Additional & More Specific Government Types You'd Like to See?

[Sphenodon]

One critique I've seen a lot of in Imperator's past is that the number of distinct governments - or, rather, distinctive playstyles stemming from unique mechanics to certain modes of government - is somewhat limited in the game. This thread is dedicated primarily to suggestions or discussion of new government structures that could be added to Imperator to generate a more varied and historically-representative game experience, similar to the plethora of regional flavor governments present in Europa Universalis IV (ex. Venetian Government, Dutch Republic, and English Monarchy). These may either be nation-specific, or able to be adopted by any country that meets certain criteria.

One that immediately comes to mind is a unique mode of government for Sparta, which would both be able to capitalize on the new military mechanics post-2.0 as well as the unique (and brutal) nature of the state and its delicate position circa 304 B.C. In addition to those conferred by Sparta's heritage, this government form would possess a substantial levy size multiplier, but simultaneously increased and strong maluses to happiness from Civic Rights promotions as well as a mechanic causing the enslavement of all pops in newly-annexed territory. Summarily, playing as Sparta should focus substantially on one of its most infamous qualities, and one which over time led to its crippling: the country's helot population and the ever-dwindling proportion of citizens compared to them. Furthermore, both the diarchy and the ephor council of the late Spartan state were notably ossified and corrupt, a feature which also should bear representation in the game.

Given that the game's span covers the abortive efforts of Agis IV to reform the state amid these issues, mechanisms for interacting with the other wings of a Spartan government to circumvent, moderate, or remove these issues (ex. lessening or reducing the enslavement of conquered pops and penalties to expanding citizenship) should also be present and an important part of Spartan gameplay. This is not a sector of the idea I've thought about so much, though I have seen some highly detailed proposals in the Suggestions forum.

Another notion that I have mulled is that of diarchy, such as the Roman imperial habit of co-emperorship after Diocletian's reforms or Sparta's dual-kingship (however weak it was). I'm not so sure that this necessarily needs to be an independent government type as much as a possible reform for existing monarchial governments, during which a second co-ruler can be appointed from a prominent major family in the state. Depending on the size of the country, the second monarch could be responsible for acting as an administrator for about half of the state's territories (occurring in a territorially contiguous fashion - not sure how this would be coded); while doing so could be useful for particularly sprawling states for which more centers of administration are necessary, implementing such as system would come at the risk of granting a large power base and succession capabilities to another line of characters, making a very real chance of well-organized civil wars possible.

Any further ideas?

 

[Stars_and_Bars]

One critique I've seen a lot of in Imperator's past is that the number of distinct governments - or, rather, distinctive playstyles stemming from unique mechanics to certain modes of government - is somewhat limited in the game. This thread is dedicated primarily to suggestions or discussion of new government structures that could be added to Imperator to generate a more varied and historically-representative game experience, similar to the plethora of regional flavor governments present in Europa Universalis IV (ex. Venetian Government, Dutch Republic, and English Monarchy). These may either be nation-specific, or able to be adopted by any country that meets certain criteria.

One that immediately comes to mind is a unique mode of government for Sparta, which would both be able to capitalize on the new military mechanics post-2.0 as well as the unique (and brutal) nature of the state and its delicate position circa 304 B.C. In addition to those conferred by Sparta's heritage, this government form would possess a substantial levy size multiplier, but simultaneously increased and strong maluses to happiness from Civic Rights promotions as well as a mechanic causing the enslavement of all pops in newly-annexed territory. Summarily, playing as Sparta should focus substantially on one of its most infamous qualities, and one which over time led to its crippling: the country's helot population and the ever-dwindling proportion of citizens compared to them. Furthermore, both the diarchy and the ephor council of the late Spartan state were notably ossified and corrupt, a feature which also should bear representation in the game.

Given that the game's span covers the abortive efforts of Agis IV to reform the state amid these issues, mechanisms for interacting with the other wings of a Spartan government to circumvent, moderate, or remove these issues (ex. lessening or reducing the enslavement of conquered pops and penalties to expanding citizenship) should also be present and an important part of Spartan gameplay. This is not a sector of the idea I've thought about so much, though I have seen some highly detailed proposals in the Suggestions forum.

Another notion that I have mulled is that of diarchy, such as the Roman imperial habit of co-emperorship after Diocletian's reforms or Sparta's dual-kingship (however weak it was). I'm not so sure that this necessarily needs to be an independent government type as much as a possible reform for existing monarchial governments, during which a second co-ruler can be appointed from a prominent major family in the state. Depending on the size of the country, the second monarch could be responsible for acting as an administrator for about half of the state's territories (occurring in a territorially contiguous fashion - not sure how this would be coded); while doing so could be useful for particularly sprawling states for which more centers of administration are necessary, implementing such as system would come at the risk of granting a large power base and succession capabilities to another line of characters, making a very real chance of well-organized civil wars possible.

Any further ideas?

Sparta actually had great trouble fielding enough men to be a significant fighting force in this time period. Having a government type which increases levy multiplier makes no sense for Sparta. At its peak, Spartan troops were elite, but most of their time was spent making sure that the helots stayed enslaved. Helots constituted a majority of the population of Laconia and Messenia when Sparta was at its peak, and Spartan citizens were vastly outnumbered by their slaves. Relative to their overall population, Sparta was actually fielding less men in their armies, not more, but their armies were very disciplined. A Spartan government would actually be best with a levy malus and discipline buff.

 

[vanin]

Sparta actually had great trouble fielding enough men to be a significant fighting force in this time period. Having a government type which increases levy multiplier makes no sense for Sparta. At its peak, Spartan troops were elite, but most of their time was spent making sure that the helots stayed enslaved. Helots constituted a majority of the population of Laconia and Messenia when Sparta was at its peak, and Spartan citizens were vastly outnumbered by their slaves. Relative to their overall population, Sparta was actually fielding less men in their armies, not more, but their armies were very disciplined. A Spartan government would actually be best with a levy malus and discipline buff.

And two kings. We have the Agiads present already but what about the Eurypontids?

 

[Sphenodon]

Sparta actually had great trouble fielding enough men to be a significant fighting force in this time period. Having a government type which increases levy multiplier makes no sense for Sparta. At its peak, Spartan troops were elite, but most of their time was spent making sure that the helots stayed enslaved. Helots constituted a majority of the population of Laconia and Messenia when Sparta was at its peak, and Spartan citizens were vastly outnumbered by their slaves. Relative to their overall population, Sparta was actually fielding less men in their armies, not more, but their armies were very disciplined. A Spartan government would actually be best with a levy malus and discipline buff.

I feel this would be better represented by a modifier to the Spartan government type causing the default optimal population ratio in provinces to skew more heavily to slaves (which cannot be levied) and lowered slave happiness, which if coupled with government-based events and systems simulating the risk of helot revolts would shift that element of caution and micromanagement onto the player while still leaving room for player error and agency. Regardless, that limitation certainly should be addressed as a structural counterweight to the Spartan military system that as it stands currently lacks one in Imperator.

 

[Pro]

If you want a historical government for Sparta you would also need to find a way to prevent the promotion of pops to citizen level.