Now for those asked for screenshots.
In the beginning Novgorod was a midsized nation, looking a bit larger because of rather big provinces. There are two steppe provinces that didn't fit on this shot.
By the end of the game Russia was probably the biggest country in terms of land mass (but not province number) on the planet. Here's a shot of most of European Russia. Note that Poland was a vassal and likely target for dipoannexation.
Finnish Russia. One of Novgorod's first conquests. You can still see the effects of the Novgorod-Polish wars in the few Polish provinces in the area. Novgorod was almost completely destroyed at one point.
Once the Mongol Khanates to the east were broken and Russia formed, the great march east began.
They marched east.
And east.
And east.
Still going.
Just a little more to go.
Nearly there.
Until they finally hit the Pacific Ocean.
By the end marching soldiers from one end of Russia to another was an adventure, and I was lucky to have allies on Russia's western border, making that end safe.
P.S. Reply to comments at the end of the last page. Sorry I bumped it off. o
In the beginning Novgorod was a midsized nation, looking a bit larger because of rather big provinces. There are two steppe provinces that didn't fit on this shot.
By the end of the game Russia was probably the biggest country in terms of land mass (but not province number) on the planet. Here's a shot of most of European Russia. Note that Poland was a vassal and likely target for dipoannexation.
Finnish Russia. One of Novgorod's first conquests. You can still see the effects of the Novgorod-Polish wars in the few Polish provinces in the area. Novgorod was almost completely destroyed at one point.
Once the Mongol Khanates to the east were broken and Russia formed, the great march east began.
They marched east.
And east.
And east.
Still going.
Just a little more to go.
Nearly there.
Until they finally hit the Pacific Ocean.
By the end marching soldiers from one end of Russia to another was an adventure, and I was lucky to have allies on Russia's western border, making that end safe.
P.S. Reply to comments at the end of the last page. Sorry I bumped it off. o