I agree
Unfortunately can't be done with mod tools

first off ai needs to not lose if its capital is taken while leader is dead. or at least make ai strongly defend their capital at all times.

Sorry to hear that, have some other ideas on the backburner that might help.
But won't be working on this mod for a little bit while I update a couple of others.

What do you reckon held them back?

I could do unit health and defense upgrades, production upgrades, unit cost reduction etc. Just can't do too many at once or it'll overload the research book.

Can probably manage 3 sets off buffs total without causing issues.

Unfortunately... it's not enough to keep the pathetic AI alive. Even on King+ difficulty, with roaming enemies on "few" and Cosmic Happenings "off" (the AI stands no chance against groups of 8 ogres!), my neighbors are still succumbing to independents as early as turn 20.

Perhaps it's because I'm playing on maximum "slow" setting in a very large world with "weak" starting armies? I like starting with a weak army, but maybe it's too much for the AI to handle...

Playing with King or Emperor AI also helps. They get +3 Def and +2 Res when fighting Independents only.

I was trialling an extension to this mod adding a few more bonuses as different skills, but still working out a good way to allow the player to disable the ones they don't want applied to the game or just to themselves.

@ Donuel the Daring
Giving AI capitals special building providing strong garrison helping it with independents is better idea than preventing indepent attacks. There is already Ayalin Premium Defender mod which adds garrison building, so perhaps setting high priority for production of those by AI would help a bit. Perfect solution would be forcing AI to put heavier capital defence, but I've seen somewhere in the comments that it's not so easey (perhaps impossible) to do.

One rather good idea I've seen in some old "New AI" mod was providing faction AI's with +2 def and +2 res in fights against independents and giving them +50% experience gain bonus.

@ Donuel the Daring
No worries at all, can thank Klut, they requested, I just provided

I always (try to) play long, epic games, where the AI survives as long as possible and there is a chance to explore, build up, and actually meet some of the AIs before they get demolished by wandering independents. Never seems to work for me - they're just not capable of keeping their leader alive and/or holding their throne city. I haven't modded this game at all (yet), though in the past I modded Fall From Heaven 2 a little bit to spawn ridiculously strong, immobile defenders ("palace guards") in each capital, to pretty much guarantee that all factions at least survive beyond the early game. I was thinking of doing something similar for AoW3 - or, if I could, to make it impossible for independent armies to even attack AI cities.

Anyway... before delving into the possibility of doing this, I'm going to give this mod a shot. It may be just what I'm looking for. Thanks for providing it! :)

works like a charm! thank you very much

Klut

The mod should be 'unbroken' now - was a text link that wasn't working properly.

0 research required now.

I probably lost a description entry.
I'll check and remove the research cost.
Was working while I play tested, but uploaded after changing the resurgence from 10% to 5%.

I only get "decline the kiss" on my research list with this mod. I tried turning off all other mods so shouldnt be a compatibility issue either... also i would love for it to cost 0 research just to get the choice out of the way first turn and not wait for a research surplus to chose.

This is perfect! Cant wait to test this!