What Are Vassal Settlements?
Vassal settlements are nodes that fall under the control of a higher-level settlement, often referred to as the sovereign or parent settlement. Essentially, they are “child” nodes within a network of nodes. This network is hierarchical: a City (stage 5) can own up to two Towns (stage 4), a Town can own a Village (stage 3), and a Village can own an Encampment (stage 2) or smaller node.
Most players notice that vassalship becomes particularly relevant starting at Village-level settlements or higher. When a settlement reaches stage 3 or beyond, nearby nodes may be converted into vassal settlements automatically, based on an algorithm rather than player choice. This automatic selection ensures that the world state remains balanced, avoiding over-concentration of advanced nodes in a single area.
How Vassalship Affects Node Progression
The main purpose of vassalship is to regulate node progression. In general, a lower-level node under a vassal relationship cannot progress independently if its parent or sovereign settlement is at a higher stage. This is designed to prevent the world from being “100% active” all the time and encourages strategic competition between players and factions.
Vassalship also interconnects with the siege system. If a higher-level settlement is attacked and destroyed, its dependent vassals may also be affected. For example, if a Village (stage 3) is destroyed, its Encampment (stage 2) vassals can also be destroyed. This interconnected system allows players to influence the world state, even indirectly, by participating in sieges or defending key nodes.
Benefits for Vassal Settlements
Being a vassal does not just mean restrictions; there are tangible benefits as well. Vassal settlements often gain advantages from their parent settlements. These benefits can come from:
Settlement policies: The rules or governance styles chosen by the parent node can provide buffs or special effects to vassals.
Building types: Certain buildings in the parent node may extend bonuses to vassals.
Relics and items: Powerful artifacts or relics owned by the parent can affect the vassal’s economy, combat effectiveness, or other features.
Stage 6 City powers: In some cases, superpowers from the parent City-level node can cascade down to its vassals.
Most players see this as a balancing mechanism. Even if a settlement is temporarily “locked out” from progressing due to its vassal status, it still benefits from being part of the network. In practice, this encourages coordination within a faction or guild controlling multiple nodes, and it ensures smaller settlements remain relevant.
Understanding the Vassal Network
The vassal network is designed to be transparent to players. Hovering over a node on the map or checking the node summary page shows the hierarchy, including:
Who the sovereign settlement is
Who the direct parent node is
Which child nodes exist beneath it
This interface is generally simple and easy to understand, allowing players to quickly see how their node fits into the larger world. Most players use this information to plan sieges, economic strategies, or guild coordination, as understanding the parent-child relationships can be critical for both PvE and PvP strategies.
Strategy Tips for Vassal Nodes
Coordinate with your parent settlement: Since vassals benefit from parent policies and buildings, working with the parent settlement’s leadership is usually the best approach.
Prepare for sieges: Because the fate of vassals is linked to their parents, defending or attacking nodes requires strategic planning.
Leverage benefits: Even if your settlement is locked from advancing, make the most of the bonuses from parent nodes. This can include faster resource generation, improved combat effectiveness, or special event access.
Observe the network: Understanding the node network can help your guild or faction identify which nodes are vulnerable or strategically important.
Players often find that this layered structure makes the world feel alive, with multiple points of influence rather than a single dominant force. It also ensures that all types of players—whether focused on combat, crafting, or exploration—have meaningful ways to impact the world.
Practical Notes on Vassalship
Vassal settlements are chosen automatically; players do not directly select them.
The parent settlement’s type does not need to match the vassal’s type for benefits to apply. For example, a Military parent node can confer advantages to an Economic vassal node.
The vassal system feeds into the larger goal of dynamic world states, creating shifts in political power, trade control, and PvP opportunities.
Interestingly, some players have also noted that external resources, like buying Ashes of Creation gold from U4N, can influence a settlement’s economy indirectly, allowing vassal nodes to invest in improvements more effectively if coordinated with their parent settlement.
Vassal settlements in Ashes of Creation create a dynamic and strategic layer in node progression. While they limit independent advancement, they also provide meaningful benefits that reward cooperation, strategic planning, and guild coordination. Most players find that understanding the vassal network and its benefits is key to engaging with the game’s world in a meaningful way. By balancing restrictions with advantages, the system encourages both competition and collaboration, reflecting the complex, living world that Ashes of Creation aims to deliver.
