I.
I'm wondering if it wouldn't be a good idea to have independent duchies drift out of created kingdoms.
Okay, perhaps we don't want Champagne to start drifting into kingdomlessness just because it somehow managed to be independent. On the other hand, Cornwall will typically drift into England, Normandy might, or even Lothian or Galloway. Now, those dukes can play with independence factions and even with their independence, but they stay forever wherein they drifted.
So here's my suggestion: let's not wipe de iure history entirely. If a duchy used to belong de iure to a different kingdom how about it either:
1. Begins to drift back to its previous or original de iure kingdom (even an uncreated one), possibly depending on the duke's culture (it's possible for a duchy to have drifted more than once before), or:
2. Drifts where the duke chooses it to drift out of viable options, possibly requiring some plot/decision/skill threshold/whatever.
I believe this to be a sensible suggestion on the premise that a one-time drift shouldn't determine the whole rest of the game.
II.
Sometimes you have a couple of independent dukes who would together have either the entire de iure kingdom or at least enough land combined to form the kingdom.
Now, I believe it would silly to leave them only the option to fabricate claims and battle it out of each other (possibly getting stoped by a neighbouring potentate during the time), forbidding them a peaceful way to recreate the kingdom.
So here's my proposal: when a duke is independent and in a de iure kingdom that is not created, he could have the ability to initiate a plot to create the kingdom. When he alone controls 50% of the land but has only 1 ducal title, getting enough plot power could waive for him the 2-duchy restriction. The plot power would basically symbolise the legitimacy and the balance of power derived from his following. On the other hand, when he doesn't have the 50%, the other dukes or counts (perhaps including counts currently vassalised by other dukes) could join. There could be some relationship between plot power %% and %% land held together. When fired, the plot would create the kingdom. The determined "winner", perhaps on the basis of contribution %%, would become king, the rest of the major players would get strong claims, every independent landed participant (including barons if landed but excluding vassalised counts) would get at least a weak claim. The claims would ensure the lack of excessive stability of such a kingdom. Additionally, due to the manner of its formation, it could start with lower crown authority or even outright Autonomous Vassals.
This does reflect the unification of a number of kingdoms in history, it's not unrealistic. I wouldn't insist on this particular mechanism but I believe there should be non-violent ways to create kingdoms. Obviously other than inheritance. Speaking of which, it could be a good idea to facilitate shared inheritance for example when Cornwall is no longer de iure Wales, Gwynnedd has a 13 year old girl on the throne and Deheubarth's duke is unmarried or has an unmarried heir. Or even an elective arrangement, i.e. two dukes marrying their kids and one of them going agnatic-cognatic elective to put the girl on the throne.
The above should be an especially strong tendency in post-horde situations or in those odd situations when e.g. France has no current holder.
Possibly a similar mechanic could be used to create a Spanish emperor, as in reality the pretence to imperial dignity relied more on the other kings conceding primacy to the most powerful one of them than on one king reducing everybody else to duke and then assuming the crown. Similarly if the HRE or ERE ended up without a holder but with enough de iure vassals of the right culture. This would basically resemble an election except every participating independent would get a vote regardless of his rank or type.
Again, I'm not focusing on specific details of the practical solution but rather the idea that something along these lines should exist and would benefit the game. The basic premise is to replace mindless blobbing (pressing claims of vassals and co-dynasts on titles one tier under your own until you have enough land).
I'm wondering if it wouldn't be a good idea to have independent duchies drift out of created kingdoms.
Okay, perhaps we don't want Champagne to start drifting into kingdomlessness just because it somehow managed to be independent. On the other hand, Cornwall will typically drift into England, Normandy might, or even Lothian or Galloway. Now, those dukes can play with independence factions and even with their independence, but they stay forever wherein they drifted.
So here's my suggestion: let's not wipe de iure history entirely. If a duchy used to belong de iure to a different kingdom how about it either:
1. Begins to drift back to its previous or original de iure kingdom (even an uncreated one), possibly depending on the duke's culture (it's possible for a duchy to have drifted more than once before), or:
2. Drifts where the duke chooses it to drift out of viable options, possibly requiring some plot/decision/skill threshold/whatever.
I believe this to be a sensible suggestion on the premise that a one-time drift shouldn't determine the whole rest of the game.
II.
Sometimes you have a couple of independent dukes who would together have either the entire de iure kingdom or at least enough land combined to form the kingdom.
Now, I believe it would silly to leave them only the option to fabricate claims and battle it out of each other (possibly getting stoped by a neighbouring potentate during the time), forbidding them a peaceful way to recreate the kingdom.
So here's my proposal: when a duke is independent and in a de iure kingdom that is not created, he could have the ability to initiate a plot to create the kingdom. When he alone controls 50% of the land but has only 1 ducal title, getting enough plot power could waive for him the 2-duchy restriction. The plot power would basically symbolise the legitimacy and the balance of power derived from his following. On the other hand, when he doesn't have the 50%, the other dukes or counts (perhaps including counts currently vassalised by other dukes) could join. There could be some relationship between plot power %% and %% land held together. When fired, the plot would create the kingdom. The determined "winner", perhaps on the basis of contribution %%, would become king, the rest of the major players would get strong claims, every independent landed participant (including barons if landed but excluding vassalised counts) would get at least a weak claim. The claims would ensure the lack of excessive stability of such a kingdom. Additionally, due to the manner of its formation, it could start with lower crown authority or even outright Autonomous Vassals.
This does reflect the unification of a number of kingdoms in history, it's not unrealistic. I wouldn't insist on this particular mechanism but I believe there should be non-violent ways to create kingdoms. Obviously other than inheritance. Speaking of which, it could be a good idea to facilitate shared inheritance for example when Cornwall is no longer de iure Wales, Gwynnedd has a 13 year old girl on the throne and Deheubarth's duke is unmarried or has an unmarried heir. Or even an elective arrangement, i.e. two dukes marrying their kids and one of them going agnatic-cognatic elective to put the girl on the throne.
The above should be an especially strong tendency in post-horde situations or in those odd situations when e.g. France has no current holder.
Possibly a similar mechanic could be used to create a Spanish emperor, as in reality the pretence to imperial dignity relied more on the other kings conceding primacy to the most powerful one of them than on one king reducing everybody else to duke and then assuming the crown. Similarly if the HRE or ERE ended up without a holder but with enough de iure vassals of the right culture. This would basically resemble an election except every participating independent would get a vote regardless of his rank or type.
Again, I'm not focusing on specific details of the practical solution but rather the idea that something along these lines should exist and would benefit the game. The basic premise is to replace mindless blobbing (pressing claims of vassals and co-dynasts on titles one tier under your own until you have enough land).