Please let overlord choose vassal's ideas groups. AI decisions really annoy.

[Korashy]

Coring things yourself + vassal feeding > vassal feeding only.

And coring things yourself is likely, in turn, to imply converting things yourself. (Unless you have Humanist-synergizing NIs or religious values, in which case Humanist > hypothetical Religious-without-DV.)

I don't see how that makes it anymore "broken" than vassalizing a tag that already takes religious. It might actually make people use marches. I've done WC (one tag and domination), and have never used a march once, or kept a specific vassals for longer than convenient.

But actually picking 1-2 vassals that are highly useful to you, could make for more interesting opportunities where you are eventually having to either lose that customized vassal or have a mostly ineffective diplo slot.

 

[GamingHUD]

Idea:

Whenever a subject unlocks a new idea group, the overlord is notified (via icon). For a period of time (let's say 6 months), the subject does not pick an idea group and an option appears in the subject interaction menu specifically for that subject. Influence X's Direction (would need a better name) that gives you the choice of; Admin Idea Group, Dip Idea Group, Mil Idea Group or Your Own choice. Picking one of the first three will make the subject pick an idea group from that particular branch, but they still have the choice as to what idea group it'll be. Influencing them that way would increase their liberty desire, in line with other subject interactions where the overlord imposes their will on their subject. Own Choice would allow the subject to pick their idea group as normal, with no penalty - the same would happen if the window closes on being able to enforce the option.

So it would still give you some measure of control, without it being as OP as selecting individual idea groups themselves. Additionally it can be further balanced by either not allowing the overlord to make a subject pick from the same branch (ADM, DIP, MIL) consecutively OR the liberty desire penalty increases each time you do it.

 

[wingzero890]

The best one is when they take that idea group combo that gives all their lands hostile core creation cost. Anything to inhibit player expansion...