred time is when the king has few boys...

OR

If the king is old, and his son is only a count. (you will get your proposal to marry accepted more often if the guy is a count. Even if he is the heir)

 

[Juggernaut88]

The only thing that Scotland beats England in is drinking... hehehe. Whats that? Stirring racial hatred? Nah, dont worry, all Scots love a bit of banter lol.

I had a fun game with Scotland in the third crusade scenario, where its even harder cause the english hold land in ireland and in france. I initially allied with england while i took welsh and irish king titles, as well as being de facto king of aragon. Then when england went to war with france i role played a good scot by stabbing the english in the back lol. It was a long, drawn out war but, eventually, i settled for peace after taking 5 or 6 northern english provinces and their lands in ireland too. Three wars later and i was king of england.

It goes without saying, but, a bit of luck is needed at the start, and when you have a foothold, be relentless and ruthless. Pitty their football team doesn't take a leaf out of the CK book then. lol.