I'm currently working on vassals, small randomly placed settlements on the map that will auto produce their own workers to gather resources in the area as well as a small patrolling army to gaurd their own territory. The player can capture these vassals in order to have them autonomously work for them. Vassals can provide income for their owners using their workers as well as add a basic level of defense for an area with their patroling army, after they have all their workers and a defending army, they will slowly build up a small army to attack your enemies with.
I find it adds some really cool and valuable points on the map to take control of. While they wont be able to defeat your enemies on their own, coordinating your attacks with theirs can add a welcome boost to your own attacks. This also makes the maps feel alot more dynamic.
Edit: 02/05/2026
Added latest version of the vassals mod.
-Vassal units can be selected if you want to inspect them but they ignore all commands given to them by the player.
-vassals once captured project the players influence around themselves.
-vassals will produce villagers to gather resources for their owner.
-vassals will produce patrol armies that protect their territory.
-Once a vassals patrol armies get big enough, they will instead be used by the vassal to attack your enemies.
Vassals will spawn randomly, but right now they will spawn in the same specific random place on every map type for testing purposes.
Vassal produces units faster than in the final version for testing purposes.
Edit: 02/05/2026
Added a new version with random and much better spawning of vassals around random maps.
Edit: 02/05/2026
Last edit for today, improved vassal spawning so the game will try to spawn at least one per player. Also the game will try to make sure there is pathing to at least one other player before placing a vassal in an area.
Edit: 09/05/2026
- Added several types of vassals that produce their own units.
- Vassals now build structures, houses provide 1 pop to their owners, the vassal will produce a barracks in order to produce their own military units.
- Improved villager ai, they should no longer sometimes move back and forth and will try to get a range of resources nearby.
- Villagers can now hunt nearby animals.
Edit: 10/05/2026
-Vassals now produce units much slower.
-Fixed a bug where vassals would stop trying to build structures if they could not find a place to place a structure on their first try.
Edit: 11/05/2026
-Impoved vassal spawning to make sure they now always spawn.
Vassals Mod.7z