Quote Originally Posted by Belgolas View Post
one thing that got me was the...

The coins in your nation's collective pocket will also determine your stature when it comes to diplomacy, since in addition to standard military alliances, you can propose trade alliances, make national gifts, and trade entire regions to your partners, as well as demand protectorate status, which, if accepted, will require the subject nation to forfeit half of its profits to you and preclude it from declaring war (unless the nation decides to rebel and declare war on you). Of course, demanding a protectorate will be more a matter of military might.


That part of giving half your income and not being able to declare war on another faction is something I believe is new. Atleast I never experienced this when I was the protectorite.
Sadly protectorates have really worked as advertised. In Med 2 they will backstab you as soon as they can. As for getting part of their income, that was in Med 2 but the A.I was always so broke it never happaned.

Up until now protectorates have been next to useless and unbeliveably difficult to get and maintain. Lets hope it changes with Empire.