version 4.17b
I posted this in the bug tracker, but wanted to post it here so I could get some feedback from other players. Thanks for your opinions.
By the third round of the game on the map “Duchy of Calenberg,” Hannover grew to be a town. During this round, my only character purchased the title “Citizen without full civil rights.” As described by the associated privilege, I was able to apply for civil service at the lowest level and was accepted as the Guild Master. Within 2 rounds, Hannover grew into a City and my only character was automatically promoted to Seneschal, as per the game mechanics. Within a few more rounds, Hannover grew into a Free City and my character was once again promoted, now becoming the Consul. I had never purchased the title “Citizen” which allows application to all local offices, nor had any of the other elected officials nor anyone else in the town. All elected and unelected persons remained “Citizen without full civil rights.” In addition, only approximately 25 years had progressed in the game.
The office of Consul offers unique privileges which make advancement to the next tier of office easy, so I acquired the money necessary to purchase the title “Citizen” and apply for the position of Chief Magistrate. This was Spring 1432. After applying for the office, my datebook told me the council meeting was scheduled for Spring 1416 at 17:00. Assuming it to be a minor bug and expecting the meeting to be actually later in the afternoon of the same round, I waited. The message informing me of the coming meeting appeared and I rushed over to the assembly hall. I arrived well before the other council members. The entire council and I waited until well into the evening of the next round in the assembly room with the meeting never taking place and with none of the NPCs leaving.
A note on town growth,
One problem I've seen with vanilla 4.17b (aside from 50% population increases between turns 1 and 2, and lots of growth afterward) is that when a war was launched hamburg swelled from 375 to 450 for a minute when the army was in town. At this point it became an imperial capital. Then the pop dropped back down when they left the map.
Out of these experiences, several bugs and flaws can be recognized and several suggestions for needed changes can be made:
1. NPCs do not purchase titles.
After 32 game years no NPC, part of a dynasty or otherwise, purchased any titles despite having more than enough money.
EDIT: Apparently, this isn't true:
On higher difficulty levels the AI will also buy higher titles then citizen. I saw some noblemen in my tests as well.
2. There is a serious bug related to political meetings. It is one that breaks the system.
The council meeting to elect the Chief Magistrate never occurred despite it being scheduled and announced. This happened during all reloads and reattempts. I have no expectation that it would be different in any new game or for any other office.
3. The method of filling the top offices after town growth is not ideal.
The positions that require the title of Citizen never actually do, neither at game creation nor after town growth. At the beginning of the game when the towns are at the Village level, the office of Village Mayor requires at least the title of Citizen, but the NPC filling that office never has it. Whichever NPC is selected to have that office should automatically have the title of citizen.
4. Towns grow too fast.
25 years, significantly less than 1 generation, should not be enough time for a Village to grow into a Free City. It is my understanding that the population count is the primary factor determining the level of a settlement. Perhaps a town should not be able to grow unless it has enough people of adequate rank to fill in the new offices? I doubt a “Citizen without full civil rights” would ever be allowed to become Sovereign of a Free City by any nation during the 15th century.
5. Certain settlements, because of their growth speed at the beginning of a game, seem like they are supposed to begin as a higher level town.
If settlements are growing so fast because they are already so big, have them start at an appropriately higher level and be sure that all offices are filled with NPCs with appropriate titles. While you are at it, add some variety to the initial titles given to NPCs. All of them start at “Citizen without full civil rights” or lower. Have some Citizens, Free Citizens, and Patricians thrown in there and some nobles if an appropriately large and powerful enough city.
6. When soldiers are in town during war preparations, they count towards the town's population and hurry town growth.
Soldiers should not affect the rate of a town's growth into higher tiers. Being that they are either temporary residents or recruited/drafted from people already living in the town, soldiers probably shouldn't add to the population count at all.
