How about Influence drift when over (X high amount) of Influence? E.g. when a clan (player or AI) has over 1000 influence, they lose 10 per day until they are at/under 1000?
That way influence isn't "hard capped", but it is reduced from getting too excessive.
Yes. I proposed six different policies, and out of them: all lords voted the same way for all of them, except one of them where nobody but me and Derthert voted, and War Tax which had 2 lords in favour and 6 against. It seems the only factor significantly affecting votes right now is whether they are a vassal or ruler.
I think this is best solved in the following way:
Personality Traits make nobles like or dislike certain policies more. For example;
Lords' Privy Council - Liked by Closefisted, Disliked by Generous.
Military Coronae - Liked by Daring, Disliked by Closefisted.
Serfdom - Liked by Cruel, Disliked by Merciful.
Bailiffs - Liked by Honest, Disliked by Closefisted.
Declare War - Liked by Daring, Disliked by Cautious.
Declare Peace - Liked by Cautious, Disliked by Daring.
A formula determines how much nobles will support or oppose a policy, based on three factors - relations, personality, and ruler/vassal status - which increase or decrease their "support strength".
If they have under -30 relations with the policy proposer, -1 support strength.
If they have over +30 relations with the policy proposer, +1 support strength.
If they have over +50 relations with the policy proposer, +2 support strength.
If they have under -50 relations with the policy proposer, -2 support strength.
If they like the policy due to a Personality Trait, +1 support strength.
If they dislike the policy due to a Personality Trait, -1 support strength.
If they like the policy due to being a Ruler/Vassal, +1 support strength.
If they dislike the policy due to being a Ruler/Vassal, -1 support strength.
Add up the support strength, and the total determines how much influence they will be willing to spend on a policy. 0 support strength means they will abstain. 1 support strength means they will spend 20 influence in favour. 3+ support strength means they will spend 150 influence in favour. -2 support strength means they will spend 60 influence in opposition. Etc.
For example, if a clan leader has +50 relations with his ruler (+2 support), and his ruler proposes the Sacred Majesty policy (-1 support for being a vassal), that clan leader will give +1 support to the policy.
In the current system, if I vote on Military Coronae, 9 lords will support me for 20-40 and none will support the ruler, who opposes it. I can reduce my relation with all lords to 0, and the result is the same, I still get 9 supporters for the vote; only reducing my relations to -100 with someone makes them merely abstain (not even oppose me), so apparently relations makes only a small impact and traits mean nothing. But if I voted with the system shown above:
Aldric is Closefisted (-1) with 87 relation with me (+2), so he would spend 20i in favour.
Calatild is Closefisted (-1) with 100 relation with me (+2), so she would spend 20i in favour.
Ingalther is Closefisted (-1) and Daring (+1) with 39 relation with me (+1), so he would spend 20i in favour.
Varmunt is Daring (+1) with 0 relation with me, so he would spend 20i in favour.
Eleduran has 36 relation with me, so he would spend 20i in favour.
Hecard is Daring (+1) with 58 relation with me (+2), so he would spend 150i in favour.
Vartin is Closefisted (-1) with 28 relation with me, so he would spend 20i against.
Ecarand is Closefisted (-1) with 51 relation with me (+2), so he would spend 20i in favour.
Voleric is Closefisted (-1) with 0 relation with me, so he would spend 20i against.
The vote would be 270i in favour and 40i against.
If I had 0 relations with everyone and proposed it:
Aldric is Closefisted (-1), so he would spend 20i against.
Calatild is Closefisted (-1), so she would spend 20i against.
Ingalther is Closefisted (-1) and Daring (+1), so he would abstain.
Varmunt is Daring (+1), so he would spend 20i in favour.
Eleduran would abstain.
Hecard is Daring (+1), so he would spend 20i in favour.
Vartin is Closefisted (-1), so he would spend 20i against.
Ecarand is Closefisted (-1), so he would spend 20i against.
Voleric is Closefisted (-1), so he would spend 20i against.
There would be 100i against, and 40i in favour; the player would be able to sway the vote by spending 150 influence.
This system means the player can get consistently good outcomes on votes if they have high relations with many lords; variable but influencable results if they have mixed relations with lords, and unwinnable votes if many lords hate them. Making relations, and personality traits, important; and introducing skill to politics, as the player can know that certain combinations of traits and relations will make lords vote certain ways.