Besides the map additions of Spain, HRE, and Denmark, which new exciting features will be included for the next version?
The next version I release (planned for Xmas) is going to be the BETA which will have all the features planned included with the exception of the portraits which will come in a subsequent release. The reason for the delayed portrait release is that I am using a upgraded render engine that takes significantly longer to render each image but produces considerably better results. I will also only be likely including a single finished bookmark in that initial release.
List of the feautures:
Population: Reworked
Economy: Reworked
Military Buildings: Reworked
Government Buildings (provincial/county/duchy/kingdom infrastructure): New
Trade Routes: New
Traits: Complete Overhaul
Events/Decisions: Complete Overhaul
Cultures: Reworked and New
Plots: Reworked and New
Cadet Branches: Reworked
Appanages
Dowry: New
Map: Fully Complete
Elector (HRE) System: New
Title Linked Council Positions: New
Government Types: Reworked and New
CBs: Reworked and New
Royal Blood
*Probably more I can't remember without digging in code*
Very nice! BTW, has the image been cropped for the purposes of posting it here, or is it that norway and Seden will becut like that? If so, will they be "compensated" in anyway for the taxes and levies from the cut off regions?
It is not cropped, those are the only areas of those countries that will be in game. I have been told that the vast majority of the areas not on the map are wilderness/very sparsely populated and it would not be a big loss. If I need to I can compensate, but I really don't want to because it artificially increases the importance/value of those Kingdoms.
does this mean we can expect a release date like in a week and a half from today or something soon?
No, it will not be until Christmas time give or take a week - assuming all goes to plan and nothing happens IRL that takes a lot of my free time away.