CK3: Meaning of Landed & Unlanded Characters
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Landed and unlanded refers to whether a character currently owns any titles.
Landed characters can be rulers or vassals. Unlanded characters can be guests, courtiers, wanderers, or Lowborn.
What Are Landed Characters?
Landed characters currently hold land. That means they own a title, either by inheriting it from family, conquering land, or being granted it by a ruler.
![A landed character with multiple titles / CK3](https://static.fandomspot.com/images/08/47793/01-ck3-a-landed-character-with-multiple-titles.jpg)
A landed character rules over counties directly, often upgrading individual holdings like castles and churches. They can also control armies.
![The upgrade and construct screen for players / Crusader Kings III](https://static.fandomspot.com/images/08/47793/02-ck3-the-upgrade-and-construct-screen-for-players.jpg)
Landed characters belong to a dynasty, and they must have heirs in order to pass on their titles properly.
Players without heirs will lose the game.
![A player heir and his future inheritance / CK3](https://static.fandomspot.com/images/08/47793/03-ck3-a-player-heir-and-his-future-inheritance.jpg)
There are also characters with higher tier titles, like duke, king, or emperor. At these tiers, characters may have vassals, who are all minor landed characters themselves.
In CK3, you always play a landed character!
![The vassals menu in the player’s character window with a duke and two counts shown / Crusader Kings III](https://static.fandomspot.com/images/08/47793/04-ck3-the-vassals-menu-in-the-players-character-window.jpg)
What Are Unlanded Characters?
Unlanded characters do not currently own any land. This includes heirs who will inherit titles in the future.
![An unlanded character, who is part of a dynasty / CK3](https://static.fandomspot.com/images/08/47793/05-ck3-an-unlanded-character-who-is-part-of-a-dynasty.jpg)
Unlanded characters may have a dynasty or they may be Lowborn. This depends on their parents.
![A lowborn character, who does not have a dynasty / Crusader Kings III](https://static.fandomspot.com/images/08/47793/06-ck3-a-lowborn-character.jpg)
These characters usually exist at the courts of landed characters as Courtiers.
Courtiers can be involved in events, hired as councilors, married, or a range of other options.
![The courtiers menu in the player’s character window with a knight and bishop / CK3](https://static.fandomspot.com/images/08/47793/07-ck3-the-courtiers-menu-in-the-players-character-window.jpg)
Unlanded characters have no land, no holdings, and most of the time no armies.
You will never play an unlanded character in CK3 without modding.
Wandering Characters
Wandering characters are always unlanded, although they can be dynasty members or Lowborn.
Wanderers are not tied to a specific court and can move around. They will ask rulers to help them press claims or provide other services.
![A wandering character who is not tied to a court / Crusader Kings III](https://static.fandomspot.com/images/08/47793/08-ck3-a-wandering-character.jpg)
Wanderers visiting your court are called guests.
You can pay them to stay as courtiers and give them a role, like councilor, champion, or antiquarian.
![A guest in the player’s court / CK3](https://static.fandomspot.com/images/08/47793/09-ck3-a-guest-in-the-players-court.jpg)
If you don’t give your unlanded heirs anything to do, they may become wanderers too! Be careful, because they can return with armies or stir up other trouble.
![Guests who will leave soon / Crusader Kings III](https://static.fandomspot.com/images/08/47793/10-ck3-guests-who-will-leave-soon.jpg)