Its hardly idealism. Simply consider the number of vassals that exist, and then consider how many of them ever turn to rebellion, and finally how many are successful. But there is an even more important consideration, and one I mentioned above, consider how many of these nobles who ever consider rebellion were treated poorly by their ruler and have reasonable claims that their ruler broke his duty as liege first.

Most rebellions come about under some claim that the liege or his agents (often tax collectors, but not always) have violated the law and that it is the ruler who is outlaw. Rulers often push hard at the rules that protect their subjects because they need resources, sometimes desperately.

The statement I objected to was that vassalage should be risky, because "That's always the danger of having Vasals, they may turn against you." This places the initiative for rebellion in the hands of the vassal. You can be a good king, just and noble, but because the DM needs a story line, your vassals rebel. Further, it suggests that the simple act of creating a vassal, in which a PC knows a friend, perhaps even a cohort, for a long time, fight along side one another, and then this friend, might without provocation, become a traitor.

It is one thing to suggest that one's father created a vassal, and that this powerful friend of the father is a rival to the son (the PC), but to suggest that by its very nature, a vassal is a probable traitor is to tell players that they really can't trust anyone.

Since my view is that Birthright is a game about insiders, telling players to act like outsiders is the last things I find desirable. Rivalries and betrayals should flow from what the players do and the traits of the characters in question, not because DM's need conflict or because its inherent in the nature of vassals to betray.

Halskapa is at an early stage in selecting the next king, so every jarl wants to think they have a chance, as the process moves forward some jarls will realize that they don't have a chance and will start to throw their support behind some probable winner in hopes of rewards. Maybe the next phase is the three faction situation. All one needs is to pick three leading contenders and why one supposes the others are taking a secondary roll. Since this depends on the PC's, one is almost required to wait until one has an actual party before narrowing the field.