Hello and welcome to this week’s dev diary. This will be the last content-led dev diary for a little while – from next week onwards, you can expect to be hearing about mechanical changes in the upcoming expansion. For now, though, I will be talking about Savoy. Also, we have a new trade node to show off, so I’ll first of all hand you over to @Ofaloaf to talk you through that.
---
Hey all, @Ofaloaf here with another tidbit of mapwork we've been working on. With all the new provinces added to Italy and France, the Genoa trade node was getting rather large compared to its neighbors. Along with the Pest node (which we have since added an additional route to from Crimea), we decided it was time to split up the Genoa node.
Here's what Genoa used to look like:
That's a pretty considerable chunk of the Western Mediterranean! Even the Venice node doesn't control the whole Adriatic. It was necessary to carve something out of Genoa's trade node. So, since Genoa proper is in Italy, the best option seemed to be to peel away the westernmost provinces. This inclined us to pick to some province in Aragon. Valencia and Barcelona seemed to be the best candidates there, and of the two we ended up going for Valencia, as it was a fine commercial port at the time and it's slightly further away from Genoa on the map.
So the new setup has ended up like so:
Valenica interrupts the flow of trade from Sevilla to Genoa. If you still want trade to flow to Genoa (and that node is now located actually next to Genoa now!), you can still force trade to keep flowing through Valencia through the judicious use of merchants and trade fleets, but you can just try to hold onto all the trade you can at Valencia as well. This change should help make trade in the Mediterranean a little more challenging, and still offer more opportunities for more countries to get a slice of the action.
That's it from me, back to @Caligula Caesar for some Savoy-specific content!
---
To recap on their starting position and their national significance, they are situated between France and Italy with lands in both countries. During the first half of EU4, they were basically fought over by France and the Emperor as both tried to extend their power in Italy. Having successfully managed to avoid being absorbed into either, in the 18th century they were then ceded Sicily (along with the title of King) for their participation in the War of the Spanish Succession. A couple of years later, however, the Emperor forced them to swap Sicily for Sardinia, thus forming the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont. Still a relatively weak power compared to its neighbours, soon after the conclusion of EU4 it would emerge as the strongest independent Italian nation (almost by default, since Austria controlled much of the rest of Italy either directly or through puppet states) and so be the focus for the Italian unification movement. By playing their cards well, they were able to capitalise on the situation and form a united Italy, though they had to give up their French lands and Nice to achieve this.
This situation opens up several paths for Savoyard missions. Firstly, there’s the historical path: Early missions focused on surviving and being good at diplomacy, some good economic missions and a path for Italian conquest. However, although EU4’s Savoy remains Piedmontese culture, it felt wrong not to give Savoy missions to do in France. Hence, Savoy has also been given a full tree helping them become King of France.
One of the first missions Savoy might look to complete is an economic one: Prosper in Piedmont. It is achieved by adding three development to Turin (which is coincidentally also the reward for annexing Saluzzo and Montferrat) and getting 120 total development, plus the Renaissance. Doing this will give you an event that will let you either gain even more development in Torino or let you convert to French culture and gain development in French Savoy instead. The AI will choose what to do based on how it is doing in France and Italy.
Occitan starts out as an accepted culture for Savoy, so this switches the cultures around.
Following on from that mission, there are several more economic missions – after all, it was partly Piedmont’s economic strength that led to its ability to unite Italy. Glory to Ciamberi (<capital name> - it changes based on the last mission) requires six buildings to be built in your capital and it to have 30 development. This is quite a lot for mountainous provinces, but the reward is good too – the capital will become a center of trade. Finally, Powerhouse of the North (renamed Powerhouse of the South if you go French) requires the steep task of 100 development in your capital’s area, along with several other economic conditions – but if you get it, you will get +5% admin efficiency and +5% goods produced for the rest of the game.
Another bonus Savoy can get from the same branch of the mission tree, this time via being a very good Christian, is being able to found the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.
In terms of conquests, Savoy is well-covered in Italy with a set of missions that basically track their progress towards Italian unification. Once they have images, they may or may not end up with some blatant references to the Risorgimento. On the other side of the Alps, there’s a branch to go east and one to go north. Going north will lead you to clash with Switzerland (Monter l’Estcalade – a reference to an attempt by the Savoyards to take Geneva by surprise… Geneva was historically not an easy vassal for Savoy, something we are keen to represent ingame). You will then have the chance to take Burgundy. On the other hand, going west will have you first clash with Provence and then, if you dare, with France. Once you dominate southern France, you will gain claims on Ile de France. You then need but seize Paris and you will be able to claim the French throne via a personal union CB.
The final branch of Savoy’s mission trees focuses on diplomacy and self-defence. The Savoyards after all had to be very good at both to survive. The first two of these missions require you to first make a strong ally, then make sure you are covered no matter the situation by getting two good friends who happen to be rivalled to each other. This having been done, Savoy will be tasked with having four up-to-date forts in Alpine areas; doing this will give the reward of said forts being upgraded. Finally, the best way to ensure Savoy’s safety is to have a bigger army than any neighbour; doing this will give a useful +10% morale and +1 army tradition for the next 30 years.
---
We didn’t just add missions to Savoy – we have also added two small early-game events (we’re also open to suggestions for more!). The first of these regards the Duke’s father, who resigned his position as Duke to become Antipope Felix. You get the choice on whether to support your father, which gives a healthy military boost in return for somewhat burning your bridges with the Pope.
The second new event concerns Cyprus. Historically, the Savoyard rulers from Charles II in the 1480s right down to Umberto II, the last King of Italy, would claim the Kingdom of Cyprus (and Jerusalem and Armenia) – at least in their titles. This was based mainly on the descent from one of the last Christian Princesses of Cyprus. Fortunately for us, the starting Savoyard ruler is married to a Cypriot, which means that, should a non-Christian nation annex Cyprus, this may happen:
Edit: Almost forgot to show this, but we've also added some new ideas for Sardinia-Piedmont, to make it a more interesting nation to form:
That's all for today! Next week, as mentioned, we'll finally start telling you about the changes to game mechanics we are in the process of implementing. Until then, have a great week!
---
Hey all, @Ofaloaf here with another tidbit of mapwork we've been working on. With all the new provinces added to Italy and France, the Genoa trade node was getting rather large compared to its neighbors. Along with the Pest node (which we have since added an additional route to from Crimea), we decided it was time to split up the Genoa node.
Here's what Genoa used to look like:
That's a pretty considerable chunk of the Western Mediterranean! Even the Venice node doesn't control the whole Adriatic. It was necessary to carve something out of Genoa's trade node. So, since Genoa proper is in Italy, the best option seemed to be to peel away the westernmost provinces. This inclined us to pick to some province in Aragon. Valencia and Barcelona seemed to be the best candidates there, and of the two we ended up going for Valencia, as it was a fine commercial port at the time and it's slightly further away from Genoa on the map.
So the new setup has ended up like so:
Valenica interrupts the flow of trade from Sevilla to Genoa. If you still want trade to flow to Genoa (and that node is now located actually next to Genoa now!), you can still force trade to keep flowing through Valencia through the judicious use of merchants and trade fleets, but you can just try to hold onto all the trade you can at Valencia as well. This change should help make trade in the Mediterranean a little more challenging, and still offer more opportunities for more countries to get a slice of the action.
That's it from me, back to @Caligula Caesar for some Savoy-specific content!
---
To recap on their starting position and their national significance, they are situated between France and Italy with lands in both countries. During the first half of EU4, they were basically fought over by France and the Emperor as both tried to extend their power in Italy. Having successfully managed to avoid being absorbed into either, in the 18th century they were then ceded Sicily (along with the title of King) for their participation in the War of the Spanish Succession. A couple of years later, however, the Emperor forced them to swap Sicily for Sardinia, thus forming the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont. Still a relatively weak power compared to its neighbours, soon after the conclusion of EU4 it would emerge as the strongest independent Italian nation (almost by default, since Austria controlled much of the rest of Italy either directly or through puppet states) and so be the focus for the Italian unification movement. By playing their cards well, they were able to capitalise on the situation and form a united Italy, though they had to give up their French lands and Nice to achieve this.
This situation opens up several paths for Savoyard missions. Firstly, there’s the historical path: Early missions focused on surviving and being good at diplomacy, some good economic missions and a path for Italian conquest. However, although EU4’s Savoy remains Piedmontese culture, it felt wrong not to give Savoy missions to do in France. Hence, Savoy has also been given a full tree helping them become King of France.
One of the first missions Savoy might look to complete is an economic one: Prosper in Piedmont. It is achieved by adding three development to Turin (which is coincidentally also the reward for annexing Saluzzo and Montferrat) and getting 120 total development, plus the Renaissance. Doing this will give you an event that will let you either gain even more development in Torino or let you convert to French culture and gain development in French Savoy instead. The AI will choose what to do based on how it is doing in France and Italy.
Occitan starts out as an accepted culture for Savoy, so this switches the cultures around.
Following on from that mission, there are several more economic missions – after all, it was partly Piedmont’s economic strength that led to its ability to unite Italy. Glory to Ciamberi (<capital name> - it changes based on the last mission) requires six buildings to be built in your capital and it to have 30 development. This is quite a lot for mountainous provinces, but the reward is good too – the capital will become a center of trade. Finally, Powerhouse of the North (renamed Powerhouse of the South if you go French) requires the steep task of 100 development in your capital’s area, along with several other economic conditions – but if you get it, you will get +5% admin efficiency and +5% goods produced for the rest of the game.
Another bonus Savoy can get from the same branch of the mission tree, this time via being a very good Christian, is being able to found the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.
In terms of conquests, Savoy is well-covered in Italy with a set of missions that basically track their progress towards Italian unification. Once they have images, they may or may not end up with some blatant references to the Risorgimento. On the other side of the Alps, there’s a branch to go east and one to go north. Going north will lead you to clash with Switzerland (Monter l’Estcalade – a reference to an attempt by the Savoyards to take Geneva by surprise… Geneva was historically not an easy vassal for Savoy, something we are keen to represent ingame). You will then have the chance to take Burgundy. On the other hand, going west will have you first clash with Provence and then, if you dare, with France. Once you dominate southern France, you will gain claims on Ile de France. You then need but seize Paris and you will be able to claim the French throne via a personal union CB.
The final branch of Savoy’s mission trees focuses on diplomacy and self-defence. The Savoyards after all had to be very good at both to survive. The first two of these missions require you to first make a strong ally, then make sure you are covered no matter the situation by getting two good friends who happen to be rivalled to each other. This having been done, Savoy will be tasked with having four up-to-date forts in Alpine areas; doing this will give the reward of said forts being upgraded. Finally, the best way to ensure Savoy’s safety is to have a bigger army than any neighbour; doing this will give a useful +10% morale and +1 army tradition for the next 30 years.
---
We didn’t just add missions to Savoy – we have also added two small early-game events (we’re also open to suggestions for more!). The first of these regards the Duke’s father, who resigned his position as Duke to become Antipope Felix. You get the choice on whether to support your father, which gives a healthy military boost in return for somewhat burning your bridges with the Pope.
The second new event concerns Cyprus. Historically, the Savoyard rulers from Charles II in the 1480s right down to Umberto II, the last King of Italy, would claim the Kingdom of Cyprus (and Jerusalem and Armenia) – at least in their titles. This was based mainly on the descent from one of the last Christian Princesses of Cyprus. Fortunately for us, the starting Savoyard ruler is married to a Cypriot, which means that, should a non-Christian nation annex Cyprus, this may happen:
Edit: Almost forgot to show this, but we've also added some new ideas for Sardinia-Piedmont, to make it a more interesting nation to form:
SPI_ideas = {
start = {
idea_cost = -0.1
improve_relation_modifier = 0.25
}
bonus = {
global_tax_modifier = 0.15
}
trigger = {
tag = SPI
}
free = yes #will be added at load.
spi_flexibility = {
diplomatic_upkeep = 1
}
spi_defensive_prowess = {
defensiveness = 0.25
}
the_shroud_of_turin = {
papal_influence = 1
prestige = 0.5
}
spi_royal_sardinian_army = {
discipline = 0.03
global_manpower_modifier = 0.1
}
spi_centralized_state = {
development_cost = -0.05
core_creation = -0.1
}
spi_piedmontese_manufacturing = {
global_trade_goods_size_modifier = 0.1
}
spi_risorgimento = {
ae_impact = -0.1
}
}
SPI_ideas:0 "Sardinian-Piedmontese Ideas"
SPI_ideas_start:0 "Sardinian-Piedmontese Traditions"
SPI_ideas_bonus:0 "Sardinian-Piedmontese Ambition"
spi_defensive_prowess:0 "Defensive Prowess"
spi_defensive_prowess_desc:0 "From the French in Savoy and Piedmont to the Spanish in Sardinia, our lands have long been tempting targets for our neighbors' expansionist ideals. In protecting our sovereignty through the years, we have honed our fortification techniques and mastered the art of defending a fortress."
spi_flexibility:0 "Diplomatic Flexibility"
spi_flexibility_desc:0 "Wedged in between stronger powers and under constant threat of falling too far under their influence, we have been forced to practice nimble diplomacy - some would say shameless opportunism - in order to safeguard our independence and find some new opening to advance our state. Though distasteful in the eyes of traditionalists, opportunism has its upsides."
spi_royal_sardinian_army:0 "Royal Sardinian Army"
spi_royal_sardinian_army_desc:0 "The golden age of mercenaries has passed, and our army shall keep with the times. By implementing reforms to professionalize it, we can establish a standing army capable of projecting our power abroad in Italy and Europe as a whole."
spi_centralized_state:0 "Centralized State"
spi_centralized_state_desc:0 "By imitating the means and methods of the great powers of Europe in our own territories, we can forge Sardinia-Piedmont into powerhouse capable of dominating Italy and standing our ground on the European stage."
the_shroud_of_turin:0 "The Shroud of Turin"
the_shroud_of_turin_desc:0 "The burial shroud of Christ himself was found in our lands in the year 1390 and since that time has been the prized artifact of the House of Savoy. Put the Shroud of Turin on display and watch the pilgrims flock to Piedmont, bringing their wealth with them."
spi_piedmontese_manufacturing:0 "Piedmontese Manufacturing"
spi_piedmontese_manufacturing_desc:0 "Situated on the key trade route between Venice and France, there are many markets on which to sell our produce. By adopting the latest methods pioneered elsewhere, we can increase our production and bring plentiful riches to our lands."
spi_risorgimento:0 "The Risorgimento"
spi_risorgimento_desc:0 "Italy has not been united since the fall of Rome, but the idea of a united Italy has never died. Now, as the dream enjoys a resurgence, we have emerged as one of the main standard bearers of the Italian people's hopes and dreams."
start = {
idea_cost = -0.1
improve_relation_modifier = 0.25
}
bonus = {
global_tax_modifier = 0.15
}
trigger = {
tag = SPI
}
free = yes #will be added at load.
spi_flexibility = {
diplomatic_upkeep = 1
}
spi_defensive_prowess = {
defensiveness = 0.25
}
the_shroud_of_turin = {
papal_influence = 1
prestige = 0.5
}
spi_royal_sardinian_army = {
discipline = 0.03
global_manpower_modifier = 0.1
}
spi_centralized_state = {
development_cost = -0.05
core_creation = -0.1
}
spi_piedmontese_manufacturing = {
global_trade_goods_size_modifier = 0.1
}
spi_risorgimento = {
ae_impact = -0.1
}
}
SPI_ideas:0 "Sardinian-Piedmontese Ideas"
SPI_ideas_start:0 "Sardinian-Piedmontese Traditions"
SPI_ideas_bonus:0 "Sardinian-Piedmontese Ambition"
spi_defensive_prowess:0 "Defensive Prowess"
spi_defensive_prowess_desc:0 "From the French in Savoy and Piedmont to the Spanish in Sardinia, our lands have long been tempting targets for our neighbors' expansionist ideals. In protecting our sovereignty through the years, we have honed our fortification techniques and mastered the art of defending a fortress."
spi_flexibility:0 "Diplomatic Flexibility"
spi_flexibility_desc:0 "Wedged in between stronger powers and under constant threat of falling too far under their influence, we have been forced to practice nimble diplomacy - some would say shameless opportunism - in order to safeguard our independence and find some new opening to advance our state. Though distasteful in the eyes of traditionalists, opportunism has its upsides."
spi_royal_sardinian_army:0 "Royal Sardinian Army"
spi_royal_sardinian_army_desc:0 "The golden age of mercenaries has passed, and our army shall keep with the times. By implementing reforms to professionalize it, we can establish a standing army capable of projecting our power abroad in Italy and Europe as a whole."
spi_centralized_state:0 "Centralized State"
spi_centralized_state_desc:0 "By imitating the means and methods of the great powers of Europe in our own territories, we can forge Sardinia-Piedmont into powerhouse capable of dominating Italy and standing our ground on the European stage."
the_shroud_of_turin:0 "The Shroud of Turin"
the_shroud_of_turin_desc:0 "The burial shroud of Christ himself was found in our lands in the year 1390 and since that time has been the prized artifact of the House of Savoy. Put the Shroud of Turin on display and watch the pilgrims flock to Piedmont, bringing their wealth with them."
spi_piedmontese_manufacturing:0 "Piedmontese Manufacturing"
spi_piedmontese_manufacturing_desc:0 "Situated on the key trade route between Venice and France, there are many markets on which to sell our produce. By adopting the latest methods pioneered elsewhere, we can increase our production and bring plentiful riches to our lands."
spi_risorgimento:0 "The Risorgimento"
spi_risorgimento_desc:0 "Italy has not been united since the fall of Rome, but the idea of a united Italy has never died. Now, as the dream enjoys a resurgence, we have emerged as one of the main standard bearers of the Italian people's hopes and dreams."
That's all for today! Next week, as mentioned, we'll finally start telling you about the changes to game mechanics we are in the process of implementing. Until then, have a great week!
