Morholt
Prince
I'm not convinced on dividing Germany further either from a historical, or a gameplay perspective. When would Bavaria spawn for example? 1506 seems the most reasonable choice as it is the first time the duchy was united and had some sovereignty, aside from the few years of Henry the Lion's ban. Saxony could possibly be considered to "go independent" in 1525 with the conversion to Protestantism. A case could be made for spawning Swabia as early as 1488 with the foundation of the Swabian league.
Here's a map of western Europe around year 1000. Notice that France, Burgundy and Italy are at least as fractured as Germany is. For example it is only the burgundy spot around Paris that is actually ruled by the French Crown, comparable to the Imperial cities in Germany. These divisions do not mean that this state is German, but this one is Swabian and this one Franconian and so on, rather they are a consequence of the feudal system as developed in the Carolingian Empire.
France did "centralise" more quickly, although the process still wasn't complete in 1600 and the process was speeded up by the Hundred Years' War (it's easier to justify ruling an area directly when you recaptured it from some hated enemy).
The point, of course, is that the "fracturing" of Germany in the middle ages does not translate to more civs in-game, but rather France using Divine Monarchy and Apprenticeship while Germany is still using Feudal Monarchy and Serfdom.
That said, I'm planning something for RFCE++ (not in the next version though) that could make Independents more interesting. We'll see how it works out.
Here's a map of western Europe around year 1000. Notice that France, Burgundy and Italy are at least as fractured as Germany is. For example it is only the burgundy spot around Paris that is actually ruled by the French Crown, comparable to the Imperial cities in Germany. These divisions do not mean that this state is German, but this one is Swabian and this one Franconian and so on, rather they are a consequence of the feudal system as developed in the Carolingian Empire.
France did "centralise" more quickly, although the process still wasn't complete in 1600 and the process was speeded up by the Hundred Years' War (it's easier to justify ruling an area directly when you recaptured it from some hated enemy).
The point, of course, is that the "fracturing" of Germany in the middle ages does not translate to more civs in-game, but rather France using Divine Monarchy and Apprenticeship while Germany is still using Feudal Monarchy and Serfdom.
That said, I'm planning something for RFCE++ (not in the next version though) that could make Independents more interesting. We'll see how it works out.
