Feudal Contracts and Obligations

In Crusader Kings III, managing your vassals is paramount to a stable and prosperous realm. The Feudal Contract is the cornerstone of this relationship, defining the levies and taxes your vassals owe you, as well as the obligations you owe them. Understanding and manipulating these contracts is a key skill for any successful ruler.

Accessing and Modifying Feudal Contracts

To view or modify a vassal's Feudal Contract, navigate to their character screen. You can do this by clicking on their portrait in the "Vassals" tab (accessible via the "Realm" menu, represented by a crown icon on the bottom left of your screen) or by directly clicking on their character model on the map. Once on their character screen, locate the "Feudal Contract" button, usually found near their titles and opinion score.

Upon clicking the "Feudal Contract" button, a new window will appear, displaying the current terms. This window details:

Levies: The percentage of their personal army your vassal is obligated to provide.
Taxes: The percentage of their personal income your vassal is obligated to provide.
Special Obligations: These are unique terms that can be added or removed, offering powerful benefits or drawbacks.

Understanding Contract Terms

Feudal Contracts are a delicate balance. Increasing your demands will often decrease your vassal's opinion of you, potentially leading to factions, rebellions, or even attempts on your life. Conversely, offering more favorable terms can improve their loyalty and stability.

Standard Obligations:

Standard Levies: The base amount of troops your vassal provides.
Standard Taxes: The base amount of gold your vassal provides.

Special Obligations:

These are powerful modifiers that can significantly alter the dynamic of your vassal relationship. Each Special Obligation has a specific impact on opinion and often requires a Hook to implement or remove.

High Levies: Increases levies significantly, but incurs a substantial opinion penalty. Requires a Strong Hook to implement without tyranny.
High Taxes: Increases taxes significantly, similar to High Levies in its opinion impact and Hook requirement.
Low Levies: Decreases levies, but provides a significant opinion boost. Can be a good way to pacify a powerful or troublesome vassal.
Low Taxes: Decreases taxes, offering an opinion boost. Useful for fostering loyalty.
Protected Title Revocation: Prevents you from revoking any of this vassal's titles without incurring tyranny. Highly valued by vassals, offering a large opinion bonus.
Guaranteed Council Rights: Ensures this vassal will always have a seat on your council, regardless of their skills. Provides a substantial opinion boost.
Coinage Rights: Grants the vassal the right to mint their own currency, providing them with a small income bonus but reducing your overall control. Offers a moderate opinion boost.
Fortification Rights: Allows the vassal to build additional fortifications in their holdings, increasing their defensive capabilities. Offers a moderate opinion boost.

Strategies for Contract Negotiation

Negotiating Feudal Contracts is a strategic dance. Here's how to approach it:

Utilize Hooks: Hooks are your most valuable tool for modifying contracts without incurring tyranny. A Strong Hook allows you to demand a more favorable contract (e.g., High Levies) or remove a negative obligation (e.g., Protected Title Revocation) without any opinion penalty or tyranny. A Weak Hook can be used for minor adjustments or to prevent a vassal from demanding more favorable terms.
Opinion Management: Always keep an eye on your vassal's opinion. A vassal with high opinion is more likely to accept contract changes, less likely to join factions, and will provide more levies and taxes even at standard rates. Conversely, a vassal with low opinion is a ticking time bomb.
Targeted Adjustments: Don't treat all vassals equally.
- Powerful Vassals: Often require more favorable terms (e.g., Low Levies, Guaranteed Council Rights) to keep them happy and prevent factions. Consider granting them these benefits if their military strength poses a threat.
- Weak Vassals: Can often tolerate higher demands (e.g., High Levies, High Taxes) with less risk, especially if you have a strong personal army.
- Vassals with Good Traits: Vassals with traits like "Loyal," "Just," or "Content" are generally easier to manage and less likely to rebel, allowing for slightly more demanding contracts.
- Vassals with Bad Traits: Vassals with "Ambitious," "Envious," or "Wroth" traits are more prone to discontent and rebellion. Be cautious when increasing their obligations.
Timing is Key: Modify contracts when your realm is stable, you have a strong personal army, or you have a surplus of Hooks. Avoid making drastic changes during wars or periods of high internal strife.
The "Revoke Title" Gambit: While incurring massive tyranny, revoking a title can sometimes be necessary. If you intend to do so, ensure the vassal does NOT have "Protected Title Revocation" in their contract. If they do, you'll face a much larger tyranny penalty.
Inheritance and New Vassals: When a new vassal inherits a title, their contract will often revert to a default. This is an opportune moment to review and potentially adjust their obligations to your benefit, especially if you have Hooks on them.

Mastering Feudal Contracts is a continuous process of balancing power, loyalty, and resources. By strategically managing these agreements, you can ensure a stable realm and a steady flow of gold and soldiers for your ambitious endeavors.