In times of a quick simple change, I completely agree with the original poster -- require the conquest of Egypt instead of Mashriq/Mesopotamia.
I do also like the idea of an easier formation which then facilitates the conquest of the rest of Europe. However I think the Empire is supposed to represent the dreams of all European conquerors to reclaim the glory of Rome combined with Renaissance obsession with all things classical. It's not just an Italian ambition or Byzantine resurgence.
Formation
So I would suggest that the overhualed formation mechanics require complete control of Italy as the core of the Empire, plus one other major "province" like Gallia, Hispania, Asia (Anatolia) or Aegypta, and then several core cities -- Constantinople obviously, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Tunis (Carthage) and Lyon (Lugdunum).
Then once formed you get permanent claims over all of the Empire's historical provinces and missions to reconquer them.
The Empire should only be formable by either a. Christian naitons with capital in Euorpe or b. nations with a European culture group with capital in Europe. The current system of letting pagans form it makes no sense, since none of the current pagan denominations have any ties to the Empire.
Also, the Turks already see themselves as the Roman Empire, whether the Ottomans or the formable Rum nation, though I would approve of their missions and maybe perks being expanded to account for them taking the "Kayser-i Rum" title seriously. I'm not sure about other Muslims -- if there is evidence for some sort of desire to return to Rome in Alexandria or Tunis, I'd be okay with it, but I feel the Muslim formable should rather revolve around trying to rebuild the united Caliphate. Rome is more of a Christian/European dream.
Also, I'd be down with Byzanttium having a different path to forming the Empire -- namely replicating Justinian's conquests.
I agree that all Christian theocracies should have some uniquely flavoured alternative to the Roman Empire, but I'm not sure what it should be called. The HRE was the continuation/successor to the Roman Empire, and the Pope saw himself as its actual head, with the Emperor more of a vassal -- a medieval pope actually referred to the Empire as fief (benefice) he'd bestowed on the Emperor, then had to backtrack when everyone freaked out at the over-reach. So historically I think a militaristic pope's aim would be to enforce such claims and be recognised as the secular as well as the spiritual head of the HRE with the Emperor serving as a kind of lieutenant.
Buffs
For perks, I think it definitely needs an overhaul. It's good, but it's not as good as I feel it should be in comparison with say Mongols or Mughals, and arguably even some other nations like France or Prussia. So what I would suggest is a couple of things.
- First, tolerated culture status for all Romance culture groups.
- Second, unique governments -- Imperium Romanum for monarchies, or Senatus Populusque Romanus for republics -- that give benefits comparable to other end-game tags.
- Third, possible overhual of the Roman ideas. Thoguh they might be fine in conjunction with the other benefits. I would like to see a "City of Marble" idea that reduces cost and time for upgrading monuments, though it could also work as a permanent modifier from a decision, or part of the Roman government types.
- Fourth, unique buff for every European region corresponding (roughly) to a Roman province. For some examples,
~ Italia restored: Diplo rep and maybe something else like Prestige and TF tolerance, this is default
~ Gallia Restored (France region): Morale
~ (Gallia) Belgica Restored (Low Countries region): Trade efficiency
~ Britannia Restored (Great Britain, or maybe just historical Britannia): Heavy ship combat ability
And a special one, Germania Pacified, for conquering all of Northern and Southern Germany, where you can choose between Discipline (representing Prussian militarism) or Goods Produced (representing German craftsmanship).
Culture
I think the return to Roman culture isn't actually that far-fetched. Europe was obsessed with all things classical -- it's called the "Renaissance" because it was supposed to be the rebirth of all things Roman (and Greek). But I think it needs to be handled differently.
So instead of automatically getting Roman culture, you get to take a decision after forming the Empire -- "Restore Roman Culture." That would convert Rome and all owned provinces of your culture group to Roman. Also, Roman needs to be changed form the worthless "Ancient" category, which oguht to be disbanded, to Latin culture group. If Paradox wanted to go crazy, they could have a chain of events where Romance and English cultures were converted back to Roman, but otherwise a modifier reducing cultural penalties for them would work.
Definitely, I think there should be events as your civilization resumes Roman practices -- togas, public baths, making sure everyone has a working knowledge of Latin, and so on.
AND THEN, following the full revival of Roman culture, you get a choice to either integrate your Christian flavour of choice into the Imperial administration -- Caesaro-papism for the win -- OR revive the old pagan customs. If you stick with Christian, I would say you get some sort of additional perks. This is already super long, so i won't go into it, but I think the fallout with the Papacy for conquering Rome needs a serious overhaul for all countries, not just a reformed Empire.
Reviving Classical Paganism
"Not since Julian the Apostate has the idea been seriously entertained..."
An option for fun and for a different roleplaying experience, once you have embraced Roman culture. Converting to Classical religion should have some serious penalties, but also some benefits. Initially, I'd imagine it being similar to the Protestant conversions, but harsher. So like
- -4 stability. Maybe Christian zealots automatically spawn.
- Damaged relations with everyone:
~ -100 with all Christian nations
~ -200 with Christian theocracies
~ -50 with Christian subjects
~ -50 with Muslim and Jewish nations (they're not keen on polytheism either)
And maybe a permanent malus with the Papal State, assuming they pop up again in Germany.
Benefits, on the other hand, could be
- Capital region auto-converts
- Establishes Centers of Reformation in the following provinces: Rome, Athens, Ephesus, maybe Alexandria; either as soon as you acquire them or once pagan-themed monuments have been upgraded. Centers of Reformation target all Christian and Muslim provinces, though maybe only within the Empire.
- Missionary zeal
- Influx of money from seizing church lands, probably a reduction in clergy power/land. (Also, clergy would be renamed to priesthood and probably should have special privileges, though I haven't looked at what other pagan denoms have available)
- Possible relationship boost with other pagan nations.
There could possibly be an event at some point when you have the choice of tolerating Christians, attempting to convert them, or outright persecuting them. A similar event could also happen for Muslims. Jews, though -- the Empire was pretty tolerant of them as an ancient religion, and I think it would be fun if the revived Empire became a haven for Jewish from less tolerant Christian countries.
Speaking of monuments, I suggest several new monuments, allowing you to rebuild/restore the statue of Zeus/Jupiter at Olympia, the Colosseum and pagan temples in Rome, the statue of Helios/Sol (Colossus) at Rhodes, the temple of Artemis/Diana in Ephesus, the Great Library in Alexandria.
Suggested mechanics are similar to Norse and Hinduism, with the following seven gods with suggested benefits.
~ Jupiter ~ Mars ~ Mercury ~ Minerva ~ Vesta ~ Venus ~ Vulcan
- Jupiter ~ Prestige, +1 Admin power, -Liberty desire ~ King of the gods, improves governing ability
- Mars ~ Morale, Land Shock, Land Fire ~ God of war, so obv. military benefits
- Mercury ~ Trade Efficiency, trade power ~ Kind of hard, Mercury is associated with both trade and science, so tech boost would also fit
- Minerva ~ Discipline, Idea cost reduction ~ Minerva/Athena was the goddess of military strategy, but also linked to philosophy
- Vesta ~ Missionary strength, tolerance of TF ~ Association with virginity and family to me suggests that her cult would be also for syncretization with Christianity, especially Christianity
- Venus ~ Improve relations, less unrest, development cost ~ Goddess of love and sex, leading to a freer, happier life for citizens and visiting diplomats, and increased fertility makes it easier to boost development
- Vulcan ~ Building cost reduction and build time ~ The divine smith helps you buld things. Maybe also cheaper and faster soldier recruitment
Interpretatio graeca
And I think that since it's tied to the Roman Empire, the gods should use the Roman names. However, it would be neat if Greek culture countries could restore the relgiion as well while using the Greek names (Zeus, Ares, Hermes, Athena, Hestia, Aphrodite, Hephaestus).