In the end, the big problem with revolts in the Middle Ages was that many of the people who turned against you were part of your non-professional army that came from recruitment from the city's population. This left you weak and opened gaps in your defense.

That's an interesting idea that unfortunately could only be implemented indirectly and with significant complexity. Thanks for your suggestion, anyways!

Publicado originalmente por Cardolam:

That's an interesting idea that unfortunately could only be implemented indirectly and with significant complexity. Thanks for your suggestion, anyways!

if when a revolt is happening in a faction you see an event that reduces its military collection force in proportion

My humble suggestion:

If a Male Byzantine Emperor reaches 40 years old without a co-emperor, he should select one from the following by default, in order of priority (and with a weighted candidate score from highest to lowest):

- the eldest born in the purple living male child
- the eldest born in the purple living female child
- the eldest male child
- the eldest female child if no male children
- The eldest adopted son.

As soon as a Female Byzantine Empress ascends the throne, she should associate her rule with a man and select her co-emperor within a year from, in order of priority:

- her eldest adult born in the purple living male child
- her eldest adult living eligible male child
- her husband
- her eldest living underaged male child

Right now, imperial succession feels more like free-for-all papal elections than genuine roman acclamations. The consequence is that the throne tends to ping-pong between Dynasties.

But ascending to the purple under normal circumstances was not an election: filiation still mattered. Emperors should strive to hedge their bets to keep the crown inside their dynasty. In real life, they did so through copious use of co-emperors.

Basically, under normal circumstances the only realistic way to become the Emperor should be because the throne is available due to the sheer absence or lack of suitable heirs, claimant factions civil wars, or through getting close to them, puppeting them and usurping them. As it used to be in the Byzantine Empire in the good old days.

Families who hold the Imperial title should pull no punches to try to keep hold of it inside the Dynasty, including getting rid of claimants who could be a threat.

I have more suggestions for a future Administrative overhaul but for now, this should be enough to induce the Emperor AI to keep the throne inside the family.

Thanks for your detailed suggestion @Drakken.

I am not familiar with the mechanics of administrative realms but perhaps there is already in place a score to evaluate who are the candidates and their chance of becoming emperors? If so, what you propose can be implemented in a timely manner. Otherwise it is a complex implementation that can easily be a very interesting mod into itself.

Lets see what Paradox does over the next few months regarding this. Also keeping a lookout on what modders do.

Seems it is even simpler to mod it than expected. Here is the code that controls AI co-emperors:

i_wants_junior_or_co_emperor_modifier = {
# Opinion.
opinion_modifier = { opinion_target = scope:secondary_recipient }
# Personality.
ai_value_modifier = { ai_energy = 1 }
# Traits.
## +++ Lazy
modifier = {
add = 30
has_trait = lazy
}
## +++ Humble
modifier = {
add = 30
has_trait = humble
}
## ++ Generous
modifier = {
add = 20
has_trait = generous
}
## ++ Trusting
modifier = {
add = 20
has_trait = trusting
}
## Content, arrogant, and ambitious are all weird ones: you want to do the job yourself, but your legacy is important to you _OR_ you don't mind too much who's doing the job but probably are quite chill about what happens next also.
### Erred towards _slight_ values here, with no conditionals, for simplicity vs. something more complex that means we checks a bunch of qualifiers to see trait + condition.
#### + Content
modifier = {
add = 10
has_trait = content
}
#### - Arrogant
modifier = {
add = -10
has_trait = arrogant
}
#### - Ambitious
modifier = {
add = -10
has_trait = ambitious
}
## -- Greedy
modifier = {
add = -20
has_trait = greedy
}
## -- Diligent
modifier = {
add = -20
has_trait = diligent
}
## --- Paranoid
modifier = {
add = -30
has_trait = paranoid
}
# Age.
## The older we get, the more palatable this becomes.
first_valid = {
modifier = {
add = 120
age >= 80
}
modifier = {
add = 100
age >= 75
}
modifier = {
add = 80
age >= 70
}
modifier = {
add = 60
age >= 65
}
modifier = {
add = 40
age >= 60
}
modifier = {
add = 20
age >= 55
}
}
}

According to the code the AI must be 50 or older to even consider a co-emperor or a junior co-emperor. Then the most prevalent logic. Score needs to add up over 100 to overcome the base = -100.

It is historically ridiculous. Byzantine Emperors started looking for a co-emperor as soon as they could. I propose the modded code in the next post.

Without checking your latest post with the code, it sounds you are right on the spot. I'll add something along the lines you post to next Friday release. Thanks for the helping and guiding hand!

For players only (if possible at all)

Could a revolt lower development and perhaps damage buildings? and decrease vassal opinion or general opinion for xx years?

And could peasant levies have increased toughness and damage? -perhaps not realistic but would add some challenge instead of just being a minor annoyance

If revolts lowered development we would reach 1453 at level 10 development everywhere. It also doesn't work alright with Dark Ages own implementations regarding development. Decreasing Vassal opinion would be feasible, yes.

At this point I am much more concerned with the blobbing capabilities of Administrative Realms, though...

Publicado originalmente por Cardolam:

If revolts lowered development we would reach 1453 at level 10 development everywhere. It also doesn't work alright with Dark Ages own implementations regarding development. Decreasing Vassal opinion would be feasible, yes.

At this point I am much more concerned with the blobbing capabilities of Administrative Realms, though...

With the Administrative dissolution and independence mod, plus the mod curtailing the rights of vassals to declare war, I have no blobbing problem in my current Byzantine game.

AI went for Egypt on its own and conquered it, then soon entered into a protracted civil war because the Emperor did stuff that tanked his Legitimacy. Then part Egypt revolted and declared independence.

in other words, business as usual in the East.

Good stuff!

Can you elaborate on the name of the " mod curtailing the rights of vassals to declare war"?

Publicado originalmente por Cardolam:

Good stuff!

Can you elaborate on the name of the " mod curtailing the rights of vassals to declare war"?

Administrative Vassal War Prevention, on Workshop.

I also use Administrative Dissolution AND Independence

Publicado originalmente por Drakken:

Publicado originalmente por Cardolam:

Good stuff!

Can you elaborate on the name of the " mod curtailing the rights of vassals to declare war"?

Administrative Vassal War Prevention, on Workshop.

I also use Administrative Dissolution AND Independence

Sure, I found the other one. Thanks!

Hey, here are 3 suggestions from my experiences with the mod:

1. the generated rulers of newly granted provinces die way too quick before they are able to reproduce. Maybe they can start young only, with heirs already or with a timed health bonus
2. dread feels almost worthless, as events where the population wants to kill you occur quite often. Maybe the events can be softened?
3. invitations to sex orgies happen too often for my flavour

4. I enjoy the mod