But I bet there are some people who might not be all too happy about this.
I might not be all too happy about this.
Seems like a silly compromisole between what the fans want and performance.
Except neither the fans nor the nonfan players wanted China to be added.
I think the biggest problem with adding China was forcing yet another, particularly unique, type of government into CK2's framework. I understand why they'd put it offscreen like this.
No, the biggest problem by far would be performance stemming from the characters and provinces added.
Overall I think I'm as happy as I could be with this idea. It will be fun playing as the Protectorate General and conquering the world fir the glory of the Middle Kingdom (I assume it will be playable. If it isn't I will be pissed) or trying to get your own dynasty on the Imperial Throne, even if you can't do a Mongol and conquer it outright.
It would also be fun if they added similar diplomacy screen for the other just-off-the-charts areas, like say one for South-East Asia and the Archipelago Realms, one for East Siberia/Northernmost Asia, and of course also one each for west- and east-coast Africa below the cut off line (and maybe America once the Sunset Invasion starts if you have that DLC?). South-East Asia and East Africa in particular would be interesting as they were important nodes on the oceanic trade network and could give you trade income bonuses and such (or the opposite if you have bad relations with the area and your enemy asks them to boycott you). Of course these areas wasn't united in the sense Imperial China was but I feel a gestalt identity would be an okay compromise for the sake of gameplay.
Lastly, I really hope the stability of China, however little they might portray it, has an effect on the Silk Road system.