Please implement some kind of decay system for empires and large realms

[Tokiedian]

IMO one of the main issues of CK2's empires is simply that de jure empires functions exactly like de jure kingdoms.

De jure kingdoms mostly work (atleast in western europe) by keeping the kingdoms together, maybe expanding a little, which isn't that bad. But it completely breaks on empire level, simply because they're so large, while none of the de jure vassals wants independence, which is in no way realistic.
the HRE is probably the worst example of this - it was, with a few exceptions, not really capable of projecting the kind military might it can just endlessly do in CK2.


Something I've been thinking about was that the further away a war is from the main holding of a vassal, fewer froops are provided by said vassal..

It may be a good idea to make duchy as a feudatory kingdom which serves as a vassal to another kingdom, and make Empire as just a special kingdom which has imperial crown and privilege to grant kingdom title to vassal duchies. In fact most of de jure duchies of western europe in CK2 are historical counties and Duchy of Aquitaine was what had become of ancient kingdom of Aquitaine, which is the reason why duke of Aquitaine has such a huge realm in CK2

 

[Will Steel]

the HRE is probably the worst example of this - it was, with a few exceptions, not really capable of projecting the kind military might it can just endlessly do in CK2.

CK1 solved this problem by giving vassals the power to refuse to let the liege raise their levy. It meant even if HRE was huge, its army would be patchy and divided and not that large, and only great emperors with high stats could raise actually large armies, like great emperors Frederick Barbarossa and his grandson Frederick II did in real life.

Every time liege went to war and sent out a grand call to arms, vassals would get a message with an option to accept or refuse. Kinda like how tribes work in CK2 where they can join their tribal chieftain's war like an ally, or not. If the vassals in CK1 accepted, the liege could command their levies like usual (and levies were always led by the main vassal character). If the vassal refused, their troops stayed home and there was a big hit in other aspects of the game.

Vassals paid for the levies raised from their lands, not the lieges, so long wars could easily result in bankruptcy and such.

And thus, CK1 HRE could never raise all of its forces under most cases. Their lords kept fighting each other and Emperor's own troops were used for most expeditions, unlike the gigantic Wehrmacht HRE can raise in CK2 to steamroll Europe.

...Then CK2 dropped this feature completely, making lieges raise their vassal levies at will, only modifying it to an extent via relationships between ruler and vassal. That system is not without issues.