What's the purpose of protectorates?

[Hstio1]

I've been promoted a number of times to ask another empire to become my protectorate. I can't really see the value. If they added something to help you achieve victory , by possibly giving you a percentage of their population/economy toward your victory points. If they don't provide help toward victory they seem to be there just to drag you into conflicts.

[Fenrisfil]

There isn't really a purpose. Maybe if they counted towards "make X mutual defence pacts" objectives, but I don't think they do (I don't know for sure) and the objective to make any kind of alliance is easier to do with trade agreements. The rest of the time it is just a one sided relationship and only really has purpose if you are role playing your game. I suppose in theory there are occasions where you may wish to protect another race, such as them having access to a special resource they trade with you or they are providing useful tech trades (maybe your milking them for their unique tech). But in practice you can deal with these situations without having to commit to "always be there" for them.

Also if you wait for them to approach you, they will offer a MDP instead of asking to be your protectorate and that is obviously a better arrangement.

[ASHBERY76]

This and subjugation need reworking to make it an actual thing and not pointless.Sadly both have had no attention since release.

[JCVocke]

To be fair, there isn't a single Grand Strategy game in all of history that has done a truly Good Job of portraying the Vassal-Overlord Relationship. Even CK2 is pretty much just about number crunching Opinion to keep them from rebelling and then going Imprison Happy if they do.

[ASHBERY76]

What.Subject nations in EU were vital to strategy.CK2 is not grand strategy.

[JCVocke]

I never said they weren't important, I said that the relationship is only barely represented.

They give you money, they fight in your wars, and you can annex them, that's it.
You can't fund their development. There's no political interaction other than "We want to annex you now". There's no share of ideas or culture or anything else.

Although actually Victoria 2 implements some of those, albeit barely and only in certain situations.

Hell it took until the latest patch of EUIV before vassals would even try to rebel, and even then they can't do it if you are both at war despite vassals changing sides in wars all throughout history.

And I disagree that CK2 is not Grand Strategy. It has a different Focus from most Grand Strategy games but it's still about Strategy conducted on a Grand Scale.