Government reforms replace government types for owners of Dharma and to be honest, aren't impressive, even on paper. They are completed way too quickly.
Let's say an OPM theocracy, if I understand correctly:
1444 + 74 = 1519, so early Age of Reformation. What am I supposed to do, if I don't want to change government type, stay on bonus absolutism for two eras?
The only variable seems to be average autonomy and it certainly isn't the only factor actually contributing to the progress of a country. The two possibilities I see are technology level and number of embraced institutions.
Technologies
Previously government types were tied to it. Can't have a Constitutional Monarchy/Republic before the concept of constitutions is invented... and here we go; A Modern Theocracy is Admin tech 10 with the year of 1531 attached to it, but aren't theocracies modern for 12 years already?
The possibilities are many:
Institutions
On this day the people of Aztec Empire establish a Parliament, for the protection of Rights of every Man. Also we've seen some white people on shores.
Institutions are a mechanic of progress; if you lag behind, you lag behind in technology and if you focus on them, you lead. It's not a flawless mechanic, but can certainly help with reforms. Europeans lead in technologies (or at least they should, damn you technological equality of late game!) and they are the first to research certain technologies and embrace progressive ideas, so why would the Incas be just as fast?
They don't even share the calendar, how they know it is time to reform on a certain year?
By tying Institutions and Reforms we can get even better results, than with technologies, though it isn't much of a change, as both systems are already connected.
Now about the possibility. As you can probably see, I say it's too fast and say, that certain mechanics can speed it even more, but the obvious thing I mean is: After needed changes are applied.
For example we could have a generation of 1 monthly, which would go from 0.5 to 1 based on autonomy and be multiplied by Tech Cost penalty, the base costs also can be increased.
The problems I see are:
Let's say an OPM theocracy, if I understand correctly:
- They generate 1 point per month, so 12 yearly,
- Need 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 to pass reforms,
- First is already taken.
1444 + 74 = 1519, so early Age of Reformation. What am I supposed to do, if I don't want to change government type, stay on bonus absolutism for two eras?
The only variable seems to be average autonomy and it certainly isn't the only factor actually contributing to the progress of a country. The two possibilities I see are technology level and number of embraced institutions.
Technologies
Previously government types were tied to it. Can't have a Constitutional Monarchy/Republic before the concept of constitutions is invented... and here we go; A Modern Theocracy is Admin tech 10 with the year of 1531 attached to it, but aren't theocracies modern for 12 years already?
The possibilities are many:
- Give more/less points generation for being ahead/behind time in technologies.
- Make certain technologies give flat amount of points when researched (or flat amount towards certain reforms).
- Make researching ADM technology give flat amount of points.
- Tie points generation to technology level.
Institutions
On this day the people of Aztec Empire establish a Parliament, for the protection of Rights of every Man. Also we've seen some white people on shores.
Institutions are a mechanic of progress; if you lag behind, you lag behind in technology and if you focus on them, you lead. It's not a flawless mechanic, but can certainly help with reforms. Europeans lead in technologies (or at least they should, damn you technological equality of late game!) and they are the first to research certain technologies and embrace progressive ideas, so why would the Incas be just as fast?
They don't even share the calendar, how they know it is time to reform on a certain year?
By tying Institutions and Reforms we can get even better results, than with technologies, though it isn't much of a change, as both systems are already connected.
- Simply divide Reform points generation by technology cost penalty from Institutions.
- Increase points generation by number of Institutions Embraced. Which would be a catch-up mechanic as well.
Now about the possibility. As you can probably see, I say it's too fast and say, that certain mechanics can speed it even more, but the obvious thing I mean is: After needed changes are applied.
For example we could have a generation of 1 monthly, which would go from 0.5 to 1 based on autonomy and be multiplied by Tech Cost penalty, the base costs also can be increased.
The problems I see are:
- Reform points generation isn't tied to anything other than autonomy leaving non-Europeans just as quick as the technologically advanced Europeans.
- Countries with low autonomy just go nuts and pass reforms too quickly and just spiral out of control. If their generation is bigger, than one of a bigger country: They pass second reform X years quicker, then third X+Y, then fourth X+Y+Z years quicker... etc. They will run out of reforms, while more autonomous countries lag behind. And it kinda seems like a really poor "Let's make tall gameplay more interesting", by just throwing buffs at still boring small countries.
- Theocracies don't have enough reforms. As someone suggested in Dev Diary: add another one after "Secularisation?.
- Those reforms are very speedy bois, it was visible in Dev Clash and proves itself in numbers: reforms are passed too quickly and countries go for reforms, that aren't even ideas on paper yet. Why would anyone establish a parliament, if every political thinker in their country wonders "If going protestant dooms your soul into eternal flames?".
- Countries changing their government type might lag behind too much. Government Reforms are nothing but buffs (and maybe luckily some nice events too) and if changing the type of government pushes me back and I need to take the reforms I already have; it might be just deleting me already taken ideas, as it would do the same. Countries that decide to switch will be behind in buffs and there is nothing to help them catch up. It would be fine, if they would be weaker for some time, but climb back after some years. Maybe they would have less reforms, but by being behind (with number of institutions compared to number of reforms or with high tech and low number of reform), they would earn them faster until they catch up. What is the point of changing, if I am going to lose hundreds of refom points put into buffs and be behind everybody?
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