• 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.

Dev Diary #90 - Splendid Scandinavia

As most of the team enjoys the summer, I thought I’d try to write a couple of smaller rogue Dev Diaries to get us through the summer. I will mostly discuss smaller additions, rather than the big sweeping features in these Diaries.

For the first one, it seems the vikings have pillaged a cartographer and found some more defined maps of their own homes, of all things.

We will start with the most important of the viking Kingdoms, Norway. What is that? What do you mean Norway stopped being a Kingdom in the late Middle Ages? Sounds like Swedish and Danish propaganda to me, they are just jealous of our mountainous glory.

Clipboard01.png


The previous map of Norway always had certain issues with the western coast being quite the slog to move through, and the Kingdom feeling split by the mountain range. With a bit more definition to it, as well as a way to move between the two parts, we have found the region to be a lot more interesting of a place to hang out. In mainland Norway, 6 New Provinces and 2 New Duchies have been added.

Clipboard02.png


Far to the north-west, Iceland has been updated a little bit as well. We have increased the province count from 2 to 4, though knowing that Iceland was far from the most populated of places, we have made sure that they haven’t gotten too strong.

Clipboard03.png


In Sweden, we have increased the definition of southern Sweden somewhat, breaking up some of the provinces to try to show the relevance of the Geatish areas. This should hopefully help somewhat in rivaling the powerhouse of Uppland. 6 New Provinces and 1 New Duchy have been added in Sweden.

Clipboard04.png


And finally, in Denmark we have new pathway across the islands and added Lolland as its own island. Both Jylland and Holstein has been split up and reorganised somewhat, to increase the definition of these areas and show their relevance in the era. In all, there has been 5 New Provinces added and 2 New Duchies.

We hope these changes to Scandinavia will be an interesting addition to all of the updates made to Pagans in Holy Fury, and make certain parts of the region a better experience. Next week, we will take a look down south, towards the changes around the Alps.
 
  • 1Love
Reactions:
Well, I read in wikipedia that Norse didn't settle in Iceland until A.D. 874, before that year there were only Irish monks there. So will the history of Iceland be fixed to make it more "historical" ?
Probably not, they'd have to include some colonisation mechanic just for Iceland for the first bookmark, which is not worth the hassle.
If I'm wrong and they do, wonderful, but I fully expect Iceland to be Norse norse from the start of the game
 
"though knowing that Iceland was far from the most populated of places, we have made sure that they haven’t gotten too strong."

Does this mean each county in Iceland now has fewer holding slots? I need to know this for my completely historical pacifist Icelandic Merchant Republic.
 
"though knowing that Iceland was far from the most populated of places, we have made sure that they haven’t gotten too strong."

Does this mean each county in Iceland now has fewer holding slots? I need to know this for my completely historical pacifist Icelandic Merchant Republic.
Each county has probably only one holding and you might be able to build one additional but not more, or something like that.
But with enough time and work you could have 7 holdings in the 4 counties
 

Is there any thought to capital duchy selection in this?

I mean all though Nidaros still looks like a top shelf capital duchy.

The reality is by cutting up Ostlandet you are depriving Norway of a very good capital duchy option.

Not only was it coastal but it as fat.

The real cynic in me could even say you've taken one solid duchy and turned it into two sub-tier three amd four county runt duchies.
 
Thank you for this diary! The new Scandinavian map setup looks deeper, more accurate and more interesting!
 
Probably not, they'd have to include some colonisation mechanic just for Iceland for the first bookmark, which is not worth the hassle.
If I'm wrong and they do, wonderful, but I fully expect Iceland to be Norse norse from the start of the game

And what about some kind of scripted event "unlocking" the island? Iceland would be a "wasteland" during the Charlemagne start date, until the event triggers around 860 - 880. Maybe you could even had a random chance to get a county in it if you were a Norse ruler.

EDIT: This, or Irish monks... :/
 
Alps? There are no pagans there in within CK2 timeline, if I am not mistaken.
But nevermind, after all Catholic is also a main part of Holy Fury.

(By the way, I am truly looking forward to new provinces in West Africa)
No pagans, but plenty of filthy Cathars to crusade against. After all, if they're already changing it so that you can have a 4th Crusade against the ERE in some circumstances...
 
Well, I read in wikipedia that Norse didn't settle in Iceland until A.D. 874, before that year there were only Irish monks there. So will the history of Iceland be fixed to make it more "historical" ?

Iceland will be settled by Irish monks in 769. When the Viking Age starts, all the vikings will get a new decision to settle Iceland.
 
Iceland will be settled by Irish monks in 769. When the Viking Age starts, all the vikings will get a new decision to settle Iceland.
Excellent to hear! Never understood why some argued this would require a specific colonisation mechanic, the decision is sufficient.
 
Is there any thought to capital duchy selection in this?

I mean all though Nidaros still looks like a top shelf capital duchy.

The reality is by cutting up Ostlandet you are depriving Norway of a very good capital duchy option.

Not only was it coastal but it as fat.

The real cynic in me could even say you've taken one solid duchy and turned it into two sub-tier three amd four county runt duchies.

So one of the rules we have for changing the maps are "6 province duchies max, preferably less than 6" for balance reasons. With the exception of that, we try to go by historical regions to make up the Duchies in the game.

As one who has grown up in that area myself, it is definitely a start I have played a lot, and I'd say it is still a decent place to hang out, as you can travel to practically any part of Norway with relative ease. Though I have to admit I rarely try to optimize these days, so it's not something I gave much thought as I reworked the area.