• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.

EU4 - Development Diary - 6th of November 2018

It's Tuesday, and that means it's time for another EU4 dev diary. This week and next I’m going to be showing off some of the new mission trees, events, and national ideas coming in the 1.28 ‘Spain’ update and the accompanying Immersion Pack.

NB: Most mission icons are currently using placeholder art

Let’s start with the star of the show, Spain itself:

spanish missions.png


The Spanish mission tree is available to nations beside Aragon that form Spain, while Castile immediately has access to a reduced version of the tree prior to forming Spain.

For the most part these missions follow Spain’s historical expansion overseas; from the Pillars of Hercules to California and the Philippines, the Spanish Empire was one of the largest the world has ever seen. Driven by the quest for gold and silver, Conquistadors such as Cortez and Pizarro will join your service to lead the conquests of Mexico and Peru. You’ll also be encouraged to spread the word of God in the New World by establishing Holy Orders in your colonies.

Spain will also have opportunities to expand in Europe. If the Iberian Wedding or Burgundian Succession don’t work out for you, permanent claims on Naples and Wallonia will help you seize your rightful inheritance through conquest. With a foothold in the Netherlands, Spain can then pursue powerful Personal Unions with both England (depending on their religious choices) and Austria, with the ultimate goal of establishing a Universal Monarchy.

We’ve also split up the National Idea sets for Castile and Spain, as we did for England and Great Britain in Rule Britannia:

Spanish national ideas:
Code:
SPA_ideas = {
    start = {
        land_morale = 0.15
        global_colonial_growth = 25
    }
 
    bonus = {
        discipline = 0.05
    }
 
    trigger = {
        tag = SPA
    }
    free = yes        #will be added at load.

    devout_catholisism = {
        papal_influence = 2
    }
    inter_caetera = {
        idea_claim_colonies = yes
        colonists = 1
    }
    gold_fleet = {
        global_tariffs = 0.15
        global_prov_trade_power_modifier = 0.1
    }
    spanish_armada = {
        heavy_ship_cost = -0.1
        leader_naval_manuever = 1
    }
    spa_casa_de_contracion = {
        envoy_travel_time = -0.33
    }
    spa_cortes = {
        free_adm_policy = 1
    }
    siglo_de_oro = {
        prestige = 1
    }
}

 spa_casa_de_contracion:0 "Casa de Contratación"
 spa_casa_de_contracion_desc:0 "We must extend the reach of the House of Trade of the Indies. Our colonial agents must have a presence in every part of the world to ensure the smooth functioning of our empire."
 spa_cortes:0 "Rein in the Cortes"
 spa_cortes_desc:0 "Each constitutent Kingdom in the Spanish realm has its own corte, an assembly of the most powerful elements of society in the region. There is often tension between the Crown and the Cortes over such issues as taxation and regional autonomy. We must rein in these institutions so that they primarily serve the Crown rather than their own interests."

Castilian National ideas:
Code:
CAS_ideas = {
    start = {
        land_morale = 0.15
        missionaries = 1
    }
    bonus = {
        artillery_fire = 1
    }
    trigger = {
        tag = CAS
    }
    free = yes        #will be added at load.
    the_reconquista = {
        army_tradition_decay = -0.01
    }
    spanish_inquisition = {
        global_missionary_strength = 0.02
    }
    cabildos = {
        production_efficiency = 0.1
    }
    inter_caetera = {
        idea_claim_colonies = yes
        colonists = 1
    }
    infantas = {
        diplomatic_reputation = 1
        heir_chance = 0.33
    }
    salamanca_scholars = {
        global_institution_spread = 0.1
    }
    nueva_planta = {
        yearly_absolutism = 0.1
    }
}

 cabildos:0 "Cabildos"
 cabildos_desc:0 "Representing the interests of the cities, the 'Caboldio' councils have a wide variety of functions and duties. They are responsible for both advocating the interests of the city to the Crown and for many aspects of local governance. We must continue to establish Cabildos in newly-founded or newly-conquered cities, particularly in the New World where the need for Castilian institutions is felt most severely."
 infantas:0 "Infantas"
 infantas_desc:0 "The Princes and Princesses of the Crown are among our most valuable assets. They can be sent as royal envoys, married off to secure alliances, or appointed as regents when the need arises. It is important that we ensure that our monarch's loins continue to bear fruit."
 salamanca_scholars:0 "School of Salamanca"
 salamanca_scholars_desc:0 "Based in the University of Salamanca, the School's interests lie in fields as diverse as theology, economics, and political philosophy. As one of the leading schools of thought in the Catholic world, its entrenched presence in Castile ensures that our nation is always at the forefront of intellectual affairs."
 nueva_planta:0 "Nueva Planta"
 nueva_planta_desc:0 "It is time to assert true royal authority in the realm; under a single set of laws and a common language, a renewed and centralized Castile will directly appoint officials and enshrine the absolute rule of the monarch."


aragon missions.png


Aragon has an entirely different focus, with a distinct Mare Nostrum theme. An Aragonese player will be encouraged to dominate the Mediterranean both militarily and economically. This mission tree will take Aragon into southern France, Italy, the Maghreb, Egypt, Anatolia, and Greece.

Aragon also has access to several purely economic missions. By establishing trade dominance in the Genoa node and developing the city, Valencia will gain access to the rare Silk trade good as well as a sizable bonus to production of this luxury resource. Completing Aragon’s economic missions will reward the player with the versatile ‘Golden Century’ modifier, giving a 1% reduction to all monarch power costs for 100 years.

portugal missions.png


Portugal’s mission tree is larger than any other in the game besides Great Britain with Rule Britannia. Like the Spanish mission tree, it is largely concerned with the recreation of Portugal’s historical overseas empire, particularly in Brazil and Asia. Missions have been added for the conquests of Malacca, Oman, Ceylon, and other ports in the East. When Portugal has discovered the Far East they will have the opportunity to negotiate for the purchase of two historically important ports: Macau and Nagasaki. In Brazil the Portuguese player can lead the Bandeirantes in the search for gold in Minas Gerais and acquire an increased chance to discover Gold as a trade good in all of their new colonies.

brz.jpg


The times were not always kind to Portugal. In 1807, in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars, the situation became so dire that the Portuguese court abandoned Lisbon, fled to Brazil, and made Rio the new seat of government. This will be represented in the game as a decision available to Portugal should they find themselves in dire straits. Your tag will change to Brazil, and Portugal will be released as a junior partner controlling your remaining European provinces. Note that by doing this you will lose access to Portuguese missions.

Not shown but will be in the final version: taking the decision will also change your primary culture to Brazilian.

Navarra missions.jpg


Finally we have Navarra. Navarra’s mission tree will be entirely free for anyone playing on the 1.28 ‘Spain’ patch. As you might expect, this mission tree takes the player down a very different path than history intended. Navarra must reclaim its unjustly stolen coastline, and from there pursue an invasion of France that can culminate in a Personal Union. With access to the sea, the New World beckons. In homage to the time-honoured strategy of migrating to the Americas to escape the cutthroat politics of Europe, Navarra will have the opportunity to move their capital to Terranova if they so choose.

Some of you may have noticed that Navarra’s starting monarch is also Aragon’s designated heir in 1444. A new event chain will bring Navarra under a Personal Union with Aragon if Navarra remains independent upon the death of King Afonso. If Navarra is being controlled by a player, they can of course choose to accept this union. But a truly ambitious player can instead reject the union and instantly gain a Restoration CB on Aragon.

nav_event.jpg


That’s all for today! Next week I’ll be back with more mission trees and national ideas with a focus on North Africa.
 
Last edited:
I disagree, without portugal falling under a PU they'll keep colonizing at their super pace that in reality there's no way they could have sustained.

The 6 ducats per month needed to pay for that are completely unaffordable by Portugal until like 1520-1540. Its not like it starts with 15 or 20 home provinces, including some producing high price goods, like the other major colonial powers. I doubt the AI even makes proper use of the Age of Discovery bonus it gives Portugal.

Its not Portugal that needs to be nerfed, its colonisation entirely.
 
Power? This is EU4, right? The game where I sucker punch Castille into giving me Seville within the first 20 years?
Players gonna do what players gonna do, I'm talking about AIs getting roughly historical outcomes.
The 6 ducats per month needed to pay for that are completely unaffordable by Portugal until like 1520-1540. Its not like it starts with 15 or 20 home provinces, including some producing high price goods, like the other major colonial powers. I doubt the AI even makes proper use of the Age of Discovery bonus it gives Portugal.

Its not Portugal that needs to be nerfed, its colonisation entirely.
Perhaps Portugal's age bonus should be changed then to half colonial maintenance cost (potentially only when colonizing outside of a colonial region).
 
Players gonna do what players gonna do, I'm talking about AIs getting roughly historical outcomes.

Perhaps Portugal's age bonus should be changed then to half colonial maintenance cost (potentially only when colonizing outside of a colonial region).

Historical outcomes? Why? Its not like the game can even form Prussia and Qing reliably. And even if that thought was to be entertained, why should it be as easy as a mission? You already have a "Claim Throne" button with built-in setbacks. Making it a mission reward is too convenient for the player and too annoying for an AI you're fighting against. PU were never supposed to be easy to get.

Also what, youre gonna paralyse a whole faction with a PU just cause you dont think it should colonise so fast? How does one affect the other?

Also, the matter of Portuguese Colonisation isn't just about money. Its about money AND getting to the proper ideas that unlock colonists in a nice pace, and the devs have already announced they are taking away a colonist from Exploration, which is hardcoded in Portugal and Spain to take first, and put it in Expansion.

So its not like we're not already gonna see the colonisation pace slow down. In fact taking away that second colonist is the biggest nerf they could give Portugal right now in those ideas.
 
Historical outcomes? Why? Its not like the game can even form Prussia and Qing reliably. And even if that thought was to be entertained, why should it be as easy as a mission? You already have a "Claim Throne" button with built-in setbacks. Making it a mission reward is too convenient for the player and too annoying for an AI you're fighting against. PU were never supposed to be easy to get.

Also what, youre gonna paralyse a whole faction with a PU just cause you dont think it should colonise so fast? How does one affect the other?

Also, the matter of Portuguese Colonisation isn't just about money. Its about money AND getting to the proper ideas that unlock colonists in a nice pace, and the devs have already announced they are taking away a colonist from Exploration, which is hardcoded in Portugal and Spain to take first, and put it in Expansion.

So its not like we're not already gonna see the colonisation pace slow down. In fact taking away that second colonist is the biggest nerf they could give Portugal right now in those ideas.
There are a whole bunch of less probable unions behind missions and also how easy a mission is depends on the mission.

And spain had the population to keep colonizing the way it did, but yeah they too should get some late game slowdown.
 
There are a whole bunch of less probable unions behind missions and also how easy a mission is depends on the mission.

And spain had the population to keep colonizing the way it did, but yeah they too should get some late game slowdown.

That still doesn't explain why putting that obvious and unbased shortcut solved your issues with Portugal's colonisation.

Also, its pretty damn easy to subsue Portugal with either Castille or Spain in the game. Don't pretend like it's up in the air.
 
That still doesn't explain why putting that obvious and unbased shortcut solved your issues with Portugal's colonisation.

Also, its pretty damn easy to subsue Portugal with either Castille or Spain in the game. Don't pretend like it's up in the air.
Yes but if they capture it by taking provinces it's essentially gone, you can't have an event chain which fires late game and buffs up it's LD and allows Portugal to reemerge.
And again misisons are essentially to get the AI and beginner/role players to do things, players gonna do what players gonna do.

Also I don't see why them getting claims on portugal is so much less overpowered according to you than them getting a PUT over it. A PU seems weaker to me (but more flavourful) it takes 50 years before it can be intigrated.
 
Yes but if they capture it by taking provinces it's essentially gone, you can't have an event chain which fires late game and buffs up it's LD and allows Portugal to reemerge.

Still doesn't explain how that solves your colonisation issue.

Besides, you're just explaining how Portugal should be taken, not why.
 
Still doesn't explain how that solves your colonisation issue.

Besides, you're just explaining how Portugal should be taken, not why.
Because it's already in there, just in the form of permanent claims (the most boring solution to anything ever). And because Hispania at this point meant the entire peninsula, spanish kings have been calling themselves emperors of hispania from time to time for centuries at this point. And because as I have pointed out spain was heavily intermarried with portugal, they had claims on that throne, the motive to push them and the might to achieve it.
Quite frankly for a lot of the eu4 period this is how expansion happens through claims to thrones. Claim fabrication is not really a very realistic feature neither is taking land that you don't have a claim to. Oh both things happened but were fairly rare. Especially early in the period.
 
Because it's already in there, just in the form of permanent claims (the most boring solution to anything ever). And because Hispania at this point meant the entire peninsula, spanish kings have been calling themselves emperors of hispania from time to time for centuries at this point.

Im starting to think you never cared about the colonisation problem, you just want the PU thing.

And the claims are honestly preferable, even with the problems I have with them.

Sorry, but you didn't convince me :confused: i was on board with discussing when you were on point with colonisation, but you're not anymore
 
Im starting to think you never cared about the colonisation problem, you just want the PU thing.

And the claims are honestly preferable, even with the problems I have with them.

Sorry, but you didn't convince me :confused: i was on board with discussing when you were on point with colonisation, but you're not anymore
Claims are never preferable.
And it solves the colonisation issue because the colonies of a vassal end up as colonial nations for who again? That's right the overlord. That means that what portugal colonizes when it's a spanish PU becomes part of spanish latin america.
 
Claims are never preferable.
And it solves the colonisation issue because the colonies of a vassal end up as colonial nations for who again?

Dude, Portuguese colonies never belonged directly to Spain even during the IU. The whole thing followed a decentralised possession system IRL under separate cortes. You're just pushing for some built in mechanisms that favor what you want at the detriment of others that dont.

And even in PU the colonists that create your rapid pace problem wont go away, not to mention that even if I dont like the PCs they embody how Spain repeatedly invaded and claim Portugal as its own even after the PU ended in 1640.

PUs are a luxury in the game. And the Iberian Union happened on a foolishness of a Portuguese King whose lineage occasionally married with Castille's to preserve peace. The classical inheritance system in the game already represents this. It was a lucky break for Spain who then immediately pushed its claims through its Royal Marriages.

Do you want to suggest something more focused on colonisation or what?
 
Dude, Portuguese colonies never belonged directly to Spain even during the IU. The whole thing followed a decentralised possession system IRL under separate cortes. You're just pushing for some built in mechanisms that favor what you want at the detriment of others that dont.

And even in PU the colonists that create your rapid pace problem wont go away, not to mention that even if I dont like the PCs they embody how Spain repeatedly invaded and claim Portugal as its own even after the PU ended in 1640.

PUs are a luxury in the game. And the Iberian Union happened on a foolishness of a Portuguese King whose lineage occasionally married with Castille's to preserve peace. The classical inheritance system in the game already represents this. It was a lucky break for Spain who then immediately pushed its claims through its Royal Marriages.

Do you want to suggest something more focused on colonisation or what?

I agree there should be no permanent claims on Portugal, just a PU casus belli. However, even thought the Iberia Union was a bit "lucky", it was also intented for decades and was an important element in the Catholic Monarchs Foreign Policy. Even one of their grandsons nearly unified all the Iberian Crowns (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_da_Paz,_Prince_of_Portugal), but he died too early. So I think having a mission for Spain that gives a PU casus belli is OK
 
Also, yeah, congratulations, you made a case for free PUs over free PCs as if the first is in any way fairer than the second.
It is because a PU can end fairly easily. Just look at how uncommon it is for poland to actually manage to form the PLC. Whilst independence rebellions are a lot more uncommon.

And like I said I think it should also come with events representing the situation that led to the dissolution of the union too.
 
I agree there should be no permanent claims on Portugal, just a PU casus belli. However, even thought the Iberia Union was a bit "lucky", it was also intented for decades and was an important element in the Catholic Monarchs Foreign Policy. Even one of their grandsons nearly unified all the Iberian Crowns (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_da_Paz,_Prince_of_Portugal), but he died too early. So I think having a mission for Spain that gives a PU casus belli is OK

No its not. And yeah it did take decades. So do the decades-long work that the game requires you to do in its normal system.

It is because a PU can end fairly easily. Just look at how uncommon it is for poland to actually manage to form the PLC. Whilst independence rebellions are a lot more uncommon.

And like I said I think it should also come with events representing the situation that led to the dissolution of the union too.

What?? It always forms PLC for me. The PLC is a consistently top tier country in all my playthroughs
 
No its not. And yeah it did take decades. So do the decades-long work that the game requires you to do in its normal system.
That's nice for a player but the AI can't and that's what we're talking about here. That's one of the main reasons for missions, to give the AI some sense of direction. Also then make it a decades work to do the misison that gives you the restoration of union CB. Much better than than slowly chipping away Portugal only for Portugal to end up being overseas or getting eaten by morocco. A restoration of union CB is neat, it all or nothing. Either Portugal continues unimpaired or Spain gets all of it under a union.
What?? It always forms PLC for me. The PLC is a consistently top tier country in all my playthroughs
Eh ok well it never does for me, Lithuania always gets a whole bunch of pretender rebels in the 1480s-1520s that poland never understand is a threat and then the union ends. That or Poland's prestige drops to low and the union ends. I've had to console restore the union in my 5 latest games.
 
Last edited:
No its not. And yeah it did take decades. So do the decades-long work that the game requires you to do in its normal system.

Well, you once proposed giving Portugal missions to take Galicia and other regions of Spain (and the Lusitanian empire missions might be something similar). Why should that be a mission and not the "Normal system" of claims?
 
Let's all take it down a notch and talk calmly.

And, as a reminder, remember you have a "Edit" button to avoid multi-posting.