First of all I would like to propose that Crusader Kings II use this map projection:
This includes Ethiopia and Kanem-Bornu and the rest of Nubia and Arabia, as well as a much better representation of central Asia.
I would like to propose that there be much more provinces than in CK1.
I would also like to propose that instead of large demesne's requiring high intrigue or stewardship or large demesne's having an income penalty, I would instead like to propose no demesne penalty tied to number of provinces but rather distance, and that the number of TROOPS you can muster declines by 20% for every province outside your capital. The reason why countries had large aristocracies was for military purposes, they intentionally granted aristocrats large numbers of fiefs near military borders because this meant lots of soldiers. If you have 6 provinces in your demesne for instance, only your capital should give you any troops. Instead of demesne size, income penalties should be from distance away from your capital. Income should decline by 10% for every province away from your capital that the aforementioned province is, mitigated by royal posts and palaces that improve communication and tax collection.
States that had few aristocratic families had trouble militarily against much poorer opponents with large aristocracies, and this would represent this difficulty that for instance the Byzantines faced against invading Normans or Turks, despite being quite rich and having lots of territory, as they were not a feudal state and thus their armies were smaller.
I would like to propose introducing two titles below Count, called Baron and Castellan, and moving Count into the lowest level of Tier 2 titles, rather than Tier 1.
A Castellan is a member of your court that you assign a province but unlike many vassals you control that province directly, that courtier simply helps administer that province using his or her administrative values. A Castellan cannot control more than 1 province and if they inherit any other title the province reverts to the ruler, the title is not hereditary by default and reverts to the liege upon death, unless the title is MADE hereditary. A Castellan cannot declare wars, and the castellan's liege lord can build improvements directly and raise his regiment directly. but they do have a court of their own.
If a Castellan has earned prestige he may be promoted to a Baron. Barons are also province-level titles in that they cannot have vassals, but they are the second level of province level tier titles, and they have the benefit of being semi-sovereign (in that their troops are not automatically controllable by the liege) and hereditary.
The highest level of a province-level title is a Baron can be promoted to a Viscount. Viscounts gain the additional level of sovereignty in that they can declare war.
The lowest level of "tier two", and the level above Viscounts is the Count. The Count gains the sovereign right to have vassals, and can therefore create, appoint and promote his or her own Castellans, Barons and Viscounts. A Count is also the lowest level of title that can be fully independent and declare independence and not have a liege lord.
Above the Count, the second level of tier 2 is the Margrave. Margraves are meant for military border provinces and are exempt from scutage in order to retain a large army. Margraves also have the right to have Counts or lower as vassals.
The highest level of tier 2 is the Count Palatine, they are the highest level of tier 2 and the highest title that is still within the thrall of the liege lord. Like the Margrave the Count Palatine is also exempt from scutage, but also have the right to act on the liege's behalf in many matters of state. Counts Palatine also have the right to have Counts or lower as vassals, though not Margraves.
The juniormost level of tier 3 is the Duke. The Duke is fully sovereign in that his liege cannot summon his regiments, collect scutage or revoke his titles. The Duke rules his domain and if he or she is a vassal, as a kingdom within a kingdom, obliged to aid their liege in war but on their own accord. Dukes negotiate their own peace treaties, can declare private war on one another without the involvement of their liege, and are fully sovereign entities.
The second tier of tier 3 is the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke has the additional right to have Dukes or lower as vassals.
The third tier of tier 3 is the King. The King has the additional right to have Grand Dukes or lower as vassals.
The fourth and final highest title of tier 3 is the Emperor. Emperors can have any level of title as a vassal.
This includes Ethiopia and Kanem-Bornu and the rest of Nubia and Arabia, as well as a much better representation of central Asia.
I would like to propose that there be much more provinces than in CK1.
I would also like to propose that instead of large demesne's requiring high intrigue or stewardship or large demesne's having an income penalty, I would instead like to propose no demesne penalty tied to number of provinces but rather distance, and that the number of TROOPS you can muster declines by 20% for every province outside your capital. The reason why countries had large aristocracies was for military purposes, they intentionally granted aristocrats large numbers of fiefs near military borders because this meant lots of soldiers. If you have 6 provinces in your demesne for instance, only your capital should give you any troops. Instead of demesne size, income penalties should be from distance away from your capital. Income should decline by 10% for every province away from your capital that the aforementioned province is, mitigated by royal posts and palaces that improve communication and tax collection.
States that had few aristocratic families had trouble militarily against much poorer opponents with large aristocracies, and this would represent this difficulty that for instance the Byzantines faced against invading Normans or Turks, despite being quite rich and having lots of territory, as they were not a feudal state and thus their armies were smaller.
I would like to propose introducing two titles below Count, called Baron and Castellan, and moving Count into the lowest level of Tier 2 titles, rather than Tier 1.
A Castellan is a member of your court that you assign a province but unlike many vassals you control that province directly, that courtier simply helps administer that province using his or her administrative values. A Castellan cannot control more than 1 province and if they inherit any other title the province reverts to the ruler, the title is not hereditary by default and reverts to the liege upon death, unless the title is MADE hereditary. A Castellan cannot declare wars, and the castellan's liege lord can build improvements directly and raise his regiment directly. but they do have a court of their own.
If a Castellan has earned prestige he may be promoted to a Baron. Barons are also province-level titles in that they cannot have vassals, but they are the second level of province level tier titles, and they have the benefit of being semi-sovereign (in that their troops are not automatically controllable by the liege) and hereditary.
The highest level of a province-level title is a Baron can be promoted to a Viscount. Viscounts gain the additional level of sovereignty in that they can declare war.
The lowest level of "tier two", and the level above Viscounts is the Count. The Count gains the sovereign right to have vassals, and can therefore create, appoint and promote his or her own Castellans, Barons and Viscounts. A Count is also the lowest level of title that can be fully independent and declare independence and not have a liege lord.
Above the Count, the second level of tier 2 is the Margrave. Margraves are meant for military border provinces and are exempt from scutage in order to retain a large army. Margraves also have the right to have Counts or lower as vassals.
The highest level of tier 2 is the Count Palatine, they are the highest level of tier 2 and the highest title that is still within the thrall of the liege lord. Like the Margrave the Count Palatine is also exempt from scutage, but also have the right to act on the liege's behalf in many matters of state. Counts Palatine also have the right to have Counts or lower as vassals, though not Margraves.
The juniormost level of tier 3 is the Duke. The Duke is fully sovereign in that his liege cannot summon his regiments, collect scutage or revoke his titles. The Duke rules his domain and if he or she is a vassal, as a kingdom within a kingdom, obliged to aid their liege in war but on their own accord. Dukes negotiate their own peace treaties, can declare private war on one another without the involvement of their liege, and are fully sovereign entities.
The second tier of tier 3 is the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke has the additional right to have Dukes or lower as vassals.
The third tier of tier 3 is the King. The King has the additional right to have Grand Dukes or lower as vassals.
The fourth and final highest title of tier 3 is the Emperor. Emperors can have any level of title as a vassal.
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