Wiki

effect · release_puppet

Definition

  • Supported scope:COUNTRY
  • Supported target:THIS, ROOT, PREV, FROM, OWNER, CONTROLLER, OCCUPIED, CAPITAL

Description

releases specified country as puppet using states you own

Hands-On Notes

Hands-on notes are AI-generated and checked against the vanilla command vocabulary — treat them as a starting point, not authoritative reference. The definition above is the game's own documentation.

Hands-On Usage

release_puppet is commonly used in event scripts or national focus trees to have a major power release occupied territory as a puppet state, such as in post-war peace negotiations, colonial independence, or historical dissolution events. The effect must be executed within the scope of the releasing nation, and it automatically transfers states owned (own) by the executor that belong to the target nation and establishes the puppet relationship.

# In an event option, have GER release POL as a puppet
option = {
    name = my_event.1.a
    GER = {
        release_puppet = POL
    }
}

Synergy

  • [end_puppet](/wiki/effect/end_puppet): Terminates the old puppet relationship before reestablishing it; useful when paired with release_puppet to change puppet types or reset vassal status.
  • [add_state_core](/wiki/effect/add_state_core): Adds cores to the target nation before releasing it as a puppet, ensuring the released puppet has legitimate cores over relevant states and avoiding the awkward situation of a coreless state.
  • [has_autonomy_state](/wiki/trigger/has_autonomy_state): Used in trigger conditions to check whether a certain autonomy state already exists, determining whether release_puppet needs to be called or skipped.
  • [diplomatic_relation](/wiki/effect/diplomatic_relation): After releasing a puppet, this command can be used to further adjust diplomatic relations between both sides (such as guaranteeing independence, military access rights, etc.), completing the diplomatic chain.

Common Pitfalls

  1. Reversed Scope: release_puppet must be executed within the scope of the overlord (the nation owning the states), not the releasing nation's scope. Calling it within the scope of the nation being released will cause the command to be ineffective or even error out; newcomers often confuse THIS and the target nation.
  2. Not Owning the Corresponding States: This effect only transfers states that are own (owned) by the executing nation, not control (controlled) states. If the overlord merely occupies those states without actually owning them, the released puppet will have no territory, forming a hollow state.