I'm finding this game much to easy (I've won with Denmark, the Poles and Spain at expert with more than a couple of anxious momments) and it all seems to be because there is no cap on the size of the empire I can create.

I'd like to see a rule that any empire cannot be greater than say twelve provinces, the others being given up as dependant principalities to their governers. They would pay income to you but otherwise be able to pursue their own home and forign policy. They could be created in the same way as governerships are given out.

They should also be able to war amongst themselves and perhaps declare full independance from you as they become powerful, so that I as Poland expanding happily in the West may find the new threat of Prussian Scandanavia rising to the North.

Also, distant reaches of empire should almost automatically become principalities. If I as Poland hold North Africa I have no real means of governing it, the most I can hope for it seems is instilling Christianity, getting some extra trade from it and setting up a friendly governer who will let my troops pass through or even be stationed their for his defence.

Again, when taking a province in Spain say and capturing the general it would be nice to be able, among the options, to offer him the governership in order to set up some sort of continuity for the local populace or to ensure the continuity of the Spanish throne, albeit one that pledges allegiance to me.

Just some thoughts, I'd be interested in feed back and hints on how to make the game harder, I'm almost ready to put it back in its box.