The question is whether you want to make the crowns matter for the gameplay, or you want it to be irrelevant for a player, and be there just for chrome. I think I've described it in the 2nd and 3rd posts.
The crowns will matter for the gameplay only if after getting them the player will be relaxed of one of the game constraints. In this case is the fall of loyalty away from the capital.
The prepared ingame information says:
Code:
"{CROWNS_BODY} In the Middle Ages a major reason for rulers failing to create big empires were disloyal nobles. When the rich and powerful found themselves far away from the capital, they very often tried to establish their own rule in the provinces. Only unquestioned authority and legitimacy of a king could prevent them from rebelling. For many kings, one of the available tools to acquire more legitimacy was to get crowned.\n This phenomenon is reflected in the SSHIP gameplay. A Faction Leader may acquire a crown of his faction and enjoy both its direct benefits (usually +2 Authority, +1 Law, +1 LocalPopularity and +2 LineOfSight), and a boost to generals’ loyalty. Indeed, distance to capital penalties are reduced for generals with a crowned Faction Leader. Plotters and usurpers also appear less frequently under a crowned Faction Leader. Therefore a good mid-game goal for the player may be to attain the crown of his faction.\n(You may find the requirements of getting the crown among the Faction Leader’s traits).
{CROWNS_TITLE}Your way to glory!"
Code:
{No_Crown_High_Requirements}I want to be the King!
{No_Crown_High_Requirements_desc}This man ambitions go beyond what he's already achieved. He wants to reunite all lands belonging to his forefathers (or are these thoughts just his phantasies?). To claim the Crown of his nation he must conquer these lands, has very high (6+) Authority and Piety, be a legitimate ruler (not a regent nor a usurper), be physically and mentally healthy, has less than 8 ancillaries. He must then go to the faction's sacred city where the appropriate temple is built. After six-months preparations he'll be crowned there. From that moment on his rule will get such a boost to legitimacy that plotting nobles and potential usurpers will hide in their caves, while the honest nobles will be even more loyal. He, the great King, will be then able to embark on further conquest - to the far away lands.
{No_Crown_High_Requirements_effects_desc}\nThe generals lose Loyalty fast if they are away from the capital. Plotters and usurpers are more likely to appear.
{No_Crown_High_Requirements_gain_desc}This man ambitions go beyond what he's already achieved. He wants to reunite all lands belonging to his forefathers (or are these thoughts just his phantasies?). To claim the Crown of his nation he must conquer these lands, has very high (6+) Authority and Piety, be a legitimate ruler (not a regent nor a usurper), be physically and mentally healthy, has less than 8 ancillaries. He must then go to the faction's sacred city where the appropriate temple is built. After six-months preparations he'll be crowned there. From that moment on his rule will get such a boost to legitimacy that plotting nobles and potential usurpers will hide in their caves, while the honest nobles will be even more loyal. He, the great King, will be then able to embark on further conquest - to the far away lands.
{No_Crown_Low_Requirements}I want to be the King as my father was!
{No_Crown_Low_Requirements_desc}This man ambitions go beyond what he's already achieved. He wants to reunite all lands belonging to his forefathers (or are these thoughts just his phantasies?). To claim the Crown of his nation he must conquer these lands, has good (3+) Authority and Piety, be a legitimate ruler (not a regent nor a usurper), be physically and mentally healthy, has less than 8 ancillaries. He must then go to the faction's sacred city where the appropriate temple is built. After six-months preparations he'll be crowned there. From that moment on his rule will get such a boost to legitimacy that plotting nobles and potential usurpers will hide in their caves, while the honest nobles will be even more loyal. He, the great King, will be then able to embark on further conquest - to the far away lands.
{No_Crown_Low_Requirements_effects_desc}\nThe generals lose Loyalty fast if they are away from the capital. Plotters and usurpers are more likely to appear.
{No_Crown_Low_Requirements_gain_desc}This man ambitions go beyond what he's already achieved. He wants to reunite all lands belonging to his forefathers (or are these thoughts just his phantasies?). To claim the Crown of his nation he must conquer these lands, has good (3+) Authority and Piety, be a legitimate ruler (not a regent nor a usurper), be physically and mentally healthy, has less than 8 ancillaries. He must then go to the faction's sacred city where the appropriate temple is built. After six-months preparations he'll be crowned there. From that moment on his rule will get such a boost to legitimacy that plotting nobles and potential usurpers will hide in their caves, while the honest nobles will be even more loyal. He, the great King, will be then able to embark on further conquest - to the far away lands.
{Crowned_king}This is the King!
{Crowned_king_desc}This man owns all territories that belonged to his forefathers. He has been ceremonially crowned to be the King of the faction. He has gained enormous legitimacy and his nobles have sworn loyalty to him. Now they are less likely to defect even when they're away from the ruler's watchful eye.
{Crowned_king_effects_desc}\nThe generals lose Loyalty due to the distance from the capital much slower. Plotters and usurpers appear less frequently.
{Crowned_king_gain_desc}This man owns all territories that belonged to his forefathers. He has been ceremonially crowned to be the King of the faction. He has gained enormous legitimacy and his nobles have sworn loyalty to him. Now they are less likely to defect even when they're away from the ruler's watchful eye.
If you want to make it relevant for the gameplay then:
- the set of provinces should provide some challenge - not only the easiest neighboring provinces but something requiring effort, like naval invasion or an attack on a strong enemy;
- this means that the set of provinces should also include "ambitions" - not only provinces which created the core of the kingdom but also some "ambitions" of the rulers - either achieved at a point of time in history or not;
- they should be balanced across the factions - not one faction with 29 provinces and the other 3, but all between, say, 12 and 18.
But yes, it can be possible left irrelevant for the gameplay, then King of England with 4 crowns, or simple Scandinavian with a few. And other crowns as well - of Poland would be with 5.