Asking Gold from the Head of Faith is far too easy

[Frigabus]

In my experience as a catholic ruler, asking Gold from the Head of Faith is far too easy but not often used by the AI.
I suggest something more is needed than than having a HoF with reasonably good opinion of you and some Piety (or a Hook).
Gold should only be given for a specifig purpose.

Obviously:

• waging a holy war (at the right side, of course) or war against an Excommunicated ruler
• or at least at war against someone not of the same faith (especially if these ruler converting a province of the true faith!)
• converting a province
• building a Temple or a religious building

Having a war or converting a province is worth more if the attacked Faith is considered Hostile or even Evil.

Or...

• being a friend/lover/dynasty member of the HoF should be enough if the HoF has low honor
• at war with or scheming against an enemy of the HoF (rival, at war with, very low opinion, low Devotion, ?refused Holy War participation)

 

[Blk82]

I believe that mechanic is intended to balance out the drawbacks of Catholicism, or having a spiritual head of faith in general. Asking for gold is not "free" as it costs piety, which often has other uses. I generally don't use that mechanic often.

 

[FishieFan]

I believe that mechanic is intended to balance out the drawbacks of Catholicism, or having a spiritual head of faith in general. Asking for gold is not "free" as it costs piety, which often has other uses. I generally don't use that mechanic often.

With how much excess piety you get in comparison to prestige (pre t&t) or money, yes the interaction basically is free

 

[apollo1989vieten]

A few things I would probably add to asking for gold from the pope.

1. Is your lands under threat by hostile or evil faiths? The pope should be giving priority to those on the fringes of the Catholic world or under immediate threat from hostile or evil faith. In 867, Alfred and the rest of Britain would be given a priority over someone in a place like West Francia. 1066 Iberia would be given higher priority.
2. Have you asked for gold within the past 10 years? A five year cooldown is not enough if the pope likes you enough.
3. Does your realm priest endorse you?

 

[Silens]

Imagine, if the messenger had to travel to the Pope first and then bring back the money. And you choose to send your ambitious and deceitful nephew... I think the new travel/location system opened up a bunch of interesting options to spice up the game.

 

[Revolution 11]

Imagine, if the messenger had to travel to the Pope first and then bring back the money. And you choose to send your ambitious and deceitful nephew... I think the new travel/location system opened up a bunch of interesting options to spice up the game.

Imagine murdering the Pope and blaming it on your irritating pest of a nephew.

 

[Silens]

Imagine murdering the Pope and blaming it on your irritating pest of a nephew.

You give me ideas here.

Let's say schemes get a new UI, in which you can plan everything similar to how we can plan events. You select an agent, a level of support from you (from "you're on your own" to "you have access to my entire treasury") so they can bribe others, you can even select a scapegoat who'll take the fall. If you have the right perks, you can even arrange the agent as the unwilling scapegoat.

Would be funny, murdering the Pope and then pinning it on someone you recently asked the Pope to excommunicate, just so you have someone with a believable motive.

The new event/travel system really opened up vast possibilities. It's a different game now, with a sheer endless potential for improvement. Whoever thought of the expansion deserves a raise and a promotion.