Now that we will finally get a more fleshed out version of both the Steppes and the people who lived there, I would like to take this opportunity to convince both the devs and some of you on this forum for the reason to include the Manichaean religion as a full religion in Ck2.
Within the earliest timeframe of CK2 as it is, the Charlemagne start date would see the Uyghur empire shortly after its formation and adoption of this religion. A formidable force on the steppes during this time, Manichaeism played a central role in their society and culture. Indeed Uyghur art and manuscripts are almost our only primary documents regarding Manichaeans written by themselves and not by their enemies.
While the empire is freshly collapsed by 867, the religion would remain dominant within the eastern confines of the steppes. There were several successor states to the Uyghur empire which endured for centuries afterwards. These included Kan Chou, Qaraqocho and Beshbalik. Beshbalik survived as a tributary state to the Mongols well into the thirteenth century and although Buddhism was making inroads among the native population, the region (though Turfan even more so!) still had several Manichaean montasteries large enough to support many monks. (Although our evidence for this comes from documents from the King financing repairs after the Buddhists tried to burn some of them down!).
But what about the later start dates you might think, surely they are long gone after Chuy in the 1066 start date dies? To add further proof to the importance of Manichaeism among the Steppe peoples in later start dates, the Flemish Franciscan diplomat William of Rubruck mentions of his trip between the years 1253-55 that he encountered Manichaeans among the steppe peoples and their Mongol overlords and he was encouraged by the Nestorian priests of the region to engage the Manichaeans in theological debate at Qara Qorum to show the superiority of Christianity. Rubruck earlier falsely identified a Manichaen priest and temple in the town of Qayaligh on the way to Qara Qorum when he met a man in robes with a black cross tatooed on the back of his hand but with no cross present within the building. The priest said the lack of a cross was because it was not part of their faith and custom. The modern consensus is of course that the priest was Manichaean owing to the fact that Rubruck visited a Nestorian church further down the road.
With the historical evidence of Manichaean presence laid out between 769 in the Tarim basin and as late as the 1250's in Qaraqorum, what gameplay mechanics would Manicaeans have in game? In reality much of the flavour and mechanics as are already present in game could be put to use.
I propose something along these lines:
1) An organised religious head titled "Archegos" (or "Yamag" in Persian).
2) A religious feast along the lines of Passover or Pagan equivalents based on the Bema feast of the Manichaeans which was their holiest festival commemmorating the death of Mani.
3) Reincarnation - It was a central tenet of Manichaeism and can be easily transferable from the Dharmic religions in game
4) Replacing Manichaeism as a Zoroastrian Heresy with a more period apropriate heresy. The Qarmatians,Behafaridis or the Ustadh Sis would make far better heresies in this sense as Persia was being ripped apart by them for the centuries in game in which Zoroastrianism is still in some force.
5) Mandaeism could nicely fit in as a heresy for Manichaeism itself although in reality Mandaeaism is a separate religion which views Mani as one of the false prophets of their faith.
I hope this will go some way in convincing some of you that Manichaeism is worthy of elevation to the status of organised religion in game as it historically was in the region and period and that it would be a relatively simple process to do so.
Within the earliest timeframe of CK2 as it is, the Charlemagne start date would see the Uyghur empire shortly after its formation and adoption of this religion. A formidable force on the steppes during this time, Manichaeism played a central role in their society and culture. Indeed Uyghur art and manuscripts are almost our only primary documents regarding Manichaeans written by themselves and not by their enemies.
While the empire is freshly collapsed by 867, the religion would remain dominant within the eastern confines of the steppes. There were several successor states to the Uyghur empire which endured for centuries afterwards. These included Kan Chou, Qaraqocho and Beshbalik. Beshbalik survived as a tributary state to the Mongols well into the thirteenth century and although Buddhism was making inroads among the native population, the region (though Turfan even more so!) still had several Manichaean montasteries large enough to support many monks. (Although our evidence for this comes from documents from the King financing repairs after the Buddhists tried to burn some of them down!).
But what about the later start dates you might think, surely they are long gone after Chuy in the 1066 start date dies? To add further proof to the importance of Manichaeism among the Steppe peoples in later start dates, the Flemish Franciscan diplomat William of Rubruck mentions of his trip between the years 1253-55 that he encountered Manichaeans among the steppe peoples and their Mongol overlords and he was encouraged by the Nestorian priests of the region to engage the Manichaeans in theological debate at Qara Qorum to show the superiority of Christianity. Rubruck earlier falsely identified a Manichaen priest and temple in the town of Qayaligh on the way to Qara Qorum when he met a man in robes with a black cross tatooed on the back of his hand but with no cross present within the building. The priest said the lack of a cross was because it was not part of their faith and custom. The modern consensus is of course that the priest was Manichaean owing to the fact that Rubruck visited a Nestorian church further down the road.
With the historical evidence of Manichaean presence laid out between 769 in the Tarim basin and as late as the 1250's in Qaraqorum, what gameplay mechanics would Manicaeans have in game? In reality much of the flavour and mechanics as are already present in game could be put to use.
I propose something along these lines:
1) An organised religious head titled "Archegos" (or "Yamag" in Persian).
2) A religious feast along the lines of Passover or Pagan equivalents based on the Bema feast of the Manichaeans which was their holiest festival commemmorating the death of Mani.
3) Reincarnation - It was a central tenet of Manichaeism and can be easily transferable from the Dharmic religions in game
4) Replacing Manichaeism as a Zoroastrian Heresy with a more period apropriate heresy. The Qarmatians,Behafaridis or the Ustadh Sis would make far better heresies in this sense as Persia was being ripped apart by them for the centuries in game in which Zoroastrianism is still in some force.
5) Mandaeism could nicely fit in as a heresy for Manichaeism itself although in reality Mandaeaism is a separate religion which views Mani as one of the false prophets of their faith.
I hope this will go some way in convincing some of you that Manichaeism is worthy of elevation to the status of organised religion in game as it historically was in the region and period and that it would be a relatively simple process to do so.
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Lack of provinces maybe, but with the expansion of the Steppe, that argument can't be used anymore.
