In Stellaris’ Overlord update, a significant addition known as Secret Fealty alters your interactions with vassals, potentially leading to severe consequences if mishandled.
Central to this feature is loyalty, the metric by which Stellaris gauges your subject empire’s devotion. Faithful subjects allow advantageous trade agreements, but if exploited excessively, they might initiate a galaxy-spanning conflict.
Secret Fealty is a clandestine action that disloyal vassals might take if they become dissatisfied with your rule. These vassals may pledge allegiance to rival empires, a development you might remain unaware of until it’s too late, hence the term “secret.”
Discovering this treachery often occurs through status descriptions, typically involving interactions between your empire and another. Vassals opting for Secret Fealty seek a new Overlord’s aid in Allegiance Wars against you, hoping that their new ruler will emerge victorious and claim them as their own.
In essence, maintaining the contentment of your subjects is essential to your role as an intergalactic ruler.
How Does Loyalty Work in Stellaris?
Several factors influence vassal loyalty in Stellaris, including the terms of your initial contract with the subject empire, the trade agreements you establish, and refraining from declaring war on your vassals (a strategy best avoided). Loyalty fluctuates monthly based on your relationship with the vassal. You can exert some control by employing actions like pledges of loyalty, which provide a small increase on top of their regular monthly loyalty boost.
Aside from averting wars with ambitious Overlords, having loyal subjects offers other advantages. Loyal vassals are more amenable to accepting stringent trade agreements that may not directly benefit them, and they generally engage in more cooperative behavior during negotiations.