I think Paradox should recognize its strengths, and in my view, the character system featured in CKII and the POP system featured in Victoria II are the greatest mechanics Paradox has ever made. The mechanics both work so, so well in each respective title, but I can see variations of the system featured in every Paradox game to represent important individuals as well as demographic groups.
As an example, a modified character system in Victoria can represent important individuals such as politicians from each political party, heads of government/state, generals, tycoons, explorers, philosophers, scientists and revolutionaries and can use a simplified trait and attribute system similar to CK2. You wouldn't play as a character like in CK2, you still play as a country, but the characters would still be important players (as it was historically, Bismarck is an excellent example). Characters' opinions of one another can affect international relations; for example, if the US president and the British prime minister have low opinion with one another, it would be more difficult to have stronger diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Another example is using the POP system in Crusader Kings which would represent the demographically larger lower feudal groups such as peasants, merchants and knights. Levies can be drawn from POPs and converting provinces culturally/religiously would be done by converting the POPs in the province slowly until the majority population has changed culture/religion, but minorities will still be important to watch out for.
Most people here can also agree that if Rome II were to come that a character system would work excellently with it, but with a POP system in place to represent the various classes of Roman society would be quite neat as well. Similarly, a POP system in a potential Dark Ages game could be a way to represent migrations.
I can think of many example which is why I believe variations of these 2 mechanics can and should be applied to every future Paradox game. Of course, CK would always have a specialized and more complex character system because characters and dynasties are central to gameplay, whereas POPs would always be more specialized in Victoria titles, but simplified variations of these 2 mechanics can work for virtually every Paradox title.
As an example, a modified character system in Victoria can represent important individuals such as politicians from each political party, heads of government/state, generals, tycoons, explorers, philosophers, scientists and revolutionaries and can use a simplified trait and attribute system similar to CK2. You wouldn't play as a character like in CK2, you still play as a country, but the characters would still be important players (as it was historically, Bismarck is an excellent example). Characters' opinions of one another can affect international relations; for example, if the US president and the British prime minister have low opinion with one another, it would be more difficult to have stronger diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Another example is using the POP system in Crusader Kings which would represent the demographically larger lower feudal groups such as peasants, merchants and knights. Levies can be drawn from POPs and converting provinces culturally/religiously would be done by converting the POPs in the province slowly until the majority population has changed culture/religion, but minorities will still be important to watch out for.
Most people here can also agree that if Rome II were to come that a character system would work excellently with it, but with a POP system in place to represent the various classes of Roman society would be quite neat as well. Similarly, a POP system in a potential Dark Ages game could be a way to represent migrations.
I can think of many example which is why I believe variations of these 2 mechanics can and should be applied to every future Paradox game. Of course, CK would always have a specialized and more complex character system because characters and dynasties are central to gameplay, whereas POPs would always be more specialized in Victoria titles, but simplified variations of these 2 mechanics can work for virtually every Paradox title.
