• 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 - 13th of December 2016

Hello everyone and welcome to yet another development diary for Europa Universalis IV. Today we’ll talk about the biggest feature of our next expansion. A system we called “Ages of Europa Universalis”.

The game is now divided into 4 separate ages, where different rules apply in each age. Each age also have objectives you can fulfill, and abilities you can use use.

  • Age of Discovery => 1400 -1530
  • Age of Reformation => 1530 - 1620
  • Age of Absolutism => 1620 - 1710
  • Age of Revolutions => 1710-1821

Each age have seven objectives that can be fulfilled, and if they are fulfilled, you gain +3 power-projection as well as 3 splendor each month.

Now you may ask? What is splendor then? Well.. Splendor is the age specific currency you use to purchase abilities. There are seven abilities in each age that each country can purchase, and there is also four unique abilities in each age, where countries that historically were powerful in that age can unlock a special ability.

Whenever a new Age arrives, you power projection from objectives start decaying, and you now lose all the abilities you purchased in the previous age.

Today we’ll take a look at the Age of Discovery, which is the first Age.

eu4_140.png


Rules
Religious Rules are valid. (Previously before 1650)
Peasants War, Castilian Civil War, War of the Roses can only happen in this Age.

Objectives
  1. Capital in old world, discover Americas
  2. Own Territory on two continents
  3. Embrace Renaissance and keep it in all state provinces.
  4. Own a 30+ development city
  5. Own 5 Centers of Trade
  6. Have at least 2 personal unions.
  7. Humiliate a Rival
Abilities
  • Allow Edict “Feudal De Jure Law”
  • Transfer vassal wargoal
  • Create a claim bordering claims
  • 50% longer lasting claims.
  • Explorers & Conquistadors do not cost maintenance while on missions.
  • Finished colonies gets +1 random development.
  • Gain +1 attack bonus in your capital's terrain type
  • Ottomans : +33% Siege Ability
  • Portugal : +50 colonial growth
  • Denmark : 30 less liberty desire in subjects.
  • Venice : +50% Trade Power from Ships

Another cool concept we have related to the Age mechanics is the Golden Era. A golden era can be started once per game for a country, as soon as you have fulfilled 3 objectives in an Age, and lasts for 50 years.

A golden age gives you 10% cheaper costs for anything you spend monarch power on, your land and naval morale increase by 10%, and you produce 10% more goods.


The free patch keeps track of which age the game is in, and uses it for triggers for disasters and events.
 
  • 298
  • 155
  • 40
Reactions:
My point is that from the last dev diary we were promised 'probably be the biggest feature added to the game since we started EU4'. I was expecting something to do with pops or development based off the previous dev diary, some people were expecting a trade rework (lol) and others wanted more content for Asia. It looks like we were just baited by Johan and given more arbitrary modifiers, not innovative new mechanics like institutions. It's my fault for believing the hype.

Well there are still 3 ages to discover so *maybe* we'll find more innovative mechanics later :) Or maybe we won't. :(

Edit - also expecting pops mechanism was a bit over-optimistic IMO. I don't think it's possible at this point.
 
  • 8
  • 1
Reactions:
It's interesting how Johan answer most of specific and individual questions but didn't say a single word about people asking if the "1400" is a typo or an actual new start date ;)
 
  • 45
  • 2
Reactions:
We Civ now


Six out of seven objectives being possible for ROTW isn't enough for you?
How will american nations get a capital in the new world? They don't even have boats! How will they have territory in 2 continents?

Seriouly Pdx, just limit nations choice to Europe. Right now you're just shaming yourself.
 
Last edited:
  • 34
  • 8
Reactions:
Could it also replace the lucky nation modifier ? Or maybe tune it down a bit ? Since the current lucky nations are more susceptible to get these juicy unique abilities - otherwise it would make them even stronger than what they need
 
  • 26
  • 1
Reactions:
So this is basically Zeitgeist, interesting idea.
Is it possible to make the distinction between the ages more flexible / less arbitrary? Like a new age will trigger after a certain amount of countries achieved a certain amount of obejectives of the last age.
Also, would very much like to see some new mechanisms that benefit the ROTW =/
 
Last edited:
  • 12
  • 2
  • 1
Reactions:
Only one question, just how moddable are the ages and the abilities?
 
  • 3
Reactions:
Venice won't be able to hold 2 thrones under them (like this is set up for Castile to do after the Iberian Wedding) so can't get all 7 achievements.
Only christian monarchies (and noble republics ? I'm not sure about this one) will be able to get this one, and this seems to be easily accessible to Denmark (they start with this one), Burgundy (again), Castille (Iberian Wedding) and Austria (Hungary via their mission, and just their ability to make their dynasty spread like the plague)
 
  • 4
Reactions:
Own 5 Centers of Trade
Does "center of trade" include all types of trade modifiers or just the "Important center of trade" ?

Edit: Also does it count those in your subjects?
 
Last edited:
  • 10
  • 4
Reactions:
How will american nations get a capital in the new world? They don't even have boats! How will they gave territory in 2 continents?

Seriouly Pdx, just limit nations choice to Europe. Right now you're just shaming yourself.

If they cant even have boats, you cannot expect them to be successful in this age
 
  • 13
  • 1
Reactions:
I think this looks really great.

However, one thing they can definitely do is to increase the power of money. Those ducats should really be able to help buy development (or something) - which is why Italy is full of amazing, very expensive things purchased due to trading power - and Iceland isn't (even though it's amazing in its own way too)
 
  • 12
Reactions:
Looking pretty cool, but i say that the Golden Age bonuses should be scaled with, uhm, ages they were started in, otherwise, nations like Ming, that can easily start a Golden Age early on, will make the most profit out of it, because, as we all know, it is earlygame that matters the most.
 
  • 4
Reactions:
It seems a bit weird if gameplay would change dramatically in just a year or so. Wouldn't it make sense to somehow put those changes a little bit more spread in time?
 
  • 8
  • 1
Reactions: