1.2.1 has gone a bit overboard with the Ryuku exploit prevention

[DDRJake]

I love the new changes, but then I'm not an expansionist style player. In most games, once I've united my culture group I'm happy, perhaps with some other culturally-united large vassals or achieving other goals like destroying a rival, removing a culture or spreading a religion.

If you want to achieve implausible conquest you have to accept that it will require time, effort and creative thinking. "impossible" is being thrown around a lot here when it simply isn't deserved.

If you want it not to be so difficult, this game is incredibly open to modding in so many ways.

 

[DDRJake]

Not if you can't control the outcome and have to spend a lot of time fast forwarding because of a random roll. That's the opposite of strategy; it's the equivalent of playing a slot machine instead of playing blackjack.

If you haven't made a backup plan or insured your own safety in the face of bad luck, then you have failed as a strategist. To say that you have no control over battles is just a farce. 10 "points" of battle advantage are controlled by chance, 7 are down to terrain and 6 are down to the leader. you have troops, mercenaries, scorched earth, terrain, straits and so many things they you can use to your advantage in war. If a bad roll is the end of your game, then that is because you are relying on good luck.

Warfare in this game is a fantastic strategic battleground. It is not a slot machine.

 

[DDRJake]

But from where comes this idea that it's all down to a single battle? I cannot think of a time where a landslide battle, either in my favour or against me, has singlehandedly won or lost a war. It's made things easier, but both myself and the AI have been able to make comebacks. I've played long campaigns as Sweden, Novgorod, Scotland and Hansa now in 1.2 and have fought countless wars. Chance plays a large roll, but it is dwarfed by planning.