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EU4 - Development Diary - 16th of February 2021

Hello everybody and welcome back to another EUIV dev diary and it has been a while for me!

Shortly before EUIV moved over to sunny Barcelona, I devoted some of my time to reworking Australia as I felt the current map of the continent was a bit lacking and very annoying to own what with all these little unconnected islands amidst the wasteland. On top of that, the continent being an entirely uncolonized block of nothing before colonialism seems a little inaccurate, given how lively the continent actually was before the Europeans arrived.

So, first thing to note is that Australia is now entirely connected through colonisable provinces, with the great Pilbara now connecting the north and west of Australia.
20210215172646_1.jpg

Another important rework comes in the form of the new states Australia now enjoys. What I wanted out of this is I wanted Australia to be on par with the other colonial regions in the game in terms of province count and strategic importance.
20210215170805_1.jpg

When shaping the states and provinces, I wanted to hit a nice balance between pre and post colonial Australian borders, so state borders are largely determined by colonial Australian state boundaries, while provinces are more determined by the distribution of Aboriginal peoples. All provinces also have both their Aboriginal and colonial names depending on who owns the province.
1613408346626.png

The Australian Gold Rush can now be yours, with Australian provinces enjoying a high chance of gold and some provinces in the south having a chance for gems, and a few key provinces able to produce coal.
20210215172855_1.jpg

Next, I’ll highlight some of the playable nations down under. Up north we have the Larrakia Federation composed of all of the top-end nations you see here, with Larrakia and Tiwi enjoying a unique set of national ideas. The Larrakia federation was responsible for much of pre-colonial Australia’s wealth through trade with the Makassarians. This trade also brought with it some Islamic influences, though the Aboriginal people of Australia never fully converted.
20210215170717_1.jpg

LAR_ideas = {
start = {
global_trade_power = 0.1
trade_efficiency = 0.1
}

bonus = {
global_ship_trade_power = 0.2
}

trigger = {
tag = LAR
}
free = yes #will be added at load.

LAR_makassar_trade = {
merchants = 1
global_foreign_trade_power = 0.1
}
LAR_federation = {
diplomatic_upkeep = 2
}
LAR_dreaming = {
global_autonomy = -0.05
}
LAR_dowed = {
legitimacy = 1
republican_tradition = 0.2
global_unrest = -1
}
LAR_ceremonial_scarring = {
shock_damage = 0.1
}
LAR_hospitality = {
diplomatic_reputation = 2
}
LAR_kenbi_land_claim = {
core_creation = -0.15
}
}

TIW_ideas = {
start = {
female_advisor_chance = 0.75
shock_damage_received = -0.2
}

bonus = {
leader_land_shock = 1
}

trigger = {
tag = TIW
}
free = yes

TIW_yiminga = {
may_recruit_female_generals = yes
global_manpower_modifier = 0.2
}
TIW_dreaming_totem = {
tolerance_own = 2
}
TIW_kulama = {
production_efficiency = 0.1
}
TIW_purrukapali = {
naval_tradition_from_battle = 0.5
}
TIW_marriage = {
heir_chance = 0.5
global_unrest = -1
}
TIW_isolationism = {
land_morale = 0.1
}
TIW_one_people = {
culture_conversion_cost = -0.25
}
}

Moving along down south we have the Eora people, the original inhabitants of the Sydney area.
EOR_ideas = {
start = {
diplomatic_reputation = 1
light_ship_power = 0.15
}

bonus = {
num_accepted_cultures = 2
}

trigger = {
tag = EOR
}
free = yes

EOR_lifestyle = {
naval_morale = 0.15
}
EOR_bands = {
state_maintenance_modifier = -0.25
}
EOR_enduring = {
religious_unity = 0.25
tolerance_heathen = 1
}
EOR_protect = {
manpower_recovery_speed = 0.1
global_sailors_modifier = 0.1
}
EOR_sacred = {
own_coast_naval_combat_bonus = 1
}
EOR_pemulwuy = {
land_morale = 0.15
}
EOR_berewaldal = {
merchants = 1
global_foreign_trade_power = 0.1
}
}

The Kaurna people, first inhabitants of Adelaide.
KAU_ideas = {
start = {
female_advisor_chance = 0.75
global_tax_modifier = 0.3
}

bonus = {
development_cost = -0.1
}

trigger = {
tag = KAU
}
free = yes

KAU_totemic_matriarchy = {
may_recruit_female_generals = yes
tolerance_own = 2
}
KAU_pangkarra = {
governing_capacity_modifier = 0.1
}
KAU_coastal_pangkarra = {
global_ship_trade_power = 0.2
}
KAU_redgum_shelters = {
build_cost = -0.15
}
KAU_communal_ownership = {
global_unrest = -2
}
KAU_old_tjilbruke = {
stability_cost_modifier = -0.1
reform_progress_growth = 0.15
}
KAU_south_australia_act = {
core_creation = -0.2
}
}

Palawa, first people of Tasmania.
PLW_ideas = {
start = {
stability_cost_modifier = -0.1
land_morale = 0.1
}

bonus = {
monarch_military_power = 1
}

trigger = {
tag = PLW
}
free = yes #will be added at load.

PLW_oyster = {
production_efficiency = 0.1
}
PLW_dual_identity = {
legitimacy = 1
num_accepted_cultures = 1
}
PLW_darwin = {
shock_damage = 0.2
}
PLW_parlevar = {
ae_impact = -0.15
}
PLW_writers = {
technology_cost = -0.1
}
PLW_survivors = {
fire_damage = 0.1
}
PLW_enduring = {
manpower_recovery_speed = 0.25
}
}

Kamilaroi, one of the most populated collective of Australian nations.
GMI_ideas = {
start = {
land_morale = 0.1
shock_damage = 0.1
}

bonus = {
land_forcelimit_modifier = 0.33
}

trigger = {
tag = GMI
}
free = yes #will be added at load.

GMI_sacred_caves = {
core_creation = -0.15
}
GMI_land_of_languages = {
num_accepted_cultures = 2
}
GMI_fertile_soils = {
development_cost = -0.1
}
GMI_dhulu = {
diplomats = 1
envoy_travel_time = -0.25
}
GMI_matrilineal_lineage = {
legitimacy = 1
republican_tradition = 0.2
female_advisor_chance = 0.5
}
GMI_familial_law = {
global_autonomy = -0.05
}
GMI_red_kangaroo = {
global_unrest = -2
}
}

I would have loved to have made ideas for all nations in Australia, but alas time was not on my side there so if you do not have unique ideas, you will get the shared Aboriginal Ideas.
generic_aboriginal_ideas = {
start = {
tolerance_own = 1
stability_cost_modifier = -0.1
}

bonus = {
shock_damage = 0.1
}

trigger = {
culture_group = aboriginal_australian
}
free = yes

aborig_art = {
prestige = 1
}
aborig_fire_stick_farming = {
development_cost = -0.1
}
aborig_walkabout = {
movement_speed = 0.1
}
aborig_outback = {
land_attrition = -0.1
}
aborig_sacred = {
global_tax_modifier = 0.1
}
aborig_dreamtime = {
religious_unity = 0.2
}
aborig_music = {
improve_relation_modifier = 0.2
}
}

But Aboriginal culture is not a single monolithic entity, so it has been divided into its own group. If we were being entirely accurate about this, almost all provinces in Australia would be their own culture, so some generalization has been done for gameplay purposes.
20210215173636_1.jpg

On top of all these new nations, the Aboriginal Australians also have access to the new Alcheringa religion! Most commonly known to colonizers as “Dreamtime”, Alcheringa refers to the vast distinct religions found among the Australian population. Though each people usually have their own distinct faith, most Australian faiths have a concept of “Dreamtime” or “The Dreaming”, a time of myth and legend that simultaneously occurred in the distant past and continues to occur around us every day.
20210215173412_1.jpg

Every Aboriginal people has their own pantheon of gods and “Dreaming Stories”. Alcheringa uses a system similar to the Fetishist cult system, with new stories becoming unlocked via missions.

These missions vary in what you must do, from defeating enemies in battle, to building an oceangoing vessel for the first time, to turning the Makassar trade on its head and dominating trade in the Moluccas.

The Aboriginals also enjoy all new unit models.
image (21).png


That’s all for this week, hope you all enjoy my last hurrah of EUIV content.
 
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I disagree here. I think it has to do with business.
I mean you can create your own conspiracy theories if you want to. But occams razor tells us that you know.. Devs like certain areas of the game, they wanna improve them.... so they do...

Like Johan has tag-lined several times. "We make the games we wanna play"
 
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I wouldn't say it's any conscious bias but more so the nature of certain areas being touched in earlier dlcs such as El Dorado which contrasts with the current thoughts and movements in Content Design with Emperor and Leviathan

It's not conciously designed as such, but the historical biases that fuel the lack of interest by the devs are the same that fuel the lack of interesting mechanics or additions in those areas. ''Anglo'' regions get constant attention because of anglophone team members, or due to cultural influence of those nations (see how US natives molded popular culture ideas in Europe about Native Americans as a whole)

I'd say Golden Century really soured this whole discussion in general, not El Dorado. It was supposed to be the turn of South America and Iberia to get their needed map updates and new flavour; and instead we got... Texas and Pirates, more anglo content; pretty sure Portugal got like, two provinces or so. It seems that the team, while working on it, just ran with anglo-centric views of history in Iberia (see the idea of ''Minority Expulsion'' something that ironically enough only England ever did; Spain and Portugal vetted New World settlers very throughly) It was a DLC about the Spanish Colonial Empire in name only, and now people just feel like the areas are abandoned.

I disagree here. I think it has to do with business. It is interesting to have more tags and mechanics in North America, because of playerbase. People usually go for what they know or to what shares some history in common with their countries, like Australia and New Zealand. At least casuals, probably.

I honestly dont think so, really. Its more of an issue of what the devs believe warrants their attention, and as anglophones and sometimes locals of the USA and Australia, its only natural they focus on what they know and care about the most.

If anything, that angle was true it would mean they'd work on Brazil, not Oceania. Not like Tahiti or the Outback are known for their voracious strategy gaming market
 
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You're misunderstanding, parts are not project time. For instance the thing that was not project time in North America was the contributions made by a beta program participant and some parts by me. But after that you still have bugs that needs to be fixed, improvements to be made, etc. What Mekka is saying is the things he did he did because he could. That doesn't mean no other work from other Content Designers/Programmers etc was not necessary.

As an example is the missions, events etc for North America was implemented by Tinto's new Content Designers and are very much things that were budgeted for after the inclusion of my contributions. After that I also kept sitting on the things I've added and fixed issues and changed things after play testing. For instance Federations have gotten more stuff added to them since I initially showed them after feedback. You can now for instance form a client-state style country through Federations uniting the tribes that comprise of it. This work for instance which wasn't part of my initial hobby/freetime work was budgeted in the time of the project.
That certainly explains things better.
Will there be dev diaries discussing the updates made since various features were revealed (the Federation changes sound intriguing)? With regards to today's topic, that would be the matted of changes to Australia between Meka66's extensive work and the current development. I'm particularly intrigued by the government of the Aboriginal nations, as asked before.
 
Can I ask about the religion. Is there some mission or decision to decide to promote Islam and convert to it (since the influence is already there)? And is it a Pagan faith with the "spend 4 stab to convert to any religion you own a province of" faith?
 
Since there is mention of Makassan trade, any hope that eastern Indonesian tags and the tags of Top End will be able to see each-other?
 
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So North America and Australia are getting massive reworks?
Meanwhile, in South America...

The anglo bias here is truly appalling, you guys cannot even pretend otherwise at this point.
 
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So North America and Australia are getting massive reworks?
Meanwhile, in South America...

The anglo bias here is truly appalling, you guys cannot even pretend otherwise at this point.
Is it really necessary to go over this every single Dev Diary?

It has been clearly stated from the start that South America will not be reworked in this patch/dlc.
There is no use in complaining about it every week.

And can we not criticise other places from getting their well deserved flavour just because they did so before the places we want?
Yes, South America is lacking, yes South America deserves a rework. But so did North America and so did Oceania.

The devs chose to start somewhere, is it really necessary to blame them for choosing the latter? Its not like they said they wouldn't touch South America ever you know? Maybe not today, but surely tomorrow, or the day after that.

I would understand the outrage if the devs were focusing on an already well fleshed out area instead of addressing a poorly fleshed out one, but getting upset over them choosing one of two underepresented ones is just being petty.

Sorry for lashing out on you, I meant this for all others before you as well.
 
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Can I ask about the religion. Is there some mission or decision to decide to promote Islam and convert to it (since the influence is already there)? And is it a Pagan faith with the "spend 4 stab to convert to any religion you own a province of" faith?
There is a mission which enables you to enact the Islamic-influenced Dreaming Stories, but full conversion would have to be done with the usual methods.
Since there is mention of Makassan trade, any hope that eastern Indonesian tags and the tags of Top End will be able to see each-other?
The Makassar nations can see the Top-End, but the Australians can't see them. I felt this was the best way to represent the relationship they had with each other.
 
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There is only 1 character model, but they start wielding muskets from Tier 2 and up.

I misread that they start wielding mustache from Tier 2 :D .
 
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Project time was not devoted to this, it was made out of my personal desire to see more content for Australia. "Why do this when you could have done that?" is not a question I can really answer. If the team does or does not devote time/resources to other areas of the world then I feel my position as a HoI4 content designer gives me very little control over that.

However, if you do have questions about the content that I made, I can answer that.
Hi, will you give us any hint of the Deities/Stories of the new religion in a future DD? Also some Missions maybe? Thanks for the great content!
 
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Is it really necessary to go over this every single Dev Diary?

It has been clearly stated from the start that South America will not be reworked in this patch/dlc.
There is no use in complaining about it every week.

And can we not criticise other places from getting their well deserved flavour just because they did so before the places we want?
Yes, South America is lacking, yes South America deserves a rework. But so did North America and so did Oceania.

The devs chose to start somewhere, is it really necessary to blame them for choosing the latter? Its not like they said they wouldn't touch South America ever you know? Maybe not today, but surely tomorrow, or the day after that.

I would understand the outrage if the devs were focusing on an already well fleshed out area instead of addressing a poorly fleshed out one, but getting upset over them choosing one of two underepresented ones is just being petty.

Sorry for lashing out on you, I meant this for all others before you as well.
North America got reworks in golden century with additional nahau tags, South America got nothing
 
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There is a mission which enables you to enact the Islamic-influenced Dreaming Stories, but full conversion would have to be done with the usual methods.
It would be nice if it fired an event of "do you want to fully convert to a new faith or just get a Dreaming Stone"
 
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There is only 1 character model, but they start wielding muskets from Tier 2 and up.
Thanks!

Also I just realised you're with Paradox now. That's awesome! I remember using your unit pack mods all the time years ago. :D
 
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