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Grand Historian

Pretentious Username | Iaponia Lead Dev
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May 13, 2014
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I think everyone can agree one of the best parts of a new patch is seeing which nations get their own NI sets. And one of the most frequent topics in the suggestion forums are suggestions for said new NIs. Unfortunately, they can be difficult to find, and can fade away pretty quickly. Hence this thread.

As I recall there used to be a thread similar for this a while back, but since I can't seem to find it, I've created this; a new NI compilation thread, where I'll try to upload any suggested NI sets I see for nations that do not yet have them for convenience's sake. If there is an Idea Set of yours for a nation that does not have an unique NI set, or if I missed one of yours, please; feel free to post.

Edit: Also, please try to keep it restrained to only tags that are already in game or have been confirmed are being added.


At the request of @Trin Tragula, I’ve composed an index of this thread that I’ll do my best to keep updated. I’ve separated it into NIs for countries that already have them (which may or may not have been influenced by the ones in this thread) and ones that don’t, and then alphabetized them for ease of access. Author will be put in parenthesis.

This very belated update to the list was courtesy of @Aquamancer, who did the legwork in updating the thread to match the current situation of NIs ingame, as well as to make it more visually appealing.

Taken:

Available:


Outdated (Tag renamed/no longer available in-game):

Nations still using Generic Ideas:

This list is taken from the internal gamelog at patch 1.30.3. A number of the nations below do not lack national ideas in the sense that they merely and automatically adopt the NI set of the nation forming them.

Scandinavia
Livonia
Karelia
Chile
Colombia
La Plata
Peru
Paraguay
United Central America
Venezuela
California
Florida
Cuba
Ferghana
Bukhara
Kerman
Yazd
Isfahan
Ennarea
Jimma
Welayta
Damot
Hadiya
Shewa
Janjiro
Bali
Patiala
Blambangan

Nations still using Group National Ideas:

AnatolianEretna, Germiyan, Aydin, Dulkandir, Saruhan, Mentese, Ramazan
AndeanCalchaqui, Quito, Cajamarca, Huyla, Wanka, Charca
ArabianAnizah, Arabia, Dawasir, Fadl, Lebanon, Mikhlaf, Najran, Shammar, Sharjah, Yas, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Basra
ArmenianArmenia, Kharabakh
AustrianAustria, Styria
AymaranColla, Pacajes, Ishma
Barbary CorsairSalé
BavarianBavaria, Munich, Landshut, Ingolstadt, Regensburg
BengaliKachar, Koch, Bishnupur
Berber
Algiers, Fez, Tripoli, Kabylia, Tafilalt, Sus, Tlemcen, Touggourt, Djerid, Fessan, Mzab, Tétouan, Marrakesh​
BremenBremen, Verden
BurmeseTaungu, Prome
CaspianGilan, Mazandaran, Biapas
CatalanCatalonia, Valencia, Majorca
CaucasianGazikumukh, Tabriz, Maregheh
ChineseZhou, Shun, Xi, Tungning, Min, Yue, Shu, Ning, Chu, Tang, Wu, Qi, Yan, Jin, Liang, Qin, Huai, Changsheng, Lanfang
Dai VietAnnam, Dai Viet, Tonkin
DaimyoIkeda, Maeda, Akamatsu
Deccani SultanateBijapur, Ahmednagar, Berar, Carnatic, Khandesh, Maldives
DivineLivonian Order, Strasbourg, Avignon, Augsburg, Magneburg, Salzburg, Aquileia, Passau, Paderborn, Osnabrück
DutchHolland, Netherlands
EvenkNivkh, Solon
French DucalHaiti, Louisiana, Illinois, Alençon, Armagnac, Bourbonnais, Champagne, Dauphine, Foix, Gascony, Normandy, Picardy, Toulouse, Berry, Hainaut, Bar
GarjatiGarjat, Jharkhand, Sambalpur, Patna, Kalahandi, Keonhjar, Parlakhimidi, Jeypore, Surguja
GeorgianGeorgia, Imereti
GermanMeissen, Oldenburg, Tirol, Nassau, Ravensburg, Ruppin, Lippe, Coburg
GondGarha, Bastar, Chanda, Ratanpur
GreekAchaea, Crete, Greece, Morea
Gujarati PrincedomKutch, Rewa Kantha, Baglana, Idar, Jhalvad, Palitana, Navanagar, Rajkot, Junagarh, Porbandar
HausanHausa, Zazzau
HejaziHejaz, Medina
HighlanderGaeldom, The Isles
HordeAstrakhan, Qasim, Nogai, Sibir, Bashkiria, Great Horde, Kazakh, Uzbek, Chagatai, Mongolia, Oirat, Kalmyk, Mongol Empire, Korchin, Khalkha, Kara Del, Zunghar, Chahar, Khoshuud, Sarig Yogir
IncaInca, Cusco
Indian SultanateMultan, Kashmir, Oudh, Mewat, Nagaur, Rohilkhand, Kalpi, Sirhind
InterlacustrineRwanda, Burundi, Buganda, Nkore, Karagwe, Bunyoro, Busoga, Buha
ItalianEtruria, Modena, Parma, Malta, Padua, Spoleto
JavanMajapahit, Sunda
JurchenDonghai, Udege, Yeren, Haizi, Jianzhou
KongoKongo, Loango, Ndongo
KongoleseTyo, Soyo, Kasanje, Chokwe, Kikondja, Kazembe, Yaka, Kalundwe
KurdishArdalan, Soran, Bitlis
LaotianChampasak, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Muan Phuang
LüneburgerLüneburg, Calenberg
LuzonPangasinan, Tondo, Maynila
MalabariVenad, Calicut, Kochin, Kolathunad
MalagasySakalava, Mahafaly
Malayan SultanateBanten, Bruney, Malacca, Mataram, Sulu, Malaya, Johor, Kedah, Ligor, Perak, Cirebon, Demak, Banjar
MarathaMarathas, Baroda
MayanMaya, Cocomes, Itza, Xiu, Huastec, Yokotan, Tzotzil, Kaqchikel, Chactemal, Chortli, Can Pech
MesoamericanZapotec, Colima, Mixtec, Tlapanec, Tlaxcala, Totonac, Matlatzinca, Coixtlahuaca, Teotitlan, Xalisco, Otomi, Tonala
MindanaoLanao, Magoindanao
MoluccanTernate, Tidore
MossiMossi, Yatenga
NativeAbenaki, Apache, Assiniboine, Blackfoot, Caddo, Choctaw, Cheyenne, Comanche, Fox, Illiniwek, Lenape, Mahican, Mikmaq, Miami, Navajo, Ojibwe, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pequot, Pima, Potawatomi, Powhatan, Shoshone, Sioux, Susquehannock, Cree, Arapaho, Kiowa, Wichita, Guamar, Chichimeca, Zinu, Mescalero, Lipan, Miskito, Tairona, Yaqui, Yokuts
Nepalese PrincedomSikkim, Dang, Doti, Gorkha, Jumla, Limbuwan, Makwanpur, Sirmur, Kathmandu, Kumaon
NubianMakuria, Funj, Alodia, Darfur, Beja, Dongola
Pacific NorthwestChinook, Haida, Salish
PiraticalNew Providence, Port Royal, Tortuga, Libertatia
PolishPoland, Commonwealth
PomeranianMecklenburg, Pomerania, Wolgast, Stettin, Rügen
PuebloPueblo, Keres
RajputMarwar, Jangladesh, Jaisalmer, Hadoti
RuthenianGalicia-Volhynia, Ruthenia
ShanShan, Hsenwi, Mong Yang, Mong Mao, Mong Kawng, Mong Pai, Mong Nai, Kale, Hsipaw
SiberianChukchi, Khodynt, Chavchunveny, Kamchadals, Buryatia
SicilianSicily, Two Sicilies
SilesianSilesia, Opole, Glogow
SinhaleseKotte, Kandy
SomaliAdal, Aussa, Geledi, Harar, Hobyo, Majeerteen, Marehan, Warsangali
South IndianMadurai, Keladi, Jaffna, Gingee, Tanjore
SulawesiMakassar, Buton, Luwu, Aceh, Palembang, Pasai, Siak
Swabian City-StateMemmingen, Konstanz, Mulhouse, Donauw[rth
SwahiliKilwa, Mombasa, Malindi, Pate
TeluguGolkonda, Andhra, Telingana
TibetanTibet, Tsang, Kham, Guge, U, Bhutan
TupiPotiguara, Tupiniquim, Tupinamba
TuscanTuscany, Florence
VindhyanGwalior, Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand, Kalinjar
West AfricanOyo, Segu, Jolof, Bonoman, Dagbon, Fulo, Jenné, Kano, Kaabu, Kong, Katsina, Nupe, Timbuktu, Yao, Macina
YemeniAden, Yemen
ZambesiSofala, Lundu, Makua
 
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Bhutanese Ideas

Traditions:

+2 Tolerance of the true faith
+1 Attrition for enemies

The Dragon School
-10% Idea cost
The Dragon School, also known as the Drukpa Lineage is a sect of Tibetan Buddhism that was founded by the great ascetic Tsangpa Gyare in the late twelfth century, who is said to have named the school after sighting nine dragons bursting from the earth and into the skies. The order became known for the asceticism of its followers and its simple yet profound teachings.

Bön Influence (shared with Tibetan ideas)
+1 Land leader shock
The vestiges of the original and indigenous Bön faith still hold sway in Tibet, both competing with and merging with the Vajrayana way of Buddhism. The divine presences or Bön deities are incorporated into the very construction of the people's homes making them in effect a castle (dzongka) against the malevolent forces outside it. The fierce and inspiring Gods, Elementals, Demons, and Spirits are quite a contrast to the serene Buddha.

In the Thunder Dragon Kingdom
+5% Discipline
In our tongue, our kingdom is named Druk Yul, Land of the Thunder Dragon. As Mongols, Indians and Tibetans threaten our independence we shall channel our fearsome namesake and throw them back!

Dzong Architecture
-20% Fort maintenance
Dzongs are formidable structures that perform several functions as fortresses, administrative centers and temples. They are constructed with the spiritual guidance of high lamas, and are strategically sited on hilltops, mountain spurs and passes.

Tsa Yig Chenmo
-10% Stability cost modifier
To establish stability in the nation, we shall promulgate a new legal code based on traditional monastic institutions. These laws will be all-encompassing, governing administration, religion, social and moral conduct, and will promote synthesis between temporal and spiritual powers.

Adopt Money Economy
+10% National tax modifier
The Bhutanese economy is traditionally based on barter and corvée, with the government usually levying taxes from the citizenry in the form of hard labour. However, as foreign powers continue to threaten us we have found our barter economy to be increasingly insufficient in serving our needs. To better secure resources with which to defend our state we shall emulate our rivals and adopt a currency-based economy.

Subdue the Penlops
+1 Yearly legitimacy/devotion
As dictated by the Tsa Yig the country is split between provinces, each headed by a Penlop, or governor. While technically subservient to the King, in recent years with the decline of central authority the penlops have become in practice mostly autonomous and rule their provinces as feudal domains. This sad state of affairs cannot be tolerated.

Ambition:
+50% Hostile core creation cost on us



Code:
BHU_ideas = {    # Bhutan
    start = {
        tolerance_own = 2
        hostile_attrition = 1
    }
    bonus = {
        enemy_core_creation = 0.5
    }
  
    trigger = {
        tag = BHU
    }
  
    free = yes
  
    bhu_drukpa_lineage = {
        idea_cost = -0.1
    }
    bon_influence = { # Same as Tibetan       
        leader_land_shock = 1
    }
    bhu_land_of_dragons = {
        discipline = 0.05
    }
    bhu_dzong_architecture = {
        fort_maintenance_modifier = -0.2
    }
    bhu_tsa_yig = {
        stability_cost_modifier = -0.1
    }
    bhu_adopt_money_economy = {
        global_tax_modifier = 0.1
    }
    bhu_subdue_penlops = {
        legitimacy = 1
        devotion = 1
    }
}

 BHU_ideas: "Bhutanese Ideas"
 BHU_ideas_start: "Bhutanese Traditions"
 BHU_ideas_bonus: "Bhutanese Ambitions"
 bhu_drukpa_lineage: "The Dragon School"
 bhu_drukpa_lineage_desc: "The Dragon School, also known as the Drukpa Lineage is a sect of Tibetan Buddhism that was founded by the great ascetic Tsangpa Gyare in the late twelfth century, who is said to have named the school after sighting nine dragons bursting from the earth and into the skies. The order became known for the asceticism of its followers and its simple yet profound teachings."
 bhu_land_of_dragons: "In the Thunder Dragon Kingdom"
 bhu_land_of_dragons_desc: "In our tongue, our kingdom is named Druk Yul, Land of the Thunder Dragon. As Mongols, Indians and Tibetans threaten our independence we shall channel our fearsome namesake and throw them back!"
 bhu_dzong_architecture: "Dzong Architecture"
 bhu_dzong_architecture_desc: "Dzongs are formidable structures that perform several functions as fortresses, administrative centers and temples. They are constructed with the spiritual guidance of high lamas, and are strategically sited on hilltops, mountain spurs and passes."
 bhu_tsa_yig: "Tsa Yig Chenmo"
 bhu_tsa_yig_desc: "To establish stability in the nation, we shall promulgate a new legal code based on traditional monastic institutions. These laws will be all-encompassing, governing administration, religion, social and moral conduct, and will promote synthesis between temporal and spiritual powers."
 bhu_adopt_money_economy: "Adopt Money Economy"
 bhu_adopt_money_economy_desc: "The Bhutanese economy is traditionally based on barter and corvée, with the government usually levying taxes from the citizenry in the form of hard labour. However, as foreign powers continue to threaten us we have found our barter economy to be increasingly insufficient in serving our needs. To better secure resources with which to defend our state we shall emulate our rivals and adopt a currency-based economy."
 bhu_subdue_penlops: "Subdue the Penlops"
 bhu_subdue_penlops_desc: "As dictated by the Tsa Yig the country is split between provinces, each headed by a Penlop, or governor. While technically subservient to the King, in recent years with the decline of central authority the penlops have become in practice mostly autonomous and rule their provinces as feudal domains. This sad state of affairs cannot be tolerated."
 
I'm surprised no one's made a set for Timbuktu yet, it was a pretty important city.

So here they are:

Traditions:
Construction cost -10%
Domestic trade power +15%

Great Crossroad
+20% Caravan power
Timbuktu is located at the confluence of the Sahara and Sahel deserts and the Niger river, making our city a significant regional center of commerce. Gold, ivory, horses, cloth, slaves and salt pass through our lands between north, south and east by way of trade.

Taudeni Salt Trade
+10% Goods produced modifier
The azalai; great salt caravans, set off north from Timbuktu semi-annually in November and March to harvest slabs of salt from the large Taudeni salt mine, bringing them back to our city from which they are sold down the Niger river or to Saharan merchants.

University of Timbuktu
+10% Institution spread
+0.1 Monthly piety
Over 25,000 students from all over the Islamic world study at the mosques of Sankore, Djinguereber and Sidi Yahya. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of manuscripts rest in their libraries, forming the greatest literary collection in Africa outside of Alexandria, and making Timbuktu the greatest learning center in the continent.

Growth of Timbuktu
-10% Development cost
The growth of Timbuktu as the commercial, scholarly and theological center of West Africa has brought an influx of Tuareg, Fulani and Songhay people over the centuries, reaching 100,000 inhabitants by the 16th century.

Peripheral Autonomy
+1 Diplomatic reputation
While reaping the commercial benefits from its place within the Songhai sphere of influence, Timbuktu’s distance from Gao allowed the city to continue in its affairs with a great deal of autonomy.

Impede Foreign Expansion!
+10% Morale of armies
Timbuktu is the eye of many powerful neighboring states. To our north, the Moroccans, to our east, the Tuaregs, and to our south, the Songhai all compete to control wealthy Timbuktu. We must resist the domination of any would-be conquerors set on our city!

Mysterious City
+20% Foreign spy detection
While our city is famous for its wealth in Islamic accounts, it is shrouded in mystery to the kaffir. Many have attempted to reach and charter our city, but fewer have returned. As Europeans encroach on the continent, we should maintain Timbuktu’s veil of secrecy and repel their imperial glare.

Ambition:
+1 Yearly prestige
 
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Catalogued. I must say, it's rather nice to see so many new NI sets coming in as of late.
 
Maldivian Ideas

Traditions:

+10% Global trade power
+25% Trade range

Cowry Shells

+10% Goods produced modifier
Our waters are renowned for their abundance of cowries, a kind of sea snail whose shells fetch a high price indeed. In places such as Bengal and the Swahili coast these shells are even accepted as currency.

Crossroads of the Indian Ocean

+10% Trade efficiency
As early as the tenth century our islands were a key stop for trading vessels plying the routes between the Arab world and Southeast Asia.

Resist Imperialists
+10% Morale of armies
Because of our strategic location and our small population, many foreign powers would think our kingdom easy prey. We must never surrender, and engage in ferocious guerrilla warfare to preserve our country against the infidel.

Sufi Orders

+1 Tolerance of the true faith
-0.1 Monthly piety (Mysticism)
Our country has a long history with sufi orders, and it is they who build great religious structures, and conduct many important ceremonies.

Malé Friday Mosque

+1 Diplomatic reputation
To accommodate increasing numbers of devotees, we shall construct a new mosque in Malé, carved from coral. With it's intricate designs and inscriptions, it shall serve as a testament to our cultural achievements for other nations.

Thaana Script

-10% Idea cost
The old Divehi Akuru scipt previously in use has several shortcomings, including its difficulty in transcribing Arabic. We shall institute a new alphabet, based on Arab numerals, and it should be simpler to use for everyone.

Promote Shipbuilding

-10% Ship costs
To better defend our country and also promote trade we should begin bringing in foreign shipbuilders to to expand our fleet.

Ambition:

+1 Merchant


Code:
 DGL_ideas = {    # Maldives
    start = {
        global_trade_power = 0.1
        trade_range_modifier = 0.25
    }
    bonus = {
        merchants = 1
    }
 
    trigger = {
        tag = DGL
    }
 
    free = yes
 
    dgl_cowry_shells = {   
        global_trade_goods_size_modifier = 0.1
    }
    dgl_indian_ocean_crossroads = {
        trade_efficiency = 0.1
    }
    dgl_resist_imperialism = {
        land_morale = 0.1
    }
    dgl_sufi_orders = {
        tolerance_own = 1
        monthly_piety = -0.001
    }
    dgl_male_friday_mosque = {
        diplomatic_reputation = 1
    }
    dgl_thaana_script = {
        idea_cost = -0.1
    }
    dgl_shipbuilding_industry = {
        global_ship_costs -0.1
    }
}

 DGL_ideas: "Maldivian Ideas"
 DGL_ideas_start: "Maldivian Traditions"
 DGL_ideas_bonus: "Maldivian Ambitions"
 dgl_cowry_shells: "Cowry Shells"
 dgl_cowry_shells_desc: "Our waters are renowned for their abundance of cowries, a kind of sea snail whose shells fetch a high price indeed. In places such as Bengal and the Swahili coast these shells are even accepted as currency."
 dgl_indian_ocean_crossroads: "Crossroads of the Indian Ocean"
 dgl_indian_ocean_crossroads_desc: "As early as the tenth century our islands were a key stop for trading vessels plying the routes between the Arab world and Southeast Asia."
 dgl_resist_imperialism: "Resist Imperialists"
 dgl_resist_imperialism_desc: "Because of our strategic location and our small population, many foreign powers would think our kingdom easy prey. We must never surrender, and engage in ferocious guerrilla warfare to preserve our country against the infidel."
 dgl_sufi_orders: "Sufi Orders"
 dgl_sufi_orders_desc: "Our country has a long history with sufi orders, and it is they who build great religious structures, and conduct many important ceremonies."
 dgl_male_friday_mosque: "Malé Friday Mosque"
 dgl_male_friday_mosque_desc: "To accommodate increasing numbers of devotees, we shall construct a new mosque in Malé, carved from coral. With it's intricate designs and inscriptions, it shall serve as a testament to our cultural achievements for other nations."
 dgl_thaana_script: "Thaana Script"
 dgl_thaana_script_desc: "The old Divehi Akuru scipt previously in use has several shortcomings, including its difficulty in transcribing Arabic. We shall institute a new alphabet, based on Arab numerals, and it should be simpler to use for everyone."
 dgl_shipbuilding_industry: "Promote Shipbuilding"
 dgl_shipbuilding_industry_desc: "To better defend our country and also promote trade we should begin bringing in foreign shipbuilders to to expand our fleet."
 
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If one forms Scandinavia I think that you should be able to chose the main seat of the "union" in an event, that is if the capital should be in Stockholm, Copenhagen or Akershus. Deepening on the seat of the union, you should get the ability to pick either Swedish, Norwegian or Danish ideas when forming Scandinavia. That would give some interesting flexibility when playing the Nordic countries.
 
If one forms Scandinavia I think that you should be able to chose the main seat of the "union" in an event, that is if the capital should be in Stockholm, Copenhagen or Akershus. Deepening on the seat of the union, you should get the ability to pick either Swedish, Norwegian or Danish ideas when forming Scandinavia. That would give some interesting flexibility when playing the Nordic countries.

I think you might have posted in the wrong thread?
 
I think you might have posted in the wrong thread?

That was a suggestion for an "idea" for Scandinavia, but it might have deserved an own thread. Sorry!
 
German Empire Ideas


I know this has been done a few times already, but since a unified Germany still hasn't got its own idea set, I thought to give it another try. There are two major problems though:
  • The original Germany only got formed in 1871
  • in the game, there are many possibilities for formation scenarios
So, to find some information to use, I decided to look at the following aspects:
  • What is characteristic for the German regions in 1444-1821?
  • What is characteristic for the head institution of Germany in the time frame (HRE)?
  • What was characteristic for the unified Germany and can be applied to former times?
  • What would be logical?

Traditions & Ideas


Federalism
The state of Germany as a realm fragmented in many small pieces with a lot of different powerholders has been a problem which already the Holy Roman Emperor fought against, and although we managed to overcome it by now, there are still many local nobles, clerics or burghers holding power in regional politics and economy. While containing them to an appropriate level of power, we could also use them as a practical help for local development.
Suggested bonus: -10% Development Cost
Justification: Well, not much. Just an idea that you can cooperate with local elites to strengthen local economy, benefiting themselves but also the state, especially in a country where there are many of them.

Zünfte
As an old tradition, guilds are a common institution in German cities, guaranteeing social security for its members and high-quality products for the population.
Suggested bonus: +10% production efficiency
Justification: Taken from the German Minors Idea set, because why should it change drastically in an united state?

Reichstag
While roots of this tradition date back deep into the middle ages, we now apply it in a modern adaptation. At the Reichstag, important men of our large empire come together to discuss problems and make decisions collectively at the side of our emperor and for the benefit of our newly united realm.
Suggested bonus: -20% Stability cost modifier
Justification:
Reichstag in the HRE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Diet_(Holy_Roman_Empire)
Reichstag after 1871: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_(German_Empire)

Battlefield of Europe
Germany is placed in the centre of Europe, adjacent to many neighbours who tried to project their influence to our fragmented lands for a long time in the past, resulting in many foreign armies marching and fighting in Germany. However, despite many scars the fought wars left, we have also learned much from them.
Suggested bonus: +20% Infantry Combat Ability
Justification: 30 Years War, Seven Years War, etc.

Heritage of the Holy Roman Empire
For hundreds of years, Germany was more or less united under the rule of the Holy Roman Emperor, whose authority and actions were questionable at times, but definitely formative for Germany. We may now take on our succession of these men and claim ourselves as the true emperor of Germany.
Suggested bonus: +1 yearly prestige / +1 yearly legitimacy
Justification: Not much to be found historically, but a possibility to have happened

Reichsheer
A unified German State needs a unified Army, which we now have founded in the Reichsheer. But instead of a small force like it was in the Holy Roman Empire, the new version of our army shall be a strong and well trained force, consisting of men of all parts of Germany.
Suggested bonus: +5% Discipline
Justification:
Army of the HRE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_the_Holy_Roman_Empire
Army of the German Empire: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Army_(German_Empire)

Saturation
Even if we managed to unite Germany and build one of the strongest countries in Europe by now, we are still surrounded by powerful neighbours. To secure our precarious position until we are strong enough to take on our enemies, we should claim to stop aggressions and to step in for a peaceful Europe.
Suggested bonus: +20% improve relations / +1 diplomatic reputation
Justification: Foreign policies of the German Empire in its early state: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Bismarck#Early_relations_with_Europe_and_its_government (it seems logical that in a slightly historical scenario, this proceeding would be beneficial)

German Nobility (or maybe „German Junkers‟ as adaptation)
We may have brought an end to the shattered state of Germany in the Holy Roman Empire and the great political power of its nobles, but the aristocracy is still a practical source of competent officers for our armies. making use of this, we can bring the focus of the nobles to another field of activity while building up a strong military elite at the same time.
Suggested bonus: +1 yearly army tradition / -1% army tradition decay
Justification: privileged military career & traditional profession for nobles to serve in military, for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junker_(Prussia), and there were many nobles in Germany

German Universities
Starting with the university of Heidelberg in 1386, many other centres of education were founded until today. Counting these together, a united Germany has access to a network of highly educated people, preserving old knowledge and gathering new.
Suggested bonus: -5% technology cost, +1 possible advisors / -10% advisor cost
Justification: many universities in Germany https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_early_modern_universities_in_Europe


Possible Ambitions
  • +10% heavy ship combat ability
    (because of the conflict between Germany and G.B. before WWI)
  • -10% coring cost
    (to represent the will to expand in Europe, paired with the experience of expansion in Germany necessary to form it... well maybe one could also make an idea out of this)
  • +10% morale
    (to represent the will to get a strong army capable of punching neighbouring countries)
  • +1 yearly prestige decay / +1 yearly prestige
  • +20 settler growth
    (to represent the historical try of Germany to build up a colonial empire, and although this did not happen until the 1880's, it was just a few years after the historical formation

Conclusion
Well, these were 9 suggestions for Traditions and NI's, some better, some worse I think. There could be other things one could use for ideas and traditions, for example assumed orderliness, the invention of newspapers, the post system (Thurn and Taxis things), the religious conflict or the Peace of Westphalia, etc., but I could not include all of them.
Link to an older Suggestion: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...mpilation-thread.904665/page-15#post-22228845



Traditions
  • +10% production efficiency (Zünfte)
  • -10% development cost (Federalism)
Ideas
  • Reichstag, -20% stability
  • Battlefield of Europe, 20% infantry combat ability
  • Heritage of the Holy Roman Empire, +1 yearly legitimacy
  • Reichsheer, +5% discipline
  • Saturation, +1 diplomatic reputation
  • German nobility, +1 yearly army tradition
  • German Universities, -5% technology cost & -10% advisor cost

Ambition
  • +1 yearly prestige
 
I don’t have any of my own NI to bring up but I think that many of the countries that have remained untouched for a while should be revisited and have their NI’s updated. A lot of the recent ones like in CoC are far more powerful than many of the ideas in India or Asia
 
A Vijayanagar NI update would be very welcome.
 
Württemberg and Baden also have really awful NIs. This always deters me from playing anything in Swabia at all.
 
Since @DDRJake asked for NI suggestions for Dutch minors in this week's development diary thread, I went ahead and started with a set for Friesland. (edit:) I have done one for Gelre and Utrecht as well, see below. The modifiers may obviously be tweaked, for balance reasons. But I think it includes some interesting peculiarities of Frisian history.

Traditions
+10% trade efficiency
+25% naval force limit modifier

Karelsprivilege
We possess a document from Charlemagne, who exempted us from princely rule out of gratitude for capturing Rome on his behalf. Our enemies claim it is a forgery, but we know better.
+1 yearly prestige (OR +1 diplomatic reputation)


Frisian Freedom
We shall have neither masters nor slaves. We prefer death over being oppressed by the yoke of servitude.
-10% idea cost


Elected judges
We annually elect judges from our own midst and trust them to take care of our public affairs.
-10% stability cost modifier

Greate Pier
The famous giant Pier was a rebel and pirate who could behead multiple people with a single blow of his 2.13 meter long sword. His legendary courage will be an inspiration for generations to come.
+10% morale of armies
+10% morale of navies

Sea polders
For centuries, we have mastered the art of conquering land from the sea, to develop valuable agricultural land.
-10% development cost

Agricultural specialization
We have managed to improve our agricultural production dramatically through processes of innovation and increased specialization.
+10% goods produced modifier

Stuyvesant’s heritage
Pieter Stuyvesant from the village of Peperga became director-general of the New Netherland colony and greatly expanded the town of New Amsterdam. Countless Frisians are ready to follow in his footsteps.
+15 global settler increase

Ambition:
+10% trade steering



Sources:

The story of Frisians using a centuries old forged document, allegedly from Charlemagne, to claim privileges in the HRE is quite hilarious. For the first three national ideas (freedom from princely rule, freedom from servitude and the election of judges by the Frisians themselves), see:
- Vries, Oebele (2014), Frisonica libertas: Frisian freedom as an instance of medieval liberty. Journal of Medieval History 41 (2), pp. 229-248. Available online.


For the agricultural specialization, see:
- Vries, Jan de (1998), De economische ontwikkeling van Friesland na het einde van de Friese vrijheid. In: J. Frieswijk, A.H. Huussen jr., Y.B. Kuiper & J.A. Mol (eds.), Fryslân, staat en macht, 1450-1650, pp. 148-155. Available online.

For Greate Pier and his sword, I mostly used the website of the Frisian museum. I highly recommend everyone to read something about this man, for example on Wikipedia. Fascinating character.
 
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Archived, and bravo on sourcing it.
 
Thanks! Small correction though, you archived it under Gelre, but this one was for Friesland. I'm currently reading about Gelre, to hopefully make something similar. :)

My bad, I'll change that right away.
 
OK, I read many interesting texts, so here's a set of National Ideas for Gelre! The traditions and ambition reflect the fact that the economy of Gelre largely revolved around (river) trade. It may be a bit too much though, so feel free to suggest other ones. As with my post about Friesland above, some balancing may be necessary in the choice of modifiers, but the ideas do reflect many interesting events and developments in Gelre.

GELRE NATIONAL IDEAS

Traditions
+10% trade efficiency
+10% trade range



Hanseatic ties
Many of our cities are members of the Hanseatic league. The valuable contacts have strengthened our position in the North European trade networks.
+15% Provincial trade power modifier


Looting mercenaries
Our wise Duke Charles II and his merciless commander Maarten van Rossum have come up with a brilliant strategy to afford more mercenaries. Instead of paying them, we allow them to loot and pillage without any restraint, so they will pay for themselves.
-25% mercenary maintenance
+10% looting speed


Landdagen
To effectively govern our realm, our administrators alternately organize their assemblies in a different quarter, instead of in one central place. This way we make sure no territory can claim to be disadvantaged.
-1 national unrest


Desperaten
Frustrated by the unruly behavior of hostile troops in our territory, groups of peasants who call themselves ‘Desperaten’ have decided to take up arms against them.
+1 attrition for enemies


Scholtengoederen
In our eastern territories a distinctive class of affluent farmers has developed, the so-called scholtenboeren. They own large, lucrative estates (scholtengoederen). This system makes it easier to collect taxes.
+10% tax modifier


Mills
Windmills and watermills dominate our landscape. They are used to grind grain, to produce paper and for many other purposes. New models and techniques keep being developed.
+10% production efficiency


Pragmatic tolerance
The Protestant Reformation has divided the people in our lands. We have tried to forcefully impose religious unity, but regional minorities and stubborn noble families refused to bend. Maybe we should just try to live peacefully side by side.
+2 tolerance of heretics


Ambition
1 merchant (or +10% global trade power)



Sources:

For the importance of (river) trade for Gelre, see:

Weststrate, Job (2008), In het kielzog van moderne markten: Handel en scheepvaart op de Rijn, Waal en IJssel, ca. 1360-1560. Hilversum: Verloren, pp. 267-269. Available online.


For most of the ideas, I used the historical canon of Gelderland for inspiration, from the website Mijn Gelderland.

As for the remarkable use of mercenaries by the army of Gelre, I read this interesting article:

- Bruin, Willem de (2013). Maarten van Rossum zaaide dood en verderf. Historisch Nieuwsblad 7. Available online.

(While looting was generally a fairly common practise in this timeframe, Maarten van Rossum (1478-1555), commander of the Gelre army, made it a primary war goal. The looting of his army was highly systematic and shocked his contemporaries.)
 
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Here’s my shot at some Gelrian (?) ideas, to supplement those by KD. with possible alternatives:

From county to duchy
From humble beginnings, we have come far: our lands have been elevated by the Emperor to the rank of duchy. This makes us the most prominent independent state of the Low Countries.
Prestige

Diplomatic expansion
Through strategic marriages and moneylending, our realm has expanded from three holdings in Upper Guelders to its current size. We must obtain more lands following the example of the inheritance of Zutphen and the purchase of Nijmegen.
Diplomatic reputation/Diplomatic annexation cost

Border conflicts
As a regional power, we are often at war with our neighbours. Fighting Holland, Utrecht and Brabant has made our soldiers experienced.
Discipline/Army tradition

Fierce independence
For a long time, great powers have been aiming to incorporate our realm into theirs. Our military resistance against the ambitions of the Burgundians has been succesful so far.
Army morale
 
Thanks for your suggestions. You're right that some diplomatic and army modifiers may be necessary, to balance things out. This can also be done with the traditions and ambition of course. Also, the modifier I proposed for 'Desperaten' (attrition for enemies), could as well be army morale for example. Similarly, the modifier for 'Hanseatic ties' could also be diplomatic reputation or prestige.

With the third and fourth ideas you suggest, I feel like they would be true for almost every nation in the game, so I'd personally prefer something that's a bit more specifically connected to the history of Gelre. But this is a matter of personal taste of course. Anyway, it would be great if Dutch minors get their own national ideas in the next patch!
 
@Grand Historian
I wonder what the stance on NIs from mods which were not posted in this suggestion forum is?

I ask as VeF has some nice ideas for Utrecht, Gelre, Friesland and East Frisia which might be helpful.
 
Thanks for your suggestions. You're right that some diplomatic and army modifiers may be necessary, to balance things out. This can also be done with the traditions and ambition of course. Also, the modifier I proposed for 'Desperaten' (attrition for enemies), could as well be army morale for example. Similarly, the modifier for 'Hanseatic ties' could also be diplomatic reputation or prestige.

With the third and fourth ideas you suggest, I feel like they would be true for almost every nation in the game, so I'd personally prefer something that's a bit more specifically connected to the history of Gelre. But this is a matter of personal taste of course. Anyway, it would be great if Dutch minors get their own national ideas in the next patch!
I created these ideas on the basis of the history they correspond with rather than the effects, so I don’t think putting them in traditions/ambitions would work. I think ‘hanseatic ties’ should really be economic like it is now, although I’d prefer trade efficiency over trade power.

You’re right, ‘border conflicts’ is a bit generic and its effects could probably be moved to traditions or removed.

‘Fierce independence’, however, is pretty characteristic for Gelre. Duke Arnold sold the duchy to Burgundy, but his son Adolf declared independence after the death of Charles the Bold. He went on a campaign against France with the aim of conquering Burgundian lands but died at Tournai. His son Karel fought a series of wars (the Guelders Wars) against the Habsburgs to retain independence, and actually had considerable success in the first few, sacking The Hague, conquering Oversticht and driving the Germans out of Frisia.

I think perhaps ‘desperaten’, ‘looting mercenaries’ and/or ‘mills’ could be replaced, as they seem to be the least unique to Gelre. But it’s of course all up to the devs.