I have to say that these comments about possible solutions to the "exploits" identified by Maxirage (great work by the way), while interesting, I think miss the bigger issue. The incentive to find exploits for rapid world conquest (in game) only exists because rewarding casus belli are so rare especially for non-pagans. While I agree the silly things such as abdication to victory, unlimited capital shifting and imprisonment, and piety for bishop banishment and so on need to sorted out, a better longer term fix would be to improve the diplomatic options for warmongering. I would suggest that the approach would be as follows:
1. Give a "might is right" type CB for highly prestigious rulers, very large dynasties and rulers with high military/diplomatic/special traits and stable realms within demesne limits. Ie a confluence of factors a la Alexander the Great.
2. Make the fabricate claims option more rewarding and add an intrigue option as well for the back stabby among us BUT
3. Base attrition on military skill and traits of leaders as well as distance, and particularly steep for no/poor leader armies;
4. Massively increase defensive bonuses especially in enemy capital/distant provinces;
5. Perhaps increase cost and upkeep for retinues instead of nerf.
The idea would be to make war more available to players (except perhaps Jain), but requiring the dynasty be established and strong, the realm stable and ruler excellent for exponential expansion to be feasible. Balancing this would be combat is riskier and harder to win especially without good armies (read very expensive ie mercs and retinues) and generals. Making the game as much about character and dynasty development and realm building with a view to the occasional orgy of conquest.
Edit: I forgot about the manifest destiny CB that is available in for certain historical dynasties. Perhaps simply opening it up to all by event or once certain conditions eg military skill/prestige/realm size and so on have been met would reduce the incentive to cheese the game. In a nutshell, even for a feudal dynasty simulator, expansion by conquest is too constrained especially for non-pagans.
1. Give a "might is right" type CB for highly prestigious rulers, very large dynasties and rulers with high military/diplomatic/special traits and stable realms within demesne limits. Ie a confluence of factors a la Alexander the Great.
2. Make the fabricate claims option more rewarding and add an intrigue option as well for the back stabby among us BUT
3. Base attrition on military skill and traits of leaders as well as distance, and particularly steep for no/poor leader armies;
4. Massively increase defensive bonuses especially in enemy capital/distant provinces;
5. Perhaps increase cost and upkeep for retinues instead of nerf.
The idea would be to make war more available to players (except perhaps Jain), but requiring the dynasty be established and strong, the realm stable and ruler excellent for exponential expansion to be feasible. Balancing this would be combat is riskier and harder to win especially without good armies (read very expensive ie mercs and retinues) and generals. Making the game as much about character and dynasty development and realm building with a view to the occasional orgy of conquest.
Edit: I forgot about the manifest destiny CB that is available in for certain historical dynasties. Perhaps simply opening it up to all by event or once certain conditions eg military skill/prestige/realm size and so on have been met would reduce the incentive to cheese the game. In a nutshell, even for a feudal dynasty simulator, expansion by conquest is too constrained especially for non-pagans.
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. I control most of the world in my Spartan game even without any cheese at all, this is not the 'screw the player make WC impossible' game that EU4 has become it is about wish fulfillment.
