Research level available to indy mages

[MaxWilson]

Originally Posted by Burnsaber

Unfortunately that's unlikely to happen in the near future (or at all). You could try modding a spell for each path of magic for the independents to use, using the "do a copy and modify the original" trick. It would be pretty easy to do and there seems to be some demand for it (at least I'd like to see better indy spellcasters)*.

Perhaps this could be approached from a map angle (vis-as-vis mod angle). I *think* map editing lets you set up certain nations with initial province ownership. Use one of the blank nations without units, and use a tool like SemiRandom to assign quasi-indy defenders to all or many otherwise-unassigned provinces. Give the blank nation an immobile pretender with a research bonus of 9000 or something, and/or a bunch of immobile sage units with similarly huge research bonuses. Yes, that means indies would produce more units over time until they max out on upkeep, and they would attack your provinces actively--but can you really tell me that that isn't more realistic (and fun) indy behavior?

-Max

[Burnsaber]

Originally Posted by MaxWilson

Perhaps this could be approached from a map angle (vis-as-vis mod angle). I *think* map editing lets you set up certain nations with initial province ownership. Use one of the blank nations without units, and use a tool like SemiRandom to assign quasi-indy defenders to all or many otherwise-unassigned provinces. Give the blank nation an immobile pretender with a research bonus of 9000 or something, and/or a bunch of immobile sage units with similarly huge research bonuses. Yes, that means indies would produce more units over time until they max out on upkeep, and they would attack your provinces actively--but can you really tell me that that isn't more realistic (and fun) indy behavior?

-Max

They also would declare war against you in turn 1 (because they have like 100 times more troops than you) and assault your capital with all the indies bordering your capital on turn 2/3.

[MaxWilson]

Originally Posted by Burnsaber

They also would declare war against you in turn 1 (because they have like 100 times more troops than you) and assault your capital with all the indies bordering your capital on turn 2/3.

I think you'd want to set the initial pop level to be slightly weaker than typical indy provinces because they DO have the capability to build more. Still, yes, they could mob you early on. On the other hand, that weakens their provinces and makes it easier to expand.

-Max