Some ideas on the fly of what may be interesting to add to the game.
Puppet states could be created after a Liberation war, and/or after creating some sort of Vassal that may be disloyal. You could boost factions, change certain policies, force-elect leaders, maybe make or break alliances they have, etc. There could also be a timer for how long you can influence their government for, and it could have a monthly influence cost/upfront influence cost for that time. Or you could just choose to change their ethics (in Liberation wars), or leave them be (in Vassals).
Proxy wars could be for when you want another puppet state, or weakened/defeated Empire, but for whatever reason, you don't want to engage them yourself. Maybe they're pretty far away, maybe you're in the middle of another war, and don't want multiple fronts, or so on. You can request that an Empire (especially, or maybe only puppet states) declares war. You can decide the CB, and give them resources/some of your fleet to bribe/help them.
This would also be a useful mechanic if Cold wars were implemented. You don't want to engage the Empire you're rivaling right now, and neither do they, so the both of you can set up proxy wars to gain additional territory and resources, or a loyal ally/vassal.
Maybe different ethics can have differing specifics on what these can do?
This could also be attached, and expanded to something like "open" and "secretive" diplomacy. Where open is what everyone sees, and secretive is only what the other Empire sees. There could be additional things added to secretive diplomacy too, like if they're allied to a rival, and you want to know what they have. Militarily or technologically. This could make games more interesting, as the AI could do it to you as well, but it would need balance so it isn't too powerful.
Thoughts? Alternative mechanics/creation/motives?
Puppet states could be created after a Liberation war, and/or after creating some sort of Vassal that may be disloyal. You could boost factions, change certain policies, force-elect leaders, maybe make or break alliances they have, etc. There could also be a timer for how long you can influence their government for, and it could have a monthly influence cost/upfront influence cost for that time. Or you could just choose to change their ethics (in Liberation wars), or leave them be (in Vassals).
Proxy wars could be for when you want another puppet state, or weakened/defeated Empire, but for whatever reason, you don't want to engage them yourself. Maybe they're pretty far away, maybe you're in the middle of another war, and don't want multiple fronts, or so on. You can request that an Empire (especially, or maybe only puppet states) declares war. You can decide the CB, and give them resources/some of your fleet to bribe/help them.
This would also be a useful mechanic if Cold wars were implemented. You don't want to engage the Empire you're rivaling right now, and neither do they, so the both of you can set up proxy wars to gain additional territory and resources, or a loyal ally/vassal.
Maybe different ethics can have differing specifics on what these can do?
This could also be attached, and expanded to something like "open" and "secretive" diplomacy. Where open is what everyone sees, and secretive is only what the other Empire sees. There could be additional things added to secretive diplomacy too, like if they're allied to a rival, and you want to know what they have. Militarily or technologically. This could make games more interesting, as the AI could do it to you as well, but it would need balance so it isn't too powerful.
Thoughts? Alternative mechanics/creation/motives?
