Thing is, people are understandably confused as to what is being considered a bug that is likely to be fixed (eventually), versus what is a design decision that was poorly thought out/implemented and hence might be subject to reworking/reconsideration, versus what was a design decision that is unlikely to change. Frankly, given that some balance things fluctuate wildly, nothing seems set in stone. But if the devs have no intention of revisiting certain areas, they would probably save themselves a lot of negative posts if they articulated direction in those areas more clearly (e.g., AE?). That way, people who disagree could decide whether to continue trying to like the game for its other strengths, try to mod it to suit their tastes, or move on.
Of the issues generating a lot of discussion, I only see AE decay addressed in this patch. Does that mean AE assignment is where it is meant to be?
I don't see anything on vassal integration costs. Are the devs really comfortable that it is more expensive in DIP points to core, now, than it is to core via ADM points, in many cases? Should that change some of the DIP point (and other) costs that had been added to peace resolutions in prior patches for returning cores or vassalizing? Should there be any way to discount DIP integration costs, like there is for ADM point coring? Are people comfortable with the fact that your Diplomatic Reputation score has changed from being critically useful to being almost useless?
Were the various nerfs to the RotW intended? Some of them seem so, others seem a bit like unintended consequences. For much of the world, outside Europe, their income was reduced, manpower was reduced, trade was reduced, and tech progress was reduced. Sounds like the patch addresses some parts of the additional Westernization nerf, but not all of it. And countries are still going to be stuck, permanently with inferior units? Personally, I can deal with things either way, but would appreciate some input regarding whether the nerfs were intentional and are here to stay? Or were people unaware of some of these impacts and working to address them?
On some of the new features, I see nothing. Does that means people are satisfied they are working as intended:
- Policies: Are some of the wild discrepancies in their usefulness being addressed? Some just NEVER make sense to implement.
- Rivals/Power Projection: Despite seeming among the most promising features of the patch, there are many oddities regarding who you can rival, who can rival you, when you can/can't declare rivals (i.e., during wars), vanishing rivals, no benefit from annexing/vassalizing rivals. Are there any plans to make this promising systems more elegant? Or are we stuck where we are?
- Transfer Trade Power enhancements also sounded like a great idea. But with the decision to make it cost a diplomatic slot, it will never be utilized (even without the simultaneous nerf to the number of diplo relations slots). Is there any plan to make this feature usable? If not, better to go back to the old mechanism, which people might use on occasion.
- Forced Access during peace deals - Should forced military access during peace deals really take a diplo relations slot? Makes it a whole lot less useful. Similarly, should Fleet Basing Rights granted as part of a peace deal cost the winner money? Again, limited utility.
- Justify Trade Conflict CB - is that supposed to be tied to the Transfer Trade Power feature, as it would seem? If so, another reason to make Transfer Trade Power a relevant option. Or is it intended as a catch all replacement for the elimination of Counter-revolution CB that Republics used to enjoy?
- Canals - incredibly minor, perhaps, since Canals are a bit of fluff prestige projects/eye candy, but is it really intended that anyone can go through them?
- Are privateers and Trade Companies working as intended?