Ok, we want republics and theocracies. How do you make them playable?

[kal56]

I think if they do Republics you should still play as a one of the great families of the Republic. Personally I think it would be kind of interesting to play a strong family, say the Morosini in Venice and try to keep your family and it's backers in positions of power then be able to make decisions based on who you have in government. I recognize that my idea of playing as a family in the republic would be hard to do right without a lot of work but I think it could be interesting especially if you always had some goal. For example suppose you aren't currently the doge but you could still try to get family members appointed to different positions like fleet admiral or the council of ten and then you would be able to make different decisions based on what you controlled. Hard to do well and I know a lot of people wouldn't like the lack of complete control but it could still be fun and challenging.

 

[fletcherreed]

I guess if one family runs a "republic" for a significant amount of time, when do we stop calling it a republic, and start calling it a monarchy?

 

[Thure]

I guess if one family runs a "republic" for a significant amount of time, when do we stop calling it a republic, and start calling it a monarchy?

Look at Genoa.

Here the list of all Adorno doges:

Spoiler

Gabriele Adorno: 1363–1370
Antoniotto Adorno, 17 June 1378
Antonio I Adorno, 2nd time
Antoniotto I Adorno, 15 June 1385–1390, 3rd time
Antoniotto I Adorno, 1391-1392, 4th time
Antoniotto I Adorno, 1394–1396, 5th term
Giorgio Adorno, 1413–1415
Rafaele Adorno, Jan 28, 1443–Jan 4, 1447
Barnaba Adorno, Jan 4, 1447–Jan 30, 1447
Prospero Adorno, March 12, 1461-July 8, 1461[2]
Prospero Adorno, Aug 17, 1477-Nov. 25, 1477, 2nd term
Antoniotto II Adorno, 1522–1527

In circa 200 years there are a lot of Adorno family members as Doges. But it was still a republic. Medieavel Republics are not like modern republics. You can't use modern republics to describe a mediaevel republic. They are more... hm... Dynastic then they republics today. In every big city state of this time you found a nobility.

 

[unmerged(445219)]

You start as a powerful ruler of land within the republic, such as the owner of a barony. You then get to elect yourself as the Doge, trying to bribe your way up with all the votes. You will be competing with prominent merchants (trade system that comes with the Republic DLC) and other land owners. If you ever lose the Doge, you just go back to being the Baron of your land.


Now, instead of forcing the player to change dynasties (which goes against the game concept), you just have to allow Barons to be playable (much easier and flows with the game).


That is just the basic concept, which can be built upon however paradox wants to. This concept might even be moddable already, or at least easily moddable with the allow_baron = yes command is implemented.

A republic DLC is not complete without a trade system. This can be anything from the EU4 system to a completely new system. I'm just going to make one up here to show how simple it would be.


Each Merchant Republic gets 3 trade routes. Depending on the highest title you have, how much land you have and important trade cities which you control, you get more. Each trade route has a "Merchant Fleet" attached to it, which will work like a Barony, only over water.

You can attach these fleets to provinces that you want influence over. Once you reach a certain amount of influence, you can do special actions, such as invading and conquering the cities, kicking other merchants out of there, or even launching a raid.

Now, here is where a player in the Merchant Republic comes in. Lets say he owns 1 barony and 1 merchant fleet. While he is plotting to become Doge, he can expand the influence of his Republic into Greece if he so chooses. He can decide to go on a Pirating mission against the heathens in Africa if the Republic is low enough in authority. Or he can just sit back and play the marriage game to gain more influence around the world.

The whole point is, a Merchant Republic DLC will require:
- New Inheritence System
- Trade System
- Overhauled Navy Mechanics

But that doesn't mean that it couldn't be done in segments. Just the bare bones can be added in right away. The rest has been asked for time and time again, and should be added anyway, regardless of a Merchant Republic DLC.

 

[Trithemius]

Nope. The real solution would be to leave the game dynastic. Your job as a Doge or a Bishop is to try to get a relative appointed your successor. If you fail, it's Game Over.

I am inclined to agree with this!

Some changes to support alternative kinds of "courts" for appropriated landed non-noble rulers would provide options for potential mayors to be elected - making sure your relatives became mayors, so they could elect you Doge, would be the way to do it. Imposing a despotism (with elected mayors and appointed doge, or appointed everyone) for the Doge could also be an alternative "succession law option" for a Doge - but this is likely to cause trouble with one's vassals.

Using the courts as pools of candidates could mean that exiled nobles could end up elected (and potentially trigger events where they re-establish noble rule!). Elections themselves could be interesting event cycles, with skill and trait checks, and options for bribery, populism, lies, and violence!

 

[Lord Samuel]

I guess if one family runs a "republic" for a significant amount of time, when do we stop calling it a republic, and start calling it a monarchy?

Wow, it sounded like a quote from a medieval movie trailer or something. Or Star Wars.

Made me think of the Bush family in the US, too.