Small Government — Simple Administrative Structure
As we all know, the government in EU5 possesses an implausibly immense level of power. Even at the start of the game, the state can siphon off over 40% of national income—a Leviathan-like capacity that feels entirely anachronistic for the 14th century.
This issue is even more pronounced in small states. Generous modifiers from the capital and proximity grant many one-province minors and tribal nations an unrealistic 100% control.
This mod weakens the default sources of control, making state power at game start much more limited. At the same time, it increases the need for players to invest in buildings in order to improve control. Since control-boosting buildings are now constructible, players can—by the mid-game—achieve even higher control than in the base game. This mod is not meant to restrict the player, but rather to modestly restore the realistic state capacity that AI nations should have.
Changes:
Capitals no longer provide +20% control. They now grant 0%.
100% proximity now provides 30% control instead of 75%.
Every 1,000 population reduces control by 0.2%, reflecting the increased difficulty of administration.
A core now provides 10% control, and a core (advanced) provides 12%.
Early-game finances are significantly tighter; court, stability, and diplomatic upkeep costs have been reduced to 10% of their original values.
Building slots from population have been increased tenfold: each 1,000 population now provides 0.5 building slots. This prevents capitals with hundreds of thousands of people from being filled solely with peasants.
Forts now provide 10% control and reduce unrest by 5%, reducing the frustration of rebels spawning in forts.
Bailiff offices now have 10 levels, each providing 10% control. They are no longer limited by town count and can be built in cities, towns, and rural areas.
Temples now have 10 levels, each providing 5% control.
Recommended compatible mod:
Estates Pay Building Maintenance — This mod allows estates to pay for building maintenance in low-control areas. Conversely, under high control, you’ll pay 100% of building maintenance instead of a fixed 20%. This adds meaningful depth and enhances the overall gameplay experience.
