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Dev Diary #90 - Splendid Scandinavia

As most of the team enjoys the summer, I thought I’d try to write a couple of smaller rogue Dev Diaries to get us through the summer. I will mostly discuss smaller additions, rather than the big sweeping features in these Diaries.

For the first one, it seems the vikings have pillaged a cartographer and found some more defined maps of their own homes, of all things.

We will start with the most important of the viking Kingdoms, Norway. What is that? What do you mean Norway stopped being a Kingdom in the late Middle Ages? Sounds like Swedish and Danish propaganda to me, they are just jealous of our mountainous glory.

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The previous map of Norway always had certain issues with the western coast being quite the slog to move through, and the Kingdom feeling split by the mountain range. With a bit more definition to it, as well as a way to move between the two parts, we have found the region to be a lot more interesting of a place to hang out. In mainland Norway, 6 New Provinces and 2 New Duchies have been added.

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Far to the north-west, Iceland has been updated a little bit as well. We have increased the province count from 2 to 4, though knowing that Iceland was far from the most populated of places, we have made sure that they haven’t gotten too strong.

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In Sweden, we have increased the definition of southern Sweden somewhat, breaking up some of the provinces to try to show the relevance of the Geatish areas. This should hopefully help somewhat in rivaling the powerhouse of Uppland. 6 New Provinces and 1 New Duchy have been added in Sweden.

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And finally, in Denmark we have new pathway across the islands and added Lolland as its own island. Both Jylland and Holstein has been split up and reorganised somewhat, to increase the definition of these areas and show their relevance in the era. In all, there has been 5 New Provinces added and 2 New Duchies.

We hope these changes to Scandinavia will be an interesting addition to all of the updates made to Pagans in Holy Fury, and make certain parts of the region a better experience. Next week, we will take a look down south, towards the changes around the Alps.
 
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Could we get a look at Poland and Lithuania at some point? I saw hints of some changes during the Baltic sneak peek and I've been dying to see ever since!

Also, since Iceland is getting its Irish makeover in Charlemagne, could Bohemia be moved to the Wendish Empire, de jure, in 769 as well? It's there in The Old Gods and it's governmentally tribal, West Slavic culturally, and religiously pagan, so it doesn't really make sense to be part of Germania at that time.
 
Would it be worth adding a "Kingdom of Gotaland" to the southern half of Sweden for the first half of the game? I'm going by Wikipedia here, but I see a few entries noting that the southern area was considered a distinct realm until the Late Middle Ages, plus both Sweden and Denmark used the title of "King of the Goths" for centuries. Could make things more interesting, especially if a Geatish player can conquer Svealand instead of the other way around and completely change the look of Scandinavia...
 
Would it be worth adding a "Kingdom of Gotaland" to the southern half of Sweden for the first half of the game? I'm going by Wikipedia here, but I see a few entries noting that the southern area was considered a distinct realm until the Late Middle Ages, plus both Sweden and Denmark used the title of "King of the Goths" for centuries. Could make things more interesting, especially if a Geatish player can conquer Svealand instead of the other way around and completely change the look of Scandinavia...
And to add to that - Beowulf, in his legend, became ruler of the very same Geats! So he could have a bloodline as well...
 
Could we get a look at Poland and Lithuania at some point? I saw hints of some changes during the Baltic sneak peek and I've been dying to see ever since!

Also, since Iceland is getting its Irish makeover in Charlemagne, could Bohemia be moved to the Wendish Empire, de jure, in 769 as well? It's there in The Old Gods and it's governmentally tribal, West Slavic culturally, and religiously pagan, so it doesn't really make sense to be part of Germania at that time.

+1 for moving Bohemia to the Wendish Empire. If only because I plan to go exactly that route with the Premyslids in Holy Fury. :-D
 
Iceland will be settled by Irish monks in 769. When the Viking Age starts, all the vikings will get a new decision to settle Iceland.
Ok but why though? The evidence for said Irish monks is questionable at best. Why not some sort of colonization mechanic? Or, better yet, a flavor event when there is a tyrannical Norwegian ruler around year 800 or so that spawns an independent Iceland (refugees) and gives said Norwegian ruler a claim on it to encourage the AI to try to take it later?
 
Well, I read in wikipedia that Norse didn't settle in Iceland until A.D. 874, before that year there were only Irish monks there. So will the history of Iceland be fixed to make it more "historical" ?

I'd like a proper source for Irish monks living in Iceland in pre-viking era, seeing as I have never seen anything else but rumours.
 
Iceland will be settled by Irish monks in 769. When the Viking Age starts, all the vikings will get a new decision to settle Iceland.
REALLY?! AWESOME...
 
Ok but why though? The evidence for said Irish monks is questionable at best. Why not some sort of colonization mechanic? Or, better yet, a flavor event when there is a tyrannical Norwegian ruler around year 800 or so that spawns an independent Iceland (refugees) and gives said Norwegian ruler a claim on it to encourage the AI to try to take it later?

Because I guess it would really not pay off to implement colonization mechanics just for 4 counties in Iceland.
Also, that flavour event about a "tyrannical Norwegian ruler" is problematic for two reasons:
1)What if the player is King of Norway and his character is extraordinarily kind and merciful to his subjects?
2)What if the AI rulers of Norway are kind and merciful to their subjects?

Harald Fairhair won't exist/survive long enough in the vast majority of playthroughs to have his "harsh taxes" be the reason for the migration of a large number of people to Iceland.
 
Because I guess it would really not pay off to implement colonization mechanics just for 4 counties in Iceland.
Also, that flavour event about a "tyrannical Norwegian ruler" is problematic for two reasons:
1)What if the player is King of Norway and his character is extraordinarily kind and merciful to his subjects?
2)What if the AI rulers of Norway are kind and merciful to their subjects?

Harald Fairhair won't exist/survive long enough in the vast majority of playthroughs to have his "harsh taxes" be the reason for the migration of a large number of people to Iceland.
There are other sparsely (or likely un-) populated areas that could benefit from a colonization mechanic, but I will concede that point. However, one can always have backup conditions for a flavor event. Heck, Norwegians missed the opportunity? Then the Irish really do populate it! Or the Scottish, Welsh, Anglo-Saxons, or even one of the other Norse countries. Opens a lot of more interesting possibilities and end-results than just another intrigue-screen decision to be taken to force a real-world event. Then again, I've always been a huge fan of dynamic possibilities and non-guaranteed events.
 
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Any chance the Jarls of Lade will be added to Norway? So far there are only two of them (rulers of Naumadal), and that's where it ends. Weren't they rather important in the history of Norway, including Haakon Sigurdasson, who even ruled Norway (not as king, but still)?
 
Really liking the improvements! A few comments on a couple Danish provinces:

Is it possible that the Danish county of Varde could become Ribe instead? Ribe is the oldest existing town in Scandinavia and is just so much more historically significant compared to Varde. Varde just seems really out of place to me as a Dane. A holding, sure, but not a whole county.

Skagen sticks out as well. It's never been more than a very small town only known for being the one furthest to the north. I'd prefer Vendsyssel (the area) over Skagen any day.

The most important towns and seats of power in Jutland within the CK2 timeframe are arguably Jelling, Ribe, Viborg and Aalborg. Just something to consider. :)

It's been a little while since I played. When the three Scandinavian kingdoms are christened and have their own cultures, are they still called "Danmark, Norge and Sweden"? That REALLY bothered me. :D
 
Just in case the name "Førde" isn't a placeholder, I would like to suggest changing it. Førde may be the largest town in the area today, but it was pretty nonexistent in the middleages. I would suggest "Firda" (or Firðir for norse) for the most accurate name. Have a look at "Firdafylket" at Wikipedia for more details.