Giving this game another go...
Kildare in Old Gods start. Banish my bishop because he's 60 short of liking me, deal with the -50 tyrant modifier since my mayor still thinks I'm okay.
Notice that Ivar the Boneless seems busy with a couple wars, so I start a holy war for Dyflinn. I want to reclaim the duchy of Tara for my kinsman, Duke of Tara, particularly since I'm the most likely heir 5 votes to 1. This turns out to be an exceptionally bad idea as Ivar's wars suddenly end and over 7000 troops land in Ulster, approaching my 800. I only had 90 gold, not nearly enough for mercs, and surrender. My prestige hits -200 and piety -50 but I'm alive.
Then I wonder how long before my wife-to-be comes of age. Oh, she's imprisoned by the germans. I break the betrothal and marry one of the only two adult women on the list. I greedily take the 9 wedding gold for my mercenary fund, then immediately lose 25 to a random event.
Weak claims can be pressed? Apparently my wife has a claim on Thomond! Their capital has about 500 troops to my 800, perfect. I declare war. They raise 400 men, I attack and beat them handily. 700 attackers versus 200 defenders in the siege? I go ahead and assault. Closest. Siege. Ever. I lose over half my army but the war is won.
I demand surrender of the county for my wife and I - my wife has has left my court? Oh. She's not sharing Thomond with me. Well okay, my children will inherit it I guess. I stand to inherit quite a bit! I'll just build up gold for a few decades and wait for my family to die off and
Why is she supporting one of my cousins to inherit as duke?
Why has she started a *faction* for that cousin? I have no idea who this guy is! Her opinion of me is maxed!
Well fine I'm sure nothing will come of it - oh okay she's started a war. Right after I got my recently-reinforced 800 men massacred fighting rebels in Scotland to support my liege. Do I... fight her now? Apparently! Why is this happening??
So right now I'm crushing her 80 men with 200 and wondering why my wife, who I just handed a freakin county, is throwing her life away for *my* unlanded screwball cousin. If she's executed for crimes against sense and decency, I hope I at least get Thomond for myself and my next wife.
Edit: I could have sworn he was unlanded, but apparently he's earl of Tyrconnel and is coming at me with 400 men. I just don't understand why my wife is involved. Technically they're coming after my liege-kin the Duke of Tara, but said liege has apparently decided to sit this fight out - no armies raised.
EditEdit: Nevermind, Tyrconnel's army is just sitting there menacingly as I crush my wife. Who just got pregnant *while we're at war*. I assume it only became visible now, but still, I have no idea where she and I stand.
Triple edit combo: My wise and gracious lord raised 300 men and has them sitting in his capital while my cousin, vindictively, is sieging my county. Their counties (Tyrconnel and Tyrone) are right next to each other, but instead he comes down to siege Kildare.
4xedit: She died in childbirth. This game, I swear.
quintupledit: My most generous and all-knowing dumbass of a liege hired 1500 mercenaries without any money to pay. I assume that's what "Eogan of Eogan's Host has declared Eogan's Host Claim on Tara War on King Aed the Wise" means. I'm now involved in 6 SEVEN wars and a courtier had to save me from a bear.
Every time I think I have a basic understanding of this game, I actually try to play it.