So I been over this before and are doing it one last time - The caucasus region that gotten it's second overhaul in thepersia patch. While doing a lot of good, it still didn't go all the way. I know made a new small mod showing how a couple of extra changes can bring some more life into the region.
As of CoC it did get a lot of attention, with a rework of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kurdistan/Armenia. Adding more countries and provinces creates a better depths of action and strategy to the previous 4/5 countries that solely stood squized between the powerful hordes. I still think a little bit of extra attention could provide something good to work with.
North Caucasus:
New provinces and Countries, but most importantly of all, the darial gorge allowing access through central caucasus. Creating a pass between Kartli and Alania.
To the north there has laso been some remarkable changes, Circassia is now split in 2 countries, west - Adyghea (sry forgot to change localisation) and east Kabardia. This reflect political and cultural areas of the circassia area, there the western part speaking west circassian languages were never united, while eastern part speaking Kabardin eastern dialect of Circassian, had a stronger political unity.
For the 1444 start I choose to use the sem-mythical king Inal as ruler of Kabardia with good stats.
I also made both states tribal federations, this better fits their political structure (at least the western part while tribal monarchy might be better for Kabardia, but I opted for federation or else they'd be too disadantaged)
Also the horse focus that tribal federation has is very fitting for the equestrian cricassian societies.
Going along with country changes, both countries now also start out as Tengri. In this case Tengri is used as a generic religion for eurasian pagans and shouldn't be hold literally. North caucasian society had had christian phases and both catholicism and orthodox christianity were present but at heart the circassian people remained pagan until conversation to islam.
It is also to prevent circassia form staying orthodox the whole game (as they conversed to islam during the timeline) and also do use of the syncretisism mechanic which is very fitting for the religious society of circassian, unlike the orthodox metropolitans and icons which is modelled on orthodox monarchies. While giving the possibility to adapt the foreign policy in favor of orthodox russia and south caucasus, catholic genoa or the muslim powers.
Only province of Alania remains orthodox.
New provinces are:
Splitting current Adyghea province into two, one Ubykhia province 8georgian dynamic name: Jiqeti) and one Shapshugia province. The main circassian province has been renamed Temirgoy after the dominant tribe in the area. Up in the mountains we now have an Abazinia province (owned by circassia) and one Balkaria province (owned by Kabardia)
Futher east is the new Chechnya province (dynamic names GEO: Dzurdzukia TUR and muslims: Ichkeria). Which is it's own OPM, the tengriistic tribal democracy "Vainakh" (Culture Dagestani). Anestors of modern Chechens and Ingush people. Funny since if it reforms we'd get a tengriist oligarchic republic in the caucasus.
In terms of priority I'd hope all of these changes be implemented at some point as they'd really give the flavor north caucasus lacks. For south caucasus there was significantly fewer changes and generally speaking less important:
South caucasus:
I ended up adding Kakheti to the balkanized Georgia. I also made a Hereti province for them, but regrets it and would rather have Hereti as a GEO dynamic name for Shaki province.
I also made right about the different kings now, Demetre II is now king in Immereti ( and not the old Demetre I), with Georg VIII taking the throne of Kakheti. I did add a Svaneti province, I like the idea of having it there, giving some more, well needed strategic depth to the region. I shifted development around so Immereti stays at 29.
Kartli, except the darial gorge pass get's a few new things. A slight boost to development after loosing Kakheti, but also I would suggest an Inland center of trade for Tbilisi (as there is none in the caucasus and Tbilisi were a major trade city).
I also suggest a province modifier for Kartli "Ossetian migration" giving a boost to manpower but also increasing base unrest in the province. Based on the continued migration of ossetians into the area https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Ossetia#Medieval_and_early_modern_period
The city of Kars is once again a province, with Armenian culture, I kept it at 3 dev as that is what it originally had but I'd probably shift development around a bit, and increasing Samtshkes total development to 18 (now 16)
Also giving Tao a piece of Guria to get some coast (rather than making a new tiny sea province for Samtshke)
Next door the small Trebizonian empire is no longer an OPM as the historic Lazika region now become it's own province with Georgian culture.
All in all just a handfull of fairly reasonable suggestion for a final touch to the caucasus, but I also have an easter egg based on this old thread https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/independent-assyrian-tribes.1046634/
Ashur rising:
Two new provinces and one new country. The Assyrian tribal theocracy of Hakkari now occupies the new Hakkari province while having cores on the new Amadia province (based on the emirate of Bahdinan, belongs to Bitlis) and the Urmia province. Mardin also has the new Assyrian culture, part of the caucasian culture group. SO far they are coptic, but I'm working to improve that. Right now there are still some programming before I release this mod, forming events, NI's etc for Hakkari and the new formable of Assyria! While I will not maintain the whole caucasus mod after it get's obsoleted by a new patch, though if there is interest in it I would continue to support an Assyria mod giving Assyria some OP NI's and events making.
SO far I'm restyling the Purple Phoenix dlc as an "Ashur rising DLC" giving special decisions, missions and events in restoring the Assyrian empire. But still it is probably one of the hardest nations to play with in game, with only one province, 3 development and surrounding by QQ and it's vassal.
As of CoC it did get a lot of attention, with a rework of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kurdistan/Armenia. Adding more countries and provinces creates a better depths of action and strategy to the previous 4/5 countries that solely stood squized between the powerful hordes. I still think a little bit of extra attention could provide something good to work with.
North Caucasus:

New provinces and Countries, but most importantly of all, the darial gorge allowing access through central caucasus. Creating a pass between Kartli and Alania.
To the north there has laso been some remarkable changes, Circassia is now split in 2 countries, west - Adyghea (sry forgot to change localisation) and east Kabardia. This reflect political and cultural areas of the circassia area, there the western part speaking west circassian languages were never united, while eastern part speaking Kabardin eastern dialect of Circassian, had a stronger political unity.
For the 1444 start I choose to use the sem-mythical king Inal as ruler of Kabardia with good stats.
I also made both states tribal federations, this better fits their political structure (at least the western part while tribal monarchy might be better for Kabardia, but I opted for federation or else they'd be too disadantaged)
Also the horse focus that tribal federation has is very fitting for the equestrian cricassian societies.
Going along with country changes, both countries now also start out as Tengri. In this case Tengri is used as a generic religion for eurasian pagans and shouldn't be hold literally. North caucasian society had had christian phases and both catholicism and orthodox christianity were present but at heart the circassian people remained pagan until conversation to islam.
It is also to prevent circassia form staying orthodox the whole game (as they conversed to islam during the timeline) and also do use of the syncretisism mechanic which is very fitting for the religious society of circassian, unlike the orthodox metropolitans and icons which is modelled on orthodox monarchies. While giving the possibility to adapt the foreign policy in favor of orthodox russia and south caucasus, catholic genoa or the muslim powers.
Only province of Alania remains orthodox.
New provinces are:
Splitting current Adyghea province into two, one Ubykhia province 8georgian dynamic name: Jiqeti) and one Shapshugia province. The main circassian province has been renamed Temirgoy after the dominant tribe in the area. Up in the mountains we now have an Abazinia province (owned by circassia) and one Balkaria province (owned by Kabardia)
Futher east is the new Chechnya province (dynamic names GEO: Dzurdzukia TUR and muslims: Ichkeria). Which is it's own OPM, the tengriistic tribal democracy "Vainakh" (Culture Dagestani). Anestors of modern Chechens and Ingush people. Funny since if it reforms we'd get a tengriist oligarchic republic in the caucasus.
In terms of priority I'd hope all of these changes be implemented at some point as they'd really give the flavor north caucasus lacks. For south caucasus there was significantly fewer changes and generally speaking less important:
South caucasus:

I ended up adding Kakheti to the balkanized Georgia. I also made a Hereti province for them, but regrets it and would rather have Hereti as a GEO dynamic name for Shaki province.
I also made right about the different kings now, Demetre II is now king in Immereti ( and not the old Demetre I), with Georg VIII taking the throne of Kakheti. I did add a Svaneti province, I like the idea of having it there, giving some more, well needed strategic depth to the region. I shifted development around so Immereti stays at 29.
Kartli, except the darial gorge pass get's a few new things. A slight boost to development after loosing Kakheti, but also I would suggest an Inland center of trade for Tbilisi (as there is none in the caucasus and Tbilisi were a major trade city).
I also suggest a province modifier for Kartli "Ossetian migration" giving a boost to manpower but also increasing base unrest in the province. Based on the continued migration of ossetians into the area https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Ossetia#Medieval_and_early_modern_period
The city of Kars is once again a province, with Armenian culture, I kept it at 3 dev as that is what it originally had but I'd probably shift development around a bit, and increasing Samtshkes total development to 18 (now 16)
Also giving Tao a piece of Guria to get some coast (rather than making a new tiny sea province for Samtshke)
Next door the small Trebizonian empire is no longer an OPM as the historic Lazika region now become it's own province with Georgian culture.
All in all just a handfull of fairly reasonable suggestion for a final touch to the caucasus, but I also have an easter egg based on this old thread https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/independent-assyrian-tribes.1046634/
Ashur rising:

Two new provinces and one new country. The Assyrian tribal theocracy of Hakkari now occupies the new Hakkari province while having cores on the new Amadia province (based on the emirate of Bahdinan, belongs to Bitlis) and the Urmia province. Mardin also has the new Assyrian culture, part of the caucasian culture group. SO far they are coptic, but I'm working to improve that. Right now there are still some programming before I release this mod, forming events, NI's etc for Hakkari and the new formable of Assyria! While I will not maintain the whole caucasus mod after it get's obsoleted by a new patch, though if there is interest in it I would continue to support an Assyria mod giving Assyria some OP NI's and events making.
SO far I'm restyling the Purple Phoenix dlc as an "Ashur rising DLC" giving special decisions, missions and events in restoring the Assyrian empire. But still it is probably one of the hardest nations to play with in game, with only one province, 3 development and surrounding by QQ and it's vassal.
assyria_nation = {
major = yes
potential = {
normal_or_historical_nations = yes
NOT = { has_country_flag = formed_assyria_flag }
OR = {
ai = no
is_playing_custom_nation = no
}
NOT = { tag = ASY }
OR = {
ai = no
AND = {
NOT = { exists = ASY }
num_of_cities = 3 #Carnage
}
}
NOT = { tag = HLR }
NOT = { tag = PAP }
primary_culture = assyrian
is_colonial_nation = no
OR = {
is_former_colonial_nation = no
AND = {
is_former_colonial_nation = yes
ai = no
}
}
}
allow = {
NOT = { exists = ASY }
is_at_war = no
is_free_or_tributary_trigger = yes
religion = coptic
is_nomad = no
owns_core_province = 410 # Baghdad
owns_core_province = 411 # Mosul
owns_core_province = 2308 # Urfa
owns_core_province = 2313 # Antioch
owns_core_province = 4369 # Hakkari
OR = {
owns_core_province = 2206 #Urmia
owns_core_province = 2307 #Van
}
}
effect = {
change_tag = ASY
remove_non_electors_emperors_from_empire_effect = yes
if = {
limit = { NOT = { government_rank = 2 } }
set_government_rank = 2
}
syria_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
palestine_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
iraq_arabi_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
al_jazira_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
basra_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
aleppo_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
syrian_desert_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
north_kurdistan_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
add_country_modifier = {
name = "centralization_modifier"
duration = 7300
}
effect = {
411 = {
move_capital_effect = yes
}
add_prestige = 25
if = {
limit = {
has_custom_ideas = no
NOT = { has_idea_group = ASY_ideas }
}
country_event = { id = ideagroups.1 } #Swap Ideas
}
set_country_flag = formed_assyria_flag
}
ai_will_do = {
factor = 1
}
ai_importance = 400 #
}
}
major = yes
potential = {
normal_or_historical_nations = yes
NOT = { has_country_flag = formed_assyria_flag }
OR = {
ai = no
is_playing_custom_nation = no
}
NOT = { tag = ASY }
OR = {
ai = no
AND = {
NOT = { exists = ASY }
num_of_cities = 3 #Carnage
}
}
NOT = { tag = HLR }
NOT = { tag = PAP }
primary_culture = assyrian
is_colonial_nation = no
OR = {
is_former_colonial_nation = no
AND = {
is_former_colonial_nation = yes
ai = no
}
}
}
allow = {
NOT = { exists = ASY }
is_at_war = no
is_free_or_tributary_trigger = yes
religion = coptic
is_nomad = no
owns_core_province = 410 # Baghdad
owns_core_province = 411 # Mosul
owns_core_province = 2308 # Urfa
owns_core_province = 2313 # Antioch
owns_core_province = 4369 # Hakkari
OR = {
owns_core_province = 2206 #Urmia
owns_core_province = 2307 #Van
}
}
effect = {
change_tag = ASY
remove_non_electors_emperors_from_empire_effect = yes
if = {
limit = { NOT = { government_rank = 2 } }
set_government_rank = 2
}
syria_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
palestine_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
iraq_arabi_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
al_jazira_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
basra_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
aleppo_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
syrian_desert_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
north_kurdistan_area = {
limit = {
NOT = { owned_by = ROOT }
NOT = { is_core = ROOT }
}
add_permanent_claim = ASY
}
add_country_modifier = {
name = "centralization_modifier"
duration = 7300
}
effect = {
411 = {
move_capital_effect = yes
}
add_prestige = 25
if = {
limit = {
has_custom_ideas = no
NOT = { has_idea_group = ASY_ideas }
}
country_event = { id = ideagroups.1 } #Swap Ideas
}
set_country_flag = formed_assyria_flag
}
ai_will_do = {
factor = 1
}
ai_importance = 400 #
}
}
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