Hear, hear!  I completely agree!  Sovs need to die.  It would make the game sooooo much more interesting for all the reasons you mention.  As it is currently implemented, dynastic politics is artificially gimped for no good reason.   

Thanks for making a great post that succinctly summarizes what I've been feeling too. 

Yes, nations poofing into ether when your sov or ai sov bites the dust is extremely unsatisfying and ruins immersion. Some good old rebellions with factions vying for throne would rock, too.

I personally don't want my sov to die. I like the role play I can do with that and it keeps it personal to me. Plus most of the time the random decision comes up with some pretty strange combos as far as look goes...

If you do, do that let me chose when my sov dies and let me design my own kids.  

Right now if the sovereign bites the big one then it's gg.  The eligible heir should take the throne and succeed him.  Of course none of the heirs would be timeless and must be eventually replaced so the player still has a very good reason to go the extra mile when defending the sovereign.

It works on paper anyway.

Thanks for your input guys - I'm glad that this suggestion already has some enthusiastic support.  It would need to be an optional toggle, yes - I understand that many players don't want to lose their main man, in whom they invested so much time and thought.  But for me, the story of my Dynasty is the important thing - being able to remember the reign of Kings through good times and bad.  Perhaps a history tome could be written, of all the great achievements, battles, wars, births and deaths, usurpings and treacheries - like a good old Shakespeare play.  This would give the game a great longevity, and write a different epic story each time that you played. 

One thing I have noticed is that the same 'random' offspring are being born - I currently have two grandchildren, married to two identical partners!  Something that can easily be fixed though, I imagine.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this one - either to be picked up by the devs, or by some nifty modder.  I'm guessing that it should be possible..

Ha!  It's funny you mention that.  I just watched Henry IV (part 1 & 2) and it made me think of this game.    I recall Frogboy saying EWoM was inspired by Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice, a series that has a lot of dynastic struggles in it.  In retrospect, I am surprised that it wound up being so limited in the game.   

BTW:  That is a great idea about a history tome!  I wonder if that would be possible to implement?  I mean, even outside of this issue such a thing would add a lot of RPG epic-ness to the game!

I just started the game. I have not had children to create a dynasty. What is the quickest way to do this?

When you recruit NPCs of the opposite gender to your ruler, there is an option in their action icons to marry them (a ring icon).  Not sure if you have to have a certain Tech to do this first, but I don't see why you should..

I was thinking (always a risky proposition): maybe the immortality trait could be made as something that needs to be purchased during character creation?  That way people who don't want immortality can spend the points elsewhere, while those who do can purchase it at the outset.  To each his own while keeping it within the character creation process. 

Another possibility would be to make immortality a high level spell.  This also has some merit as it would make immortality a choice as well as a magical goal (you could even make an entire quest out of it!).

As for the AI, perhaps just a option during game creation ("AI's are immortal at start: yes/no").

Eh, this [successor system] has been suggested many months ago, but since it's against the game lore [Sov dies = game over], some decent coder will have to mod in this. That would be a very popular mod I guess.

Yes, this would be perfect Rooks.  In 'The Quest for Immortality', you could explore aspects of your ruler's personality, as Arwen had to question relinquishing her immortality to marry Aragorn.  Perhaps he/she falls in love with an immortal man/woman, and must choose the short road or the long one, with all the implications of each.  Sure, immortality would be quite fun, but imagine all the nappies you'd have to change!   You could even go the other way, with your ruler beginning as immortal, but choosing mortality for the sake of his/her mortal partner.  Bring back the romance, I say..   

This would be great, I agree.  Or at least, your NPCs should be mortal too - or it would seem a bit weird with your royal family coming and going, and the other faces of court remaining eternal.  Whether they do marry and have kids could be random, to cut down on the number of sprogs running around causing mayhem.

Yes, I realise that this idea must have been discussed many times previously.  I'm sure that many people would love to see it implemented, in one way or another.