How exactly do the Schism mechanics work?

[Scotty the Scot]

This has probably been asked before, but I can't find a thread of it.

To prelude, I actually want the Schism to happen in the current game I'm playing, however, in my most recent save the Byzantine Emperor manages to enact the Patriarch Supreme event. So, I started a Byzantine game in CM start to try to figure out how the mechanics work, and to my surprise I found that there was simply a "create Schism" button in the intrigue tab. So, I switched to the Byzantine Emperor in my current game to enact the event before the Patriarch was placed (yes, yes, I'm a dirty cheater) but the event isn't there.

So, I come to the forum to try to figure out how this whole Schism thing works. So I can horribly divide Western Christianity even in alternate history

 

[LordDamien]

I believe that button only appears in the begining of the game and then it disappears ( like the first day or so i believe not sure ). Since the game already started when you swiched to the byzantine emperor the button was gone because it disappears. But generally that decision is taken at the beginning of the game when you start .

That is how i understand it anyway.

 

[FinalLegendZero]

This has probably been asked before, but I can't find a thread of it.

To prelude, I actually want the Schism to happen in the current game I'm playing, however, in my most recent save the Byzantine Emperor manages to enact the Patriarch Supreme event. So, I started a Byzantine game in CM start to try to figure out how the mechanics work, and to my surprise I found that there was simply a "create Schism" button in the intrigue tab. So, I switched to the Byzantine Emperor in my current game to enact the event before the Patriarch was placed (yes, yes, I'm a dirty cheater) but the event isn't there.

So, I come to the forum to try to figure out how this whole Schism thing works. So I can horribly divide Western Christianity even in alternate history

The "Trigger Schism" event only exists at the very beginning of the game. If you don't trigger it immediately, it vanishes.

Barring that, as long as there's no Patriarch Supreme named, events will fire automatically, which will eventually lead to the Schism. The earliest the Schism can trigger is 950, and the chances of the event firing becomes more likely the farther along the game is. The chances of the events is also affected by Chalcedonian Moral Authority - high Authority reduces the odds, while low Authority raises them.

If a Patriarch Supreme is named, then the Schism becomes impossible. For a Patriarch Supreme to be named, the following conditions must be met:
-An appropriate Patriarch exists (Patriarch of Constantinople following Greek Rites, or Pope following Latin Rites)
-An independent ruler can back either Patriarch (Greek rulers and the Basileus can only back the Patriarch of Constantinople, while Italian and Lombard rulers, the Karling Emperor, and the Kaiser can only back the Pope, and all others can choose either). For an independent ruler to be able to back either Patriarch, they must meet the following conditions:
>is either the Patriarch in question, or is an Emperor with at least 1,500 Prestige and either:
---has the Patriarch in question vassalized
---has a religious head that follows the same rites as the Patriarch in question
>has at least 1,500 piety
>is not at war
>does not have a regency
>has neither the Wicked Priest trait nor the Excommunicated trait
-One of the following must be true:
>The opposing Patriarch doesn't exist
>The opposing Patriarch follows the same rites as the supported Patriarch
>At least two other Patriarchs follow the same rites as the supported Patriarch
If all these conditions are met, then a Patriarch Supreme can be named via decision. The AI can and will make this decision if the requirements are met and an eligable AI ruler arises.

 

[Wandering Sentinel]

It's also important to note that one of the events that increases the odds of the Schism happening is the crowning of an Emperor in the west by the Pope, usually the head Charlemagne's empire I believe. If you're like me and Charles never forms his empire, it leads to the frustration of the ERE being the only empire in existence, annoyance at the fact there's up to 3-4 new kings in the west on his death, and a longer average wait time for the Schism if you want it to happen.

 

[zeress]

The "Trigger Schism" event only exists at the very beginning of the game. If you don't trigger it immediately, it vanishes.

Correct. It's a scenario customization option that vanishes after the first day of any given start passes.