I've always found the idea of playing a heresy interesting, but there's never been much of an incentive to actually play them, other than the challenge. Why not give them a purpose other than to inconvenience the main religions? Couldn't we differentiate them and give them end goals, rather than force them into a weird state where they function as a wholly separate, yet incomplete and ultimately pointless religion (no religious head really sucks, let's face it.)
For example, the Fraticelli (according to Wikipedia, anyway) protested against the wealth of the church in favor of a return to the poverty by choice of Saint Francis. A lord who embraces the Fraticelli heresy could immediately receive Zealous and Charitable traits, they could simply allow the faith to exist for a Kind trait, or they could attempt to stamp them all out for a gold infusion from the Church and a potential Wrath/Greedy trait. The end goal of the Fraticelli heresy, after gaining enough widespread support, would probably be reform in the Church. Think of the possibilities! We could even get Councils called to determine the future of the Church!
Now, for the Iconoclastic heresy that the Orthodox Church has, the consequences might be more dire. If the Iconoclasts manage to take over the Orthodox religion, it would likely cause more friction between the already tense Orthodox and Catholic factions, (automatic opinion modifiers) and lead to the destruction of artwork and cultural artifacts (prestige penalty? Learning penalties?).
Now, the inherent differences between the Islamic faiths might make their heretical faiths harder to manage, but I imagine there could be a system of religious toleration in place. The Muslims of Al-Andalus in Spain were famously tolerant of Jews and Christians, at least (and this isn't saying much, granted) compared to the later Christian rulers. Perhaps the Druze could be given a province to rule on their own in exchange for utter loyalty (for at least one generation) and positive traits?
Anywho, I apologize if this has been discussed to death before! It could be a mini-DLC or be part of the inevitable (FINGERS CROSSED!) theocracy/pagan/Zoroastrianism DLC.
For example, the Fraticelli (according to Wikipedia, anyway) protested against the wealth of the church in favor of a return to the poverty by choice of Saint Francis. A lord who embraces the Fraticelli heresy could immediately receive Zealous and Charitable traits, they could simply allow the faith to exist for a Kind trait, or they could attempt to stamp them all out for a gold infusion from the Church and a potential Wrath/Greedy trait. The end goal of the Fraticelli heresy, after gaining enough widespread support, would probably be reform in the Church. Think of the possibilities! We could even get Councils called to determine the future of the Church!
Now, for the Iconoclastic heresy that the Orthodox Church has, the consequences might be more dire. If the Iconoclasts manage to take over the Orthodox religion, it would likely cause more friction between the already tense Orthodox and Catholic factions, (automatic opinion modifiers) and lead to the destruction of artwork and cultural artifacts (prestige penalty? Learning penalties?).
Now, the inherent differences between the Islamic faiths might make their heretical faiths harder to manage, but I imagine there could be a system of religious toleration in place. The Muslims of Al-Andalus in Spain were famously tolerant of Jews and Christians, at least (and this isn't saying much, granted) compared to the later Christian rulers. Perhaps the Druze could be given a province to rule on their own in exchange for utter loyalty (for at least one generation) and positive traits?
Anywho, I apologize if this has been discussed to death before! It could be a mini-DLC or be part of the inevitable (FINGERS CROSSED!) theocracy/pagan/Zoroastrianism DLC.
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