Vortex Gaming

· There's criticism that EU5's current cultural integration system is too complex and that acquiring cores feels impossible.
· This video proposes a new system to address these issues and provide better gameplay.
· The proposed system may have implementation challenges, but it aims for more realistic simulation and enjoyable gameplay.

· We completely remove the existing binary 'integration' system and replace it with a 'progress bar' system.
· This system doesn't instantly move to the next stage like flipping a switch, but rather improves gradually over time.
· This is more realistic in terms of simulation and allows players to enjoy the game more leisurely by reducing the urgency of achieving goals.

· The progress bar starts with the same effect as the conquest state.
· When progress reaches 50%, the effect equivalent to the integrated state increases or decreases linearly.
· Reaching 100% progress means the territory is fully cored.
· Progress isn't just a numerical increase; it applies intermediate values between these numbers, showing gradual changes in effects. For example, at 25% progress, you get an effect halfway between 0% and 50%.

· The current game already has a progress bar for 'integration,' but it progresses very slowly over time (typically 50-100 years).
· With this system, it's impossible to acquire core territories; you can only reach the integrated state.
· In the proposed system, core territories should be acquirable without any administrative actions, and gradual progress should be possible even if it takes longer.

· The new system integrates cultural factors into the progress bar to adjust the speed of core acquisition.
· Currently, a 50% accepted culture ratio is the standard for core acquisition, but the proposed method is more granular.
· A multiplier is applied based on the accepted culture ratio, affecting the progress bar. For example, with no accepted culture, core acquisition is impossible, but 100% accepted culture can shorten the core acquisition time to 5 years.
· This provides more variables in gameplay and realistically reflects the impact of cultural assimilation on core acquisition.

· We propose that religious factors also influence core acquisition. Currently, cores can only be acquired if religions match, which is disadvantageous for nations with diverse religions like the Ottoman Empire.
· In the proposed system, matching religions facilitate core acquisition, while heretic religions halve the speed, and tolerance provides a certain percentage effect on core acquisition speed.
· For example, a Catholic nation acquiring Orthodox territory as a core would proceed at half speed, and high religious tolerance would further speed up core acquisition.
· This increases game realism by preventing nations with diverse religions from facing difficulties in core acquisition.

· Territorial control is also proposed as an important factor influencing core acquisition speed.
· High control contributes to more effective management and integration of the territory, thus increasing core acquisition speed.
· For example, 50% control would halve the core acquisition speed.
· This emphasizes the need for continuous management even after conquering territory, adding strategic depth to gameplay.

· The proposed system can also be linked with existing administrative actions.
· Administrative actions like cultural assimilation, religious conversion, and increasing territorial control can help accelerate core acquisition progress.
· This allows for different core acquisition strategies depending on the nation's ideas or playstyle. For instance, a nation with Humanist ideas might focus on cultural assimilation, while a theocracy might accelerate core acquisition through religious conversion.

· Multiple factors like culture, religion, and control interact complexly to determine core acquisition speed.
· For example, if the accepted culture ratio is half, the religion differs, and control is at 50%, it might take 80 years to acquire a core.
· This increases game complexity but simultaneously allows for more realistic and in-depth strategy planning.
· Administrative actions can directly influence this progress or act to strengthen specific factors.

· In the current system, there's a meta of integrating territory and acquiring cores through vassals.
· In the proposed progress bar system, vassals could contribute to core acquisition progress.
· Vassals would increase core acquisition progress at half speed, operating differently from direct core acquisition.
· The contribution from vassals could be capped, and this cap might vary depending on the nation's political system (decentralized or centralized).

· The proposed system offers a more dynamic and realistic simulation.
· Players can enjoy the game amidst a continuous progression rather than a binary 'core exists/doesn't exist' outcome.
· This reduces frustration with core acquisition and allows players to feel the fun of adjusting core acquisition speed through their own actions.
· It also better reflects the characteristics of nations with high religious tolerance, like the Ottoman Empire.

· The proposed system integrates various factors like culture, religion, control, and vassals to make the core acquisition process more realistic.
· This will add strategic depth to the game and offer new experiences tailored to diverse national playstyles.
· Ultimately, this system is expected to enhance overall game enjoyment by making the core acquisition process feel more natural and satisfying for players.