The Queen’s Hand (House Velaryon) - CK3 AGOT RP Ep.14

[@torbenopitz9458]

I noticed that the Cleganes are still landed in the westerlands, I think Daenarys would absolutely execute Gregor for slaughtering her family and probably strip the Cleganes of their lands. It could go to one of the captains of the Golden Company

[@Falconer1523]

I gotta say, I do love when you set up these little custom made scenarios. It really does a lot to elevate it over "just another CK3 Lets Play"

[@StrayKing]

Thanks! I don’t like doing it too often because the randomness of the AI is also fun, but for big story moments like this I think it’s fun to set up the next ‘chapter’ so to speak just to mix things up in a way the AI can’t really do.

[@josephadams3917]

That's what your accolades are for

[@nealjroberts4050]

All sounds reasonable. Lord of Ships is probably a meaningless appeasement title for Robb and the Navy is actually under Monford's control.

[@Falconer1523]

Thats just due to the AIs fascination with placating "powerful vassals". It will just fill the council with Lord Paramounts becasue they are "King" tier. Its just AI nonsense, ignore it. The only council position that should be held by a reigning Lord Paramount should be Hand of the King/Queen.

[@nelsonpcarr]

@@Falconer1523not just nonsense I would say. Its an effective way of improving your relation with powerfull vassals

[@JolgiFOlgi]

It's funny that we hear of Lord Robb's liberty faction right after we see Tyrion is back in Westeros just saying. The Imp may have plans cooking up, but Monford probably didn't want to hear about it.

[@Neirikr]

"Lord Paramount Samwell Tarly" is a series of words I never thought I would see strung together, but here we are. Ol' Randyll must be spinning in his grave! 😅

[@StrayKing]

Sam would probably make a terrible Lord Paramount, but there's the slightest chance that during peacetime he might actually be kind of good for the Reach. He'd need a strong wife to help deal with some of politics of it all though I'm sure.

[@Neirikr]

​@@StrayKing Agreed. He would probably be competent in the day-to-day running of the realm (maintaining roads and agricultural bureaucracy and whatnot), but hardly a liege that anyone would respect-especially the other marcher lords.

[@viewer8734]

Randyll robust sons are probably gonna rebel

[@jeffreysteele6564]

All great and reasonable outcomes, glad you saw my comment about Tyrion possibly killing one of her dragons because if anyone could do it, it’d be him no question

[@kelplar0338]

Tyrion just pulled a Mance Rayder, he probably knows the tunnels of kings landing and could hide in the grand wedding celebrations. Loved the decision of giving the golden company the westerlands too.

[@thesaurus9226]

Totally thought you were going to say "Aegon the Dragoncock" when you mentioned the dragonbane.

[@fichthe]

I literally just finished the last episode three minutes ago lol

[@StrayKing]

Great timing!

[@nicholasmaryniak3815]

I think your initial thought on Tyrion is the best one: the wedding is when he escaped. Let's go somewhere private to speak says the hand of the queen, and he was never seen in Westeros again. Maybe everyone just assumes you had him killed to remove the problem, since in this timeline all the other principles have been dealt with, with great justice and mercy might I add. Dany wanted to do worse to him but had so far been talked into delaying her final decision. Good work!

[@isaacscott5963]

May i ask, what was the process you did to changes paramounts, and certain roleplaying aspects you did? a save editor? ill love to see how you did it

[@alecaguirre4039]

I like to think that Ned did not join in on the war because the only reason he fought in the rebellion is because of the Mad King and what HE did to his family. As we see in the first book he is reticent on killing Danny and feels like the sins of the Mad King are paid. So staying out of the war is his way of maybe apologizing for not being able to stop the slaughter of the entire Targaryen family at the hands of his band. 🙌🏼

[@estebanabdala7844]

I watched all of the series and I really appreciate the great effort and love you pour in this series, definitely a new sub and I’ll be watching all other series with this same effort on them ❤

[@StrayKing]

Check out Son of Ares, it's base game but with a fun historical twist, and it's got 50 episodes if you count all four seasons!

[@Badstrategies]

I think it would be interesting to have Bronn in the Westerlands now that it is ruled by the Golden Company given he is a sell sword and he once worked with the previous ruler. He would probably be one of the lords guards or maybe even a bandit leader given that the Westerlands would be in chaos because of the power vacuum caused by the war and the fall of the Lannisters and it would also be interesting to see the noble houses of the Westerlands try to take back power from the Golden Company. I think that if Tyrion has descendants who gain power in Pentos they might turn it from a Free City to a Kingdom. If Monford survives for longer make sure that he visits his close friends and associates. Jon Snow's descendants probably wouldn't inherit Dragonstone as it is the seat of the heir of house targaryen and Dany is looking to consolidate her reign given she is paranoid not create a new Blackfyre House.

[@StrayKing]

Great points, definitely might factor some of these in if I remember!

[@muhammadhabibieamiro3639]

I have been waiting for this episode it is sad that the begini of last episode lord adrian the red carb the guy who monford seek confort with is dead because he was there where robert rebel but props to him to live that long and now monford he's friend is the hand of the queen and that is just so cool

[@StrayKing]

I like to think Ardrian and Monford remained close ever since he married his daughter; bound together by a shared grief, I’m sure they had a good friendship right up until the end.

[@muhammadhabibieamiro3639]

@@StrayKing i agree and don't forget the celtigar and the velaryon where the last major valyria houses before jon and daenerys show up i like to think during those days before jon and daenerys monford and Adrian were meeting in secret talking about a potential return of the targaryen and what they will do if that happen sure monford become Friend with renly but i like to think in the back of his mind he was thinking what he will do when the targaryen return and that plus lord maric is the reason to me monford join daenerys

[@stevencutmore9990]

id imagine the only reason you would be seeing Tyrion is because you are mildly hallucination due to amount of stress you are under, you know loosing 2 wives a Brother a life long companion who was as close to you as a brother, loosing a child and siring a bastard, being essentially as war for the last 20 years, that would take it out of you

[@princeofcrowss]

I adore the changes you made. I’d honestly listen to these little scenarios you devise after events in the game all day!

[@StrayKing]

Glad you enjoy them! That’s probably my favourite part honestly.

[@princeofcrowss]

@@StrayKing as someone who dabbles in writing I love it. I always set up scenarios in my own games too!

[@TheDoctorfat]

I really hope that, in the future, both Paradox and also the AGOT team improve the intelligence of the AI, right now it's frustrating to need to manually intervene when the AI fs up. Ck2 AGOT also had this problem, but there were a submods to add a lot of narrative events to fix this, also in general the game's AI were a lot more aggresive, plotting and warring more often.

[@StrayKing]

Yeah, as much as I love the mod one thing that I'm not a fan of is how stable everything is; it feels really rare to see mega-wars pop up that aren't part of major events or that you as the player don't force yourself. I'd feel a lot more comfortable putting these kinds of moments in the hands of the AI if they were a bit more aggressive sometimes.

[@TheDoctorfat]

​@@StrayKing It's funny, playing my own Velaryon game with AGOT+ and other submods, and after writing my comment, Balon Greyjoy rose up, and when was swiftly crushed and sent to the wall, and then Robert found out about Cersei, who also btw murdered Tyrion, and executed her, Twyin rose up and then was crushed and executed. So at this point it's not even that nothing happens, it's that it's so rare for something *to* happen, I played like 5 other games before this, and none of the Targaryens even tried to invade. I genuinely think the team needs to add more narrative events that can branch out, before adding new mechanics or start dates imo

[@lewanvh3854]

I don’t think the realm could be stripped of so many great houses. It was a thing during the dance when they wanted to give Casterly Rock and High Garden to Hugh Hammer et Ulf!

[@ShayGamerD3]

Ned might know the prophecy of the Prince that was Promised (it seems that at least some Starks were aware of that prophecy): he would not fight against the Prince that was Promised, whose purpose would be to destroy the Others. I think he would even support the Prince that was Promised. And since Jon Snow is also the part of that prophecy, he would support him: he owes that to Lyanna and promised to protect him.

[@MrXavNiHuck]

Absolutely wild on how everything played out post Renly being deposed, but very understandable. I love the RP of the Golden Company being given the Westerlands as it only makes sense for them to be given something after being the ones to carry Dany to the throne. I loved the scenario you came up with for Monford sneaking Tyrion across the Narrow Sea, it’s very in fitting with the world of ASOIAF. I feel like others might be upset at how drastic some of these actions are, but Game of Thrones has always been pretty chaotic and prone to sudden shifts in the power balance. With that said, I am excited to see Monford get back to the relative tameness of putting down pirates and keeping the crown’s shipping lanes clear. Can’t wait to see if the tensions with the North blow up or if everything will smooth over in time. Can’t wait til the next episode!

[@francfarinha2808]

You could organize a feast to deal with the stress

[@Tyger_YT]

This is peak GoT alt history gotta say. I love how the arrangements turned out. Also it is never too late to start a legend (just saying).

[@aye-jephthahnengimote709]

It’s a brilliant storyline and realistic outcome.

[@mysteryjunkie9808]

Would’ve made Greyjoy master of ships

[@j0aca]

i feel the natural step forward as king of the sea shoould be the stepstones... maybe then give some to ur bastard or aurene kids

[@iamkrohn]

Tyrion was at the wedding to scheme, he has posed as a Dwarf entertainer before and he knows some of the secret passages of the Red Keep Tyrion is scheming to gain Lannisport back

[@mysteryjunkie9808]

Name Bronn to the Kingsguard lmao 😅

[@StrayKing]

Haha that would actually be kind of awesome!

[@alphagamer9505]

I can imagine now Loras and Renly in the Night's Watch, they both use their houses names to be sent to the Same Castle away from Castle Black where they start a Love affair Eventually they are caught and decide to flee To Beyond the Wall to live the rest of their lives together as Lovers without the pressures of Society Finally Free to Love at Last

[@Ardenator1]

Wonderful. Great twists you decided on there. Very game of thrones. Now it's time to conquer the stepstones and the city of Tyrosh to fully establish the lord paramouncy of the narrow sea!

[@lorigagyi3526]

All the big players with claims stationed at the watch in the North while Robb is planning on rebelling could make for some interesting scenario. The Imp already seemed to influence him:))) If the liberty faction is about to fire you could set up so the old guard is back together:)))

[@slimmdusty8809]

Having a mercenary company basically take over the westerlands is actually a cool idea.

[@OmarAbuGhosh-sl7ij]

I think you should try to seduce deanerys, it lines up with monford (being arrogant, beautiful, great warrior and spurned by maergery) then when her children w monford and children with jon grow up it will set up a second dance of the dragons

[@Menace..]

Should’ve kept Tyrion’s heir as heir and educated him in KL with you. Do the big shake up in the stormlands where it makes more sense 😊

[@lordfox2139]

Do you have a save file start for this??

[@beat-it-toots]

another banger. almost there with the 10k!

[@StrayKing]

Very close now!!

[@unreal306]

Make Baratheons lords of the Penrose seat and have them sworn to Driftmark as they will be loyal to Renlys friend

[@AkodoGarou]

Did I miss something? WHat happened to his previous Spymaster, Malfrin? But this is a compact and tight story, and it all works! Did you have a hand in who was selected for Daenerys council, since I dont think I saw that piece during this video.

[@StrayKing]

Malric died at the end of ‘Stormborn’. I didn’t select Daenerys council other than using our guaranteed council position to become Hand.

[@AkodoGarou]

@@StrayKing Ahh I missed that part. But I'm surprised those contracts dont get reset, for a new dynasty. But gotcha, and thank you for answering!

[@deankirkby8047]

I can see a succession crisis between Jons elder children and his younger ones with daenaerys. One supported by a curtain Valarian House with bloodties to the elder claimant. Daenaerys won the throne as a foreigner with dragons and an army, Jon won the North and was key politically. The truth of Jon’s lineage came to nothing as the love for Renly was too strong but for legitimacy it was necessary. Reminder by right of direct male descendants Jon’s sons should come first.

[@Rikard_A]

I think Daenerys will be come Queen the same way as haw Charles II Stuart became king of England. Or how the captian king became kings of France. People will remeber the good time and the stavility we see also an icreasing religous persecution in Westeros. This is how Oliver Cromwell governed but also the religous wars in france. I think also how Henry Bourboun is a way how Daenerys will be restored to the throne of Westros.

[@viewer8734]

How did 70 prowess Randyll die while a bunch of nobodies survived😭😭😭??? Also you got to play as him when dragons are added into the game

[@ShadowWolfRising]

I think we should recruit him, get him married, and see what happens from there. Our Boy has an eye for Talent after all. He's basically Valyrian Big Boss. Sandor too if he's still around. CoughandwunwunCough Anyway I say we focus on grabbing the Stepstones and landing our homies, anyone of Non-Westerosi Culture should also get cultural protections just for fun (And for added fun, any Pirates you don't recruit or random that you capture should be sent to The Wall. It'd be funny as hell.). Finally, I think we should start looking towards our Faith, in that is Church of the Seven really for House Velaryon?

[@unreal306]

1 nitpick is the Carons and Selmys would *never* accept the Dornish especially as marcher lords

[@StrayKing]

I’m aware, but that’s precisely the point; Caron and Selma will be too distracted in conflict either their new Dornish overlords to support any Stormlands Rebellion. That’s the idea, anyways.

[@adityabuchade411]

I think it would've been better is lord masterly married a lady of high birth it would've given him some legitimacy maybe someone from westerlands or maybe one of your daughter also plz change Dany's outfit can't look at her in anything except black and red

[@gavinboyne3131]

This series and your others are extremely enjoyable to watch. A suggestion though would be to shorten the script slightly, you have a habit of belaboring a point at times which shortens the amount of gameplay and progression we get to go through per episode (for example with this episode, the first tick of gameplay happens after 30 minutes when the set-up could've been done in 10-15 mins). Other than this, keep up the great work! One of the most unique CK3 AGOT Channels on youtube and certainly my favorite!

[@StrayKing]

The videos are all completely unscripted; unfortunately I just don’t have time for extensive preparation so it’s basically just me ad-libbing the whole time. Definitely doesn’t make for concise videos but that’s about all I’ve got time for right now. Totally understand the feedback though.

[@gavinboyne3131]

@@StrayKing Makes it even more epic that you're managing such great content without a script! Keep it up my friend!

[@StrayKing]

@@gavinboyne3131 Haha thanks! Yeah these are all live reactions as I'm playing the game 😁

[@HeadOnJackwards]

Love all of this but absolutely disagree with the Ned decision. I don’t believe Jon Snow would ever let her do that, considering he was about to be her husband. Surely he would be rewarded for keeping the last Targaryen/her brothers son alive safe? rather than punished.

[@StrayKing]

I dunno, I think it made sense. Ned went to face punishment knowing what might happen. Taking the Black allows him to retain his honour and live, while still letting his son take his place. Felt pretty fitting to me I think.

[@HeadOnJackwards]

@@StrayKing It’s interesting! I just don’t buy it, seems so unreasonable he’d receive the same punishment as Loras and Renly when him choosing to stay neutral probably benefitted Dany quite a bit, and the additional context of Jon Snow, i don’t see him ever being happy with that decision to then marry her

[@StrayKing]

Hmm, but also think about it from Ned’s perspective; he broke his oath to his king to stay out of the war, and even though it was the right thing to do to protect the North, I think he might have felt unable to be Lord of Winterfell after such actions. It could be that it was an almost voluntary punishment?

[@benadgatemusic]

thank you for giving loras and renly a happy ending ❤ what a great way to end pride month

[@StrayKing]

🥳🏳️‍🌈

[@EpicBurritto]

I personally think that Monford shouldnt have been rewarded nothing but gold to build spicetown and have his paramouncy stripped cause he did just usurp Targareyan lands and titles of the heir to the kingdom whilst they were exiled and supported Dany only for his own ego and gain power for himself and not because he is loyal. And it would be fitting for an arrogant guy like him to think that he will be rewarded greatly for his participation but not actually getting much cause he didnt do it for the right reasons. Also what happend to the Boltons cause they sided with renly, and if Ned gets sent to the wall for fighting against a tyrannical madman 30 years ago then im assuming Boltons got some punishment as well.

[@StrayKing]

Thankfully Daenarys can’t read minds, so Monford’s intentions are a moot point. His vast fleet of ships and armies helping her during the war, and being one of the first and most powerful Westerosi lords to join her probably played more of a factor. Beyond that, Monford gave Dragonstone back to Daernarys so ‘usurping’ the Targaryen seat isn’t a factor since he gave it back willingly. As for Roose Bolton… I don’t really remember it being Ned, Robert, and Roose as the leaders of the rebellion 😋 besides that, I wasn’t going to go and deal with every single lord personally, just a couple of the most important one. Nevertheless, totally understand that folks have different opinions of how things might go.

[@EpicBurritto]

@@StrayKingyeah i understand why the decisions that you made were made i was just expressing my opinion. Also i wasnt talking about boltons punisment for roberts rebellion but for siding with Renly against Dany and being one of the few northern houses to even participate in the war. I really have enjoyed this series hope you keep it going after monford dies

[@josephadams3917]

Please upgrade your siege equipment.

[@billychops1280]

I must say some of these changes probably wouldn’t last long realistically, in the short term and as forms of punishment they make sense, but like the Stormlands being deprived of so much land I feel would cause rebellions, the islands make sense, but to give the marcher lords to their sworn Dornish enemies is definitely a recipe for disaster, also the Masterly’s now controlling the Westerlands is also a stretch, those proud western lords would definitely plot to put a Lannister back in charge over what they would consider “some up jumped mercenary captain.

[@StrayKing]

Copying this from my response to another comment so it might not all apply to yours, but it seems pertinent! Giving a portion of the Dornish Marches to Dorne signifies the trust Daenarys has in Dorne, securely the loyalty Lady Sariah; it also focuses Houses Caron and Selmy more on their conflict with Dorne than on any kind of Baratheon resurgence. Regardless of whether House Penrose was loyal to the Baratheon's in the past, they were one of the lords who sided with Daenarys against the Baratheons; it's pretty clear where their current loyalties lie. Beyond that, it once again refocuses any former Baratheon loyalists more on their own internal conflict than challenging Daenarys reign, giving her much needed time to consolidate the lands more loyal to her rather than having a united Stormlands with a young Baratheon who has a claim to the throne and nobody between them and King's Landing. Giving the Golden Company the Westerlands could also be a tactical decision; there were no lords in the Westerlands who supported Daenarys, and so there was always going to be conflict there in the first place. Instead of giving the Westerlands to a Westerlands lord who might rally them all against her in favor of the Lannisters, she puts a loyal man there instead. Not just a loyal man, but a man with a massive army of mercenaries when the forces of the Westerlands were utterly crushed in the Battle of Mummer's Ford. Even if the Westerlands lords dared to band together again against Daenarys (which would be hard to imagine considering how badly they were crushed), they'd have to fight through the Golden Company, siege down the nigh unsiegeable Casterly Rock, and then fight through the forts of the loyal House Tully that now guards the entrance to the Westerlands. Highly unlikely they'd be able to find any kind of success under those circumstances, and even if they did, they wouldn't be able to do so before the combined forces of Daenarys' loyalists came down upon them. Placing Samwell Tarly as the Lord Paramount indeed isn't necessarily the 'best' decision, but it's not completely without merit. Randyll Tarly was leading the Reach forces during the rebellion, and while in this timeline Sam is still much as we know him from the books, the Tarly name still carries some weight. Beyond that, it puts the Lords of the Reach in an interesting position, because with a seemingly weak Lord but a well-respected House as Lord Paramount, they may have trouble actively acting against him; instead, they'd all be plotting against each other to try to manipulate the situation to their advantage, once again distracting them from any potential actions against Daenarys herself. I'm sure it's possible to poke holes in all of this, but my point is that it all comes down to perspective and framing; I don't think it's as clear cut good/bad as it might seem at a glance.

[@billychops1280]

@@StrayKing right but that just seems like Daenerys is avoiding direct rebellions against herself by setting up any potential ones against her most loyal allies, which is kinda screwing them over knowingly, it’s no secret that the majority of the stormalnds and reach hate the Dornish and vice versa, there will definitely be conflict by placing them under see the Martells, as for the Westerlnads, what you said is true, but as David Seaworth explains to Stannis, once Lord Celtigars remaining men surrender after the Blackwater, you cannot blame soldiers for their loyalty to their lords. It’s the same with the westerlands, the smaller lords followed the lord paramount who followed the king, Punishing Tyrion makes sense since he made the choice to support Renly, but punishing the westerlands in their entirety by placing that sellsword captain in charge is a bit much, I agree with the Gold Road and Hornvale Changes though, rewarding house Tully Makes sense. But there’s still discontent which may be used by powerful lords like Robb stark to rebel, like u said, and much of the former lands we talked about might join him.

[@StrayKing]

That’s true, but I think it’s all about giving Daenerys time; those discontented lords aren’t going to be eager for more wars, but putting them in positions of power just gives them an easier time if they do rebel. This way Daenerys can consolidate her alliances, while putting her most trusted vassals in charge of key areas of discontent; Lady Sariah and Lord Penrose handling the Stormlands, and the Golden Company and House Tully handling the Westerlands. Jon can try to help her with Robb in the North, which leaves just the Iron Islands unaccounted for. It’s also important to keep in mind that she needed big rewards for those who helped her to keep the loyal. Dorne didn’t help out of kindness, and the Golden Company wasn’t ever going to be content with a couple minor castles. It might not be a perfect plan, but I think there’s enough there to make it make sense imo.

[@billychops1280]

@@StrayKing but you might be overlooking the fact that many of those lords helped Daenerys because they didn’t like Renly and were hoping for rewards, so they were pushed by ambition as well as past grievances from the wars of Renly and America waters/Lannister.

[@wildertacklehdkek3309]

Obv Jon would have wanted ned to be free

[@sampsjt]

I don't think sending Ned to the wall was a good decision, with the truth about Jon in the open I believe Ned would have told Daenerys the truth about everything. He did rise up against her father but his own father and brother had been unjustly killed. They're two houses are bound in blood through Jon which makes him even more loyal. Sending him to the Wall only serves to form a wedge between the North and the Crown, however while Jon lives and is consort to the Queen I don't think Rob would do anything too rash. I am taking a lot of liberties on how these characters would act as my only basis for character knowledge is the show, but Rob did seem to truly accept Jon as his brother.

[@StrayKing]

I think that's a reasonable point, but one thing I think is worth considering is that Jon and Ned's relationship might have cooled after Jon's true parentage was revealed; rather than Ned getting a chance to tell him, Jon found it out from the rumors that came from Howland Reed. I don't think that would lead to hate or anything but definitely a bit of resentment. I think the conflict that sending Ned to the Wall creates under those circumstances has a bit of a GRRM feel, at least to me!

[@safruddinaly5822]

I think you should give more reign to the AI on reign after the war, the unpredictability is needed i think not only narrative, thank you for the video and stay healthy 🙏👍

[@StrayKing]

I do like unpredictability, I just find in some of these big moments there’s nice opportunities to shape the next bit of the story in some interesting ways. Sometimes the AI just keeps things too ‘status quo’, especially in this mod. Thanks for the comment though!

[@thesaurus9226]

@@StrayKing Maybe reload and watch the war end a few times, making note of the AI's most common behaviours. You can then combine that with your own narrative for what makes the most sense.

[@josephadams3917]

Someone he will answer back. Please get him to update his siege equipment. He doesn't want the seige to last forever its very simple. Get some seige equipment come on man He been playing this game forever He should know

[@StrayKing]

Dude I’ve got like 6 levels of the highest tier siege equipment??? I spent 400 gold during the war upgrading it.

[@josephadams3917]

@@StrayKing Create a accolade with the besieger trait

[@motherofdragons19]

i love it all except tyrell being diminished seems too drastic imo

[@StrayKing]

I was really on the fence, but I think with Loras being one of Renly's biggest supporters, and having most of the Reach rise up against them to support Daenarys it just seemed fitting to switch things up there. Now if Willas had supported Daenarys against Renly/Loras, I definitely could see him being made LP.

[@viewer8734]

The reach had been supporting Targs for all their previous wars except this one so I do understand where this is coming from

[@nelsonpcarr]

Just celebrate a feast and you will heal all the stress

[@anthonysunseri1865]

Okay, the Marcher lords being granted to Dorne is a really terrible idea. For context, the Carons and Selmy's have traditionally been the buffer for the Stormlands from Dornish raids, and the Carons have even been nearly wiped out from Dornishmen before. Giving them to their worst enemies is not only an insult, but is a decision that could result in a dozen rebellions for showing how inept and stupid of a liege Daenerys is. And House Penrose as Lord Paramount is a terrible idea because those lads are canonically Baratheon loyalists through and through, no matter how stupid the AI is. The Golden Company getting the Westerlands is also pretty dumb. Being granted few castles and fiefs to use as bases would have been fine, but putting a Mercenary captain as Lord Paramount? That's going to create a bunch of problems with minor lords and high lords alike who would just feel insulted, and once again would think putting this women on the throne was a terrible idea. They're mercenaries, they don't get treated like kings. Samwell Tarly as Lord Paramount is something I was not expecting. It's funny, but also once again probably a bad idea for different reasons. He's a good man, definitely one of the kindest man in Game of Thrones, but he does not have a head for politics. If he had supporters and great councilors backing him while he was left to his own devices, he would make a decent Lord Paramount. But the issue is there are a lot more houses in the Reach that has better claims to Highgarden than he does, and the vultures are swooping.

[@StrayKing]

I think there's reasonable explanations for all of this. Giving a portion of the Dornish Marches to Dorne signifies the trust Daenarys has in Dorne, securely the loyalty Lady Sariah; it also focuses Houses Caron and Selmy more on their conflict with Dorne than on any kind of Baratheon resurgence. Regardless of whether House Penrose was loyal to the Baratheon's in the past, they were one of the lords who sided with Daenarys against the Baratheons; it's pretty clear where their current loyalties lie. Beyond that, it once again refocuses any former Baratheon loyalists more on their own internal conflict than challenging Daenarys reign, giving her much needed time to consolidate the lands more loyal to her rather than having a united Stormlands with a young Baratheon who has a claim to the throne and nobody between them and King's Landing. Giving the Golden Company the Westerlands could also be a tactical decision; there were no lords in the Westerlands who supported Daenarys, and so there was always going to be conflict there in the first place. Instead of giving the Westerlands to a Westerlands lord who might rally them all against her in favor of the Lannisters, she puts a loyal man there instead. Not just a loyal man, but a man with a massive army of mercenaries when the forces of the Westerlands were utterly crushed in the Battle of Mummer's Ford. Even if the Westerlands lords dared to band together again against Daenarys (which would be hard to imagine considering how badly they were crushed), they'd have to fight through the Golden Company, siege down the nigh unsiegeable Casterly Rock, and then fight through the forts of the loyal House Tully that now guards the entrance to the Westerlands. Highly unlikely they'd be able to find any kind of success under those circumstances, and even if they did, they wouldn't be able to do so before the combined forces of Daenarys' loyalists came down upon them. Placing Samwell Tarly as the Lord Paramount indeed isn't necessarily the 'best' decision, but it's not completely without merit. Randyll Tarly was leading the Reach forces during the rebellion, and while in this timeline Sam is still much as we know him from the books, the Tarly name still carries some weight. Beyond that, it puts the Lords of the Reach in an interesting position, because with a seemingly weak Lord but a well-respected House as Lord Paramount, they may have trouble actively acting against him; instead, they'd all be plotting against each other to try to manipulate the situation to their advantage, once again distracting them from any potential actions against Daenarys herself. I'm sure it's possible to poke holes in all of this, but my point is that it all comes down to perspective and framing; I don't think it's as clear cut good/bad as it might seem at a glance.