The Living Map has many different elements to it that adds both a bit of flavor and life in the world of Victoria 3, I’ll be going over some of the main elements in their current state to give you all some insight.
Hub Expansion
The most important and noticeable aspect that the world is progressing are your Hubs, as you reach certain thresholds of buildings (both production, government and residential ones) your cities will expand with the corresponding buildings. When it comes to the residential buildings they all have three different tiers of wealth within each culture set, the higher tiers are automatically activated upon reaching a higher Standard Of Living for the Pops of that Hub. To further amplify this change of SOL and to provide some more motion around hubs we have an effect that indicates either an increase or decrease with a construction hammer and anvil that either hardens or breaks.
Small Hubs
Large Hubs
Decrease in SOL
Increase in SOL
Vehicles
Large Hubs
Decrease in SOL
Increase in SOL
Traversing the roads, seas and even skies of the game we have made quite a few vehicles that breathe life into the world. These are unlocked by research, adjusting your Production Methods and building specific buildings. The most fundamental one being a horse carriage that traverses the dirt roads of connected Hubs, with specific research you can instead have cars putter along the roads! If regular roads are too simple for you there are also a bunch of different trains for when you’ve researched railroads, old locomotives can turn into electric ones and steel railway cars can also be applied.
We’ll get there, eventually
Traveling in style
Old locomotive
Electric trains
But land is not the only place where vehicles make an appearance, in the seas and along the shipping lanes you’ll be able to see cargo ships traveling! These range from simple clippers to steamships, depending on what you’ve researched and what sort of Production Methods you’re utilizing.
Traveling in style
Old locomotive
Electric trains
Trade ships
Last but not least we look to the skies where you’ll be able to see Zeppelins soaring through the air when skyscrapers have been built and act as anchoring points for the massive airships.
Soaring through the skies
Military and War
When conflict inevitably brews and wars break out there are lots of ways we show those effects on your Hubs and surrounding terrain. When gearing up for war your troops will be determined by what you’ve researched and the Production Methods of your Barracks. You can look at what troops you have in your Garrison at any time, but upon entering a battle they (the most advanced unit) will be visible on the map where battle takes place, facing off against the opponents troops. Depending on what weapons you’ve equipped your units with, different effects will show, so even a Mobile Artillery unit has different kinds of shots.
Beautiful illustrations for your troops
Bunker fire
Flamethrowers!
Let's play battleship!
When a region has been ravaged by war and a lot of battles you will start to see the effect of that on the region where it has happened through Devastation. The dynamic Devastation affects a variety of parameters for the region, its trade, Pops and Hubs. It also visually shows, not just by tearing up the surrounding terrain but also muddles rivers and burns buildings, the extent of this increases the more battles are fought in the same region.
Bunker fire
Flamethrowers!
Let's play battleship!
Devastation (sped up)
Devastation at a Hub
Also, if you really need additional troops you can activate your conscription centers (if you’ve got access to them) which forces a lot of people to sign up. We make sure to show this as well, through an effect on your Hubs where conscripts are being drafted.
Devastation at a Hub
Production and Pops
In addition to expanding your city Hubs, you’ll also be able to affect the world with mining, farming and forestry Hubs. Trees will be cut down in close proximity to your forestry Hubs, farms will cultivate the earth and ground will be excavated close to your mines, leaving visible impact on the terrain.
Forestry Hubs and their effect
Farm Hubs and their growth
Mining Hubs effect on the world
Farm Hubs and their growth
Mining Hubs effect on the world
With increased production and industrialization within your country and Hubs we are also giving you a purely visual reminder that the world will be affected by that as well. The visual Pollution will see more smokestacks rising from your hubs as well as the surrounding terrain becoming tarnished. All for the sake of progress right?
Smokestacks coming from a Hub
Pollution affecting a larger area
Pollution affecting a larger area
However, if your people don't like the way things are progressing they will show their displeasure through turmoil, and if you don’t correctly address their concerns you might find yourself with a revolution on your hands. Turmoil will just be a bit of anger brewing in the form of puffs of displeasure while revolution will have flags of opposition being raised in your hubs.
Let the flags of revolution rise!
Buildings
As previously mentioned, you’ll get zeppelins traversing the skies upon building skyscrapers, and while these behemoths of buildings will tower over the rest in your city Hubs there are still Monuments like the Eiffel Tower that will be even stronger indicators that your cities are growing beyond the point of the regular buildings.
The different skyscrapers for each culture set
They also blink!
That should give you all a glimpse into the life of the world map! There are things we would love to explore more in the future but I feel we’ve got a great foundation going that we’d love to hear ideas on how to take further.
They also blink!
Join us next week, where Aron will be covering the tutorial!
