Partition Inheritance: Ideas For Improvement And Expansion

Hey guys, let's dive into the Partition Inheritance system, especially within the context of strategy games like Europa Universalis, and brainstorm some cool ways we can make it even more engaging and realistic. Right now, in many games, Partition Inheritance is often a somewhat simplified mechanic, usually involving some stability hits and maybe some minor territorial adjustments. But what if we could make it a truly dynamic and impactful system that shapes the game world in significant ways? Let's explore some ideas to overhaul this mechanic and discuss how to implement them effectively. Think of this as a collaborative effort to design a more immersive and challenging gameplay experience.

Current Implementation and Limitations

Currently, the Partition Inheritance system in many games, including those modded like MEIOU & Taxes for Europa Universalis, tends to be a bit underwhelming. Typically, it boils down to a silent event triggered upon the ruler's death. This event primarily affects the country's stability and control based on the number of sons the ruler has. While this does simulate the fracturing that can occur when a realm is divided, it often feels like a blunt instrument. There's a lack of nuance and player agency in how the succession plays out. It doesn't fully capture the political intrigue, familial squabbles, and potential for dramatic shifts in power that historically accompanied such partitions.

One of the main limitations is the lack of visibility and control for the player. The event fires, stability drops, and maybe you lose some provinces. But you don't get much of a say in how the realm is divided or who gets what. This can lead to frustrating situations where your carefully built empire is carved up in a way that feels arbitrary. Furthermore, the existing system often fails to account for the personalities and ambitions of the heirs involved. A game of thrones it is not, really. Do we want to add a bit of that spice in there, guys? What if we had the ability to influence the succession, perhaps through diplomacy, intrigue, or even outright scheming? This would add a whole new layer of depth and challenge to the game.

Another aspect that's often overlooked is the long-term consequences of Partition Inheritance. While the immediate effects are usually felt in terms of stability and territorial losses, the system rarely models the ongoing relationships between the successor states. Do they form alliances? Do they become rivals? Do they eventually reunify? These are all fascinating questions that could be explored through a more robust Partition Inheritance system. We could, for example, introduce mechanics that simulate dynastic ties, claims on each other's thrones, and the potential for civil wars or reconquest efforts. This would create a much more dynamic and unpredictable game world, where the decisions you make as a ruler have lasting repercussions.

Proposed Improvements: A New Partition Succession Event

So, how can we improve the Partition Inheritance system? Let's brainstorm some concrete ideas. The central proposal is to implement a new Partition Succession Event that goes far beyond the current stability-and-territory-loss model. This new event should be a multi-stage process, giving the player (and AI rulers) more agency and making the succession a more engaging and strategic challenge. At its heart, the new event should focus on the creation of new states for each heir, preferably in a way that feels both logical and interesting.

Releasing New TAGs for Every Brother

The core of this new system involves releasing new TAGs (in-game country tags) for each brother or heir. This means that instead of simply losing provinces to existing nations or having them become independent, each son of the ruler would potentially inherit a newly formed kingdom or duchy. This immediately creates a more complex and dynamic political landscape. However, the devil is in the details: how do we determine which TAGs are released and how is territory divided among them? These are crucial questions that need careful consideration.

Continuous TAGs: A Dynamic World

Ideally, these new TAGs should be continuous. What does this mean? It implies that they should remain active and independent entities throughout the game unless conquered or integrated through other means. This adds a sense of permanence to the partition, forcing players to deal with the consequences of their ruler's death for years to come. Imagine the challenge of playing as a weakened kingdom surrounded by ambitious siblings, each vying for power and territory. Or the satisfaction of reunifying your fragmented realm through diplomacy, war, or clever political maneuvering.

Equitable Division: A Fair(ish) Split

One of the trickiest aspects of Partition Inheritance is determining how to divide the territory fairly (or at least in a way that feels plausible). Simply splitting the realm equally might not be the most realistic or interesting approach. After all, historical partitions were often driven by factors like the power of individual heirs, the strategic value of certain provinces, and the cultural or religious makeup of different regions. So, how can we model these complexities in the game?

Size Matters (But Isn't Everything):

One option is to aim for a roughly equal distribution of resources and development among the new TAGs. This could involve dividing provinces based on their tax income, manpower, or trade power. However, we also need to consider the strategic value of certain regions. A small, but well-fortified, duchy controlling a vital trade route might be more valuable than a larger, but more vulnerable, kingdom in the hinterlands. So, a purely size-based approach is unlikely to be the best solution.

Distance and Control: A Strategic Perspective

Another factor to consider is the distance of provinces from the capital and the level of control exerted over them. Giving the heir with the strongest claim the provinces closest to the capital could be a way to ensure the stability of the core realm. Conversely, distributing more distant or less controlled territories among the other heirs could create opportunities for expansion and conflict. This approach could lead to interesting gameplay scenarios, where players must balance the need to secure their own power base with the desire to expand their influence.

Territory Assignment: Location, Location, Location!

How do we decide which brother gets which chunk of the pie? Should it be based on proximity to the original capital, overall control, or some other metric? There are a few interesting avenues to explore here.

Farthest From the Capital:

One idea is to assign the most distant provinces to the younger sons. This reflects the historical reality that younger sons often received less desirable lands, forcing them to either carve out their own destinies or remain subordinate to their elder brothers. This could create dynamic situations where younger sons are incentivized to expand aggressively, potentially leading to conflicts with neighboring powers.

Control-Based Allocation:

Another approach is to distribute provinces based on the level of control exerted over them. Areas with high unrest or low loyalty could be given to heirs who are perceived as more ambitious or ruthless, reflecting the idea that only a strong hand can maintain order in these regions. This could lead to internal power struggles and civil wars, adding another layer of complexity to the Partition Inheritance system.

Impactful Interactions: Creating an Interesting and Important Imperial Organisation (IO)

To further enhance the Partition Inheritance system, we should consider the creation of an Imperial Organization (IO) or some similar mechanic that governs the relationships between the newly formed TAGs. This IO could serve as a forum for diplomacy, trade, and even military cooperation. It could also be a source of conflict, as ambitious rulers vie for control of the organization and its resources.

IO Creation and Expansion:

The IO could be created automatically upon the ruler's death, with the initial members being the new TAGs formed through the Partition Inheritance. Alternatively, it could be a pre-existing entity that the original country is already a member of, with the new TAGs simply inheriting their predecessor's membership. Regardless of how it's formed, the IO should have mechanisms for expansion, allowing other countries to join and potentially altering the balance of power within the organization.

Brainstorming IO Effects: What Can It Do?

The effects of the IO could be varied and impactful, ranging from simple trade agreements to complex military alliances. Here are some ideas:

• Trade Bonuses: The IO could provide bonuses to trade within its member states, encouraging economic cooperation and integration.
• Military Alliances: The IO could function as a defensive alliance, guaranteeing the independence of its members and deterring external aggression.
• Imperial Authority: The IO could have a central authority figure, such as an emperor or president, who wields significant power over the organization. This could lead to power struggles and political intrigue as different rulers vie for control.
• Casus Bellis: The IO could grant its members casus bellis (reasons for war) against each other, allowing for limited conflicts within the organization without triggering a full-scale war.
• Internal Sanctions: The IO could impose sanctions on member states that violate its rules or act against its interests, providing a non-military means of enforcing its authority.

Conclusion: A More Dynamic and Engaging Succession

By implementing these changes, we can transform Partition Inheritance from a simple stability hit into a complex and dynamic system that shapes the game world in significant ways. The creation of new TAGs, the equitable (or strategically interesting) division of territory, and the establishment of an Imperial Organization can all contribute to a more engaging and challenging gameplay experience. The goal is to create a system that not only reflects the historical realities of partition but also provides players with meaningful choices and strategic opportunities. What do you guys think? Are there any other aspects of Partition Inheritance that we should consider? Let's keep the ideas flowing!