Recently @AdmiralAqua and I released our first post in a series dedicated to making SEA a fun and dynamic region to play, at the request of @DDRJake. Last time we looked at Ayutthaya, and for this edition we've looked at the influential Khmer Empire, with some suggestions from @fredrikslicer and @Semi-Lobster. For now, we've designed a new set of NIs that we believe creates a more hybrid/fusion of the old Khmer Empire and the Khmer that we see within Eu4's time frame. Our idea would let the player attempt to recreate the Khmer Empire with some NIs suited for this (we think that they are offset by Khmer's weakness at the start of the game, so reforming the Khmer Empire should still be a challenge) and a National Decision to Recreate the Khmer Empire if the player or AI succeeds in conquering the old Khmer borders, providing an extra bonus for anyone dedicated enough to try. We've also been working on a special Devaraja monarchy system, but it's not quite ready for release yet. I will say that I believe it will allow the player a challenging experience, but one that is not without rewards.
Khmer
By the time of 1444, the Khmer Empire had already been dissolved, with two huge sackings of Angkor by the Ayutthayan kings, the ‘Empire’ itself, ceased to exist after the Khmer King abandoned Angkor. Throughout the majority of EU4’s timeframe, historically speaking, Cambodia was simply a vassal state that switched hands between Siam and Vietnam constantly, and while it was a state granted a significantly large degree of autonomy, it still accepted Siamese or Vietnamese suzerainty. The direction taken with Khmer should be one similar to Byzantium - an empire reeling from humiliation and losses, wishing to regain their ancestral homelands from the Thai/Vietnamese upstarts occupying their rightful territory. Khmer culture had a huge influence on neighbouring countries that can not be disregarded; even the Thai alphabet is derived from original Khmer script, despite viewing Cambodians as racially inferior and nothing more than a lowly vassal state. Khmer ideas should be very diplomatic/administrative oriented - the Cambodian state by 1444 simply did not have the manpower or overall ability to be militaristic like Ayutthaya or Dai Viet anymore. However, even as a vassal state, the Khmer nation was very well-administered and shrewdly diplomatic - playing the Thai and Vietnamese against each other incredibly well. Khmer ideas are actually quite historically accurate in the base game already - props to the Dev team, we didn’t really have to remove anything for inaccuracy or misrepresentation. When we changed ideas, it was either that we felt that the idea was underpowered or we had a better one.
Ideas:
Traditions: “Cultural Influence”
-15% Core-Creation Cost
The Khmer Empire once covered the entirety of Indochina, and the Khmer culture has influenced a majority of the neighbouring states. Integrating new conquests is not as difficult for us as it is for other upstart kingdoms.
Traditions: “Imperial History”
+1 Diplomatic Reputation, -7.5% Aggressive Expansion
Once, a sprawling empire, the Khmer still maintained the respect of those around them and skillfully outmanoeuvred conquering powers such as the Thai and the Vietnamese, often setting them against each other. The legacy of the great Khmer Empire often allowed the Khmer a more significant claim to lands around them than other newer nations.
1. “Imperial History”
+1 Diplomatic Reputation, -7.5% Aggressive Expansion
Once, a sprawling empire, the Khmer still maintained the respect of those around them and skillfully outmanoeuvred conquering powers such as the Thai and the Vietnamese, often setting them against each other. The legacy of the great Khmer Empire often allowed the Khmer a more significant claim to lands around them than other newer nations.
1. “Cultural Influence”
-15% Core-Creation Cost
The Khmer Empire once covered the entirety of Indochina, and the Khmer culture has influenced a majority of the neighbouring states. Integrating new conquests is not as difficult for us as it is for other upstart kingdoms.
2. “Khmer Resilience”
+50% Hostile Coring Cost
Despite being constantly fought over by the Vietnamese and the Thai, and with the Khmer King having to swear fealty to the King of Ayutthaya, the Khmer people never truly accepted foreign rulers and made ruling difficult to them at every possible turn. Thai princes placed on the Cambodian throne were assassinated, Vietnamese nobles disappeared without a trace, showing the world the Khmer people would not bow before any would-be conqueror.
3. “Diverse Religious Legacy”
+1 Tolerance of the True Faith, +1 Tolerance of Heretics
The Khmer Empire had Hindu, Theravada Buddhist, and Mahayana Buddhist monarchs. This diverse history should be reflected in their national ideas in my opinion, as it is important to their history and culture.
4. “Jayavarman VII’s Teachings”
-20% Build Cost
Jayavarman VII is considered one of the greatest Cambodian monarchs and constructed Angkhor Thom and Bayon, two of the most impressive constructions in Cambodia. - Author's Note: I know a 20% build cost reduction seems like a lot, but if you see the scale of these places you’ll see where I’m coming from.
5. “A Modern Khmer Navy”:
+10% Ship Durability
Historically accurate idea - just adjusted the value.
6. “Restoration of Angkor”:
+1 Yearly Prestige
Historically accurate idea - no need for changing.
7. “Khmer Naval Prowess”
+1 Yearly Naval Tradition, -10% Ship Costs
The Khmer began to become a seafaring power after the realisation they could not compete with the Thais and Vietnamese in terms of land military power. They constructed many ships in short periods of time, and their great fleet was one of the finest in the region.
Ambitions: "Preah Ko Preah Keo"
+10% Morale of Armies
Furthermore, Khmer should have a decision to proclaim a return of the ancient Empire if some requirements are met.
“Return of the Khmer Empire”
For too long our people suffered after defeat and defeat saw our rightful lands taken and our cities sacked and burnt. Now we have reclaimed the core lands of the old empire, and have either driven out or subjugated the would-be usurpers. We can now proclaim to the world that our empire has risen once more.
Requirements:
Khmer
By the time of 1444, the Khmer Empire had already been dissolved, with two huge sackings of Angkor by the Ayutthayan kings, the ‘Empire’ itself, ceased to exist after the Khmer King abandoned Angkor. Throughout the majority of EU4’s timeframe, historically speaking, Cambodia was simply a vassal state that switched hands between Siam and Vietnam constantly, and while it was a state granted a significantly large degree of autonomy, it still accepted Siamese or Vietnamese suzerainty. The direction taken with Khmer should be one similar to Byzantium - an empire reeling from humiliation and losses, wishing to regain their ancestral homelands from the Thai/Vietnamese upstarts occupying their rightful territory. Khmer culture had a huge influence on neighbouring countries that can not be disregarded; even the Thai alphabet is derived from original Khmer script, despite viewing Cambodians as racially inferior and nothing more than a lowly vassal state. Khmer ideas should be very diplomatic/administrative oriented - the Cambodian state by 1444 simply did not have the manpower or overall ability to be militaristic like Ayutthaya or Dai Viet anymore. However, even as a vassal state, the Khmer nation was very well-administered and shrewdly diplomatic - playing the Thai and Vietnamese against each other incredibly well. Khmer ideas are actually quite historically accurate in the base game already - props to the Dev team, we didn’t really have to remove anything for inaccuracy or misrepresentation. When we changed ideas, it was either that we felt that the idea was underpowered or we had a better one.
Ideas:
The Khmer Empire once covered the entirety of Indochina, and the Khmer culture has influenced a majority of the neighbouring states. Integrating new conquests is not as difficult for us as it is for other upstart kingdoms.
Traditions: “Imperial History”
+1 Diplomatic Reputation, -7.5% Aggressive Expansion
Once, a sprawling empire, the Khmer still maintained the respect of those around them and skillfully outmanoeuvred conquering powers such as the Thai and the Vietnamese, often setting them against each other. The legacy of the great Khmer Empire often allowed the Khmer a more significant claim to lands around them than other newer nations.
+1 Diplomatic Reputation, -7.5% Aggressive Expansion
Once, a sprawling empire, the Khmer still maintained the respect of those around them and skillfully outmanoeuvred conquering powers such as the Thai and the Vietnamese, often setting them against each other. The legacy of the great Khmer Empire often allowed the Khmer a more significant claim to lands around them than other newer nations.
1. “Cultural Influence”
-15% Core-Creation Cost
The Khmer Empire once covered the entirety of Indochina, and the Khmer culture has influenced a majority of the neighbouring states. Integrating new conquests is not as difficult for us as it is for other upstart kingdoms.
2. “Khmer Resilience”
+50% Hostile Coring Cost
Despite being constantly fought over by the Vietnamese and the Thai, and with the Khmer King having to swear fealty to the King of Ayutthaya, the Khmer people never truly accepted foreign rulers and made ruling difficult to them at every possible turn. Thai princes placed on the Cambodian throne were assassinated, Vietnamese nobles disappeared without a trace, showing the world the Khmer people would not bow before any would-be conqueror.
3. “Diverse Religious Legacy”
+1 Tolerance of the True Faith, +1 Tolerance of Heretics
The Khmer Empire had Hindu, Theravada Buddhist, and Mahayana Buddhist monarchs. This diverse history should be reflected in their national ideas in my opinion, as it is important to their history and culture.
4. “Jayavarman VII’s Teachings”
-20% Build Cost
Jayavarman VII is considered one of the greatest Cambodian monarchs and constructed Angkhor Thom and Bayon, two of the most impressive constructions in Cambodia. - Author's Note: I know a 20% build cost reduction seems like a lot, but if you see the scale of these places you’ll see where I’m coming from.
5. “A Modern Khmer Navy”:
+10% Ship Durability
Historically accurate idea - just adjusted the value.
6. “Restoration of Angkor”:
+1 Yearly Prestige
Historically accurate idea - no need for changing.
7. “Khmer Naval Prowess”
+1 Yearly Naval Tradition, -10% Ship Costs
The Khmer began to become a seafaring power after the realisation they could not compete with the Thais and Vietnamese in terms of land military power. They constructed many ships in short periods of time, and their great fleet was one of the finest in the region.
Ambitions: "Preah Ko Preah Keo"
+10% Morale of Armies
Furthermore, Khmer should have a decision to proclaim a return of the ancient Empire if some requirements are met.
“Return of the Khmer Empire”
For too long our people suffered after defeat and defeat saw our rightful lands taken and our cities sacked and burnt. Now we have reclaimed the core lands of the old empire, and have either driven out or subjugated the would-be usurpers. We can now proclaim to the world that our empire has risen once more.
Requirements:
- Owns or subject owns the Indochina region
- Has at least 1 stability
- Government rank becomes Empire rank
- Capital becomes Angkor
- Lose 100 Admin, Diplomatic and Military points
- Angkor gains +5 base tax, manpower and production (15 total development)
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? I was struggling to find anything particularly dense on the Khmer Empire and it would be helpful to be able to draw inspiration from history for the Devaraja government system we're designing (though we've taken it severely into the world of hypothetical since we're trying to make it available to a wide range of nations in SEA).
