Thanks, I too think this mod is overpowered. I tried to balance it and got backlash, which made me a bit gunshy. I don't think I've made something with so many subscribers before, and so now I've been just too afraid to make any changes.

I don't even use this mod, it makes the game too easy. I would like to balance it, but, if I do, it has to be incremental. I like what youre suggesting, and if we can figure out how to roll out changes that are very mild it might be better.

It's a bit crazy you got backlash for making your own mod but people can be fickle that's always a certainty. 8]

I agree that given the fiery nature that incremental is best, you don't want a riot on your hands. ;)

STRATEGIC RESOURCES

I looked at base strategic resources and gas is the most used for buildings, motes and crystals are about tied about 20% below gas. Although crystals arguably are the least used. I listed and alternative which has the same effective cost (if people needed to buy from the market or trade to get it) using more strategic resources than money. I think it would make the building seem more valuable and special.

Maintenance for Level 2 buildings cost about one resource, level 3 two resources and level 4 four resources. and build cost is 50x that. So extrapolating and massaging the numbers I plugged them in below.


To that end I'd suggest starting with (of course these are just suggestions);

STAGE I

--) CLERK JOBS
From 3/6/9/12 to 2/4/6/8

--) MANAGER JOBS (if you like them, then replace the unusual researcher jobs)
From researcher 1/2/3/4 to manager 1/2/4/5

--) BUILDING REQ Enforce the building pop requirements, this shouldn't cause an uproar but it's also needlessly overpowering and a bit different than normal.

--) BUILDING TIMES
From 125/240/340/400 to 200/300/400/600

--) COST
From energy 40/160/320/640 to unity 20/120/240/640
From mineral 200/400/600/800 to mineral 250/500/700/1200
From exotic gas 0/0/4/8 to exotic gas 0/5/10/20
From nothing to motes 0/5/10/20
From nothing to crystals 0/5/10/20

--) UPKEEP
From energy 4/16/32/64 to energy 1/2/4/8
From nothing to unity 5/10/20/80
From exotic gas 0/0/2/4 to exotic gas 0/1/2/3
From nothing to motes 0/1/1/2
From nothing to crystals 0/1/1/2

--) ADMIN CAP
Keep in mind the manager jobs would add extra admin cap of 2/4/6/8/10
From 4/16/32/64 to 4/10/20/40 (w/ managers it's 6/14/28/50)

--) HEARTS & MINDS
amenities -1/-2/-4/-5 & stability +1/+1/+2/+3


x) Fix the starbase admin cap bonuses to be on a single line (though I haven't found how to do that myself).

y) Adding a bonus to empire cohesion, which offhand I can't find the modifier for but it surely must be possible. Although I think this is a good way to give a boost early game that's balanced I was actually surprised at how many people seem to want this since they play on high connectivity maps. A lot more people will end up using the mod for that reason I think.

z) ASCENSION PERKS
Imperial Perogative, has been effectively become heavily nerfed, either leave it as it is or perhaps add a bonus to manager jobs (eg +3 admin cap per job instead of +2 is pretty good but not insane). Also let's face it, die-hards of the mods concept either already take the perk or because it's not relevant anymore by mid-game don't- and then would love and extra bonus and it'll keep with their theme and play style to take it making is worthwhile.

STAGE II

--) CLERK JOBS
From 3/6/9/12 to 2/3/5/7

--) BUILDING TIMES
From 125/240/340/400 to 300/400/550/750

--) COST
From energy 40/160/320/640 to unity 20/80/200/640
From mineral 200/400/600/800 to mineral 250/500/850/1500
From exotic gas 0/0/4/8 to exotic gas 0/15/25/50
From nothing to motes 0/15/25/50
From nothing to crystals 0/15/25/50

--) UPKEEP
From energy 4/16/32/64 to energy 1/2/4/8
From nothing to unity 5/10/30/120
From exotic gas 0/0/2/4 to exotic gas 0/1/2/3
From nothing to motes 0/1/2/2
From nothing to crystals 0/1/2/2

--) ADMIN CAP
From 4/16/32/64 to 4/8/18/36 (w/ managers it's 6/12/26/46)
From 4/16/32/64 to 4/8/16/32 (w/ managers it's 6/12/24/42)

--) HEARTS & MINDS
amenities -2/-4/-8/-15 & stability +1/+2/+3/+4


STAGE III

--) CLERK JOBS
From 3/6/9/12 to 1/2/4/5

--) BUILDING TIMES
From 125/240/340/400 to 360/400/675/900

--) COST
From energy 40/160/320/640 to unity 20/40/160/640
From mineral 200/400/600/800 to mineral 250/500/1000/2000
From exotic gas 0/0/4/8 to exotic gas 0/25/50/75
From nothing to motes 0/25/50/75
From nothing to crystals 0/25/50/75

--) UPKEEP
From energy 4/16/32/64 to energy 1/2/4/8
From nothing to unity 5/10/40/160
From exotic gas 0/0/2/4 to exotic gas 0/1/2/3
From nothing to motes 0/1/2/3
From nothing to crystals 0/1/2/3

--) ADMIN CAP
From 4/16/32/64 to 4/8/16/32 (w/ managers it's 6/12/24/42)

--) HEARTS & MINDS
amenities -3/-6/-12/-15 & stability +1/+2/+4/+5

***

So Admn Cap is nerfed, but honestly, it's not a huge nerf and likely will still require more nerfing, however after implementing these changes in three stages and asking users honestly if the changes are too much of a nerf. If people just want to ignore admin cap there are 100's of mods out there that effectively shut it off. Your mod has a nice system on making choices to deal with admin cap, the choices are interesting, they shouldn't be a way to completely ignore admin cap for no reason since there's other ways to do that.

Manager random fake code since I haven't used it before;

admincap_manager = {
category = ruler
condition_string = RULER_JOB_TRIGGER
building_icon = building_admin_base_fd34a3dcef054afc8096415bd91013f0
clothes_texture_index = 4

possible = {
ruler_job_check_trigger = yes
}

resources = {
category = planet_manager
produces = {
country_admin_cap_add = 2 #works for a living
amenities = 1 #comfy waiting room chairs
}
upkeep = {
energy = 1 #lotsa bribes
consumergood = 1 #gold-plated pencils
food = 1 #caviar is expensive
}
}

The AI will need some updates, first to take into account the planets amenities so as to not build it on planets that don't have enough, the AI should only build one type of admin building at a time so it doesn't get itself into a problem, and probably to ensure that it had a high enough income to deal with upkeep.

untested code bits with some fake code because I've got to do errands and lack time ;)

-kept building off habitats, put building location at top
-increase chances to build on capital and major planets
-decrease chance to build otherwise
-don't build multiples at once
-don't build useless

building_admin_base_fd34a3dcef054afc8096415bd91013f0 = {
base_buildtime = 360
# base_buildtime = 145
base_cap_amount = 1
add_to_first_building_slot = yes

category = government

potential = {
exists = owner
NOT = { is_planet_class = pc_habitat }
NOT = { has_modifier = resort_colony }
NOT = { has_modifier = slave_colony }
}

allow = {
has_upgraded_capital = yes
}

triggered_planet_modifier = {
potential = {
exists = owner
owner = { is_gestalt = no }
}
modifier = {
job_clerk_add = 1
job_admincap_manager_add = 1
}
}


////////////


prerequisites = { "tech_building_admin_base_fd34a3dcef054afc8096415bd91013f0" }

ai_weight = {
weight = 1.0
modifier = {
factor = 5.0
OR = {
is_capital = yes
is_planet_class = pc_city
is_planet_class = pc_ringworld_habitable
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 0.1 # Slows building multiples to check for issues
owner = {
any_owned_planet = {
has_building_construction = building_admin_base_fd34a3dcef054afc8096415bd91013f0
}
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 10 #completely madeup to increase likelihood to build if neg admin
owner = {
has_admincap_negative = {
resource = admincap
value < -50
}
modifier = {
factor = 0 #completely madeup to decrease likelihood to build if pos admin
owner = {
has_admincap_postivie = {
resource = admincap
value > 0
}

Had a look at weighting and I've been trying this; :)



tech_building_admin_base_fd34a3dcef054afc8096415bd91013f0 = {
cost = @tier1cost1
area = society
tier = 1
category = { new_worlds }
prerequisites = { "tech_planetary_unification" }
weight = @tier1weight3

modifier = {
country_admin_cap_add = 5
}

weight_modifier = {
modifier = {
factor = 0.1
NOT = { years_passed > 10 }
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.5
years_passed > 20
}
modifier = {
factor = 2
any_neighbor_country = {
has_technology = tech_building_admin_base_fd34a3dcef054afc8096415bd91013f0
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 0
num_owned_planets < 3
}
modifier = {
factor = 2
num_owned_planets > 3
}
modifier = {
factor = 2
num_owned_planets > 6
}
modifier = {
factor = 2
num_owned_planets > 9
}
modifier = {
factor = 0.75 # 75% if the empire does not have any of the following ethics.
NOR = {
has_ethic = ethic_authoritarian
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_authoritarian
has_ethic = ethic_militarist
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_militarist
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.25 # +25% if the empire has both ethics.
AND = {
OR = {
has_ethic = ethic_authoritarian
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_authoritarian
}
OR = {
has_ethic = ethic_militarist
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_militarist
}
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.125 # +12.5% if the empire is fanatic authoritarian.
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_authoritarian
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.125 # +12.5% if the empire is fanatic militarist.
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_militarist
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.25
has_tradition = tr_expansion_adopt
}
modifier = {
factor = 3.75
research_leader = {
area = society
has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_new_worlds"
}
}
}

ai_weight = {
weight = 10
factor = 5 #scaling
modifier = {
factor = 100
has_technology = tech_colonial_bureaucracy
}
factor = 5
modifier = {
factor = 2
research_leader = {
area = society
has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_new_worlds"
}
}
}
}

tech_building_admin_upgrade_698418100b80455aadbdc33b0663b285 = {
cost = @tier2cost2
area = society
tier = 2
category = { new_worlds }
prerequisites = { "tech_colonial_bureaucracy" "tech_building_admin_base_fd34a3dcef054afc8096415bd91013f0" }
weight = @tier2weight2

modifier = {
country_admin_cap_add = 5
}

weight_modifier = {
modifier = {
factor = 0.1
NOT = { years_passed > 20 }
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.5
years_passed > 40
}
modifier = {
factor = 2
any_neighbor_country = {
has_technology = tech_building_admin_upgrade_698418100b80455aadbdc33b0663b285
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 0
num_owned_planets < 3
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.75
num_owned_planets > 3
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.75
num_owned_planets > 6
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.75
num_owned_planets > 9
}
modifier = {
factor = 0.75 # 75% if the empire does not have any of the following ethics.
NOR = {
has_ethic = ethic_authoritarian
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_authoritarian
has_ethic = ethic_militarist
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_militarist
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.25 # +25% if the empire has both ethics.
AND = {
OR = {
has_ethic = ethic_authoritarian
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_authoritarian
}
OR = {
has_ethic = ethic_militarist
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_militarist
}
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.125 # +12.5% if the empire is fanatic authoritarian.
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_authoritarian
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.125 # +12.5% if the empire is fanatic militarist.
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_militarist
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.25
has_tradition = tr_expansion_adopt
}
modifier = {
factor = 3.75
research_leader = {
area = society
has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_new_worlds"
}
}
}

ai_weight = {
weight = 10
factor = 5 #scaling
modifier = {
factor = 100
has_technology = tech_colonial_centralization
}
factor = 5
modifier = {
factor = 2
research_leader = {
area = society
has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_new_worlds"
}
}
}
}

tech_building_admin_upgrade_2_e6e714350561429ca8496c74d68eede0 = {
cost = @tier3cost2
area = society
tier = 3
category = { new_worlds }
prerequisites = { "tech_colonial_centralization" "tech_building_admin_upgrade_698418100b80455aadbdc33b0663b285" }
weight = @tier3weight1

modifier = {
country_admin_cap_add = 5
}

weight_modifier = {
modifier = {
factor = 0.1
NOT = { years_passed > 40 }
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.5
years_passed > 80
}
modifier = {
factor = 2
any_neighbor_country = {
has_technology = tech_building_admin_upgrade_2_e6e714350561429ca8496c74d68eede0
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 0
num_owned_planets < 3
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.5
num_owned_planets > 3
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.5
num_owned_planets > 6
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.5
num_owned_planets > 9
}
modifier = {
factor = 0.75 # 75% if the empire does not have any of the following ethics.
NOR = {
has_ethic = ethic_authoritarian
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_authoritarian
has_ethic = ethic_militarist
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_militarist
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.25 # +25% if the empire has both ethics.
AND = {
OR = {
has_ethic = ethic_authoritarian
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_authoritarian
}
OR = {
has_ethic = ethic_militarist
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_militarist
}
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.125 # +12.5% if the empire is fanatic authoritarian.
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_authoritarian
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.125 # +12.5% if the empire is fanatic militarist.
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_militarist
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.25
has_tradition = tr_expansion_adopt
}
modifier = {
factor = 3.75
research_leader = {
area = society
has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_new_worlds"
}
}
}

ai_weight = {
weight = 10
factor = 5 #scaling
modifier = {
factor = 100
has_technology = tech_galactic_bureaucracy
}
factor = 5
modifier = {
factor = 2
research_leader = {
area = society
has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_new_worlds"
}
}
}
}

tech_building_admin_upgrade_3_dc7cbd9df41746669e9d763e9abf84f1 = {
cost = @tier4cost3
area = society
tier = 4
category = { new_worlds }
prerequisites = { "tech_galactic_bureaucracy" "tech_building_admin_upgrade_2_e6e714350561429ca8496c74d68eede0" }
weight = @tier4weight1
is_rare = yes

modifier = {
country_admin_cap_add = 5
}

weight_modifier = {
modifier = {
factor = 0.1
NOT = { years_passed > 80 }
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.5
years_passed > 160
}
modifier = {
factor = 2
any_neighbor_country = {
has_technology = tech_building_admin_upgrade_2_e6e714350561429ca8496c74d68eede0
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 0
num_owned_planets < 3
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.25
num_owned_planets > 3
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.25
num_owned_planets > 6
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.25
num_owned_planets > 9
}
modifier = {
factor = 0.75 # 75% if the empire does not have any of the following ethics.
NOR = {
has_ethic = ethic_authoritarian
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_authoritarian
has_ethic = ethic_militarist
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_militarist
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.25 # +25% if the empire has both ethics.
AND = {
OR = {
has_ethic = ethic_authoritarian
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_authoritarian
}
OR = {
has_ethic = ethic_militarist
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_militarist
}
}
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.125 # +12.5% if the empire is fanatic authoritarian.
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_authoritarian
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.125 # +12.5% if the empire is fanatic militarist.
has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_militarist
}
modifier = {
factor = 1.25
has_tradition = tr_expansion_adopt
}
modifier = {
factor = 3.75
research_leader = {
area = society
has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_new_worlds"
}
}
}

ai_weight = {
weight = 10
factor = 5 #scaling
modifier = {
factor = 100
has_technology = tech_galactic_bureaucracy
}
factor = 5
modifier = {
factor = 2
research_leader = {
area = society
has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_new_worlds"
}
}
}
}

So the tier cost starts out low and goes high to increase players interest and balance the benefits, and the weight goes down for the higher techs. I've also tried to adjust appearance based on militarist and authoritarian ethics or lack there of. And based on planets the chance the techs show up is modified on a sliding scale or planets and higher techs, finally based on game years the techs are also weighted.

Still haven't seen the AI doing a lot of research and building but I've tweaked it to be more likely to do research, especially if neighbours have it.