Question: is it possible to make any faction "Elective",like the HRE? if so, how?

[caravel]

The only way to make an "elective" faction AFAIK is to use the FN_GERMAN_HRE faction label for that faction. You can also use the Viking faction from VI. I can't remember which number they are but it's FN_(faction no.) rather than FN_(faction name). Though if non christian they are also prone to being converted to christianity once their provinces are converted. The only other faction is the FN_PAPAL, but this faction has even more hardcoded restrictions built around it which means it's best avoided.

[macsen rufus]

The Vikings are FN_07, but I really don't believe they are elective. Using this FN number will give them the raiding bonus, port-free invasions, and total annihilation of conquered provinces, though.

[caravel]

The Vikings are elective. It is impossible to wipe them out through assassination or for them to die out due to a lack of heir or loss of a faction leader or heir(s) in battle, as a new heir will always instantly appear and take over as faction leader - much like the HRE or Papacy.

[macsen rufus]

Wow! I stand corrected I sure never saw it happen though, maybe because when I've played as Vikings I've always had more heirs than a wholesale wig-maker would know what to do with, and I've never whittled them down to zero royals before destroying them when playing another faction. Not that I'm complaining, as it's a happy coincidence for my mod's FN_07 - just the thing for them, yay!

[The Unknown Guy]

K, thanks nevermind then. I wanted to make the Italians elective. A pity :/

Speaking about the vikings, maybe it would be a balancing factor to make avaiable to the other factions in their campaign an ocean-faring ship

[Geezer57]

The Vikings are elective. It is impossible to wipe them out through assassination or for them to die out due to a lack of heir or loss of a faction leader or heir(s) in battle, as a new heir will always instantly appear and take over as faction leader - much like the HRE or Papacy.

I had a VI campaign years ago that confirmed this - I hadn't verified the actual victory conditions, and thought I had to take over the Viking home provinces in order to win. So I assassinated over a dozen Viking heirs (when there were only a max of three showing at any one time), a new heir kept popping up! I finally gave up on assassination and just bribed their non-Royal generals, then eliminated them with their own armies...

[Sensei Warrior]

If you could live without HRE you could hijack their faction and just change it to what you wanted. That could work right?

EDIT And if I actually read Caravel's post I would already know the answer to that.