Greetings from an actual Spaniard!! 
New to the Forum, only recently into international playing, but quite senior into team playing in Spain.
Jeremy, Clint, regarding the current discussion, I like very much the approach to dismiss the old VC promoting backstabbing and enhance in-game rewards for quests.
During the old days playing in the Spanish version we tried quite successfully a variant called âLegendsâ specially for teams in the 1650 scenario where each nation had three initial quests granting bonuses during the game.
As I recall, the first quest was normally related to killing some relevant oposing character before turn 10, either by duel or assassination, which granted an inmediate +40 boost on agent, command, mage or emissary degree to a selected character of your nation. Just one type of skill for each nation quest, you could not choose.
The second quest was normally related to conquering or keeping a specific strategic population before turn 10 giving a bonus of 20 War Machines in one of your armies, or warships in Navies for maritime nations. And the third was related to NPCs, either killing or getting an important artifact any time during the game, which allowed +40 stealth bonus.
The quest and bonuses where specifically suited for every nation to boost strategic behaviour and aimed at compensating some initial advantatges, so no agent bonus for Cloud Lord or emissary bonus for the Northmen, for example.
They clearly provided some fun with unexpected tactics and results, fresh air into a very wellknown scenario. And with so many options and the typical initial play with not that many orders, you had quite complex discussions on what to prioritize and normally adapted plans on the go as you had info on some new targets each turn.
The problem for implementing this at large scale is not coding, but a lot of handwork as players ask for their quests to be confirmed and bonus granted on requested characters or armies. So I think it is not in your best interest ClintâŚ
But maybe this can give you some ideas for further playing variability.
Best
Jordi
PS By the way, you are all welcome to the FTF event in Barcelona!!!
Belated thank you for this post and a very interesting idea and solution to replacing the current 1650 victory conditions (actually could replace them in all games). Obviously a lot of coding, not likely to be implemented soon, but at least a satisfying idea. Thanks to all who have posted.
One last idea for MEG, some of us have posted about the pleasure we took in the certificates we received. You could still issue them, as an emailed image or PDF rather than paper mail, and send them out based on the post-game voting, rather than victory conditions. Once you have a design, it would be relatively easy to just fill in the playerâs name. Just choose 2-3 categories to send them out for. They neednât include first choice of nation for another game nor free turns, just for players to enjoy.
Jeremy
Jeremy
We did that, players never really seemed to get into the GWCs that we gave out, nor the pins that they could collect.
One thing weâll look at is a better encounter system at some point. Ideally Iâd want to have it that itâs an app/menu item for JO that players can create their own from a drop down menu. Lots of the KS encounters had a start with players doing this btw. Donât worry we modified them all so that there was no advantage and weâd do the same here.
CME we might well make it as a VC to win type game btw. We wanted to get this initial release out to see how it faired (excellently!)