With this game we were given a such gorgeous characters but from a gameplay standpoint, I would argue that they are under utilized. I took the time to do two playthroughs of the Cicero 1.2 game; once with the standard files and once with my own edits. This is the first of a few posts that I will be uploading to the forum.
Returning to the characters, I was stroke by how much energy it must have took to design the culture and genetic models. Which made me wonder, "All that work for what?". There would be no point in so much detail unless, characters were/are meant to be flushed out. And if that was not the plan, then I propose that it should be.
Kingmaker
One of the increased character options I would like to see in-game is character purpose. To expound, when a foreign royal or dignitary shows up in a foreign country (due to exile), it usually to leverage the power of the foreign state to put them in power. Currently in-game, foreigners show up and at most give you a few claims on territories in their respective nation. And generally the nations that the claims are for are so far away, most of the time it is useless.
Instead of the current dynamic, allow for characters to be the integral part of the expansion process. Allow nations to press a foreign character's claim to their respective throne. In exchange, the nation would become an ally, vassal, or economic dependent.
Foreign Sponsored Civil War
Often, with current game, the player and ai respond to civil wars. But in antiquity, a lot of times foreign powers were active in the actually starting of them. This way stealing a nation's pretender(s) has real weight, the character has real weight. It allows a foreign power to spark a civil war without the amount of time investment and penalty that Support Rebels requires. When the foreign power declares on the behalf of the pretender, the pretender automatically gets a starting army which they command.
Assassination
By increasing the weight of pretenders and dignitaries that flee, exilees can become literal threats to your nation. Thus, you need to keep a close eye on such characters as other players and ai will try to recruit them or give them safe harbor. However, if they do escape, it increases the importance of and need for assassination. As long as your pretender is not under your control or 6 feet under, they are a severe threat.
That being said, the AE penalty for assassination is ridiculous, it needs to be dropped to 5 AE if they want to keep it in its present form, or allow for the penalty to be applied only if your involvement is exposed. But the upfront 20 AE penalty does not make sense, frankly it discourages usage of the function.
Spying
I know this statement maybe controversial, but I do not believe whole map and terrain should be handed to us at start. Maurya had little significance to the people of Britannia. Instead would be revealed by a combination of factors; trade networks (traders gave the best information on the shape of the world), exploration, and spying.
Similar to how in EU4, when your spy network is high you know when a nation preparing for war; when your asset is positioned into government or military command, you like wise know when that nation is preparing for conflict and other relevant information.
Will go into this in more depth in Ambassadors & Spy Masters
*UTILITY UI*
I look forward to any feedback yall have. I will be posting about how to increase character importance in the following:
Priests & Philosophers
Returning to the characters, I was stroke by how much energy it must have took to design the culture and genetic models. Which made me wonder, "All that work for what?". There would be no point in so much detail unless, characters were/are meant to be flushed out. And if that was not the plan, then I propose that it should be.
Kingmaker
One of the increased character options I would like to see in-game is character purpose. To expound, when a foreign royal or dignitary shows up in a foreign country (due to exile), it usually to leverage the power of the foreign state to put them in power. Currently in-game, foreigners show up and at most give you a few claims on territories in their respective nation. And generally the nations that the claims are for are so far away, most of the time it is useless.
Instead of the current dynamic, allow for characters to be the integral part of the expansion process. Allow nations to press a foreign character's claim to their respective throne. In exchange, the nation would become an ally, vassal, or economic dependent.
Foreign Sponsored Civil War
Often, with current game, the player and ai respond to civil wars. But in antiquity, a lot of times foreign powers were active in the actually starting of them. This way stealing a nation's pretender(s) has real weight, the character has real weight. It allows a foreign power to spark a civil war without the amount of time investment and penalty that Support Rebels requires. When the foreign power declares on the behalf of the pretender, the pretender automatically gets a starting army which they command.
Assassination
By increasing the weight of pretenders and dignitaries that flee, exilees can become literal threats to your nation. Thus, you need to keep a close eye on such characters as other players and ai will try to recruit them or give them safe harbor. However, if they do escape, it increases the importance of and need for assassination. As long as your pretender is not under your control or 6 feet under, they are a severe threat.
That being said, the AE penalty for assassination is ridiculous, it needs to be dropped to 5 AE if they want to keep it in its present form, or allow for the penalty to be applied only if your involvement is exposed. But the upfront 20 AE penalty does not make sense, frankly it discourages usage of the function.
Spying
I know this statement maybe controversial, but I do not believe whole map and terrain should be handed to us at start. Maurya had little significance to the people of Britannia. Instead would be revealed by a combination of factors; trade networks (traders gave the best information on the shape of the world), exploration, and spying.
Similar to how in EU4, when your spy network is high you know when a nation preparing for war; when your asset is positioned into government or military command, you like wise know when that nation is preparing for conflict and other relevant information.
Will go into this in more depth in Ambassadors & Spy Masters
*UTILITY UI*
Foreigner View
Would like a foreigner tab on the character viewer, similar to imprisoned, employed, etc. It is a hassle to search through your unemployed characters just to see who is a foreigner.
Thanks for ReadingWould like a foreigner tab on the character viewer, similar to imprisoned, employed, etc. It is a hassle to search through your unemployed characters just to see who is a foreigner.
I look forward to any feedback yall have. I will be posting about how to increase character importance in the following:
Priests & Philosophers
Focused on Character Evangelism, Research Expanded, and Academia
Ambassadors & Spy MastersFocused on Embassies & Missions, Diplomatic Relations, and Spy Networks and the part Characters play in them
