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“This England never did, nor never shall,
Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror”


Welcome to the 7th development diary for Europa Universalis IV,
where we talk about the dominant power by the end of the Europa Universalis time frame, the country formerly known as England.
England can be considered both as one of the easier nations to play, but also one of the more challenging nations. That´s a paradox, you say?
Well, it all depends on what you wish to accomplish and what kind of empire you want to create ;)

The unique possibilities of England
What truly makes England unique to play is that the country has natural borders protecting it and that you can strengthen those borders dramatically with rather cheap investments. You can decide to let England get involved in the continent, from a safe position, or choose to isolate England and go overseas. The country also sits on a bloody nice position to control the trade from the Baltic and from North America. So the options are huge for you to take England in plenty of directions when creating your empire.

England’s Dynamic Historical Events
England is has one of the richest and best known histories. That may sound lovely for you guys, but it also means that we have had to work hard when it comes to decisions about historical events to include in Europa Universalis IV. The important countries in EU4 have a lot of events going on, so some of those major historical events have been turned into the starting points of large event chains that we call Dynamic Historical Events.

War of the Roses is an excellent example of Dynamic Historical Events. If England in the 15th century has a ruler without an heir, that means that there is a likelihood of a large event chain beginning. The player has to select who to back for the throne, York or Lancaster. This decision will throw the country into turmoil with various parts declaring for either the red or white rose, and you have to make sure to eliminate the very strong, rather resilient pretenders. What makes this interesting is that this event chain is not an event series that is guaranteed to come every time you play as England. It only occurs if all the necessary underlying factors are fulfilled. When it happens, you won't have planned for it to arrive on schedule, like many people did when they played Europa Universalis II, the last game in the series with a serious focus on historical events. We hope that this variation will gives you rather unique experiences when you play major powers.

The English Civil War will be another major event series that might encounter when you play as England, but we will not spoil it for you here yet. ;)
England also has many smaller DHE, like The War of Captain Jenkin's Ear: if they are rivals with Spain, after 1700, then you can get a casus belli on Spain. Or an event like The Muscovy Trade Company, where if you discover the sea route to Archangelsk, and its owned by the Muscovites, then there is a likelihood of this historical event happening.

England’s Missions & Decisions
We have kept the historical missions that existed in Europa Universalis III and we are expanding them for Europa Universalis IV, so you'll still see missions to conquer Scotland and colonize North America. When it comes to decisions, England still manually have to rely on the Wooden Wall, and make Calais into a Staple Port.

England’s National Ideas
The traditions that England starts with is a small boost in naval morale and a 5% boost to their trading efficiency.
The trading efficiency boost is due to the fact that the economy of England to fund their participation in the Hundred Years War was their taxation of the very profitable wool trade.

The 7 National Ideas for England are:
  1. Royal Navy : 25% higher naval force limit, and +10% more combat power for big ships.
  2. Eltham Ordinance : +15% higher tax.
  3. Secretaries of State : +1 diplomat
  4. Navigation Acts : +10% trade income, and +10% more combat power for light ships.
  5. Bill of Rights : -1 revolt risk.
  6. Reform of Commission Buying : +10% discipline
  7. Sick and Hurt Board : -50% Naval Attrition.



Reward: English Ambition
When England has gotten all seven of their National Ideas, they get the bonus of 'English Ambitions' which gives them a +100% on their embargo efficiency.

Here's a screenshot where I've cheated to show a little bit of the idea progress..

7.png

Welcome back next week, where we'll talk in detail about the enhancements we've done to the religious aspect of the game!
 
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Probably a silly question, but... let's say I'm a "creative" player and don't want to develop the navy, instead trying to wage land wars all over continental Europe. With the nation-specific national ideas, does it mean I'd be forced to go the navy route or is there another way?

Even as creative player you somehow have to ship you troops from your isle to the continent and I'm not sure it will be possible with only transport without any protection or naval fighting. And it might be difficult to prevent an invasion from an enemy without a navy and your army on the continent.
Honestly, england getting naval boosts will benefit most if not all playstyles.
 
Concern about the National Ideas: Bill of Rights. If this is English-specific, why not call it the Magna Carta? Further, if its English-specific, doesn't that imply that there won't be a generic Bill of Rights NI? Not thrilled about that; it seems a fairly generic idea for countries to choose (and, as we know, multiple countries have Bills of Rights within the scope of the game).

Further, shouldn't it be one of the first NIs in the England chain? That would solve the problem of premature naval dominance.
 
Reminds me of the time I played England in the EU3 grand campaign. At some point about quarter to mid-way through the 15th century, in a series of civil wars, I get an event giving me a peasant girl with some pretty nifty military stats.
 
Or an event like The Muscovy Trade Company, where if you discover the sea route to Archangelsk, and its owned by the Muscovites, then there is a likelihood of this historical event happening.

Will this still happen if, for instance, Novgorod controls all of Russia except for Archangelsk, which is controlled by Muscowy? Or is it also dependent on Muscowy being a significant country of its own?
 
I agree, but it seems it'll all be not just moddable, but modded into really cool concepts.
My problem is that I would have to do away with some of the mechanics entirely, which is kind of sad considering how good it potentially could be. This is my last comment on the matter. Do not think we want a repeat of the last DD.
 
Concern about the National Ideas: Bill of Rights. If this is English-specific, why not call it the Magna Carta? Further, if its English-specific, doesn't that imply that there won't be a generic Bill of Rights NI? Not thrilled about that; it seems a fairly generic idea for countries to choose (and, as we know, multiple countries have Bills of Rights within the scope of the game).

Further, shouldn't it be one of the first NIs in the England chain? That would solve the problem of premature naval dominance.

Magna Carta is quite a bit earlier though, this NI probably refers to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_Rights_1689.
 
I loved EU2 as well as EU3 and this more and more seems like the perfect mix between those. I think you're taking the exact right direction with adding more immersion, flavour, and things that make nations feel different while still not railroading them. Can't wait for this to come out!

I think the same, imho they are taking "the middle road" not giving us an almost sandbox game like eu iii nor a deterministic one like eu ii. For me its great
 
“This England never did, nor never shall,
Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror”


Welcome to the 7th development diary for Europa Universalis IV,
where we talk about the dominant power by the end of the Europa Universalis time frame, the country formerly known as England.
England can be considered both as one of the easier nations to play, but also one of the more challenging nations. That´s a paradox, you say?
Well, it all depends on what you wish to accomplish and what kind of empire you want to create ;)

The unique possibilities of England
What truly makes England unique to play is that the country has natural borders protecting it and that you can strengthen those borders dramatically with rather cheap investments. You can decide to let England get involved in the continent, from a safe position, or choose to isolate England and go overseas. The country also sits on a bloody nice position to control the trade from the Baltic and from North America. So the options are huge for you to take England in plenty of directions when creating your empire.

England’s Dynamic Historical Events
England is has one of the richest and best known histories. That may sound lovely for you guys, but it also means that we have had to work hard when it comes to decisions about historical events to include in Europa Universalis IV. The important countries in EU4 have a lot of events going on, so some of those major historical events have been turned into the starting points of large event chains that we call Dynamic Historical Events.

War of the Roses is an excellent example of Dynamic Historical Events. If England in the 15th century has a ruler without an heir, that means that there is a likelihood of a large event chain beginning. The player has to select who to back for the throne, York or Lancaster. This decision will throw the country into turmoil with various parts declaring for either the red or white rose, and you have to make sure to eliminate the very strong, rather resilient pretenders. What makes this interesting is that this event chain is not an event series that is guaranteed to come every time you play as England. It only occurs if all the necessary underlying factors are fulfilled. When it happens, you won't have planned for it to arrive on schedule, like many people did when they played Europa Universalis II, the last game in the series with a serious focus on historical events. We hope that this variation will gives you rather unique experiences when you play major powers.

The English Civil War will be another major event series that might encounter when you play as England, but we will not spoil it for you here yet. ;)
England also has many smaller DHE, like The War of Captain Jenkin's Ear: if they are rivals with Spain, after 1700, then you can get a casus belli on Spain. Or an event like The Muscovy Trade Company, where if you discover the sea route to Archangelsk, and its owned by the Muscovites, then there is a likelihood of this historical event happening.

England’s Missions & Decisions
We have kept the historical missions that existed in Europa Universalis III and we are expanding them for Europa Universalis IV, so you'll still see missions to conquer Scotland and colonize North America. When it comes to decisions, England still manually have to rely on the Wooden Wall, and make Calais into a Staple Port.

England’s National Ideas
The traditions that England starts with is a small boost in naval morale and a 5% boost to their trading efficiency.
The trading efficiency boost is due to the fact that the economy of England to fund their participation in the Hundred Years War was their taxation of the very profitable wool trade.

The 7 National Ideas for England are:
  1. Royal Navy : 25% higher naval force limit, and +10% more combat power for big ships.
  2. Eltham Ordinance : +15% higher tax.
  3. Secretaries of State : +1 diplomat
  4. Navigation Acts : +10% trade income, and +10% more combat power for light ships.
  5. Bill of Rights : -1 revolt risk.
  6. Reform of Commission Buying : +10% discipline
  7. Sick and Hurt Board : -50% Naval Attrition.



Reward: English Ambition
When England has gotten all seven of their National Ideas, they get the bonus of 'English Ambitions' which gives them a +100% on their embargo efficiency.

Here's a screenshot where I've cheated to show a little bit of the idea progress..

View attachment 65782

Welcome back next week, where we'll talk in detail about the enhancements we've done to the religious aspect of the game!

Well actualy we had some simmiliar events before : USA revolution, French revolution, Protestantism appearing... Which is why i am not against such event.
 
Royal Navy bonus in the 15th Century? (assuming that we get our first NI before 60 years have passed). I was under the impression that England's naval prominence didn't really begin until much later.

Generally speaking it seems to me that some of these bonuses are too large. We should have more control over the elements of the game that give us things like a 10% increase in a ship's fighting power or 10% increase in discipline. If the NIs are to be uncontrollable and nation-specific, it would be good for them to be more subtle.

I agree. Brithish naval dominance didnt really started until almost the end of the game (mid XVIII century). They should keep the naval combat bonuses for the last century.
 
I agree. Brithish naval dominance didnt really started until almost the end of the game (mid XVIII century). They should keep the naval combat bonuses for the last century.

Johan told that he had used a cheats to get all those ideas early (and to show us them).
 
splendid.
Is the war of the roses just going to be one mega pretender stack? Seems a bit casual for such a big event.
I wonder how overpowered british warships will be with those national ideas and decisions. YIKES!!

I hope there is a DD dedicated solely for Denmark, because, lets face it, they need some lovin'.

Denmark should have a mission or event that involves properly subduing Sweden and creating a stronger union, while Sweden should have events that make them leave the union :)
 
I agree. Brithish naval dominance didnt really started until almost the end of the game (mid XVIII century). They should keep the naval combat bonuses for the last century.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Armada

read this your plain wrong the english navy was a long way ahead of every other european power in the early 1500s and even before in medievil times

the spanish had strong naval allies too

in the first hundred war with france they completly decimated the french fleet in 1213 and 1217

and then again in 1340 against the french an genoese

they then sunk castilles fleet in 1350

then defeated the french yet again at sea in 1416

this was all before 1500 they were by far the dominat sea power from around the 1200s onwards

the naval reforms started in 1485 they should get these descions early and they should be able to field a larger navy and more advanced navy then the next 3 largest powers combined
 
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read this your plain wrong the english navy was a long way ahead of every other european power in the early 1500s and even before in medievil times

This is blatantly untrue. At the very most you could argue that they were advanced in comparison to other Atlantic powers, but even then I would contest that claim. Saying they were ahead at all compared to states like Aragon or Venice though is pure ignorance.

Granted by the end of the 16th Century the English navy was certainly on the rise, but Paradox is apparently giving them bonuses in the 15th Century.
 
Don't forget these are National Ideas. They are not obliged to go down that road. Yes 10% is a huge bonus, but I guess other naval nations (Venice, portugal, Netherlands, France, etc.) could take equivalent national ideas if they want to go naval.
 
Don't forget these are National Ideas. They are not obliged to go down that road. Yes 10% is a huge bonus, but I guess other naval nations (Venice, portugal, Netherlands, France, etc.) could take equivalent national ideas if they want to go naval.

Actually, Paradox said you have no choice but to take those National Ideas.
 
I like the whole DD - except for the national ideas. I don't like the idea that if Henry V lived long enough to consolodate the English grip on France that the English would have stayed a seafaring nation. From memory even EU2 had events which moved the slider from the Naval end to the Land end if the English conqured France. Will we next see a gold mines national idea for spain which gives them extra wealth from gold/silver, and force them to the new world?

I guess you could do something with tag changing to some Anglo-French Behemoth country. That however begs the question, what happens to national ideas if you change your country tag - does Great Britain get different national ideas to England?
 
I must admit the more I see about the national ideas, the more I dislike the concept of "idea groups". It seems to take out the ability to customize your nation. If I'm England, I have to have a Bill of Rights? What if I want to be an absolute monarch who offers his people no guarantees or rights?

I'd definitely say that I'm on the side of people who want more history injected into the game but I want to be able to deviate and customize. Having individual ideas as in EU3 worked great - one of my favorite concepts by far. I'm quite a bit worried about the new approach.