Being too easy and convenient. I think there must have some happiness cost (even if small) to prevent too fast expansion. It's also a clear signal to people that don't know about supply limits and defending capabilities, that the empire is getting too big for its own goodness.
So they're too easy and convenient, but having a bunch of them will lose you the game? That doesn't sound convenient.
My biggest problem with puppets is that the 25%
/
penalty means if you select an early puppet you never want to annex it. Better to leave it a rotting stone-age city with marginal yields that denies space to the enemy.
If I was going to change puppets I would do this:
Puppet cites generate +1
, scaling with era. This can be counted by leaving a garrison in the city.
Puppet
/
penalties removed.
Imperialism's policy obviously doesn't buff
/
.
Optional:
All other penalties increased from 75% to 80%.
Imperialism boost to other yields can be more optionally adjusted + or - 5% depending on how it's performing in AI tests. (40 or 50% yields seems cleaner than 45%.)
I feel like this is a good balance of what everyone wants. If you're still not convinced consider this:
A puppet empire needs a lot of Garrisons to keep it's puppets from becoming super unhappy and leaving. If you don't annex enough you don't have the supply limit to both maintain the garrisons and defend yourself, let alone conquer more cities.
This pushes you finding a smart balance of cities to Puppet, Raze or Annex. Right now it's true that a puppet in the snow is still fine. Is that true when you need to leave a garrison there to prevent 5 unhappiness in industrial?
It also makes Annexing puppets a thing, which is what I think is intended and good.
If you're worried about the role of annexing outright vs puppeting then annexing:
Obviously annexing outright is a bit weaker, but not much. The reduced unrest time is HUGE on a warfront, and the choice of what buildings to make is vitally important to speeding the recovery of a city. I think you'll find it's very balanced.