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EU4 - Development Diary - 12th of January 2021

After a few weeks without Dev Diaries, I am happy to present you a new one. I hope you all had a great time during them!

When I joined Paradox in October, Polynesia was not included in this Expansion. Considering it was the last part of the Earth without representation, I thought it would be nice to have some work done on it, so I proposed some ideas that I am happy to share with you all.

But, before I start, I would like to thank @Meka66 for his help and work that has greatly inspired me for this project.

THE MAP
The map has been slightly changed, since the basic needed setup was already there. However, in order to go a bit deeper, a few provinces have been added here and there. Do note that the flags are still a placeholder and not the final result.

Starting with Fiji, the archipelago has been divided in three provinces: one for each big island (Viti Levu and Vanua Levu) and a third one for the Lau archipelago that had a great influence from Tonga. Each province has a country inhabiting it, which is an abstraction of the many clans that populated each island. Should you unite them all under your banner, you will be able to form Viti.

Fiji Archipelago.png

[Fiji Archipelago and TAGs]​

In New Zealand a new province has been added in North Island which has the most populated one by the Maori people. The number of countries, though, goes up to 7. Six of them (Mataatua, Tainui, Takitimu, Taranaki, Te Arawa and Te Tai Tokerau) are in the Northern Island and Waitaha is in the Southern One. As in the case of Fiji, a Maori country that manages to unite the area is able to form Aotearoa.

New Zealand Archipelago.png

[New Zealand Archipelago and TAGs]​

Finally, the greatest transformation has been done in the Hawaiian Archipelago, that has gone from one province to four. Each province has their own country attached (Hawai’i, Kaua’i, Maui and O’ahu). As in the other cases, there is a formable for the unifiers of the islands.

Hawaii Archipelago.png

[Hawaii Archipelago and TAGs]​

A Polynesian rework could not let the two most important countries out: Samoa and Tonga.

Samoa & Tonga Archipelago.png

[Samoan and Tongan Archipelagos and TAGs]​

THE MISSIONS
As in the case of the Americas, the mission tree consists of a general common mission tree for every country and some specific missions for each country or group of them.

Tongan Mission Tree.png

[Tonga Mission Tree]
(Notice that all icons are still placeholders)​

Tonga is probably the most important TAG during this period. Despite the fact that the Tongan Empire is no more, a skillful player could rebuild it, bringing not only the neighboring islands under the control of Tongatapu, but go even further.

Some highlights of this tree include:
  • Bringing both Fiji and Samoa under your control again.
  • Recovering the Tongan Empire.
  • Expand even further.

Samoan Mission Tree.png

[Samoan Mission Tree]
(Notice that all icons are still placeholders).​

If Tonga was the political power during the period, Samoa was the cultural one. Most of the Pacific was colonized from there and from there were most of the traditions that ruled the lives of the Polynesians.

Some highlights of this tree include:
  • Recover the place as the cultural center.
  • Challenge Tonga.
  • Replace Tonga as the main power in the Pacific.

In order to not spoil the surprise, I will let you discover what the missions for the Maori the Fijian and the Hawaiian countries consist of.

THE NATIONAL IDEAS
Adding new TAGs would not be the same if they were not accompanied by their National Ideas.

Starting with the Fijians TAGs, their warring nature brought them a reputation of ruthless combatants, feared by everyone. But Fijians were also deeply religious people and famous shipbuilding artisans. All these things are represented in their National Ideas, making them a rather expansionist set.

Code:
fijian_ideas = {
    start = {
        light_ship_power = 0.1
        naval_attrition = -0.1
    }
  
    bonus = {
        ae_impact = -0.2
    }
  
    trigger = {
        OR = {
            tag = LAI
            tag = VIL
            #TODO: tag = VIT
            tag = VNL
        }
    }
    free = yes
  
    fijian_crossroad = {
        num_accepted_cultures = 2
    }
    fijian_degel = {
        range = 0.1
        global_ship_trade_power = 0.1
    }
    fijian_conjoined = {
        global_missionary_strength = 0.02
    }
    fijian_waqa = {
        prestige_from_naval = 0.4
    }
    fijian_cannibal = {
        army_tradition_from_battle = 0.25
        prestige_from_land = 0.4
    }
    fijian_kai = {
        land_attrition = -0.25
    }
    fijian_confederacy = {
        global_tax_modifier = 0.05
        production_efficiency = 0.05
    }
}
[Fijian National Ideas]​

As in the case of the Fijians, the Maori are famed for their bravery and constant warfare. Their set of ideas is focused on land combat, without disregarding ways to keep the land around a strong leader.

Code:
maori_ideas = {
    start = {
        global_regiment_recruit_speed = -0.10
        harsh_treatment_cost = -0.20
    }
  
    bonus = {
        prestige = 1
    }
  
    trigger = {
        primary_culture = maori
    }
    free = yes
  
    sons_of_kupe = {
        global_sailors_modifier = 0.10
        range = 0.10
    }
    kaikiakitanga = {
        tolerance_own = 1
    }
    kaumatua = {
        stability_cost_modifier = -0.20
    }
    kapa_haka = {
        land_morale = 0.10
    }
    pa_defence = {
        fort_maintenance_modifier = -0.10
    }
    te_moko = {
        leader_land_shock = 1
    }
    maori_king = {
        core_creation = -0.10
        legitimacy = 1
    }
}
[Maori National Ideas]​

As with the missions, we’d better not spoil the surprise by showing everything, am I right? I have a challenge for those that love them: try a world conquest with a Polynesian TAG! There are a couple of things in this area that could help you in that adventure. ;)

THE EVENTS
Events are one of the parts I like the most. While not as much time as I would have liked has been available, I have added more than 40 events to the area, including general events, specific Country events and even a few Easter eggs that I hope you can find and enjoy!

Fiji Event.png

Practice is what makes you a good warrior, after all.
(Notice that all pictures are still placeholders).

Hawaii Event.png

This event can be very nasty if you are in a very bad shape.
(Notice that all pictures are still placeholders).

Samoan Event.png

As Samoa, you will be given the choice to reform your society a bit or go on with the traditions with every ruler.
(Notice that all pictures are still placeholders).​

THE EXTRAS
There are a few things that have been added in order to create a bigger sense of immersion.

Maori culture has been created, separated from the main Polynesian branch. By the start of the game, the Maori were abandoning the Archaic Maori Period and entering a transformation one. The Iwi became more sedentary and their once pacific nature became more warlike as competition for resources becomes more central. New traditions had evolved by this time that justifies separating them from their islander cousins.

A new Polynesian technology group has been created. This technology group is between that of the Mesoamericans and the North Americans in penalty, but starts at tech 2.

Most Estates have been renamed to their proper versions to increase the flavor.

And some extra surprises here and there.

For now this is all. We still have lots of things to show, so just be patient and enjoy the time in between, everything will come!
 
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Love to finally see Polynesian nations on EU4!

Hope these kind of nations could get "primitive" naval mechanics that could be shared with the Pacific Northwest and Caribbean nations of the Americas.
 
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Probably because of the artillery fire, which applies to naval as well as land units. It’s actually a pretty significant bonus.

Interesting. That make me wonder.... should there be separate bonuses for land artillery and naval artillery? Would that make sense?
 
@Aldaron I'm not sure what's with all the negativity but it looks pretty good to me. A shortened government reform list allowing these peoples to quickly revive and choose their own path could be nice and easy to put in. Monarchy, theocracy, republic or horde. There's, of course, no basis to my knowledge for this. But it would be fun.

It's irony that I think these little tags actually improve colonization idea groups. Exploring and quickly eating little tags for near instant colonies that pay off and extend range to the New World is huge if playing in Asia. On the other side, getting to Argentina or Panama for a European can make reaching Asia a breeze.
 
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Great to see my Home get some love I have a few suggest giving it if willing to read (created an account for this XD).

For Provence’s:

I suggestion would be to have another tribe or just province in the Northern South Island. Combine the modern Marlbough and Nelson/Tasman regions in a province, there was tribes there and they were regularly raided by the north. (Dev 3, trade good chance: Fish / Tropical Wood/ Naval Supplies wine (NZ wine country) / livestock and terrain: Coastline).

If u want to Add one finial province to Aotearoa I would recommend the West Coast without a tribe owning the province. The west Coast is very very ruggit, remote and geographically different. Maori tribe would go there seasonally thing to acquire Green Stone (Jade). (Dev 3 , Trade Resources chances: Gold, Coal, Tropical Wood, Naval supplies and Massive sand flies. Terrain: Jungle (it’s a subtropical/cold Jungle which also balances out the good trade goods)


Some changes on the ideas (I am completely biases):

For Maori ideas I would suggest maybe changing Maori King to something along the lines of Chiefs of Chiefs. The Maori king was only created to act as Maori representative against the British Empires Queen (political the same position). I don't think the name King would ever been chosen apart from that situation, it to this day it was only ever been a head piece. Kaikiakitanga is right on the mindset of guardianship not ownership of that time. Up to you and the wording around the text it fits with theme that later in the ideas where is European/colony influences.

With Sone of Kupe this could be replaced with the legend of Māui. The Demi-god that fished NZ from the ocean, I learnt it as a kid in school so it’s a bit more NZ themed and still goes with the naval ideas.

PA_defence; Could be replaced with Modern Fighting Pa (or Modern Gun-Fighters Pa). During the Land Wars the British found it hard to siege this Pa as its was mostly earth works into the ground, with bunkers. Cannon Fire was ineffective in dealing any really damage that could just be repair or rebuild in an hour, it get compared to trench are a lot. It was also easy to construct/maintain so either a slight maintence cost reduction or Fort defensive bonus (both in one maybe?)

I like core-creation but not sure where it fits in. The Maori were quick to adapt to Europeans, and modern ideas. They got out better than all other natives in other colonies, so they did something right. Anyway, was think of maybe Intuition growth or maybe idea cost reduction, Military tech cost reduction would fit more better and could go with the theme traditional ideas to modern ideas (European/colony influences).

Personal I would buff the **** out of Maori and Aotearoa ideas you some reason to play in a such a remote, poor and isolated part of the world during this time.

Cheers
 
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Don't forget colonial Guyana.
I always thought they could combine Venezuela with Guyana to increase the province count and justify reinstating that colonial region. It works since Spain never owned part of Guyana (to the best of my knowledge), so you could argue that's just the Spanish name for the region.
 
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Is there any chance to add indigenous country in taiwan?

I have been hoping for years that new tags would be added to Taiwan and more provinces would be added to give it greater depth. Taiwan had a very interesting history during the period of EU4 with Taiwanese aboriginals resisting colonisation. The Ming loyalist Koxinga fleeing the Qing invasion to form the Kingdom of Tungning which lasted from 1661 to 1683. The later annexation into the Qing Empire. I think their would be opportunity for rich mission trees for aboriginals related to resisting imperialist ambitions as well as adding events for the Ming to flee to Taiwan in the event of a Mingsplosion. Furthermore with the addition of Polynesian tags it seems odd to miss the Taiwanese aboriginals which are thought to be the progenitors of the Austronesian peoples.
 
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Polynesia wasnt really colonized much in the time period, no? That had to wait until the 19th century.
 
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Why would the Polynesians be more advanced the the Aztecs or Inca, other than ship building its rather debatable to put them ahead

Probably "gameplay" as those nations will have nothing to do but spin their wheels after grabbing their tiny areas until they reach tech 5 and get some exploration ideas so they have knowledge and range to go anywhere else. At least the Mesoamericans have a lot more to do before hitting speed 5 and wait mode...
 
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Same could be said about adding so many useless tags in the HRE that no-one will play, right?

\s

No, because these tags will make an impact in the European politics. Splitting Bavaria and Switzerland into many tags changed the way how you need to play in North Italy and South Germany. Splitting Pommerania made playing as Brandenburg different. And you can say this about every tag in Europe, Asia, Africa. AI natives in Oceania, sitting there doing nothing but waiting to be conquered don't serve any purpuse outside for meme playthrough.
 
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Looks great. Starting as a tiny province, uniting a region, and uplifting to become a world power is always my favourite way to play.

And while we are in the region, I agree with others that Indigenous Australians would be fascinating to play. Their use of fire-based land management could work similarly to First Nation migration. Their sustainable agriculture practices and disturbingly reliable oral histories** could both factor into some interesting mechanics.

**Former islands (with their original names!) submerged by sea rise, inactive volcanos, and megafauna fossils from 10'000 years ago have all been found via examining oral history. Gameplay wise this could have huge implications for military tradition, religion, national ideas, and institutions.
 
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No, because these tags will make an impact in the European politics. Splitting Bavaria and Switzerland into many tags changed the way how you need to play in North Italy and South Germany. Splitting Pommerania made playing as Brandenburg different. And you can say this about every tag in Europe, Asia, Africa. AI natives in Oceania, sitting there doing nothing but waiting to be conquered don't serve any purpuse outside for meme playthrough.
Because European politics are the only ones that matter? Please.
 
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No, because these tags will make an impact in the European politics. Splitting Bavaria and Switzerland into many tags changed the way how you need to play in North Italy and South Germany. Splitting Pommerania made playing as Brandenburg different. And you can say this about every tag in Europe, Asia, Africa. AI natives in Oceania, sitting there doing nothing but waiting to be conquered don't serve any purpuse outside for meme playthrough.

Why exactly would playing one of the new tags be a "meme playthrough"? I don't really understand what you mean. There's nothing that's more serious about European history than Polynesian history, if that's what you mean.
 
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New Zealand was administratively considered part of Australia for the entirety of the game's timeline.

New Zealand wasn't administratively considered part of anything for the vast majority of the game's timeline, but yeah it was technically part of the colony of New South Wales (in Australia) from 1787 until 1841 even though there were no permanent European settlements until 1840. Basically it became its own colony as soon as it was actually colonised, prior to that it was just whalers, missionaries, and traders visiting. The administration from Australia was there to provide the legal framework for their activities, resolve disputes etc.
 
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New Zealand wasn't administratively considered part of anything for the vast majority of the game's timeline, but yeah it was technically part of the colony of New South Wales (in Australia) from 1787 until 1841 even though there were no permanent European settlements until 1840.
I was obviously talking about the colony, not pre-colonial New Zealand. But yes, that’s true