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First Lieutenant
May 9, 2000
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I am playing England and I recevied the mission 'Vassalize Hannover' in 1497. Their relations with me were at +170, so I spent some ducats to get it up to +200.

I then offered Vassalization, and was turned down. So I sent some Letters (25 ducats each) and got it back to +200 and was again refused.

This happened 2 more times with Hannover and 4 times with Scotland. Each time there was an alliance, royal marriage and relations of +198 or better. (The next best Major Power relation for both was about +50)

I understand their is a random element in their acceptance, but there must be something else. I am spending alot of money trying to vassalize these two that I could be spending on infrastructure.

What am I missing? Do I have to be bigger than them or richer or what?
 
U have to be bigger at least. But think about it, countries don't just give up 50% of their income for fun. They will only become ur vassal if they're in need. Like when they have a very low stability and feel they need protection.
 
Originally posted by Keifer
BiB,

Do you know that this is built into the game engine, or are you speculating?

The stability thing is built in as that countries with lower stability are more likely to accept. Obviously may other factors play like ur monarch's diplomatic skills and ur state's size. Maybe best try to vassalize a state when it just went bankrupt ? At least that worked for me last night.
 
BiB,

I agree that stability does enter into the equation. It would be nice if the manual or in-game help mentioned this rather than jhaving to figure it out with hours of experimentation.

The first time I played as England last week, I was able to vassalize Scotland in 1520 on the 1st try, and they accepted Annexation in 1530, on the first try. I don't remember their stability level, but they had been fighting a bunch of wars so it was probably low.

Yesterday, I spent all day playing England 4 times from 1492 to 1530. I was attempting peaceful annexation of Scotland using diplomacy. Never worked. I tried about 8 times over the 4 games, but since they were in a peaceful alliance with me their Stability was maxed.

This makes sense historically, I just wish the manual would explain these mechanics so I don't have to spend time guessing.
 
Originally posted by Keifer
What am I missing?
Sheer luck.

Try again and again... The combination of Monarch, stability, etc. must give you little chance of success but you'll eventually succeed.