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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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Ehh. I think it’d be cool to have more small, regional colonial nations in general, but unless there is a design shift that creates a lot more/smaller colonial regions or unless this update adds a TON of new provinces to Australia, I can’t see it being necessary.
I'm the one person on the planet who remembers and misses colonial Guyana.
 
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It's funny how "primitive" tags in the middle of the Ocean are often getting more love and flavour than some European countries ;/
Uhm you had couple of "free updates (Denmark, Poland etc.)" and Emperor DLC. You also had other DLCs that focused on Europe like Third Rome, Rule Britannia and Golden Century. Sure Europe is interesting but nevertheless there are other parts of the world that deserve some atention in this game. SEA, NA and Oceania weren't be touched in some time now. Ofc that's just me.
 
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I made a similar argument in the thread about the changes to Zoroastrianism regarding Persian ideas. Some people have this weird idea that every tag and religion needs to be competitive with the strongest tags and sets of modifiers in the game. A similar thing happened with Battle for the Bosporus where people were annoyed new focus trees didn't make the tags strong enough to fight GPs on their own. I really don't get it.
I think I remember your comments in that thread. People were freaking out in the diaries leading up to Emperor for the same reason when Cologne’s and Trier’s ideas got nerfed. I like busted national ideas as much as the next EU4 player and will always advocate them for tags like Hisn Kayfa who were once mighty empires or like Ardabil who would go on to become them, but it’s silly to expect parity from, say, Ardalan.

(Edit: Portuguese ideas are still too weak, though, especially for the country that formed the first truly global empire.)
 
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Side note for people and devs who are excited to see more tags in Oceania - be prepared to:
1. never see AI colonizing/conquering this provinces due to silly AI who cannot do proper naval operations
or
2. AI conquering these provinces and constantly loosing it to rebels, having them occupied to OPMs
or
3. AI leaving 50k army on 3 dev islands just because again it's unable to do proper naval operations

Just look how there are still native tags in North and South America in 1800s. AI for colonizers is just unable to deal with conquering provinces overseas.
 
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Cool stuff, although I hope that in the future content there is an update to Portugal and Castille so we can lose that atrocious historical friend mechanic.
 
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Side note for people and devs who are excited to see more tags in Oceania - be prepared to:
1. never see AI colonizing/conquering this provinces due to silly AI who cannot do proper naval operations
or
2. AI conquering these provinces and constantly loosing it to rebels, having them occupied be OPMs
or
3. AI leaving 50k army on 3 dev islands just because again it's unable to do proper naval operations

Just look how there are still native tags in North and South America in 1800s. AI for colonizers is just unable to deal with conquering provinces overseas.
I wish. It’s honestly pretty boring to see the Indians get wiped out almost every game except for a tag or two because the AI loves to kill them, not to mention wildly ahistorical.
 
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Just look how there are still native tags in North and South America in 1800s. AI for colonizers is just unable to deal with conquering provinces overseas.
... Except there were unconquered native peoples in the Americas even in the 20th century? If anything, it should take AI much longer to colonize than it currently does.
 
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... Except there were unconquered native peoples in the Americas even in the 20th century? If anything, it should take AI much longer to colonize than it currently does.

Yeah, whole Mesoamerica not conquerred by XVIIIc. is totally historical. Happens all the time in EU4.
 
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Side note for people and devs who are excited to see more tags in Oceania - be prepared to:
1. never see AI colonizing/conquering this provinces due to silly AI who cannot do proper naval operations
or
2. AI conquering these provinces and constantly loosing it to rebels, having them occupied be OPMs
or
3. AI leaving 50k army on 3 dev islands just because again it's unable to do proper naval operations

Just look how there are still native tags in North and South America in 1800s. AI for colonizers is just unable to deal with conquering provinces overseas.
1 and 3 already happen and I don't really mind 2 but I see your point. If there's any AI update I won't in this regard it's giving them the brains to want to take out natives besides just the Nahuatl, Maya, and Inca.
 
I wish. It’s honestly pretty boring to see the Indians get wiped out almost every game except for a tag or two because the AI loves to kill them, not to mention wildly ahistorical.
They'll kill the interesting ones but leave giant gaps in their borders for hundreds of years despite their CNs having claims. But yeah, if anything colonization happens for Europeans way too fast.
 
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Yeah, whole Mesoamerica not conquerred by XVIIIc. is totally historical. Happens all the time in EU4.
You said North and South America in your original post, not Mesoamerica. And I can’t think of any of my games in which Mesoamerica wasn’t totally conquered by 1750.
 
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I am kind of frustrated with this direction in games development. Instead of:

-Making diplomacy more dynamic and immersive, with focus on interventions in conflicts and temporary alliances

-Handling problem of altruistic allies like France willing to send 200k manpower to die for Montferrat conquering Saluzzo because hey they earned favors overtime

-Reworking coalitions

-Balancing economy so that wars are more expensive and challenging to handle

-Trying to simulate recruitment and standing armies more historically accurate (like Imperator team is trying to do)

...And tone of other things...

...well, lets add 18 more tags in Kamchatka, Falklands and Hawaii
 
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I am kind of frustrated with this direction in games development. Instead of:

-Making diplomacy more dynamic and immersive, with focus on interventions in conflicts and temporary alliances

-Handling problem of altruistic allies like France willing to send 200k manpower to die for Montferrat conquering Saluzzo because hey they earned favors overtime

-Reworking coalitions

-Balancing economy so that wars are more expensive and challenging to handle

-Trying to simulate recruitment and standing armies more historically accurate (like Imperator team is trying to do)

...And tone of other things...

...well, lets add 18 more tags in Kamchatka, Falklands and Hawaii

Exactly. How does focusing time and effort into adding more nations, new NIs and nation specifi events will help the overall game when there are so many other issues, and some are only exarcebated by there having more TAGs in the game?
 
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I am kind of frustrated with this direction in games development. Instead of:

-Making diplomacy more dynamic and immersive, with focus on interventions in conflicts and temporary alliances

-Handling problem of altruistic allies like France willing to send 200k manpower to die for Montferrat conquering Saluzzo because hey they earned favors overtime

-Reworking coalitions

-Balancing economy so that wars are more expensive and challenging to handle

-Trying to simulate recruitment and standing armies more historically accurate (like Imperator team is trying to do)

...And tone of other things...

...well, lets add 18 more tags in Kamchatka, Falklands and Hawaii
I’d like to see all of those as well, along with a logistics system and more punishing disasters that can cause major empires to crumble. But it’d suck to have all that and still an incomplete world to play in. I’m happy for all the new tags we get and will hope to play them with better mechanics as the game continues to be improved over time.
 
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I am kind of frustrated with this direction in games development. Instead of:

-Making diplomacy more dynamic and immersive, with focus on interventions in conflicts and temporary alliances

-Handling problem of altruistic allies like France willing to send 200k manpower to die for Montferrat conquering Saluzzo because hey they earned favors overtime

-Reworking coalitions

-Balancing economy so that wars are more expensive and challenging to handle

-Trying to simulate recruitment and standing armies more historically accurate (like Imperator team is trying to do)

...And tone of other things...

...well, lets add 18 more tags in Kamchatka, Falklands and Hawaii
I don't think any of these things aside from the last one are actually a content designer's job.
 
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View attachment 669469
For some, more than for others. :)
Spain actually has a bunch of tags in those areas that it conquers fairly consistently, and I'm fine with them doing so. It's kind of different than the sort of thing being discussed here I think, which would be that the entire world usually ends up colonized outside of the interior of Africa in every game despite that not having actually been done by the end date.
 
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