I think that the HRE system should be included in the main mod.
Is there a consensus on whether dead civs should be visible in the score?
no more Keshiks around Jerusalem
And would you like ideas for all three UHV, the UU and UB? Have the UP been decided?
very good idea!Some ideas:
The Visconti dynasty worked hard to be accepted by other European nations. A system similar to the auld alliance, but for several nations, including France, England, Germany and others.
The Sforzas established the Peace of Lodi as an alliance of Italian states. While in reality it consisted of Milan, Florence, Venice, Naples and the Papal states, it could be adopted to be between Genoa, Venice and Milan. A requirement could be "ensure that Milan, Genoa and Venice are all among the top 10 in score" (or suitable number), requiring the player to campaign also on their behalf and give them cities.
UB: I think it would be nice to have an improved university, to represent the fact that (I think?) the Italian states were the first to establish universities. The Alma Mater Studiorium was (according to Wikipedia) established 1088, so perhaps rename universities Alma Mater (which people should recognize) and provide extra gold income to represent commerce brought in by the students?
Having the Hussites be Protestant is problematic since it is 100 years before Protestantism is founded in-game. Perhaps the Hussites remove Catholicism from cities they capture instead?
As a Czech national movement, it acquired anti-imperial and anti-German implications and thus can be considered a manifestation of a long-term CzechGerman conflict. The Hussite movement is also viewed by many Czechs as a part of the (worldwide) Protestant Reformation
I'm shooting for Alpha 5 this weekend. No SVN, sorry. I too think it's possible to make Papal States fun, but I think this mod is rapidly becoming complex enough and it seems like a bit too much work at this point.
Czech basically wanted to be the first reformed nation and free from German influence. How about Be the first to found Protestantism and something like Japan in vanila RFC -- no/little foreight culture at the same time. This way not only teching to Printing Press becomes priority but also keeping high Czech culture at the same time.
Also why you never considered the Wagon from Fraxis Charlemagne scenario? True, it cannot shoot, but it looks like Wagon at least. And perhaps its possible to convert Civ3 graphic to Civ 4? There was a Hussite wagon in Civ3.
The idea about Lombard UU is an excellent one, by the way! How did you learn about it? Sounds like a famous story, but I never read about it...
IIRC, there is a Wagon Fort unit in Realsim Invictus for Bohemia.
...Your current option-based union system could be an ideal way to implement that part of the history of Europe. Lets say you are playing as France and the Duchess of one of your Provinces, say Eleanor of Aquitaine, marries to Henry of England. Human player goes throgh the same options you have for the entire civ unions -- but now only 1 province is at stake...