They say that money is what makes the world go 'round, and that saying isn't any less true in Crusader Kings 3. Any powerful ruler, no matter how militarily skilled, will need gold. Lots of it, in fact. A healthy economy is one of the characteristics that make for a mighty realm in this title.
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The early game is important in Crusader Kings 3. Regardless of one's location, taking things too slow can limit a player's future expansion. However, achieving early conquest requires a significant cash infusion to avoid going bankrupt. There are plenty of ways to make money in Crusader Kings 3, but doing it quickly takes a little finesse.
Raiding, The Pirate's Life
One of the most straightforward ways to earn some gold quickly is to arrange a raid. Unlike full-scale conflicts, raiding doesn't start a war with the country that's being plundered. If players can spot a weakness in a neighboring county, quickly laying siege to it can result in a nice windfall.
It's worth noting, however, that not every culture/religion has access to raiding. Only rulers with an unreformed Pagan faith, Tribal government, or the Legacy of Piracy dynasty modifier may raid other countries. It's preferable to raid when the other country is distracted by another war. Siege the holding quickly, then take the money and run!
Winning Wars
This may seem obvious, but consistent victories on the battlefield can be quite lucrative. Winning offensive wars, of course, gives the player access to new lands and sources of taxation. On the flipside, achieving victory in a defensive war results in the player being paid a large indemnity by the loser.
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Participating in holy wars, such as Crusades, can also net the player easy money. A country that plays a decisive role in a Crusade is entitled to a significant share of the War Chest. For rulers that pull their weight, the benefits may just be worth the long trek.
Ransoming Other Characters
This strategy actually fits hand-in-glove with the previous entries. Whenever a holding is successfully captured, there's always the chance that its occupants will be taken prisoner. These imprisoned characters can be ransomed back to their liege for a nice little profit.
Better yet, why not try to capture the liege-lord himself? Taking a ruler prisoner, especially a king or emperor, can result in a pretty penny for the player. Higher-tier characters tend to have the gold to make their own ransoms possible. Even feudal, Christian rulers who can't raid can still benefit from this method. Any time a war is declared, aim to capture the big cheese himself.
Choosing The "Avaricious" Stewardship Perk Tree
In the pursuit of gold, one need not stop at punishing foreign enemies. A player's own subjects can be exploited for increased profits. Selecting the "Avaricious" Stewardship Perk Tree is the first step in this regard. To see how profitable these rewards can be, here's the full breakdown of some of the most useful perks a character may acquire:
Golden Obligations
This perk allows a ruler to demand payment for Hooks. This essentially allows the player character to blackmail their vassals and courtiers. Whenever a Hook is gained on another character, the player can sell it back to the victim…for a price. Strong Hooks result in bigger payoffs.
In addition, one of the tertiary benefits of Golden Obligations is an increase in ransom costs. Thus, players can earn even more money from ransoming important prisoners, especially the ones who can afford it. It fits perfectly with the previously mentioned strategies discussed above.
Heregeld
Heregeld bestows a +10% Vassal Tax Contribution. If vassals are already geared toward making extra tax contributions through their contracts (which will be discussed later), this perk can pay dividends relatively quickly. Milk vassals for everything they're worth, if gaining money quickly is the goal.
This Is MY Domain
This perk grants the player the ability to extort one's subjects directly through a Decision. When the Extort Subjects Decision is taken, a couple of events will fire that allows players to earn some quick gold. Of course, this comes with some penalties, considering extortion is frowned upon by, well, pretty much everyone.
At Any Cost
In a similar vein to the previous perk, At Any Cost unlocks the Sell Titles Decision. In the best-case scenario, this tactic can result in gold, prestige, and even a Hook. However, this decision can also fail spectacularly, leaving the player with nothing but hurt feelings and angry subjects.
Modifying Vassal Contracts
If done early, modifying the feudal contracts of one's vassals can be highly profitable. This strategy can vary depending on the player character's popularity with his vassals. If well-liked, this process becomes much less painful. A character who starts with plenty of positive traits will unsurprisingly have an easier time with this endeavor.
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Tweaking a particular vassal's obligations in favor of more taxes is possible. Imposing the harshest form of taxes on a vassal, up to 25%, comes with significant opinion penalties. Making sure one's player character is already popular will help offset the disgruntlement such an action will cause. Special contracts, such as Scutage, also result in a bigger payday.
Maintaining High Opinion Among Vassals
Maintaining a high opinion among one's vassals is one of the most straightforward ways of earning money quickly and passively. Vassals who possess a high opinion of their liege are more efficient at tax collecting. As such, it's best not to be overly heavy-handed with one's subjects.
This is doubly true for religious vassals. Individuals who don't care for their liege won't send their full tax quota up the chain. To prevent this scenario, be tactful with the clergy in one's realm. That extra income can add up to a lot in a short time.
Borrowing & Asking For Money
Lastly, if players are ever in desperate need of gold immediately, they can always ask for it. For Catholic rulers, this means going to the Pope for aid. Assuming the Pope has the necessary funds, and his opinion of the player character is high, he will gift a large sum of money into your coffers, no strings attached.
Loans are also an option, particularly from an established holy order. Players may ask for a loan and, if successful, will receive a quick infusion of cash. Of course, this is a loan, not a gift. The money has to be repaid in the future, so keep that in mind.
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