Some suggestions for improving SP (and perhaps to a lesser degree MP)

[Wauthan]

While your ideas are interesting Thinkthank I fear that they will be a lot easier to implement using mods and maps rather than changing the programming.

I've made some scenarious of my maps where I simply slap a fortress in various interesting places as well as putting in known sites. The independant forces must surely have a history in the province no? The AI makes good use of these things and creates a much more challanging game.

Try Gandalf Parkers "Poke in the Eye". There are fortresses in each and every province! You'll soon find yourself rasing castles just to keep them out of the hands of a rapidly growing enemy.