Religious Missions in Trade Companies

[Flammifleure]

Let's face it: the inability to convert trade company provinces is utterly unrealistic. As a matter of fact Cahtolic missionaries were extremely busy throughout the domains of Spain and Portugal, and were successful in at least some cases (Goa, the Philippines) and even beyond their domains (the Japanese Kirishitan who clung to their faith for centuries despite persecution and isolation).

I would suggest that two changes be made to reflect this.

First: Leave the current malus to conversion in place in TC provinces. However, introduce new TC improvements that reduce the malus to zero. So like,
- Tier 1 Mission: +50% missionary strength in area.
- Tier 2 Hospital: +50% missionary strength in area (cum. for +100%, missionaries are now fully effective)
-Tier 3 Seminary: +1 Missionary Strength in the trade zone, +1 Missionary

Second: Allow Christians to propagate religion through trade nodes, same as Muslims. That would representation for things like the establishment of the Japanese Catholic community and Matteo Ricci's mission to China. Current events that represent these missions could then be tied to this mechanic -- Kirishitan events for Japan would trigger if a Christian nation is propagating religion in Nippon, for instance.

Also, expand the importance of the Society of Jesus -- Ricci and the very successful Francis Xavier were both Jesuits. All Catholic nations should be able to accept the Societas Jesu, gaining +1 domestic missionary strength and the ability to propagate religion in any* trade node even if they do not have a majority of power there, at enough strength to make at least marginal headway.

*Actually this should probably be limited, because it would be silly for a Catholic England to be spreading evangelising in Central Asia. But the fact that Xavier was making converts in Japan without Spain having any economic pull there needs to be reflected somehow.

Also, other Christian provinces would not be affected by this. Maybe Muslim provinces should be immune too; I don't think Christians have ever had much success evangleising Muslims.

A third suggestion, if one or both of the above is adopted, is to have a Monument or two that boosts missionary strength in overseas (TC, CR) provinces. It could be added to El Escorial (it is a monastery, after all) and/or maybe a new one or two.

And on the other side -- I would say that the Emperor of China, if his Mandate is high enough, can preclude missionary work in his empire. Japan similarly could reduce missionary strength by upping its Sakoku level.

 

[I Couldn't Decide]

introduce new TC improvements that reduce the malus to zero.

Part of the point of TCs is to prevent the player from having to convert every single province (unless they're going for one-faith); they ignore unrest generated from intolerance, and don't contribute to Religious Unity.

Allow Christians to propagate religion through trade nodes, same as Muslims.

Absolutely! Christianity is the proselytizing religion, it makes no sense that they can't do that.

expand the importance of the Society of Jesus

Can't comment on that.

It could be added to El Escorial (it is a monastery, after all) and/or maybe a new one or two.

Both.

If I were to add anything, it would be that there should be more event chains like the Congo one.

 

[Flammifleure]

Part of the point of TCs is to prevent the player from having to convert every single province (unless they're going for one-faith); they ignore unrest generated from intolerance, and don't contribute to Religious Unity.

That, admittedly, is something I'd completely forgotten. >< My point of view is usually based on immersion/roleplaying and historicity. Game mechanics can become a bit of a blind spot for me.

Now it is a fact that Christians were busy making converts throughout these regions, so the current set-up makes no sense in a historical context. Gamewise, a simple solution is that building the mission improvements decreases the bonuses while also boosting missionary strength, so that once you build the Hospital the provinces are "normal" relative to religious function.

Building TC improvements presumably represents turning the province from a little trading post in a region that is politically still dominated by local leaders into an actual colony ruled by the TC. As for as the Mission itself goes, even if the country/TC aren't trying to extend their political influence, missionaries would still be trying to spread the religion -- and the same zeal that drives them to do so is likely to stir up animosity. So the player can choose, from both an immersive and a gaming perspective, whether they want to proselytise in TCs and risk rebellion or just leave well enough alone and not build the improvements.

Another solution though is a much more radical restructuring of TCs into proper subjects, which is something I'm very much for both because it feels more historical to me and it would cut down on the micromanage of those areas. But that's an issue that really deserves it's own thread.

Can't comment on that.

Hm. xD The SJ issue also overlaps a bit with Golden Century's horrible bungling of religious orders.