[MOD] Regional Immersion and Cultural Enrichment - a cultural flavor pack collection, sequel to Cybrxkhan’s Immersion Packs

[KAOLAWANSUI]

please update

 

[cybrxkhan]

We will see this pack before new DLC?

Sorry for late response, didn't see the notification like I normally would. Anyhow, yes despite multiple delays due to dealing with IRL stuff, the Sicily update should come before the DLC. I'm pretty much "done" and am in the final stretch of bugfixing and polishing the new content, and am doing a cautious estimate of up to a couple of weeks.

please update

Hopefully in a couple weeks.

 

[cybrxkhan]

RICE's REVISED LATE 2024 ROADMAP​

Just wanted to provide an update on how things are coming along for RICE!

As some of you know already, there's been even more delays with the Sicily Flavor Pack. However, it is now in a stable, near releasable state; I'm bugfixing and polishing the content, and hope to release it in a couple weeks.

Due to these delays, and because I will be busy IRL for the rest of the year, I'm revising my 2024 RICE roadmap, which I wish to share with you today. The Zhangzhung flavor pack will be postponed towards the end of the year, while a smaller Greek flavor pack (to be determined soon) will accompany RICE's official update to the Roads to Power DLC/patch. Outside of necessary hotfixes and critical bugfixes, there might or might not be smaller updates in between then depending on my schedule.

 

[Flockingbird]

Thank you for all the time and effort you’ve already given to your mods, cybrxkhan! I continue to be grateful.

 

[cybrxkhan]

SICILY FLAVOR PACK PREVIEW #19​

It's been a while since our last Sicily teaser! The Sicily Flavor Pack, as with other major updates, will also come with various improvements and tweaks to RICE.

A new QOL feature is that a warning message will now appear at game start if you have an incorrect load order when playing RICE with Rajas of Asia or the Fallen Eagle - an Asia map expansion and flavor mod, and a late antiquity total conversion, respectively, both of which are compatible with RICE. Previously, you only received a tooltip in the intro event if you played RICE with either ROA or TFE, so this message is harder to miss.

 

[Kapitalisti]

By the way, when the Admin gov expansion comes out, do you have any plans to make any area into that? Like for example the Xia area? There's already a focus on those particular houses with their bonus traits in that area.

 

[cybrxkhan]

By the way, when the Admin gov expansion comes out, do you have any plans to make any area into that? Like for example the Xia area? There's already a focus on those particular houses with their bonus traits in that area.

I'll probably make some polities admin by default (off the top of my head, Xixia in 1066 and 1178 as you mention, Guiyi in 867, and possibly others).

 

[cybrxkhan]

SICILY FLAVOR PACK PREVIEW #20​

This will be the last preview for the Sicily Flavor Pack before it comes out. Yup, you heard that right! We're getting real close to release - I'm hoping within a week.

Like with all previous flavor packs, the update will add general flavor events related to the region not connected to any deeper mechanics. As you may recall, in the first dev diary, I quoted the lyrics of a Sicilian folk song from the 15th century, Ayo visto lo Mappamundi ("I Have Seen the World Map"). The first four lines are:

I have seen the world map
And the navigational chart,
But Sicily seems to me
The most beautiful in this world.

The song became popular during the reign of King Alfonso V of Aragon, who ruled Sicily at the time, and the song's lyrics even mentions him. Now, there is a global event about the growing popularity of this song that can randomly trigger whenever a king is ruling over a good chunk of Sicily.

I also want to take this opportunity to share two renditions of Ayo Visto lo Mappamundi that I've grown fond of! The first is by a Belgian early music ensemble, Graindelavoix. The second version is from a Basque early music ensemble, the Euskal Barrok Ensemble.

 

[cybrxkhan]

RICE 1.12.2 "Palermo" is out, with RICE's next flagship flavor pack:
Sicily: Where Three Worlds Met
Steam Workshop Download | Github Manual Download | Paradox Mods Download
Discord Server | Twitter | Official Website
​

I have seen the world map
And the navigational chart,
But Sicily seems to me
The most beautiful in this world.
- Ayo visto lo Mappamundi, 15th century Sicilian folk song

After 9+ months of work (the longest ever for a major RICE update), I am here to make you an offer you can't refuse: the release of RICE's next flagship flavor pack - Sicily: Where Three Worlds Met! Thank you everyone for your patience and support despite all the delays due to IRL matters. Major features of this update include:

• A repeatable struggle, the Sicilian Frontier
• Explore and interact with Sicily's Three Worlds - Islam, Byzantium, & the Latin West
• New mechanics for Mediterranean geopolitics
• Southern Italian flavor like new activities, decisions, and events
• ... and much more!

Remember you may need to unsubscribe and resubscribe for mods to update properly (multiple times if necessary). A new save game is required. If you want to continue playing an existing save, please install an old version of RICE through GitHub.

This is one of RICE's largest updates ever, so while I have done some testing, there may be some minor issues here or there, and I expect to put out a bugfix or two within a couple days. A tiny Greek-themed flavor pack is also planned alongside the official update to the Roads to Power DLC - stay tuned for more info on that, as well as the 2024 VIET/RICE survey and the Celtic flavor pack poll!


Changelog

Spoiler: Changelog

• Added new flavor pack: Sicily: Between Three Worlds
• Added 10 new European, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern themed soundtracks
• Added new activity option for all local pilgrimages: Votive Offerings
• Added new travel option to Venerate at Local Shrines
• Added a lot of French translations by various translators from Paratranz
• Added Makhazen and Siba tradition to Baranis, replacing Granary of Africa
• Added Khalaj culture, a divergent culture of Turco-Hephthalite, around Afghanistan and events to spawn in if playing in early start dates
• Added Elamite namelist for Elamite and Elymaean cultures
• Added Gissur, the father of Isleifur (Icelandic “duke” in 1066), in character history
• Added a game rule to remove easter egg characters at game start
• Added Swedishguy360’s easter egg character in Benavert’s court (for correctly guessing Sicily)
• Local Pilgrimage activities are no longer allowed for faiths with the Pilgrimage Forbidden doctrine
• William the Conqueror only requires the Early Medieval rather than High Medieval era for completing the Normandy struggle
• Changed Tajik culture’s name to Khorasani
• Kashmiri culture’s Equal Inheritance tradition replaced with Caravaneers
• Darada culture’s Frequent Festivals tradition replaced with Equal Inheritance
• Malagasy moved to Malayic heritage
• Malagasy made a hybrid of of East African and Malayic cultures
• Burman heritage renamed to Irrawaddy heritage
• Rasht is now Pamiri culture at game start
• Abdul-Hasan Al-Muddabir starts with decent stewardship and learning in the 867 start
• Reward troops from completing Vijayabahu’s aspiration are now inheritable and subject to supply limits
• Struggle ending events for older struggles will now have a more appropriate sfx sound play when the option is selected
• Tweaked language of the Vinland Realism game rules for more clarity
• Nerfed the Founders of Normandy and Norman Conquest modifiers again by changing their Dynasty Prestige bonus to a legitimacy bonus
• William the Conqueror (AI or player) has easier requirements to end the Normandy struggle
• William the Conqueror AI will now generally try to end the Normandy struggle
• Afro-Roman now has Cosmopolitan ethos
• Afro-Roman now has African Tolerance tradition instead of Philosopher Culture
• Decision to adopt Arctic Adaptations now has a warning about losing culture tradition if the culture is at the tradition limit
• Increased likelihood AI will take the decision to Convene Iceland’s First Althing after time has passed
• Made it easier for the AI to take the Historia Normannorum decision
• Historia Normannorum now has an alternate trigger with having a high diplomacy skill
• Fixed annual catalysts not triggering for several struggles, particularly the Normandy struggle
• Fixed potential CTD from several activities due to being able to select wasteland as a destination
• Fixed missing legitimacy effects for Norman adventurer and border raid CBs
• Fixed loc error for the Free Range Pastures culture requirement
• Fixed loc for reformed Shamsi paganism using Vedda paganism text
• Fixed event for the Destroy the Sangha ending of the Sri Lankan struggle not triggering for other rulers
• Fixed Iceland geyser event triggering outside of Iceland
• Fixed some text in the Bamian Pilgrimage activity referring to Sri Pada
• Fixed missing loc concerning building requirements for Alhambra and Santiago decisions
• Fixed missing loc for NOT_RICE_maritime_silk_road_geographical_req
• Fixed Oromo culture having wrong traditions for the RICE+EPE compatch
• Fixed random event chances for Tarim Basin entertainer event being visible
• Fixed localization issues with some god names for Omotic and Sidamic faiths
• Fixed Terek Pass not being given to al-Kashgari when playing with ROA
• Miscellaneous bugfixes and tweaks

 

[Alratan]

This looks like an amazing update, and a fantastic achievement of effort and modding capability, which I've been looking forward to since you first started posting about it. Congratulations and thank you.

 

[guiskj]

You are a legend.

 

[cybrxkhan]

Thanks both!

 

[CarrotEater]

Great update!

 

[cybrxkhan]

RICE 1.12.2.a hotfix for "Palermo" is out!
Steam Workshop Download | Github Manual Download | Paradox Mods Download
Discord Server | Twitter | Official Website
​

Thanks all for the great reception for the Sicily Flavor Pack! As one of the largest undertakings I've ever done in my modding career, it's something I've wanted to do since my CK2 days years ago, and I'm glad it's come to fruition. Anyhow, as promised, here's a hotfix with some fixes and balance tweaks. The hotfix should be savegame compatible if the game was started with RICE 1.12.2/the Sicily Flavor Pack.

A standard small update might come in a week or two with some content and tweaks that didn't make it to the initial release, but no promises on if and when. I'll also announce the upcoming tiny Greek flavor pack soon, once I do my final considerations. Lastly, I'll also put out the official 2024 VIET/RICE survey soon, along with the Celtic flavor pack poll. The survey will be up for a few weeks, including after the release of Roads to Power.

Changelog:

Spoiler

• Added missing Spanish translations, courtesy of Ferchu
• Reduced how often AI rulers do Sicilian grain character interactions
• Implemented a hidden timer that will prevent AI rulers from spamming you with grain-related interactions too soon after each other
• Slightly buffed the amount of special event troops Sicilian Muslim rulers get at game start in 1066
• Reduced the chances AI will pick Experienced Whalers tradition
• SwedishGuy360’s easter egg character is now cynical instead of stubborn
• SwedishGuy360’s easter egg character is now heterosexual
• Cybrxkhan’s special easter egg characters are now heterosexual
• Fixed missing loc for the Sicilian struggle game concept
• Fixed Sicilian struggle happening when playing with Fallen Eagle
• Miscellaneous fixes

 

[cybrxkhan]

RICE 1.12.2.b hotfix for "Palermo" is out!
Steam Workshop Download | Github Manual Download | Paradox Mods Download
Discord Server | Twitter | Official Website
​

Here's a second hotfix for the Sicily Flavor Pack! This is a pretty small hotfix, but does fix an important bug where the Historical Aspiration for Sawdan in the 867 start date wasn't working correctly. Thanks to everyone who helped me figure that one out.

The hotfix should be savegame compatible if the game was started with RICE 1.12.2/the Sicily Flavor Pack.

A standard small update may be out in a week with some minor additions. It will come alongside the official 2024 VIET/RICE survey and Celtic flavor pack poll, as well as the official announcement for the WIP tiny Greek flavor pack to accompany Roads to Power.

Changelog:

Spoiler

• AI rulers now affected by the hidden timer to reduce grain interaction spam
• Hellenic pagans now count as the Greek world for the Sicilian struggle
• Fixed Sawdan’s historical aspiration success condition not counting vassal-owned counties for the 8 county requirement

 

[cybrxkhan]

RICE 1.12.3 "Syracuse" Preview #1​

RICE's 1.12.3 update, "Syracuse," will come later this weekend or next week, and I wanted to share a couple previews of it. 1.12.3 is a small update focused on more content for the Sicily Flavor Pack that was cut from the initial release due to time. This includes the addition of a number of historical figures, including the three main primary sources on the Norman conquest of southern Italy - the Benedictine monks Amatus of Monte Cassino and Geoffrey Malaterra, and William of Apulia, a lay poet.

William of Apulia's ethnic origins are disputed but may have been Lombard or Norman, yet he also had an unusual degree of familiarity with Byzantine language, history, and customs. Sometime in the 1090s, he wrote the Gesta Roberti Wiscardi, an epic poem that celebrates the achievements of Robert Guiscard commissioned by his son, Roger Borsa.

 

[cybrxkhan]

RICE 1.12.3 "Syracuse" Preview #2​

RICE's 1.12.3 update is called "Syracuse" as it includes a bit of flavor related to the famed city. For instance, Byzantine rulers (or their vassals) who manage to reclaim the entirety of the island for the Empire will have access to a decision to Restore the Glory of Syracuse. Besides various benefits for the county of Syracuse and its ruelrs, it'll move the de jure capital of the Duchy of Sicily from Palermo back to Syracuse.

Historically, Syracuse was a major Byzantine metropolis, and even briefly served as the Empire's capital in the 7th century. Following the Muslim conquest of Sicily, the island's center of power shifted from Syracuse to Palermo, and it remained so after the Norman conquest. Syracuse, though still important, never regained its former status on the island.

 

[Kapitalisti]

If I were to take the Baleo-Tyrhennia decision, would that mess up anything in the Sicilian struggle?

 

[cybrxkhan]

If I were to take the Baleo-Tyrhennia decision, would that mess up anything in the Sicilian struggle?

Not that I'm aware of, I don't touch vanilla code and I haven't added anything extra to that decision.

 

[cybrxkhan]

RICE 1.12.3 "Syracuse" Preview #3​

In our last preview of RICE's upcoming "Syracuse" update, we look at a historical character who can spawn via event in Muslim courts around the Mediterranean if you're playing in the 1066 start date: Ibn Hamdis, one of the greatest Sicilian Muslim poets. Originally from Syracuse, Ibn Hamdis fled Sicily in 1072 following the Norman conquest of the city. A number of poems focused on his nostalgia for his idealized image of Islamic Sicily.

In the future, after the Roads to Power DLC comes out, depending on how easy and compatibility-friendly it is to code, I may try to make him a spawnable historical character using vanilla's new historical character system (but no guarantees depending on how the code works).