Some suggestions to enhance game-play in the new world

[Canute VII]

Goal of this suggestion: There will be no more a single way forward for natives (reforming off an advanced (european) neighbour). Natives will be able to progress all on their own.

First off, all nations that have not reformed their society/religion/government will have access to „native buildings“ (add some more special art per tech group, though)

Changes to „reform religion“ and „reform government“:

• there will not be this distinction anymore, it will be universally named „reform society“ (admittetly a minor suggestion)
• The meso-americans and andeans will loose their „religious reforms“ upon reforming society just like the north americans will loose their „native ideas“ (not only for justice' sake, but also because they need to have greater incentive to adopt another religion in the end)

Natives can still reform off an advanced (european) neighbour. This still brings the nation up to 80% of the neighbour’s technology level but the effect on institutions will be moderated (i.e. doesn't give it all of the neighbour's embraced institutions). Only those provinces that border the advanced neighbour will get the institutions. Only if the nation has embraced all „civilisatory institutions“ will it see spread of feudalism etc. to the rest of its provinces. Therefore, small nations will have an advantage in this respect.

Reform Society/Religion/Government will be possible even without having an advanced neighbour, but will then of course not give any technology or institutions. But if done quickly there need not be any waiting time for european colonisation any more.

Finally, introduce "Civilizatory institutions":

1. metallurgy
2. script
3. mathematics
4. agriculture
5. navigation

Each of these give +10% technology cost if not embraced. However, as long as they don't advance to mastering all "civilisatory institutions" natives also do not suffer the institution tech penalty from feudalism etc. This will only hit once they advance beyond "civilisatory institutions".

These "civilisatory institutions" will be shown in the same screen as the current institutions, but not together with them, kind of like an overlay (if not all of them are already embraced). Once all are embraced, the screen shows the current institutions like feudalism etc.

Natives cannot simply develop provinces at start, this ability is now unlocked fully by mastering the required "civilisatory institutions". (ps: if this ever gets implemeted in a dlc, this dlc should obviously allow developing provinces as Common Sense dlc does.)

If embraced these civilisatory institutions unlock

1. earnings from gold are no longer reduced, shows metal trade goods (copper, iron) on map (before these would be something else e.g. grain with a hidden metal ressource akin to coal)
2. can devevop province (tax)
3. can develop province (production)
4. can develop province (manpower)
5. shipbuilding is enabled, allows colonizing non-adjacent provinces and introduces the penalty to sieging coastal forts without a blockade

Also:

• if (1) and (3) are present, natives can have cannon (provided the required tech level is also reached)
• if (4) and (5) are present, natives can have cavalry (provided the required tech level is also reached)
• if (2) is present, natives can have government reforms (with Dharma DLC)

They would be unlocked by

1. having a „master of mint“ advisor gives (0.1 * advisor level) yearly spread per development in all provinces with „metal“ trade good (gold, copper, iron)
2. having a „artist“ advisor gives (0.1 * advisor level) yearly spread per development in the capital
3. having an „philosoper“ advisor gives (0.1 * advisor level) yearly spread per development in the capital
4. having a „natural scientist“ advisor gives (0.1 * advisor level) yearly spread per development in the capital
5. having a „navigator“ or „naval reformer“ advisor gives (0.1 * advisor level) yearly spread per development in all provinces with „fish“ or „naval supplies“ trade good

(1) - (4) would all rely on admin advisors, so they can be pushed only sequentially. However: Development brings institution spread, also spread from neighbouring province and „knowledge sharing“ work as well.

As I said before, only if all these civilisatory institutions are embraced may a nations start to have spread of feudalism etc. and embrace it.

Most Old World tags start with having all these embraced. Most New World tags have not embraced these either partially or not at all:

• most north american tribes have no sign of these, but some have agriculure (e.g. Pueblo) and some even a percentage of mathematics or script in their capitals
• the mesoamericans will have them present to some degree (e.g. Aztecs have agriculture, mathematics and 50% metalurgy in their capital; Majas have agriculture, mathematics and 50% script in their capital)
• andeans will have it present to some degree (e.g. Inca have agriculture, 75% mathematics and 75 script in their capital)
• Maybe Central Africans should not have fully embraced them either (mathematics?)

(I'm aware a lot of stuff would probably have to be rebalanced and all my numbers are merely for illustration.)