Succession Laws: When Can You Change Them?

when can i change succession laws

In Crusader Kings II, succession laws determine which member of a ruler's family inherits their titles upon death. Players can change succession laws by fulfilling certain conditions, such as the current ruler having reigned for at least ten years, maintaining peace, and earning a positive opinion from all vassals. However, changing these laws can be intricate, and players must carefully navigate potential consequences, especially when overseeing multiple kingdoms or vassals with distinct laws. To modify succession laws in CK2, players must satisfy specific prerequisites, and the ability to make these changes is not unlimited.

Characteristics Values
Game Crusader Kings II
Number of times succession laws can be changed Multiple
Requirements for changing succession laws Realm must be at peace, ruler must have positive opinions from vassals and higher-ranking characters, must have reigned for at least 10 years
Strategies for changing succession laws Creating a new primary title with desired succession laws, making it the primary title, and then destroying the old one; using seduction to produce bastards who can be chosen as heirs without granting them land; giving land to non-primary sons in advance so they don't inherit titles; disinheriting or imprisoning/executing other sons
Types of succession laws Primogeniture, ultimogeniture, open succession, gavelkind, elective gavelkind, seniority succession

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Changing succession laws in CK2

In Crusader Kings II, changing succession laws can be a tricky task, and there are several factors to consider. Firstly, it's important to understand the different types of succession laws available. Here are some of the most common ones:

Gavelkind Succession

In Gavelkind succession, the ruler's titles are divided among their children. If there are no children to inherit, the law reverts to primogeniture. This type of succession offers a 30% increase in max demesne size and does not incur a prestige penalty for having unlanded sons. However, the oldest child receives an opinion penalty towards their parent.

Primogeniture Succession

Under primogeniture, all titles of the ruler are inherited by the oldest child. In the absence of children, the inheritance passes to collateral relatives in order of seniority. This form of succession can be challenging to achieve due to cultural and legal reasons, and it may be locked until the late game.

Seniority Succession

Seniority succession passes all titles to the oldest member of the dynasty, resulting in a significant opinion penalty for the oldest child towards their parent. Vassals also receive an opinion penalty under this system.

Feudal Elective Succession

In this system, all titles are passed to a single elected successor. The ruler and lower-rank vassals can nominate a successor from among themselves and the legitimate children and siblings of the ruler. Dukes are valid electors in kingdoms and empires. Feudal Elective succession can be a strategy to manage succession wars, but it comes with opinion penalties for dynasty members.

Tanistry Succession

Tanistry succession allows the ruler and vassals to nominate an heir, or Tanist, from within the ruler's dynasty. Vassals tend to favour older members from other branches of the family. This system results in a significant opinion penalty for the oldest child if they are not the Tanist.

Ultimogeniture Succession

Under Ultimogeniture, all titles are inherited by the youngest child. If there are no children, the inheritance passes to collateral relatives in order of seniority.

Requirements for Changing Succession Laws

When changing succession laws, there are several requirements that must be met. These include:

  • The current king must have reigned for at least 10 years.
  • The realm must be at peace.
  • All vassals and above must have a positive opinion of the ruler.
  • Certain crown laws may need to be adhered to.

Additionally, it's worth noting that some forms of succession, such as Open Succession, are restricted to specific cultures or government types. For example, Open Succession is only available to Muslim feudal rulers, while changing from a tribal government to anything other than Gavelkind requires a change to a feudal or republican government and a reformed or non-pagan faith.

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The realm must be at peace

To change the succession laws in Crusader Kings, there are several conditions that must be met. Firstly, the current ruler must have been in power for at least ten years. This is a significant time investment and can be challenging for players who are not in a stable position. Secondly, the realm must be at peace. This means that there are no ongoing wars or conflicts within the kingdom. Achieving and maintaining peace can be difficult, especially when dealing with ambitious vassals or external threats.

The game mechanics allow for different strategies to establish peace and prevent succession crises. One strategy is to ensure that all vassals share the same religion as the ruler. Sharing the same religion reduces the revolt risk of vassals by 25%. Additionally, vassals with different religions incur a negative opinion modifier, further increasing the risk of rebellion. By converting vassals to the ruler's religion, the likelihood of a peaceful realm improves.

Another strategy to maintain peace is to manage the distance between the ruler's capital and the vassals' capitals. When a vassal's capital is far away from the ruler's capital, the revolt risk increases. To mitigate this, rulers can hand out distant counties to vassals with capitals closer to their own, reducing the geographical distance and associated revolt risk. Additionally, it is crucial to monitor the vassal revolt risk icon during succession to identify potential troublemakers and take preventive measures.

Furthermore, players can use seduction to produce bastards, who can be instantly chosen as eligible heirs without granting them land. This strategy allows for selective breeding, where players can bring genius women to court until a genius son is born. While this approach can be effective, it is important to consider the potential consequences, such as fertility debuffs and lower intrigue associated with concubines.

It is worth noting that changing succession laws can be complex, and players must carefully consider the potential consequences. Each title within the game has associated succession laws, and these laws can vary depending on the kingdom and cultural traditions. Before making any changes, it is essential to understand the specific requirements and potential challenges to ensure a smooth transition and maintain a peaceful realm.

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Vassals and higher-ranking characters must have a positive opinion of the ruler

In Crusader Kings II, players can change succession laws by meeting certain conditions. One crucial factor is maintaining positive relationships with vassals and higher-ranking characters. Here are some strategies to achieve and maintain a positive opinion of the ruler:

Diplomacy and Relationship Management

Effective diplomacy and relationship management are essential. Focus on building strong, positive relationships with your vassals and higher-ranking characters. This may involve negotiating treaties, arranging marriages, or providing assistance. Remember that strong relationships can lead to alliances and help prevent vassals from joining factions against you.

Create King Vassals

If you have a large number of duke and count vassals, consider creating king vassals to manage them. This will reduce the number of direct vassals you need to appease and improve their overall opinion of you. King vassals will also appreciate the fresh titles and the opportunity to hold higher positions.

Marriage Alliances

Marry your children to the children of the strongest vassals to form strategic alliances. This will not only improve their opinion of you but also help prevent them from joining factions against you. Marriage alliances can provide long-term stability and strengthen your position as ruler.

Manage Your Income and Military Strength

Ensure your income and military strength are at appropriate levels for your position. Weak economic and military positions may lead vassals to view you as a weak ruler, encouraging them to join factions or seek alternative leadership. Strengthening your economic and military power can help improve their opinion of your rule.

Change Primary Titles

If you hold multiple titles, you can change the succession laws for each title separately. Consider creating a new primary title with the desired succession laws and making it your primary title. This strategy can help you implement different succession laws without affecting your previous titles. However, this method can be complex and may not always be feasible.

Seduction and Selective Breeding

While controversial, you can use seduction to produce bastards who can be instantly chosen as eligible heirs without granting them land. This allows for selective breeding, where you can bring genius women to court until a genius son is born. Just be aware that concubines may have fertility debuffs and lower intrigue. Marrying older women may also reduce divisions in the estate, as they are less likely to bear sons.

By implementing these strategies, you can work towards maintaining a positive opinion from your vassals and higher-ranking characters, which is crucial for changing succession laws and ensuring a stable realm.

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Changing succession laws multiple times

In Crusader Kings II, succession laws dictate which member of a ruler's family inherits their titles upon death. There are several types of succession laws, including primogeniture, where all titles are inherited by the oldest child; ultimogeniture, where all titles are inherited by the youngest child; and open succession, where all titles are inherited by the most powerful child.

  • Separate Titles: If you hold multiple titles, such as being the ruler of different kingdoms, each title will have its own succession laws. To change the succession laws for multiple titles, you must do so separately for each title. For example, if you are the King of Ireland and Wales, you would need to change the succession laws for the King of Wales title separately.
  • Creating a New Primary Title: A strategy to change succession laws multiple times is to create a new primary title with the desired succession laws, make it the primary title, and then destroy the old one. This method allows you to circumvent the usual limitations on changing succession laws but can be complex and may not always be feasible.
  • Realm Stability and Diplomacy: Changing succession laws requires the realm to be at peace to ensure stability during the transition. Additionally, effective diplomacy is crucial to ensuring that all vassals and higher-ranking characters have a positive opinion of the ruler.
  • Understanding Consequences: Changing succession laws can have significant consequences, especially when managing multiple kingdoms or vassals with their own laws. Players should carefully consider the potential impact on their realm and the dynamics with their vassals before making any changes.
  • Managing Heirs: To ensure your desired heir inherits the throne, you may need to employ strategies such as granting land to non-primary heirs or making them ineligible through various means. Another strategy is to use seduction to produce bastards, who can be instantly chosen as eligible heirs without granting them land, allowing for selective breeding.
  • Crown Authority and Heraldry: In some cases, maximizing crown authority and obtaining the Heraldry cultural innovation can provide additional options for influencing succession.

By understanding these considerations and employing the right strategies, players can navigate the complexities of changing succession laws multiple times in Crusader Kings II.

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Strategies to change succession laws

Strategies for Changing Succession Laws in Video Games

Players of Crusader Kings II have developed strategies to change succession laws in the game. One strategy involves creating a new primary title with the desired succession laws and then making it the primary title before destroying the old one. This method can be complex and may not always be feasible, but it provides a way to circumvent the usual limitations on changing succession laws. Another strategy is to use seduction to produce bastards, who can be instantly chosen as eligible heirs without granting them land. This allows for selective breeding, where players can bring genius women to court until a genius son is born. Concubines can also be used to produce heirs, but they come with fertility debuffs and lower intrigue. Players can also pass an elective law and ensure that their preferred heir wins.

Strategies for Changing Succession Laws in Estate Planning

Succession, in the context of estate planning, is the process of transferring power, assets, or property from one entity to another, and it is often governed by legal rules. One strategy to change succession laws in estate planning is to use a personal, revocable trust to move assets into an entity outside the estate while providing specific instructions regarding who holds the assets and how and when those assets are distributed. This can be coupled with a pour-over will, which moves any remaining assets out of an estate and into a trust, allowing most people to exercise full control over the legal succession of their assets.

Frequently asked questions

Succession laws dictate which member of a ruler's family inherits their titles upon death.

There are several types of succession laws, including primogeniture (where the oldest child inherits all titles), ultimogeniture (where the youngest child inherits all titles), and open succession (where the most powerful child inherits all titles).

To change succession laws, certain conditions must be met. These may include the current king having reigned for at least 10 years, being at peace, and having a positive opinion from all vassals and higher-ranking characters.

Yes, one strategy involves creating a new primary title with the desired succession laws, making it the primary title, and then destroying the old one. However, this method can be complex and may not always be feasible.

Alternative methods include passing an elective law and ensuring your preferred heir wins, granting land to your non-preferred heirs in advance so they don't stand to inherit, or making your non-preferred heirs ineligible by, for example, making them monks.

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