Declaring on your vassal

[Nefariosx]

I'm playing an unmodded version of RFC as Mongolia with the Khmer Empire as my vassal. I'm really getting sick see their cities and land wasted on supporting such a backwards civilization (they're one of the worst civs in my game) so I want to wipe them out to become the sole power of east and South Asia.

It says I can't declare war on them so I tried to piss them off. I told them to give me a whole bunch of ridiculous stuff and give tribute but they still appear as friendly.

Any advice on how to declare war or just make the Khmer mad enough to leave?

 

[TheMeInTeam]

You can't. Even if they hate you, if they're markedly weaker they're not going to try to break free. That's why taking a vassal or not is a very important decision - for capitulations the vassal actually has to meet conditions to break free but doesn't have to even if it does meet them. Voluntary vassals can leave at any time, but again if they don't want to, there's not a thing the master can do.

 

[Kazbar]

Huh, I thought that if you made a resource demand they wouldn't do, you went to automatic war.

 

[The Snug]

Huh, I thought that if you made a resource demand they wouldn't do, you went to automatic war.

This is correct, but often difficult to achieve. It's more likely with a recently vassalized bitter enemy.

Things that help:
Have a different religion.
Trade with ppl they don't like.
Don't have open borders.
Don't trade anything with them (including techs and resources)
Don't use their favorite civic.
When the relationship is at cautious or lower: make lots of demands for gold, techs, resources, etc...

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Huh, I thought that if you made a resource demand they wouldn't do, you went to automatic war.

They almost never do........unless you're weak. I've actually never seen it happen.

 

[mechaerik]

I feel you pain; during one game i had Frederick as a vassal. After a few wars (in which i CRUUUUSHED all threats to my victory), Fred was starting to advance in tech, building wonders i wanted, generally pisisng me off.

I couldn't declare war on him, and he was always at "Friendly", even after i shut off our borders, traded with his enemies, demanded tribute EVERY turn, declared war on his friends, converted to Islam, converted HIM to Islam after i realized i was the only muslim, then converted to Christianity. Nothing. Either way, i still won a diplomatic victory after i "liberated" the most populous provinces of my neighbors and controlled 60% of the vote between me, my allies, and my 2 vassals.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

I feel you pain; during one game i had Frederick as a vassal. After a few wars (in which i CRUUUUSHED all threats to my victory), Fred was starting to advance in tech, building wonders i wanted, generally pisisng me off.

I couldn't declare war on him, and he was always at "Friendly", even after i shut off our borders, traded with his enemies, demanded tribute EVERY turn, declared war on his friends, converted to Islam, converted HIM to Islam after i realized i was the only muslim, then converted to Christianity. Nothing. Either way, i still won a diplomatic victory after i "liberated" the most populous provinces of my neighbors and controlled 60% of the vote between me, my allies, and my 2 vassals.

Vassals should never get wonders you want unless they already have the tech. If they don't, direct their research elsewhere whenever they start to research that wonder tech.

It should be close to impossible for a vassal to win space or take wonders you want (small chance they steal it if you're close to them).

 

[Airefuego]

Short answer - don't accept capitulation if you want them dead instead!

 

[nanomage]

I have questions about vassals, perhaps totally newbish.
What are the means to control them? i mean, how can i choose a tech for them to research?

Also they seem to be ready to trade for all their resources, but not technology - is their any way to take techs from them?
you can nor trade them nor demand them for tribute - diplomatic interface simply says (We just don't want to trade this tech away or like that).

I tried to steal techs from them with spies, but they seem not to have this option available when in their cities (tried with approximately 4000/12000 EP to steal astronomy from Huayna Capac with ~90% ESP costs by byzantines on monarch)

 

[mechaerik]

@TMIT- With my constant wars i made a noob mistake: i ignored what my vassal was researching. Also, i had to lower my research slider. Because i made up the entire border between Erarellian Territory and my targets, Fred didnt have to fight; my army was the largest, and i had all the help i needed from my other vassal, Zara, and Mansa's worst enemy, Shaka.

@Airfuego- He came to me after i crushed the ottoman empire, and as i didnt really want his land, but wanted to control him, I accepted.

@nanomage- you change what they are researching by going to "Lets discuss other things" when you talk to them.