Dev diary 67 - Grace system changes
This will be a rather long one. Some missing/weird localization will be in the screenshots below, and some things mentioned here are still a bit WIP; I don't expect major changes to functionality at this point.
As you most likely know, Tianxia already makes use of the Grace system from Jade Dragon, with a few changes. When 14.0.0 releases, the changes will be quite more extensive. Let's start with some general changes:
- First of all, vassals and below of China will now be able to use many of the previously existing Tributes and Boons. This means that vassals now have more of an incentive to not e.g. get caught murdering relatives of the EoC as the Grace penalty matters, and it also means that becoming a subject of China doesn't mean you can't spend your Grace any longer, to name some obvious benefits. Additionally, characters sent by vassals and below of China are
not disinherited (except for eunuchs, as that's inherent in the Eunuch trait) or forced to get a divorce/set aside concubines, so while there are some risks to losing control of them sending a very skilled heir to serve as a commander of physician isn't necessarily a terrible idea.
- Secondly, the Grace system has been a bit restricted when it comes to other realms. A loophole allowing tributaries of other Chinese Imperial lieges to interact with the Grace system has been closed, for one thing. For another, only independent rulers, king-tier vassals, permanent regents, Grand Chancellors, and powerful vassals of independent rulers can now make use of the system; after all, if you're some lesser subject of a barbarian realm, you'd be lucky to even get an audience with the most junior of junior court officials (and it also helps keep spam down a bit, gives you an incentive to grow in power, and helps a bit with performance).
- Thirdly, the EoC cannot accept any Tributes or grant about any Boons if inaccessible or incapable, and rulers that are inaccessible, imprisoned, or under a regent (permanent or otherwise) cannot use the system. This should make things more sensible.
- Fourthly, the game rule to disable the Grace system has been removed, as has the ability to disable specific Tributes/Boons (declining is still possible, but not always advisable). The system is meant to be used, and is now more tied to assorted other things (e.g. the Mandate of Heaven mechanic).
- Fifthly, the Chinese interest groups might now mess with some things. Most notably, a powerful Grand Chancellor will get to tell the EoC whether to accept/refuse something (in exchange for prestige), forcing the EoC to pay prestige if he goes against the GC's will and (if the GC is fully empowered) getting a discontent council if he goes against the GC and also being perceived as a tyrant.
- Sixthly, the EoC's Mandate rating now affects the Grace gained for different Tributes (lower Mandate = higher gain), and the EoC's Mandate rating now impacts the AI's willingness to use the system in more ways (higher Mandate = the AI is more likely to humour China's pretensions).
- Seventhly, characters sent to China will no longer accept court invites, and the EoC will reward the full amount of Grace even if he re-gifts someone (or something).
- Eighthly, in addition to only a tenth of a character's Grace being inherited if it's negative (already in the game), only a fifth of a character's Grace will be inherited if it's positive, which means that anyone with a dangerous amount of Grace perhaps can have an "accident" (and also means that if you want powerful Boons you have to commit to it). However, pretender emperors now pass on all negative Grace, instead of only ten percent.
- Ninthly, anyone following the Aztec or Yupaychaspa religions (reformed or unreformed), that is an Aztec culture emperor of the Aztec Empire, that is a Quechua culture emperor of the Inca Empire, or that is a vassal or below of any of such liege is unable to use the Grace system, to avoid certain silliness.
- Finally, various bits of AI logic, various Grace costs/gains, and assorted other things have been overhauled, and the AI has also been switched to check things on some on_action (mostly an offset on_five_year_pulse) rather than using decisions as that saves on performance.
Now, on to Tributes and Boons, both old and new:
- The Send Gift Tribute now costs one year of scaled wealth OR 500 gold (whichever is higher). However, for each Eunuch or Courtier law not in the EoC's favour some of that money vanishes into thin air -- both to prevent "Murder the recipient to get the money" ploys and to symbolize less important people getting a cut -- and some will be given to a Council Eunuch and/or an important courtier (e.g. one of the EoC's consorts).
- Religion heads and appropriate lieges of the Tenno and the Ryukyuan knockoff can no longer offer to become a tributary voluntarily. The Tribute is largely unchanged otherwise, and obviously does not work for subjects of China.
- It is no longer possible to offer a member of the Imperial Family or the family of the Ryukyuan knockoff as an eunuch if you should care. The EoC's dynasty members are likewise not possible to send. "Loyal servant" eunuchs gifted by the eunuch merchant can be sent (and remain loyal servants of the sender...), as can your unlanded prisoners, and the bar has been considerably lowered on suitability (though the Grace gain for a bad eunuch is pretty bad). Finally, China will not re-gift eunuchs to subjects.
- It is no longer possible to offer a member of the Imperial Family or the family of the Ryukyuan knockoff as a concubine if you should care. The EoC's siblings, ancestors, and descendants are likewise off the table. Attractive women and non-Homosexual Master Seductresses can be sent even if they are not related to anyone of note. You may now send your own lovers, but they're fairly likely to break up with you. Characters that care about keeping things in the family will now consider this when offering concubines, at least in AI hands.
- It is now possible to send event-spawned female commanders to China, as well as anyone with a Martial education (as opposed to always requiring 12+ Martial). The decision is otherwise largely unchanged.
- Foreigners can no longer send physicians if they've got a disease in their realm, and subjects of China need a disease-free demesne. China would likely suspect foul play otherwise.
- Relief Expeditions have been removed, as they worked rather weirdly in various ways.
- Anyone that should care about the Imperial Regalia of Japan should now avoid offering it to the EoC. The EoC will also be willing to accept ingredients if he's someone that could make use of them (i.e. a fellow Hermetic), though will probably not give you a lot for them. Additionally, anyone with a claim on e_china will not be able to send the Heirloom Seal of the Realm to China, for reasons that should be obvious.
- Vassals and below of China may now offer to hand over a non-de jure (because the AI otherwise would hand it right back...) county to the EoC in exchange for Grace. Perhaps a good way to get rid of counties claimed by rivals if vassal warfare is on the table...
- Independent rulers may now renounce ALL (non-de jure non-religious) claims on any titles held by the EoC or his vassals, and subjects of the EoC may renounce ALL (non-de jure) claims on titles personally held by the EoC.
- It is now possible to offer to renounce a Favor held on the EoC in exchange for Grace. The AI always accepts (and an AI GC always recommends accepting), as Grace generally is less dangerous than Favors.
- If Reaper's Due is active, vassals and below of China with at least one county with positive Prosperity can offer to transfer one level of Prosperity from a random (preferably non-capital) province to another province (preferring the EoC's capital, the EoC's demesne, and finally other realm lords' provinces).
- Characters in the same society as the EoC can now offer to transfer some society currency in exchange for Grace. Should this society be a secret society the GC does not get to make a recommendation unless he also is part of the same secret society.
- Vassals and below of China can now offer to use their own influence (read: Prestige) to boost the EoC's Mandate rating as a new Tribute. This costs the greater of 1000 prestige or one year of prestige income.
- Religion heads and any liege of the Tenno or the Ryukyuan knockoff that should care can no longer ask to increase their tributary tier. China can of course "suggest" it, but these rulers will always choose war if pressed.
- Independent rulers can now offer a Border Adjustment in China's favour in exchange for a ten year truce. Religion heads and any liege of the Tenno or the Ryukyuan knockoff that should care are unable to do this, and the AI will not offer up de jure territory even if it's Chinese land.
- A new Boon to Request a Truce has been added, available if being attacked by China. Invalidates the relevant war and applies a ten year bidirectional truce. Useful if China is unwilling to grant a Peace Deal or you could not afford one in time.
- Chinese Peace Deals are now a bit more expensive. Tributaries of China cannot ask for Peace Deals any longer (they can still get them from Imperial Marriages), as they're obviously in no danger of being attacked by China (unless they get uppity when China graciously offers them a higher tributary tier). The duration of a peace deal (from this Boon or from an Imperial Marriage) has also been lowered to 25 years (was 50).
- The Request Trade Contract Boon has been removed, as it worked rather weirdly in various ways.
- Vassals and below of China can now request a Favor from the EoC as a Boon. They can also request that the EoC forgets all about them owing a Favor.
- Feudal (is_feudal = yes) vassals and below of China can now use a new Boon to request a county for themselves or a friend/lover/relative (with some limitations), assuming there's an eligible county. Unless vassals are too empowered, the EoC might take a county from a vassal or below that can spare one instead, but he will be expected to give them something in exchange (money, Grace, or a Favor) to not be perceived as a tyrant by the person whose county was taken. You cannot be told you've got to give yourself a county, but the EoC can potentially tell you that if you think your idiot nephew deserves a county you should give him one of yours, and if that happens (it's not overly likely if there are other candidates that aren't from the EoC's dynasty and that aren't his friends or lovers) you're not due any compensation because the EoC is just doing what you asked.
- Imperial Marriages now cost Grace for vassals and below of China (they previously cost Gold). There's a small chance of getting an interesting non-imperial bride instead if you're not a vassal or below of China. Republics and Theocracies need not apply, regardless of whether they are part of China or not. Any resulting peace deal now only lasts for 25 years rather than 50, and if the bride is non-imperial there is no peace deal.
- The Boons for Chinese Physicians, Siege Engineers, Strategists, Scholar-Bureaucrats, and Master Engineers are impossible to refuse if a vassal or below of China asks; they can probably find some lower court official that's willing to work for them, and as Boons go they're pretty harmless.
- The cost of a Border Adjustment in your favour has been increased considerably.
- Vassals and below of China have gotten a new Boon allowing them to request that the EoC fires a specific councillor. The cost depends on the target, is cheaper for the GC, and cannot be refused if a fully empowered GC asks.
- Vassals of China with the ambition to become a Grand Chancellor can now spend a massive amount of Grace to fulfill the ambition. As with the prestige-based decision, this cannot be refused.
- Vassals of China can now request to be made a commander, being impossible to fire for ten years if the Boon is granted. This is probably not terribly useful for the player, considering the risks if you're a crappy commander and that your liege probably will ask if you're a good commander, but it should potentially result in China getting some not-so-stellar commanders it can't get rid of easily.
- Vassals and below of China can now ask that the EoC renounces any (non-de jure) claims on their titles. This Boon is cheaper for the GC, can't be refused for the GC if the GC is fully empowered, can't be refused for powerful vassals if vassals are fairly influential, and can't be refused for any vassals if vassals are fully empowered.
- Vassals and below of China can now request Imperial Praise as a new Boon. This increases the opinion of your vassals, the EoC's vassals, and the EoC's councillors. This Boon is cheaper for the GC, can't be refused for the GC if the GC is fully empowered, can't be refused for powerful vassals if vassals are fairly influential, and can't be refused for any vassals if vassals are fully empowered.
- Asking to decrease your tributary tier is now more expensive as a Client State or Protectorate, particularly if China is interested in keeping you around.
- Vassals and below of China can now request artefacts as a Boon. This cannot be refused for vassals and below (as it's largely harmless). The cost has been slightly increased, the EoC now pays a flat cost for the artefact and no longer gets to pick what to send (because it gets tedious to go through the "menu"), and the artefact's quality will tend to be a bit higher if the EoC's Mandate rating is higher. There's also a fairly large number of additional artefacts you can get, all of them books.
- As hinted at in the last dev diary, vassals and below of China can ask the EoC to let them end an ongoing mourning period early. Unlike other Boons, this Boon
can be requested during a regency if said regency is caused by you being in mourning.
There are also some related changes for the EoC:
- A decision to Bestow Grace (costing Prestige) has been added. This gives 200/500/1000 Grace (depending on real_tier, with the GC counting as a king regardless of tier) to the target realm lord and increases their opinion of you for five years. Perhaps useful if someone is on the fence about leaving a faction or voting as you like on the council/when it comes to the succession, but they'll of course potentially ask for something down the line.
- What constitutes a valid reason to refuse to accept a Tribute or to refuse to grant a Boon has been overhauled, generally making it a bit harder to find a valid excuse as it now checks for what t
he Chinese court would find very objectionable rather than what
the EoC personally would find objectionable, so e.g. if you're the EoC's rival but you've not been too naughty he'll lose face (and thus hurt his MoH) if he turns you down.
- The AI can now refuse to accept Tributes and refuse to grant Boons even when doing so is inexcusable in the eyes of the court, but will primarily do it if they have a reason, if their GC insists (and they don't want to risk opposing their GC), or if they've got certain personality traits; for example, if the EoC is Lustful, male, not homosexual/Celibate/an eunuch, and adult, he'll probably be
very likely to accept an Attractive concubine that's not got terrible traits, no matter the consequences.
- If the EoC asks someone for a Border Adjustment and the target refuses this gracious offer the EoC gets a claim on all relevant titles in the target's realm. This will naturally make China frown on you quite a bit, so
do consider whether the duchy the EoC wants really matters
that much to you.
All together, this should make gameplay in (and near) China a bit more interesting, particularly as a vassal. It should also have the potential to result in some historical-ish things; Chinese dynasties running into trouble because officials didn't get the stuff they (and the court) felt they deserved or because they got stuff when they were up to no good, Chinese armies suffering from poor leadership because some poor commander with connections was put in charge, competent advisors being fired due to the machinations of their rivals, and Grand Chancellors meddling in things to the detriment of their liege...
That's all for today. It'll probably be a while before the next dev diary since a good amount of the work planned for the near-ish future isn't terribly exciting to show off, but perhaps something a bit more exciting will get done sooner than I currently expect.