CK2 is beautiful and brilliant, but intrigue needs an overhaul. I've started designing a mod that, in the beginning, should at least address some of the most glaring issues, and eventually get the ball rolling on adding new plots, ambitions and other features. I'd love to have some feedback and co-conspirators. So far blueprints only, but I believe people might find these ideas interesting, contributions are welcome! I can do data file editing, but of course cracking CK2's specific system and its capabilities will take a little time.
Priority #1: Fix assassinations!
Assassinations are both overpowered and ahistorical (medieval rulers didn't keep trained stealth assassins!). I personally believe the plot system should almost completely replace the current assassination system, as medieval murders generally involved getting close to someone using people in positions of trust. Plots are there to accomplish just that. Unfortunately, diplomatic interactions are currently unmoddable, but there's a way to get around this - on-action events!
My idea is this: replace the "assassinate" option with "Plot assassination", and completely rework the on-action events to improve it. You can use multiple on-action events, and only the ones whose conditions are met trigger, so we can immediately separate into two types of assassinations:
- In your own court. The system would work fairly similarly to the current one, as it would assume you murder the person yourself. Later on, additional events using flags can be added to deal with the consequences of the killing, so as to stop it from being the primary court-management system. For instance, even a successful assassination might entail rumors, or psychological consequences for a character who is supposedly kind, honest and pious and goes around committing heinous crimes.
- In other people's courts. This is where the system needs heavy work. I propose completely or mostly dumping the current system for these and instead making a successful "plot assassination" decision flag the character to be available to this one as a potential plot target. And that's where the fun starts, as you should NEED co-conspirators close to an enemy to kill them. Again, this is medieval Europe and there are no professional contract killers.
The consequences of discovery should also be far more severe. Not just loss of piety, but adding traits that affect reputation if you do really nasty stuff. Killing your political rival should be fairly mild, the really ruthless stuff like killing family members, clergymen, children or pregnant women should entail proportionate damage to one's reputation. Because let's be honest here, a ruler who is discovered to have had two of his own kids smothered in their cribs to ensure a smooth succession wouldn't just lose a little favor in the eyes of the Church, he'd be hated and feared.
One concern, however, is whether the currently unmoddable AI would know how to use this. However, given the "chance of picking plots" mechanism, you could make sure they pick the plots to assassinate people they want to first, although this would require some testing.
Priority #2 - add more plots
Killing people isn't the only thing people in courts plotted to accomplish, or even the most common. Far more often they would try to smear someone, throw a false accusation, blackmail them etc. - or the opposite, gather backers to get in someone's good graces. Most plots should have to do with relations, non-military intrigue should be complex, and getting a major rival killed should be a significant accomplishment, not something you do left and right. I'll write down my ideas for this later, but specific plot concepts are, again, very welcome.
Priority #1: Fix assassinations!
Assassinations are both overpowered and ahistorical (medieval rulers didn't keep trained stealth assassins!). I personally believe the plot system should almost completely replace the current assassination system, as medieval murders generally involved getting close to someone using people in positions of trust. Plots are there to accomplish just that. Unfortunately, diplomatic interactions are currently unmoddable, but there's a way to get around this - on-action events!
My idea is this: replace the "assassinate" option with "Plot assassination", and completely rework the on-action events to improve it. You can use multiple on-action events, and only the ones whose conditions are met trigger, so we can immediately separate into two types of assassinations:
- In your own court. The system would work fairly similarly to the current one, as it would assume you murder the person yourself. Later on, additional events using flags can be added to deal with the consequences of the killing, so as to stop it from being the primary court-management system. For instance, even a successful assassination might entail rumors, or psychological consequences for a character who is supposedly kind, honest and pious and goes around committing heinous crimes.
- In other people's courts. This is where the system needs heavy work. I propose completely or mostly dumping the current system for these and instead making a successful "plot assassination" decision flag the character to be available to this one as a potential plot target. And that's where the fun starts, as you should NEED co-conspirators close to an enemy to kill them. Again, this is medieval Europe and there are no professional contract killers.
The consequences of discovery should also be far more severe. Not just loss of piety, but adding traits that affect reputation if you do really nasty stuff. Killing your political rival should be fairly mild, the really ruthless stuff like killing family members, clergymen, children or pregnant women should entail proportionate damage to one's reputation. Because let's be honest here, a ruler who is discovered to have had two of his own kids smothered in their cribs to ensure a smooth succession wouldn't just lose a little favor in the eyes of the Church, he'd be hated and feared.
One concern, however, is whether the currently unmoddable AI would know how to use this. However, given the "chance of picking plots" mechanism, you could make sure they pick the plots to assassinate people they want to first, although this would require some testing.
Priority #2 - add more plots
Killing people isn't the only thing people in courts plotted to accomplish, or even the most common. Far more often they would try to smear someone, throw a false accusation, blackmail them etc. - or the opposite, gather backers to get in someone's good graces. Most plots should have to do with relations, non-military intrigue should be complex, and getting a major rival killed should be a significant accomplishment, not something you do left and right. I'll write down my ideas for this later, but specific plot concepts are, again, very welcome.
