[UPDATE]: I'd like to announce to those who may not know that Paradox has finally included an official set of national ideas for an independent Canada, as well as a separate range for an independent Quebec. Obviously, the ideas are not identical to the ones that we have brainstormed in this thread, but there are remarkable similarities, especially the 'Hudson Bay Company' idea that provides an extra merchant, and the 'Settling the Interior' idea that, similar to the United Empire Loyalists idea, provides an extra colonist.
Whether or not the similarities were intentional, and whether or not our efforts genuinely offered some sort of inspiration for the Paradox team, I'd like to thank the Paradox team for including these ideas. You can see them, alongside various other inclusions, at this link here: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum...9-Disasters-New-Ideas-and-Other-Free-Features
[ORIGINAL POST]
Hello chaps. I don't know if Paradox even consider community suggestions but I wanted to put this out here and see what people think. A week ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Ottawa and, as with most of my travels overseas, my priority was to visit the museums and historical buildings and learn about the nation's history. To my pleasant surprise I learnt of a nation with a rather rich history and a national identity that goes back to it's earliest colonial period. Therefore, I wondered about the idea of giving the region it's own identity within Europa Universalis 4 and, as a unique twist, allow any colony founded in the Canadian region to benefit from these ideas instead of the Colonial Ideas, to reflect the fact that these developments happened while she was still a vassal, yet shaped her nation after independence.
Now I know some of you would probably have taken one look at the title and likely huffed in dismissive amusement, but I insist that if you have any interest in history, and the development of this game, you have a read before you give me your opinions. This is not a wishful plea - it’s a carefully researched and very realistic idea.
Why should Canada be given National Ideas?
Right now, the only unique post-colonial nation is The United States of America. A set of decent ideas for an independent Canada/Quebec, or a historically accurate Canadian colony would make things more interesting on the American continent. Much of Canada’s development and culture stems from the fact that she is NOT American and successfully resisted being incorporated into the United States. This gives the USA a more distinctive rival on the continent and encourages people to try another post-colonial nation, as well as making the American continent just more interesting in general.
The Ideas
I will put the ideas in chronological order of their relevance, each one listed with their effects, their suggested 'description', and my historical justification for this idea:
Traditions: -10% Ideas cost, +10% Fort Defence
Hudson's Bay Company: +1 Merchant, +10% Domestic Trade Power
Description: From it's humble beginnings at the mouth of the Rupert River, this colonial fur trading company would eventually have an empire stretching from Newfoundland to as far as Alaska.
Justification: The company was official founded in 1670, but it's roots go back another 20 years with the early French and English Fur traders. Apart from perhaps being once the largest trading organisation within North America, the company, also has the privilege of being the ONLY colonial trading organisation to survive, outlasting famous companies like the Dutch and British East India Companies and is therefore one of the oldest companies still in existence today.
Canadian Militia: +15% National Manpower
Description: Though it is of no interest for a Canadian to fight wars, somehow he always seems to end up in one. It pays to be prepared with such uncomfortably expansionist neighbours.
Justification: Canadian militias have been involved in nearly every war in the region, first fighting with the French or British in their colonial wars, then against the Americans in the Revolutionary War, and again in the War of 1812. Though, their European counterparts have always done the majority of the fighting, Canadian/Canadien militias have distinguished themselves at the battles of Permaquid (1696), Fort Necessity (1754), Monongahela (1755), Quebec (1775) and Queenston Heights (1812).
First Nations: +2 Diplomatic Relations, Different religions groups no longer give a negative relations modifier with Pagan nations.
Description: For our brave but isolated nation, security means making friends with the native tribes. Their support could swing the balance of power in North America to our favour.
Justification: Since the early European conflicts in North America, British and French forces have often relied on the close support of their Native American allies to help tip the scales in their favour. As part of the means for maintaining their support, King George III issued a proclamation in 1760 that recognised the tribes as sovereign and accepted their claims to their land (this was actually a contributing factor to the American Revolution). Though this proclamation was not always honoured by colonists, many native tribes would continue to fight alongside the British and Canadians up until the end of the War of 1812, when their significance to the balance of power faded. Some tribes, such as the Mohawks and the Shawnee, would be permitted to settle in Canada after being driven from lands conquered by the Americans. This community of Canadian aboriginals would come to be known as the First Nations.
United Empire Loyalists: Colonists +1, +10% Global Settler increase
Description: Not everyone is happy about the way things are changing with our neighbours to the south, particularly if they are dispossessed by revolution. Many people from other colonies (or ex-colonies) are fleeing to our lands and we must find places for them to settle.
Justification: The United Empire Loyalists was the name given to the roughly 500,000 American refugees loyal to the British crown that either fled revolutionary America in 1783, or were forcibly exiled. The British government gave many of them land grants to resettle in Canada, rapidly populating the regions now known as Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Biculturalism: Tolerance of Heretics +1, +25% Accepted Culture threshold.
Description: Though the Francophone Quebecois and the Anglophone Canadians may not have to like each other, it has become essential to at least try to tolerate each other and their religious beliefs in the interest of the nation’s stability.
Justification: Since the end of the Seven Years War, the French-speaking Canadiens had to live under an English-speaking administration. Though initially, the British attempted to impose their values on the French Canadiens, the Quebec Act of 1774 permitted French Civil Law to be used in Quebec and, more importantly, it permitted the worship of Catholicism. I was tempted to put a stability bonus in as well but on second thoughts; cultural disputes, riots and even rebellion occurred infrequently in the region until long after the nation’s independence.
Fencibles: +2.5% Discipline
Description: Canadian colonists are not the most reputed of soldiers, nor even particularly professional. However, a little training from one of the greatest armies in Europe can go a long way towards the defence of Canada.
Justification: In contrast to the Canadian military reputation built in the First and Second World Wars, the greatest example of Canadian might prior to the 19th Century was their Fencibles regiments. The Fencibles were British colonials in the 18th and 19th Centuries trained by the Regular Army to form local garrison regiments. Due to their training and organisation, they were set apart from the local militia. During the Revolutionary War, the Loyalist Royal Fencibles American was formed in Nova Scotia, and five Canadian fencibles regiments were raised during the War of 1812.
The Canadas: +10% National tax modifier
Description: The reorganisation of Quebec into two regions, Upper Canada and Lower Canada, has given us greater ease and efficiency in dealing with it’s two distinctive cultures.
Justification: On the request of the many United Empire Loyalists settling in Western Quebec, the entire province was divided in two in 1791; Upper Canada permitting the majority Loyalists to live under British Common Law, and Lower Canada, resuming French Civil Law for the Quebecois. I was going to have the Confederation as the final idea but it takes place after EU4’s end date.
Bonus: +10% Production Efficiency
I also have a national decision that might be of use as well:
Quebec Act: The secondary European culture in the nation immediately becomes an accepted culture.
I hope this proposition gets a decent following, and moreover, I hope it gets the attention of the developers. Thanks for reading!
UPDATE: Edited based on the excellent advice of those who have been following this thread.
-Changed Biculturalism to Neondt's suggestion.
-Changed Canadian Militia to Belisarius89's suggestion.
Whether or not the similarities were intentional, and whether or not our efforts genuinely offered some sort of inspiration for the Paradox team, I'd like to thank the Paradox team for including these ideas. You can see them, alongside various other inclusions, at this link here: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum...9-Disasters-New-Ideas-and-Other-Free-Features
[ORIGINAL POST]
Hello chaps. I don't know if Paradox even consider community suggestions but I wanted to put this out here and see what people think. A week ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Ottawa and, as with most of my travels overseas, my priority was to visit the museums and historical buildings and learn about the nation's history. To my pleasant surprise I learnt of a nation with a rather rich history and a national identity that goes back to it's earliest colonial period. Therefore, I wondered about the idea of giving the region it's own identity within Europa Universalis 4 and, as a unique twist, allow any colony founded in the Canadian region to benefit from these ideas instead of the Colonial Ideas, to reflect the fact that these developments happened while she was still a vassal, yet shaped her nation after independence.
Now I know some of you would probably have taken one look at the title and likely huffed in dismissive amusement, but I insist that if you have any interest in history, and the development of this game, you have a read before you give me your opinions. This is not a wishful plea - it’s a carefully researched and very realistic idea.
Why should Canada be given National Ideas?
Right now, the only unique post-colonial nation is The United States of America. A set of decent ideas for an independent Canada/Quebec, or a historically accurate Canadian colony would make things more interesting on the American continent. Much of Canada’s development and culture stems from the fact that she is NOT American and successfully resisted being incorporated into the United States. This gives the USA a more distinctive rival on the continent and encourages people to try another post-colonial nation, as well as making the American continent just more interesting in general.
The Ideas
I will put the ideas in chronological order of their relevance, each one listed with their effects, their suggested 'description', and my historical justification for this idea:
Traditions: -10% Ideas cost, +10% Fort Defence
Hudson's Bay Company: +1 Merchant, +10% Domestic Trade Power
Description: From it's humble beginnings at the mouth of the Rupert River, this colonial fur trading company would eventually have an empire stretching from Newfoundland to as far as Alaska.
Justification: The company was official founded in 1670, but it's roots go back another 20 years with the early French and English Fur traders. Apart from perhaps being once the largest trading organisation within North America, the company, also has the privilege of being the ONLY colonial trading organisation to survive, outlasting famous companies like the Dutch and British East India Companies and is therefore one of the oldest companies still in existence today.
Canadian Militia: +15% National Manpower
Description: Though it is of no interest for a Canadian to fight wars, somehow he always seems to end up in one. It pays to be prepared with such uncomfortably expansionist neighbours.
Justification: Canadian militias have been involved in nearly every war in the region, first fighting with the French or British in their colonial wars, then against the Americans in the Revolutionary War, and again in the War of 1812. Though, their European counterparts have always done the majority of the fighting, Canadian/Canadien militias have distinguished themselves at the battles of Permaquid (1696), Fort Necessity (1754), Monongahela (1755), Quebec (1775) and Queenston Heights (1812).
First Nations: +2 Diplomatic Relations, Different religions groups no longer give a negative relations modifier with Pagan nations.
Description: For our brave but isolated nation, security means making friends with the native tribes. Their support could swing the balance of power in North America to our favour.
Justification: Since the early European conflicts in North America, British and French forces have often relied on the close support of their Native American allies to help tip the scales in their favour. As part of the means for maintaining their support, King George III issued a proclamation in 1760 that recognised the tribes as sovereign and accepted their claims to their land (this was actually a contributing factor to the American Revolution). Though this proclamation was not always honoured by colonists, many native tribes would continue to fight alongside the British and Canadians up until the end of the War of 1812, when their significance to the balance of power faded. Some tribes, such as the Mohawks and the Shawnee, would be permitted to settle in Canada after being driven from lands conquered by the Americans. This community of Canadian aboriginals would come to be known as the First Nations.
United Empire Loyalists: Colonists +1, +10% Global Settler increase
Description: Not everyone is happy about the way things are changing with our neighbours to the south, particularly if they are dispossessed by revolution. Many people from other colonies (or ex-colonies) are fleeing to our lands and we must find places for them to settle.
Justification: The United Empire Loyalists was the name given to the roughly 500,000 American refugees loyal to the British crown that either fled revolutionary America in 1783, or were forcibly exiled. The British government gave many of them land grants to resettle in Canada, rapidly populating the regions now known as Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Biculturalism: Tolerance of Heretics +1, +25% Accepted Culture threshold.
Description: Though the Francophone Quebecois and the Anglophone Canadians may not have to like each other, it has become essential to at least try to tolerate each other and their religious beliefs in the interest of the nation’s stability.
Justification: Since the end of the Seven Years War, the French-speaking Canadiens had to live under an English-speaking administration. Though initially, the British attempted to impose their values on the French Canadiens, the Quebec Act of 1774 permitted French Civil Law to be used in Quebec and, more importantly, it permitted the worship of Catholicism. I was tempted to put a stability bonus in as well but on second thoughts; cultural disputes, riots and even rebellion occurred infrequently in the region until long after the nation’s independence.
Fencibles: +2.5% Discipline
Description: Canadian colonists are not the most reputed of soldiers, nor even particularly professional. However, a little training from one of the greatest armies in Europe can go a long way towards the defence of Canada.
Justification: In contrast to the Canadian military reputation built in the First and Second World Wars, the greatest example of Canadian might prior to the 19th Century was their Fencibles regiments. The Fencibles were British colonials in the 18th and 19th Centuries trained by the Regular Army to form local garrison regiments. Due to their training and organisation, they were set apart from the local militia. During the Revolutionary War, the Loyalist Royal Fencibles American was formed in Nova Scotia, and five Canadian fencibles regiments were raised during the War of 1812.
The Canadas: +10% National tax modifier
Description: The reorganisation of Quebec into two regions, Upper Canada and Lower Canada, has given us greater ease and efficiency in dealing with it’s two distinctive cultures.
Justification: On the request of the many United Empire Loyalists settling in Western Quebec, the entire province was divided in two in 1791; Upper Canada permitting the majority Loyalists to live under British Common Law, and Lower Canada, resuming French Civil Law for the Quebecois. I was going to have the Confederation as the final idea but it takes place after EU4’s end date.
Bonus: +10% Production Efficiency
I also have a national decision that might be of use as well:
Quebec Act: The secondary European culture in the nation immediately becomes an accepted culture.
I hope this proposition gets a decent following, and moreover, I hope it gets the attention of the developers. Thanks for reading!
UPDATE: Edited based on the excellent advice of those who have been following this thread.
-Changed Biculturalism to Neondt's suggestion.
-Changed Canadian Militia to Belisarius89's suggestion.
Last edited:
