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[Judas Maccabeus]

I've recently got this game, but it routinely crashes around a month and a half in.

It's Crusader Kings.  It crashes, that's just how it is. 

And I say go with the most ambitious option, that'll naturally be the most fun. 

[Goron]

Ok... here we go:

I left off on June 26, 1089.
I am in a situation of great opportunity.
I am disloyal to my liege, a young man that was actually fostered in my dad's court.
I just got a claim on the title Prince of Samos.
I have enough prestige to grab a count title. And,
I have the soldiers to back myself up.

After discussing with my advisers, I've decided to take the following action:
I will grab my liege's Count of Vidin title. I will go to war with my liege, win, and take Vidin in the peace negotiations. I will declare war on Samos after warring my liege, win, and take the title Prince/Duke of Samos in peace negotiations.
It is important I war my liege before Samos- that way my liege does not make peace, and extend that peace to me, behind my back.

I make the grab:

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I make the war:

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I am finally healthy enough to lead my own men. I command the Belgrade regiment, my marshal commands the Severin regiment. We have 2640 men. Romanos has 852 men. Victory will be swift.

My ally, the Count of Abydos, and Romanos' ally, the Prince of Samos, do not get involved.

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We march to Vidin:

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While waging my own war, my ally gets involved in his own.

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I decline involvement.

I reach Vidin first.

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I have 1770 men against young Romanos' 852 men. I have no fear.
(And even if I did, my marshal is no more than a couple days away)

Annnnd as soon as he arrives he displays ineptitude on the battlefield:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Weak. But, we attain victory soon after. Now to siege the province.

Romanos cries for mercy:

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I laugh.

While one regiment finishes up the siege of Vidin, I will send the other to Samos.

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First step is to declare war.

I decide to leave my marshal in charge of the siege of Vidin.

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I march to Samos with 1614 men, leaving the smaller Severin regiment behind to finish off Vidin.

A messenger catches up with my army with horrible news.

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My mother in law is dead. She died at the ripe age of 58.
I mourn not for the loss of her life, but for the loss of her service as a most amazing spy master.

I am able to send orders to appoint a new spy master in Belgrade.

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Sadly, I am informed Bartolomaios was the best candidate- with only 6 intrigue.

Ut oh.

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Next thing I know I am alone in foreign lands. I am forced to disband my forces when I'm unable to provide pay for them (ungrateful fools refuse to serve on credit!)

As soon as I get back to Belgrade, I raise a new regiment and travel to support my marshal in Vidin. I want to get the siege over as quickly as possible, just in case more armies decide to quit!

Luckily, I am able to complete the siege two months later.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The next step is to make peace, Romanos is assembling new forces in Naissus.

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I offer a peace installing me as Count of Vidin, forcing Romanos to recognize me as the rightful count of Belgrade, forcing Romanos to recognize me as the rightful count of Severin, and demanding a measly 3 gold (all he had).

Most awesome:

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Vidin is mine. It kind of sucks though- no wonder Romanos was a pushover.

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The province has a road network, moneylenders, thieves guild, smugglers ring, oh, and its poor.
I do not stay in Vidin long, though. As soon as possible, My marshal and I are off to Samos.

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I can only hope my debt of 174 gold will last me:-/

The year, 1089, finishes up with my army half-way to Samos.

[Spartan 117]

Wheeeeee.

[Goron]

January 11, 1090.

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I am marching to Samos. I am pretty sure the Prince can only raise ~500 men. My army of 1600 should crush them easily enough- then I just need to be sure the siege goes smoothly, then complete victory will be mine.

I receive news from Belgrade:

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I pray every night that she will turn into a boy.

We've made it to Samos

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Konstantinos was waiting with nearly 700 men. More than I expected, but I still outnumber him 2 to 1.

Victory!

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It seems my marshal has warmed up to battle. He displayed great skills on the battlefield- a surprise after his ineptitude in Vidin.

Nearly two months of sieging prove worthwhile:

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We've taken Samos. My first order of business is to meet with the Prince and negotiate peace

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I demand to be installed and recognized as Prince of Samos. I will also take 2 gold in the deal- an amount insignificant when compared to my debts (-277).
My victories have also partially restored my prestige, I was in the negatives for a while, especially after losing my army to lack of financing.

Konstantinos accepts my offer. I am now a Duke.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

After changing title it is important to immediately save, quit, then load. I don't remember why- but it even says to on the Paradox forums.

What a nice view. I load in as Duke of Samos, Count of Belgrade, Vidin, Severin.

Samos remains in Konstantinos' hands, though.

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Remember, I only had a claim to the title Prince of Samos. Not Count of Samos. So The former Prince is simply downgraded to a Count, but at least keeps his lands.

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Being the gentleman I am, I send an offer of vassalization to Konstantinos.

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While I await a reply, I eagerly view my new holdings on a map:

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And the world around me:

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It seems Konstantinos is holding a grudge:

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Then again, I suppose I was simply mocking him.

With my new found power, I'd like new allies.

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The Principality of Rashka, an independent neighbor and ally to Croatia, would be a good ally. Unfortunately my diplomacy skill is preventing me from taking on more allies.

My son and heir Sabas needs a formal education

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He is already turning out to be a good boy. My initial instinct would be to send him to the army- train him to be a strong warrior like myself... But... I want better for my boy. I want him to be a true lord and leader, not just a soldier like his father.
I will send him to train at the court.

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Just as my boy makes me proud, my daughter shames me...

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I will not stand for this. If she cannot take a court education seriously, I will send her to the monastery. An ecclesiastical education for her!

1090 finishes as a successful year for the Synadenos dynasty.
While I am completely broke, with a debt of over 200 gold, I am standing decently int he eyes of god and I have regained much of my lost prestige through conquest.
Unfortunately my conquests have also left me with a tarnished reputation. And Prince title

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Akigagak]

Doesn't Deus Vult allow female leaders?

Can't we give the good daughter a decent position in our court, maybe a title, when she comes of age?

Anyway, let us start bullying people for money.

[Goron]

Doesn't Deus Vult allow female leaders?

Can't we give the good daughter a decent position in our court, maybe a title, when she comes of age?

Anyway, let us start bullying people for money.

I thought it was DVIP that did it (which I'm running)- but even so, I would rather not give females titles. ALthough it did happen, it was usually via inheritance and or the death of the male titleholder and the wife took command.
I dunno...

As for bullying people for money; first I think we should sit tight for... years? The Duke has a tarnished reputation as is, and we are broke too- like REALLY broke.
At ~6 gold a month, to recover 233 debt will take ~38 months.... thats three years.
Once Sabas comes of age (5 years) I can give him land. THat will increase our efficiency. But until then, we are running at 80% penalty.

[Spartan 117]

The good daughter deserves SOMETHING at least.

[Goron]

The good daughter deserves SOMETHING at least.

And that something is to become a good wife:-)

I will be sure to marry her to nobility. If I didn't dislike my marshal, I'd consider marrying him to one of my daughters.

But I am hoping to secure a marriage between her (sheesh, I don't even know her name off the top of my head) and a duke, possibly a powerful count.

[Spartan 117]

The good daughter deserves SOMETHING at least.

And that something is to become a good wife:-)

I will be sure to marry her to nobility. If I didn't dislike my marshal, I'd consider marrying him to one of my daughters.

But I am hoping to secure a marriage between her (sheesh, I don't even know her name off the top of my head) and a duke, possibly a powerful count.

I have an idea.

Marry her to a kingdom that allows female rulers, and see if she goes anywhere.

[Goron]

The good daughter deserves SOMETHING at least.

And that something is to become a good wife:-)

I will be sure to marry her to nobility. If I didn't dislike my marshal, I'd consider marrying him to one of my daughters.

But I am hoping to secure a marriage between her (sheesh, I don't even know her name off the top of my head) and a duke, possibly a powerful count.

I have an idea.

Marry her to a kingdom that allows female rulers, and see if she goes anywhere.

Unfortunately, I think she would just be wife to the male ruler:-/
I will look into the possibility though.

[Spartan 117]

The good daughter deserves SOMETHING at least.

And that something is to become a good wife:-)

I will be sure to marry her to nobility. If I didn't dislike my marshal, I'd consider marrying him to one of my daughters.

But I am hoping to secure a marriage between her (sheesh, I don't even know her name off the top of my head) and a duke, possibly a powerful count.

I have an idea.

Marry her to a kingdom that allows female rulers, and see if she goes anywhere.

Unfortunately, I think she would just be wife to the male ruler:-/
I will look into the possibility though.

We could always...dispose of him.

[Goron]

The good daughter deserves SOMETHING at least.

And that something is to become a good wife:-)

I will be sure to marry her to nobility. If I didn't dislike my marshal, I'd consider marrying him to one of my daughters.

But I am hoping to secure a marriage between her (sheesh, I don't even know her name off the top of my head) and a duke, possibly a powerful count.

I have an idea.

Marry her to a kingdom that allows female rulers, and see if she goes anywhere.

Unfortunately, I think she would just be wife to the male ruler:-/
I will look into the possibility though.

We could always...dispose of him.

I like the way you think

[Akigagak]

Wouldn't we also need to dispose every possible successor?

Getting people killed is expensive.

[Goron]

Wouldn't we also need to dispose every possible successor?

Yes, but sometimes thats not necessary.
Young lords tend to have no children, and depending on succession laws that can make things easy.
Also, if a lord has only daughters.

BUT, to be honest I have no clue how female title ownership works. I need to read up how DVIP handles it and figure out whats even possible.

[Spartan 117]

You know what would be awesome? If she became Queen of someplace.

That'd help us a lot.