Paradox made it clear that we will be able to form heresies and even different religions separate from the established ones like the Abrahamic faiths. However, I was wondering about instead of going so far as those options, what if instead a ruler should be given the option to simply reform one or possibly more elements of an established religion he or she does not want to break away from. How easy or hard to reform would depend on numerous things.
For example, you are an average Catholic ruler and have many female children or older female members of your dynasty past child bearing age but are well learned and not able to hold certain positions like being an ordained priest. You decide you would like to able to appoint them as a priest or have your daughters who cannot be married off nor plan for them to ascend to the throne after your character dies. Instead you prefer to have them study for the priesthood, but unable to do so because the church forbids it. However you do not wish to create a heresy just for that reason alone. So instead, through a possible reform mechanic, petition the church to change this policy. Of course this may not be the only thing requested for the Church to reform. Such reforms may even be reversed though the same mechanic after a number of years went by.
The success of the petitioned reform would depend on a number of factors such as your rank. If you are a count you will not attract much attention, but if you were a king or even a emperor your would have far more momentum. You may also have to convince other Catholic rulers to back the reform. Some would be easy like those with the cynical trait and those on good terms with you, but others, especially those with the zealous trait would say no. The bigger the character's rank the better their support would be. You may need to call in many favors and grease some palms though adding to the difficulty. The last factor may be your standing with the head of the religion, assuming there is one, who may like, hate, or simply be indifferent towards you. Such as if they became pope thanks to you either by funding him during the papal election or installing him after overthrowing the previous one by force he would be receptive. If your excommunicated it definitely won't happen. Of course if the faith is more decentralized you may have to please more than one religious head instead schmoozing more lower ranked priests and have them vote to reform.
The religious head or heads will then decide on the matter based on the factors mentioned above. If the support is strong enough and if the petitioners are on good terms with the church it may pass. However if they say no to the reform a number of things may happen. The first is that the religious authority of the faith may go down hurting the standing of the church among its practitioners making them more vulnerable to conversions. The second is that many practitioners would gain the cynical trait due to being ignored. The third is that the petitioner and his or her supporters may break away forming a new branch of the faith and becoming a heresy to the main branch. The forth is that an anti-pope who supported the proposed reforms may be supported by the reforms' backers to force them onto the church. These becomes more likely the more the religious head or heads reject heavily supported reform petitions. The most extreme results would be much rarer.
This idea may not be in the base game at release, but it may make for a good expansion pack down the road. What do you all think of this idea? What things should be able to be reformed? What would you add or take away? What ultimately should be done with this?
For example, you are an average Catholic ruler and have many female children or older female members of your dynasty past child bearing age but are well learned and not able to hold certain positions like being an ordained priest. You decide you would like to able to appoint them as a priest or have your daughters who cannot be married off nor plan for them to ascend to the throne after your character dies. Instead you prefer to have them study for the priesthood, but unable to do so because the church forbids it. However you do not wish to create a heresy just for that reason alone. So instead, through a possible reform mechanic, petition the church to change this policy. Of course this may not be the only thing requested for the Church to reform. Such reforms may even be reversed though the same mechanic after a number of years went by.
The success of the petitioned reform would depend on a number of factors such as your rank. If you are a count you will not attract much attention, but if you were a king or even a emperor your would have far more momentum. You may also have to convince other Catholic rulers to back the reform. Some would be easy like those with the cynical trait and those on good terms with you, but others, especially those with the zealous trait would say no. The bigger the character's rank the better their support would be. You may need to call in many favors and grease some palms though adding to the difficulty. The last factor may be your standing with the head of the religion, assuming there is one, who may like, hate, or simply be indifferent towards you. Such as if they became pope thanks to you either by funding him during the papal election or installing him after overthrowing the previous one by force he would be receptive. If your excommunicated it definitely won't happen. Of course if the faith is more decentralized you may have to please more than one religious head instead schmoozing more lower ranked priests and have them vote to reform.
The religious head or heads will then decide on the matter based on the factors mentioned above. If the support is strong enough and if the petitioners are on good terms with the church it may pass. However if they say no to the reform a number of things may happen. The first is that the religious authority of the faith may go down hurting the standing of the church among its practitioners making them more vulnerable to conversions. The second is that many practitioners would gain the cynical trait due to being ignored. The third is that the petitioner and his or her supporters may break away forming a new branch of the faith and becoming a heresy to the main branch. The forth is that an anti-pope who supported the proposed reforms may be supported by the reforms' backers to force them onto the church. These becomes more likely the more the religious head or heads reject heavily supported reform petitions. The most extreme results would be much rarer.
This idea may not be in the base game at release, but it may make for a good expansion pack down the road. What do you all think of this idea? What things should be able to be reformed? What would you add or take away? What ultimately should be done with this?
