"Legacy of Rome" DLC for Crusader Kings II is highly recommended.
This is a Sub-Mod for the "Game of Thrones" Mod that adds a little more flavor to the game if you decide you want to create an empire in Essos. Included are several decisions that will allow you to create a "Valyrian Empire" in Essos, complete with an exclusive government-type (Imperial Government) and set of laws, which will make your new domains feel a lot more like 'Roman Empire meets ASOIAF'.
- Restore the Valyrian Empire.
- When you create the Valyrian Empire, you get decisions to integrate all King-tier titles you have in the Free Cities region as your "crownlands", or to give them to vassals as you see fit.
- When you activate the decision to Restore the Valyrian Empire, you will be switched to Imperial government. The most obvious advantage you will notice is that you are now allowed to hold both Castle and City holdings without penalties, and you will not get any relations malus with vassals of any government type. Imperial government even comes with its custom localisation for councillors, titles, and characters!
- Imperial government comes with its own set of laws, so it plays differently than either feudal or republican governments. The laws you start with alreay trend heavily towards a more centralized, bureaucratic administration. This means you get to hold much more territory directly and get much more money from your vassals, but on the other hand your vassal limit is considerably lower and the amount of levies you can raise from them is pathethic. You must adapt and learn to rely on demesne troops, mercenaries, and retinues... or try to revert to a more traditional feudal administration over time. Your choice!
- As I said, retinues are available if you have the Legacy of Rome expansion. To start building retinues you need to have your capital in the Free Cities (to avoid breaking the base mod's balance in Westeros), and you have to build "Recruitment Offices" in your castles and cities to increase your cap.
- Compatible with Colonize Valyria submod!