Map, Nations, And Church
The map should be a pure strategic view: where the realm is, who borders it, what each place means, and how geography connects to pressure.
Map Purpose
The map is not the docket. It should not carry current docket state that belongs elsewhere. The map should explain:
- provinces and terrain
- house holdings
- border exposure
- coastal access
- route direction
- threat zones
- what each legend color or symbol means
The legend should be large enough to read and detailed enough to teach the player what the map is saying.
Houses On The Map
House location matters. A loyal border house is a shield. A disloyal border house is an opening. A wealthy coastal house can become a trade asset or a naval liability.
The map should make these relationships visible:
- house name
- region
- loyalty
- resource specialty
- border/coastal/interior position
- nearby foreign pressure
Foreign Nations
Foreign nations are campaign actors with posture, relation, economy, and threat level. The player needs to know which nations are trade partners, rivals, raiders, marriage partners, or future war targets.
Useful nation details:
- relation score or label
- trade route state
- military posture
- active tension
- marriage opportunities
- war or blockade state
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is not only a peaceful alternative to war. It is a way to redirect cost. A treaty can lower military pressure and raise legitimacy. A concession can preserve trade and weaken authority. A marriage can create a major economic windfall and a lineage complication.
Church
The church should have a clear home in the wiki and the UI. It can affect:
- legitimacy
- piety
- concordat status
- interdict risk
- holy war framing
- public mood
Church pressure is often slow and dangerous. It becomes severe when the crown treats it as flavor instead of power.
War And Blockades
War, naval, and blockade systems cross the map, treasury, and foreign tabs.
Map context should help the player answer:
- where can the enemy reach?
- which house is exposed?
- which route is blocked?
- what trade income is at risk?
- which decision could escalate into war?
Better Map Readability
A good map view uses the whole page, reserves the bottom for a readable legend, and keeps explanations close to the symbols. The player should not need to decode tiny labels.