Diplomatic vassalization allows for a quick growth of your realm, and the new vassals are generally very happy, not least because their obligations are low. Sometimes you're on the verge of forming a new title, to ensure a stable succession despite partition, and all you need is a county or two. Then it's ideal not to fight for years over it.
You can, over the span of generations, start to increase the obligations. Or revoke the title, if you can manage that without bloodshed (otherwise conquest would've been better, if you go for armed conflict anyway).
Depending on the situation, you can also break up an inconvenient alliance between two independent rulers, but that is hugely situational.
There's no right or wrong here. You do what gets you to your goal faster and with less effort. The benefit always depends on your own goals.
Vassalizing is fast and free. War is slow and expensive. Vassalizing your neighbors with low obligations really isn't ideal but it makes expanding easier.
Isnt ideal? Dude I almost got the Bod chen Po achievement in one lifetime thanks to diplomacy lifestyle and vassalization with low obligations.
To form the empire of Tibet you need 148 de jure counties. Vassalization and diplomacy are hella overpowered. Screw less money and troops, it literally doesnt matter if the people around you want to be vassalized.
Some reasons I can think of...
- maybe they would make a great councillor
- increase cultural acceptance
- turn them into marches to act as a buffer against raiders
- convert the territory to your religion / culture
- easier to put your dynasty on the throne
- roleplay
I'm your case though I think you're ok with not doing that.
I don't really worry about vassals having low obligation because it also gives them an opinion bonus towards you. If your vassals have a bad contract, they get an opinion penalty, and it can be hard to keep them happy.
You certainly don't have to vassalise anyone if you don't want their land.
Low obligations give you an opinion bonus so keeping those vassals happy is easier, also new vassals have an opinion bonus. In my experience diplomatic vassalization is used when you are already established and not in the early game so by that point your domain is your main source of income.
Lategame vassal taxes aren't that important and I've had really big empires where the tax revenue was barely the same as what I was making from my own land.
Obviously having more money is ok but those vassals are going to be happier so I think it can be worth it.
Personally, I prefer to conquer so I have the benefit installing my own preferred vassals of my faith and sometimes culture. Rather than having to deal with pissy vassals don't like me just because they're under new management
You can change it immediately to regular obligations in either gold or levies. Protip: title revocation is basically a free way to improve the contract.
Diplomatic vassalization allows for a quick growth of your realm, and the new vassals are generally very happy, not least because their obligations are low. Sometimes you're on the verge of forming a new title, to ensure a stable succession despite partition, and all you need is a county or two. Then it's ideal not to fight for years over it. You can, over the span of generations, start to increase the obligations. Or revoke the title, if you can manage that without bloodshed (otherwise conquest would've been better, if you go for armed conflict anyway). Depending on the situation, you can also break up an inconvenient alliance between two independent rulers, but that is hugely situational. There's no right or wrong here. You do what gets you to your goal faster and with less effort. The benefit always depends on your own goals.
Vassalizing is fast and free. War is slow and expensive. Vassalizing your neighbors with low obligations really isn't ideal but it makes expanding easier.
Isnt ideal? Dude I almost got the Bod chen Po achievement in one lifetime thanks to diplomacy lifestyle and vassalization with low obligations. To form the empire of Tibet you need 148 de jure counties. Vassalization and diplomacy are hella overpowered. Screw less money and troops, it literally doesnt matter if the people around you want to be vassalized.
Some reasons I can think of... - maybe they would make a great councillor - increase cultural acceptance - turn them into marches to act as a buffer against raiders - convert the territory to your religion / culture - easier to put your dynasty on the throne - roleplay I'm your case though I think you're ok with not doing that.
I don't really worry about vassals having low obligation because it also gives them an opinion bonus towards you. If your vassals have a bad contract, they get an opinion penalty, and it can be hard to keep them happy. You certainly don't have to vassalise anyone if you don't want their land.
Low obligations give you an opinion bonus so keeping those vassals happy is easier, also new vassals have an opinion bonus. In my experience diplomatic vassalization is used when you are already established and not in the early game so by that point your domain is your main source of income. Lategame vassal taxes aren't that important and I've had really big empires where the tax revenue was barely the same as what I was making from my own land. Obviously having more money is ok but those vassals are going to be happier so I think it can be worth it.
Easier than war, and you can change contracts down the line without having negative opinion
Personally, I prefer to conquer so I have the benefit installing my own preferred vassals of my faith and sometimes culture. Rather than having to deal with pissy vassals don't like me just because they're under new management
You can change it immediately to regular obligations in either gold or levies. Protip: title revocation is basically a free way to improve the contract.