I'm was disheartened that regencies were left out. It was an important aspect throughout history and has so much potential to create good RP! It's tricky to implement well. Should you be able to make decisions and control everything when you are 3 years old? No. So shouldn't the regent and council be the ones running the show? Yes. But it doesn't make the best gameplay for most.
There needs to be a diversity of events that occur during different types of regencies to prevent the constant onslaught of attempted assassination, changing regents, and embezzlements events (although they still should happen). Three types of regencies come to mind; some are more expansive than others:
The general rule must be that regents are benevolent to the ruler, especially if they are a parent or close family member, unless they are rivals or have a strong claim. They at all costs attempt to preserve the realm. But their personalities still shine through. If the reasons behind their decision, even if the wrong decision, make sense to the player based off their personality, it will be accepted.
Regents accumulate power-at-court based off their actions. No confidence votes are held by the council every 3 to 5 years and the regent needs to commit to promised agendas to gain power and maintain status. If they are left unfulfilled, the council doesn't like other actions they’ve taken, or accumulated traits, they vote to replace the regent. If the regent is doing particularly poorly, there could be some “political maneuvering” that happens before the 3 years and they can be replaced. Regents that are part of the ruling dynasty have a positive modifier, which makes it easier for them to retain the regency.
If it’s a minor regency, as you get older, you little by little get more control. This is pursued via events and simply making more game options available to player over time. The hook/sway system could play into this where you can call in favors to get the regent or council to do stuff while you are still a minor. These hooks would accumulate based off the regency events. Minors would also get some special schemes or decisions that wouldn't normally be available. If the regent happens to be a family member, you should have more control/sway with them unless you are their rival.
I would argue that incompetent regencies are typically the most volatile as the regent and vassals understand the imminent power vacuum with them jostling for position. Vassals could be fighting over custody of the ruler like Henry VI of England to make changes, get voted onto the council, and get the literal seal of approval for them to do things. Events, schemes, and hooks will play into this as well. Incompetent regencies would be the most limiting on behalf of the number of in-game changes the player can make. But there can be some events that allow them to partially recover, and as before, schemes and hooks would be the primary way to enact action.
Absent regencies would be rather basic. Core regency mechanics would not happen unless the ruler is absent for more than 1.5 years.
Finally, another solution would be just to allow the player to assume the regent character and we introduce a similar conclave mechanic. But you might lose some RP doing that. It would follow the same premise as above regarding power-at-court and promised agendas.
Some inspiration came from this thread.
There needs to be a diversity of events that occur during different types of regencies to prevent the constant onslaught of attempted assassination, changing regents, and embezzlements events (although they still should happen). Three types of regencies come to mind; some are more expansive than others:
- Minor
- Incompetent/Incapacitated
- Absent (Leading troops, Pilgrimage, etc.)
The general rule must be that regents are benevolent to the ruler, especially if they are a parent or close family member, unless they are rivals or have a strong claim. They at all costs attempt to preserve the realm. But their personalities still shine through. If the reasons behind their decision, even if the wrong decision, make sense to the player based off their personality, it will be accepted.
Regents accumulate power-at-court based off their actions. No confidence votes are held by the council every 3 to 5 years and the regent needs to commit to promised agendas to gain power and maintain status. If they are left unfulfilled, the council doesn't like other actions they’ve taken, or accumulated traits, they vote to replace the regent. If the regent is doing particularly poorly, there could be some “political maneuvering” that happens before the 3 years and they can be replaced. Regents that are part of the ruling dynasty have a positive modifier, which makes it easier for them to retain the regency.
If it’s a minor regency, as you get older, you little by little get more control. This is pursued via events and simply making more game options available to player over time. The hook/sway system could play into this where you can call in favors to get the regent or council to do stuff while you are still a minor. These hooks would accumulate based off the regency events. Minors would also get some special schemes or decisions that wouldn't normally be available. If the regent happens to be a family member, you should have more control/sway with them unless you are their rival.
I would argue that incompetent regencies are typically the most volatile as the regent and vassals understand the imminent power vacuum with them jostling for position. Vassals could be fighting over custody of the ruler like Henry VI of England to make changes, get voted onto the council, and get the literal seal of approval for them to do things. Events, schemes, and hooks will play into this as well. Incompetent regencies would be the most limiting on behalf of the number of in-game changes the player can make. But there can be some events that allow them to partially recover, and as before, schemes and hooks would be the primary way to enact action.
Absent regencies would be rather basic. Core regency mechanics would not happen unless the ruler is absent for more than 1.5 years.
Finally, another solution would be just to allow the player to assume the regent character and we introduce a similar conclave mechanic. But you might lose some RP doing that. It would follow the same premise as above regarding power-at-court and promised agendas.
Some inspiration came from this thread.
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