EU4 - Development Diary - 4th of December 2018

[raikaria]

> Where Am I? - As a New World native with Random New World active, explore the entire New World.

Last I checked RNW was Terra Incognita on the 1444 Country Selection, and thus this would be impossible in an Ironman setting.

Now this could have changed since I last checked. Admittedly it's been a while since I've done RNW. But I'm fairly sure it's at least the default since RNW is supposed to give 'True Exploration'.

“It nice to hear (the promise) that you guys will (finally) try to communicate with the community (since we have been completely ignored in the last months or so).

A internal politics rework is a must do, since EU4 is the only title in which there is nothing to do during peacetime.

Yes; completely ignored. It's not like there weren't changes to the Religion Conversion changes in the patch immediately after they happened.

Seems like you're the one completely ignoring events

What I would have liked are:
Unique government for Spain - it was pretty uique historically with all its casa's.
To somehow represent the military juggernaut that Spain was in the 16th century.

2 things nothing done about in a Spain update. Things even i now about who isnt specifically interested in Spain.

Because having -15% Shock Damage from the Age of Reformation bonus, taken in the period of the game where the majority of damage done is Shock, as well as having 15% morale and 5% Discipline, isn't enough?

Tech 16 is when Fire becomes king, and that's due 1609, 17th Century. This also co-incides with the end of the Age of Reformation [Global Trade almost always fired dead on 1600; so the age ticks in 1610]

Spain has the best army of any nation in the 16th Century already; except MAYBE an early-formed Prussia. The main thing holding hem back is they often rush Exploration/Expansion thus allowing their enemies to take quality and match/surpass them. A Spain who takes; say; Defensive first can absolutely stomp France earlygame before France gets Elan while they have +5% Disc and +30% morale.

Giving Spain any further bonuses would make them outright unstoppable in the 1500's. Bear in mind their new +1 Fire to cannons is most vital while cannons overall are weaker, as that +1 Fire, as a percentage, means more. So they've already been made [ahistorically; mind you. The Spanish Armarda greatly outnumbered the British navy and still got thoroughly wrecked] invincible at sea [Cannon pips also modify ship cannons. So Spainish ships can be outputting almost double the damage of other ships with this cannon change earlygame; which is absolutely and completely absurd], and significantly buffed in the 1500's.

Not to mention there's the slight issue of 'Make Spain wholesale stronger and suddenly France can't beat them later in the game as historically happened'.

 

[Lepaso]

Last I checked RNW was Terra Incognita on the 1444 Country Selection, and thus this would be impossible in an Ironman setting.

you can disable RNW TI from the menu, but then you're not really exploring since you've seen the entire map already. Also apparently you can choose a nation in RNW with TI on by clicking about randomly, but good luck finding one.

 

[Steel_atlas]

Make a flc around Portugal and the next big dlc around the HRE and Catholicism and get a massive unrest reduction imo

 

[Steel_atlas]

> Where Am I? - As a New World native with Random New World active, explore the entire New World.

Last I checked RNW was Terra Incognita on the 1444 Country Selection, and thus this would be impossible in an Ironman setting.

Now this could have changed since I last checked. Admittedly it's been a while since I've done RNW. But I'm fairly sure it's at least the default since RNW is supposed to give 'True Exploration'.



Yes; completely ignored. It's not like there weren't changes to the Religion Conversion changes in the patch immediately after they happened.

Seems like you're the one completely ignoring events



Because having -15% Shock Damage from the Age of Reformation bonus, taken in the period of the game where the majority of damage done is Shock, as well as having 15% morale and 5% Discipline, isn't enough?

Tech 16 is when Fire becomes king, and that's due 1609, 17th Century. This also co-incides with the end of the Age of Reformation [Global Trade almost always fired dead on 1600; so the age ticks in 1610]

Spain has the best army of any nation in the 16th Century already; except MAYBE an early-formed Prussia. The main thing holding hem back is they often rush Exploration/Expansion thus allowing their enemies to take quality and match/surpass them. A Spain who takes; say; Defensive first can absolutely stomp France earlygame before France gets Elan while they have +5% Disc and +30% morale.

Giving Spain any further bonuses would make them outright unstoppable in the 1500's. Bear in mind their new +1 Fire to cannons is most vital while cannons overall are weaker, as that +1 Fire, as a percentage, means more. So they've already been made [ahistorically; mind you. The Spanish Armarda greatly outnumbered the British navy and still got thoroughly wrecked] invincible at sea [Cannon pips also modify ship cannons. So Spainish ships can be outputting almost double the damage of other ships with this cannon change earlygame; which is absolutely and completely absurd], and significantly buffed in the 1500's.

Not to mention there's the slight issue of 'Make Spain wholesale stronger and suddenly France can't beat them later in the game as historically happened'.

The Spanish armada was an armed escort for mostly transports.

Spain in fact did beat France and its power wasn't broke until the war of Spanish succession if I remember correctly.

Spain was the premier European power for most of eu4, France wouldn't be so until the age of revolutions and britian in Victoria 2s time frame.

 

[Bandua_of_Gallaecia]

So they've already been made [ahistorically; mind you. The Spanish Armarda greatly outnumbered the British navy and still got thoroughly wrecked]

The English navy is by far the best in the game from 1444 to 1820 hands down.
This is laughably innacurate, as the Spanish navy did dominate England in the sea until the late 17th century.
The Spanish Armada wasn't thoroughly wrecked, not even close, it was scattered fought separately and disorganised and then was wrecked by storms, most of the Fleet still arrived home intact. The Spanish Flagship (Actually it was a Portuguese ship due to the P.U) S.Martinho alone sank 12 English ships in open battle.
England then sent their navy to retaliate and then yes, England got thoroughly defeated in Coruña and Lisbon by the Iberian Union.
Spain then sent two other Invasions of England, and England was unable to stop them.
One was again scattered by storms and the other actually managed to land in England, but sailed back without meeting the English army in the field.
Then later in 1741 when Great Brittain supposedly ruled the waves, Spain also utterly crushed them near Colombia, while being far more outnumbered than Brittain ever was. So Spain should be able to compete with Brittain navaly untill 1750 at least.

Currently the naval power is:
England/GB > The rest

It should be:
1444 - 1540 - Portugal & Venice & Denmark
1540 - 1600 - Portugal & Spain
1600 - 1660 - England & Spain
1660 - 1750 - Netherlands & G.B & Spain
1750 - 1820 - Great Brittain > The Rest

 

[Franciscus123]

> Where Am I? - As a New World native with Random New World active, explore the entire New World.

Last I checked RNW was Terra Incognita on the 1444 Country Selection, and thus this would be impossible in an Ironman setting.

Now this could have changed since I last checked. Admittedly it's been a while since I've done RNW. But I'm fairly sure it's at least the default since RNW is supposed to give 'True Exploration'.



Yes; completely ignored. It's not like there weren't changes to the Religion Conversion changes in the patch immediately after they happened.

Seems like you're the one completely ignoring events



Because having -15% Shock Damage from the Age of Reformation bonus, taken in the period of the game where the majority of damage done is Shock, as well as having 15% morale and 5% Discipline, isn't enough?

Tech 16 is when Fire becomes king, and that's due 1609, 17th Century. This also co-incides with the end of the Age of Reformation [Global Trade almost always fired dead on 1600; so the age ticks in 1610]

Spain has the best army of any nation in the 16th Century already; except MAYBE an early-formed Prussia. The main thing holding hem back is they often rush Exploration/Expansion thus allowing their enemies to take quality and match/surpass them. A Spain who takes; say; Defensive first can absolutely stomp France earlygame before France gets Elan while they have +5% Disc and +30% morale.

Giving Spain any further bonuses would make them outright unstoppable in the 1500's. Bear in mind their new +1 Fire to cannons is most vital while cannons overall are weaker, as that +1 Fire, as a percentage, means more. So they've already been made [ahistorically; mind you. The Spanish Armarda greatly outnumbered the British navy and still got thoroughly wrecked] invincible at sea [Cannon pips also modify ship cannons. So Spainish ships can be outputting almost double the damage of other ships with this cannon change earlygame; which is absolutely and completely absurd], and significantly buffed in the 1500's.

Not to mention there's the slight issue of 'Make Spain wholesale stronger and suddenly France can't beat them later in the game as historically happened'.

The English navy is by far the best in the game from 1444 to 1820 hands down.
This is laughably innacurate, as the Spanish navy did dominate England in the sea until the late 17th century.
The Spanish Armada wasn't thoroughly wrecked, not even close, it was scattered fought separately and disorganised and then was wrecked by storms, most of the Fleet still arrived home intact. The Spanish Flagship (Actually it was a Portuguese ship due to the P.U) S.Martinho alone sank 12 English ships in open battle.
England then sent their navy to retaliate and then yes, England got thoroughly defeated in Coruña and Lisbon by the Iberian Union.
Spain then sent two other Invasions of England, and England was unable to stop them.
One was again scattered by storms and the other actually managed to land in England, but sailed back without meeting the English army in the field.
Then later in 1741 when Great Brittain supposedly ruled the waves, Spain also utterly crushed them near Colombia, while being far more outnumbered than Brittain ever was. So Spain shoul be able to compete with Brittain navaly untill 1750 at least.

Currently the naval power is:
England/GB > The rest

It should be:
1444 - 1540 - Portugal & Venice & Denmark
1540 - 1600 - Portugal & Spain
1600 - 1660 - England & Spain
1660 - 1750 - Netherlands & G.B & Spain
1750 - 1820 - Great Brittain > The Rest

I agree with the first point regarding everything except the naval part. This is due to me by far mostly playing multiplayer, so I understand where you are coming from in terms of balance Spain vs France and other mainland European powers which I completely agree with - Spain can easily take early defensive and go full in on France especially with a lucky Iberian wedding. That's why I won't agree or disagree with your post. However in naval terms I think you completely disregard the fact the the Spanish Armada was not beaten 1 on 1 by the English, not even close. It got scattered by a storm and picked off. So Portugal and Spain should be able to dominate the seas early to mid game without a doubt, however that is hard to implement with current mechanics as is understandable. I think currently as they try to do it is reflect naval proficiency through naval doctrines and NIs but I feel like that is a bit lacking, as Portugal still likes NI regarding this (no need to beat that horse again) and naval doctrines are really just more buttons and so far for Iberians don't really reflect naval combat ability.

 

[HeyIAmInfinity]

I'm looking forward to reading about the future plans for EU4, i think that the main issue wasn't addressed here though: the lack of content for Golden Century.

This is the second DLC that i will not buy and unless you plan on drastically improving the iberian and north africa map while also reworking south america that was pretty much left untouched.

There should also be a few more feature, i did not expect a colony rework as this is a smaller DLC, but the lack of mechanics is very disappointing.

I hope that the EU4 team will get more time and resources to fix how broken the game is at the moment, lack of improvement on core feature and #imputs actions is unacceptable.

There is a serious need for a fix for the restarting "crash" and an improvement on colonization, diplomacy, politics and naval combat.

Stop releasing cheap content that modders can make and use your resources and knowledge of the game to build and improve upon what already exist.

For me adding new missions is not a feature as that is something that modders can do easily.

 

[Wagonlitz]

It should be:
1444 - 1540 - Portugal & Venice & Denmark
1540 - 1600 - Portugal & Spain
1600 - 1660 - England & Spain
1660 - 1750 - Netherlands & G.B & Spain
1750 - 1820 - Great Brittain > The Rest

That seems quite accurate. Though I'd probably have Denmark be until 1600, possibly even 1660, since we did stay very strong on the seas for a long while. 1660 being a nice cutoff, due to the 1658 loss of Skåneland, but 1600 could work too as it's around the Kalmar War, when we still were able to dominate the region.

 

[Bassial]

So after Golden Century launches, we're going to talk a lot more about future plans and what we have in store for EU4 in 2019, sharing our vision of what we want to do with the game and what we want to bring to you, the player. I'll be talking about this at length in the Development Diary following Golden Century, so on the 18th December. Fittingly, it will be the last Dev Diary of 2018, before we take off for Christmas Break. Our ambition is to get our community a lot more linked in with what we are planning, and can give their feedback and suggestions accordingly and within plenty of time to implement. We have also been asked for how exactly we use suggestions from the forums and how to write a good suggestion thread, which is a great idea, and will be part of said 18th Dec Dev diary.

So while the feedback especially last week makes for some humbling reading for us, it's still important, and this is one of the things we're doing about it. There are far more plans in the pipeline, but, well, for that tune in on the 18th.

As for next week, we'll be having an early DD on the 10th, with Patchnotes. See you then!

I personally will not be buying Golden Century...yet. Multiple reason are associated with that decision, some of which not being Paradox related, and just how life is. I do want the Mission trees, and I personally like the idea of the flagships, but the rest, for me personally, is just "eh". I agree with the portion of the community who has expressed their discontent with this DLC, as well as some of the past patches, (colonialism vs. trade companies being not balanced against eachother at all, end-game tags (taking away player choice, which while this case may be understandable in MP, does not in a almost singurly SP game) and missionaries come to mind, though the upcoming iteration seems like a good solution to me).

However, what DDRJake here has just said seems to be a very, very positive step in the right direction. Personally, I would be perfectly happy with a increased length in the development cycle if it means an increase in both quality and user satisfaction. After given a fair chance to show the community that quite obviously loves this game (the quantity and quality of discontent from the recent weeks, while negative, also shows how much the community does care about this game and want it to succeed) that Paradox Interactive not only wants to fulfill the promises and vision DDRJake layed out here, but is actually doing so, I'll happily purchase Golden Century, not just for the flagships or the missions, but to show support to the developers who did make one of my favorite games to date (sorry, Kotor still beats you out ).

Good luck with everything from here on out, with the ironing out of last minute details, through your own Christmas or other holiday celebrations, up until and well beyond the new year, for a "golden year" for EU4's development.

Cheers!

 

[Martynios]

> Where Am I? - As a New World native with Random New World active, explore the entire New World.

Last I checked RNW was Terra Incognita on the 1444 Country Selection, and thus this would be impossible in an Ironman setting.

Now this could have changed since I last checked. Admittedly it's been a while since I've done RNW. But I'm fairly sure it's at least the default since RNW is supposed to give 'True Exploration'.



Yes; completely ignored. It's not like there weren't changes to the Religion Conversion changes in the patch immediately after they happened.

Seems like you're the one completely ignoring events



Because having -15% Shock Damage from the Age of Reformation bonus, taken in the period of the game where the majority of damage done is Shock, as well as having 15% morale and 5% Discipline, isn't enough?

Tech 16 is when Fire becomes king, and that's due 1609, 17th Century. This also co-incides with the end of the Age of Reformation [Global Trade almost always fired dead on 1600; so the age ticks in 1610]

Spain has the best army of any nation in the 16th Century already; except MAYBE an early-formed Prussia. The main thing holding hem back is they often rush Exploration/Expansion thus allowing their enemies to take quality and match/surpass them. A Spain who takes; say; Defensive first can absolutely stomp France earlygame before France gets Elan while they have +5% Disc and +30% morale.

Giving Spain any further bonuses would make them outright unstoppable in the 1500's. Bear in mind their new +1 Fire to cannons is most vital while cannons overall are weaker, as that +1 Fire, as a percentage, means more. So they've already been made [ahistorically; mind you. The Spanish Armarda greatly outnumbered the British navy and still got thoroughly wrecked] invincible at sea [Cannon pips also modify ship cannons. So Spainish ships can be outputting almost double the damage of other ships with this cannon change earlygame; which is absolutely and completely absurd], and significantly buffed in the 1500's.

Not to mention there's the slight issue of 'Make Spain wholesale stronger and suddenly France can't beat them later in the game as historically happened'.

dude have you looked at Iberia in any of your games

 

[Siggerad]

Sad just sad, I wait for years for a Spain-Portugal update, Spain was the first nation i played in EU1; now the west raid boss of the game is reduced to a goblin with a knife, it feels like play Germany on HOI without panzers.

 

[Blackwhitecavias]

T
Currently the naval power is:
England/GB > The rest

It should be:
1444 - 1540 - Portugal & Venice & Denmark
1540 - 1600 - Portugal & Spain
1600 - 1660 - England & Spain
1660 - 1750 - Netherlands & G.B & Spain
1750 - 1820 - Great Brittain > The Rest

The Netherlands should probably be at least on par with GB during 1600-1660 (It's merchant marine force was certainly one of the biggest, and before the second half of the 17th century fleets existed mostly of reinforced merchant ships).

Also the +1 artillery fire is a bonus for Spain on both land and sea, but it most likely won't be enough

 

[pedrito_elcabra]

I'm so disappointed by this DLC, been waiting for an Iberia patch for a long time.

What a lost opportunity!

What hurts most is knowing that this is it, there will be no future Iberia reworks. They might add a couple of missions and achievements, and tweak a national idea here and there, but they certainly won't rework again THE two most influential nations of the age exploration.

 

[Old Tercio]

ahistorically; mind you. The Spanish Armarda greatly outnumbered the British navy and still got thoroughly wrecked

You mean the storms because the English navy had a guerrilla naval tactic which they never fully engaged, also did you know that there is a counter-armada? bigger then the first and that got destroyed and it bankrupt England, just saying...

Not to mention there's the slight issue of 'Make Spain wholesale stronger and suddenly France can't beat them later in the game as historically happened'.

Actually you just contradicted yourself, by the time france is suppose to be strong it gains richer land and the best age bonus in the game where fire now starts to be king, really your post is nothing of substance...

 

[Chazb5046]

Thank you

 

[Terantor]

Okay, this is driving me crazy: What is "Spanish Fly" a reference to?

 

[BuchiTaton]

The pattern seems to be that, the Naval Doctrine aside, no attention whatsoever was paid in revamping the experience of playing as Portugal. There's a huge list of things that could have been done:

1) First off the achievements, which could include interesting stuff like, in the style of Basque in Our Glory, dominating the Iberian Peninsula or stealing Colombus' feats or conquering Japan (Portugal did dream of it somewhat)

2) Adding in more important provinces than Aveiro (Braga and Setúbal are HUGE omissions) with historical trade goods

3) Giving Porto and Lisbon characteristic Urban goods (Portugal produced cloth, naval supplies and glass at different points of the game's timeframe)

4) Implementing the Mare Clausum. This is a huge one and it would have been either a great Achievement or a great addition to the Mission tree.

5) Making the possibility of colonising Labrador (not saying this just cause I'm in Canada ) more interesting either through missions or new tradezone routes

6) Also super important to revamp the National Traditions, which paint Portugal as a pure trader and colonizer (not even the best one in its region), instead of reflecting its starting roots as a Reconquista military state dominated by a land-hungry feudal society with overachieving infantry divisions

So I largely side with the POR players disappointed with this DLC. it's true that even this final Development Diary it looks like Portugal was completely forgotten. Perhaps the ideal would be to make 1.29 a Portugal Patch to address all of this

This "1.29 Portugal Patch" idea sound like the more feasible way to fix the worse fails with 1.28 Spain. I think is mandatory to at least add:
- New Portugal's national ideas, including buff to their army and navy.
- Incorporate the "Common proposal" for Iberia provinces.

Now about Brazil, Im not sure because:
PROS
- Brazil realy deserve more provinces compared to the NA Thirteen Colonies.
- Better Brazil = Better Portugal.
- With the additions to Spanish colonies Portugal need an equivalent upgrade in their colonies.

CONS
- Add Brazil (or even also the rest of South America) sound like too much for a "fix patch".
- More provinces in Brazil is the first thing, but native nations need way more research and work.
- The more is added to Americas in GC, the less is the chance to get any new DLC with upgrades to whole Americas and colonial mechanics.

There are many things that should be upgraded in the Americas even in the areas that gonna have an overhaul in 1.28. Americas/colonization have enough to improve as to be a full expansion DLC not just a ImmPack.

 

[Casko]

Now. I know this will be ignored here by the devs most likely. But I still like to say my share here. And hope somebody picks up on this.

PLEASE. I know it goes against your modular DLC development. and general DLC cycle as well. but do try to integrate all the new gameplay mechanics better. as currently all the new things in game feel more bloat than additions. with prime example being estates and absolutism.

and Please. no more buttons that give you pure rewards. Rewards without investment or risks are no rewards at all. This should be gameplay 101 shouldn't it?

And lastly, a question. Is there going to be a 2nd look at Spain in some future time? as this "Spain" patch. is no way enough in my fair and humble opinion good look at Spain. there was so much to do. yet it was Maghreb that almost got more added into it than Spain itself.

 

[Bandua_of_Gallaecia]

> Where Am I? - As a New World native with Random New World active, explore the entire New World.

Last I checked RNW was Terra Incognita on the 1444 Country Selection, and thus this would be impossible in an Ironman setting.

Now this could have changed since I last checked. Admittedly it's been a while since I've done RNW. But I'm fairly sure it's at least the default since RNW is supposed to give 'True Exploration'.



Yes; completely ignored. It's not like there weren't changes to the Religion Conversion changes in the patch immediately after they happened.

Seems like you're the one completely ignoring events



Because having -15% Shock Damage from the Age of Reformation bonus, taken in the period of the game where the majority of damage done is Shock, as well as having 15% morale and 5% Discipline, isn't enough?

Tech 16 is when Fire becomes king, and that's due 1609, 17th Century. This also co-incides with the end of the Age of Reformation [Global Trade almost always fired dead on 1600; so the age ticks in 1610]

Spain has the best army of any nation in the 16th Century already; except MAYBE an early-formed Prussia. The main thing holding hem back is they often rush Exploration/Expansion thus allowing their enemies to take quality and match/surpass them. A Spain who takes; say; Defensive first can absolutely stomp France earlygame before France gets Elan while they have +5% Disc and +30% morale.

Giving Spain any further bonuses would make them outright unstoppable in the 1500's. Bear in mind their new +1 Fire to cannons is most vital while cannons overall are weaker, as that +1 Fire, as a percentage, means more. So they've already been made [ahistorically; mind you. The Spanish Armarda greatly outnumbered the British navy and still got thoroughly wrecked] invincible at sea [Cannon pips also modify ship cannons. So Spainish ships can be outputting almost double the damage of other ships with this cannon change earlygame; which is absolutely and completely absurd], and significantly buffed in the 1500's.

Not to mention there's the slight issue of 'Make Spain wholesale stronger and suddenly France can't beat them later in the game as historically happened'.

>Greentexting on paradoxplaza

 

[navaluiki]

Okay, this is driving me crazy: What is "Spanish Fly" a reference to?

I don't know either, perhaps one of these things:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_fly_(disambiguation)
I don't know which one. Perhaps the comedy film?