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Tinto Flavour #20 - 23rd of May 2025

Hello, and welcome one more week to Tinto Flavour, the happy Tuesdays & Fridays in which we take a look at the content of Europa Universalis V!

Today we will be taking a look at the content of Muscovy, and its ‘successor state’, Russia, after Grand Prince Ivan III ‘the Great’ proclaimed himself ‘Sovereign of All Russia’. This is a special TF, because it’s the first one in which we show the content for one of the seven ‘Tier 1’ counties, those that we consider the most important in the 1337-1836 period, and thus, that have the most content in the game.

Let’s start taking a look at it, as usual:

The Grand Principality of Muscovy stands at a crossroads of political maneuvering, and economic troubles under the Tatar Yoke, and an ongoing power struggle among East Slavic principalities, each vying for supremacy within the fragmented Rus' territories. The Tatar invasion continues to cast a long shadow over the region and Muscovy, like many other Rus' principalities, remains a tributary to the formidable Golden Horde.

Guiding Muscovy through these complexities is Grand Prince Ivan Rurikovich, a leader keenly aware of the delicate balance required for survival under Tatar dominion. He has skillfully managed the principality's affairs through diplomatic initiatives and strategic alliances and now seeks to consolidate power and enhance Muscovy's standing within the Yoke, with aspirations to unite the Rus' land under one banner.

Country Selection.png

As usual, consider all UI, 2D and 3D art WIP.

Muscovy1.png

Muscovy2.png

This is the starting diplomatic situation of Muscovy:
Personal Unions.png

Muscovy starts in a Personal Union with a bunch of principalities, including Novgorod, which is a Republic that elects its rulers among those of other countries.

Tatar Yoke.png

This is the current starting state of the Tatar Yoke, with Muscovy being entitled as the ‘Grand Prince of Vladimir’ - or, in other words, the ‘tribute collector’ for the Tatars. We won’t talk about this feature today, but in the Tinto Flavour devoted to the Golden Horde.

These are some of the privileges that the Russian countries have available from the start:
Privilege Kormlenije.png

Privilege The Ryad.png

Priviliege Tysiatskii Office.png

Also, this starting Legal Code Policy:
Policy Russkaya Pravda.png

Here you have some of the advances available for Muscovy and Russia through the ages, as usual:
Advance Gatherers Tribute.png

Advance Pomestnoe.png

Advance Zasechnara.png

Advance Imperial Guard.png

And now let’s move into the narrative content. Muscovy has 109 Dynamic Historical Events available, while there are another 73 unlockable after having formed Russia, which makes for a total of 182 available DHEs - that’s what being a ‘Tier 1’ country means, in regards to content. Many of them will unlock very different types of other content assets, as you’ll see now:

Event Campaigns against Novgorod.png

This is an event that may trigger if Novgorod elects another ruler, as happened historically.

Kremlin.png

Kremlin2.png

If you build the Kremlin, there will be further events related to it.

Event Denga and Ruble.png


Event Prikazi.png

Reform Prikazi.png


Event Book of Census.png

Reform Razriadnyi.png


Event Sophia Komnenos.png

ReformByzantine Court Ceremonies.png

If Byzantium falls, and some other conditions are met, you might be able to marry a Greek princess, and proclaim your country as the ‘Third Rome’.

If you expand your country, you might be able to form Russia at a certain point:
Form Russia.png

Russian Empire.png

Russian Empire2.png

The Russian Principalities account for approximately 460 locations, so you need to conquer some more from the Golden Horde to get to the 508 required. I forced it through the console to show it to you, but one of our QA testers made a recent run, and he was able to form it around 1500, OOC.

When the Age of Reformation starts, there will be this advance available for the Russian countries:
Siberian Frontier1.png

That unlocks:
Pomor Outpost.png

Settle the Frontier.png

It’s also possible for a unique disaster to trigger, the Time of Troubles:
Time of Troubles1.png

Time of Troubles2.png

Time of Troubles3.png

Time of Troubles4.png

Time of Troubles5.png

Time of Troubles has many different events happening, on top of the DHEs:

If you overcome it, there’s even more late-game content, of course:

Reform Collegium.png


Reform Nakaz.png


Reform Speransky.png


Event Bolshoi.png

Bolsoi Theater.png

… And much more, but that’s all for today! As today is Friday, this will be the schedule for next week:
  • Monday -> Tinto Flavour about Venice and Genoa
  • Tuesday -> Tinto Flavour about Serbia and Georgia
  • Wednesday -> Tinto Talks about the Orthodox and Miaphysite religions
  • Thursday -> Third ‘Behind the Scenes’ video!
  • Friday -> Tinto Flavour about the Roman Empire, AKA Byzantium
And also remember, you can wishlist Europa Universalis V now! Cheers!
 
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I hope this comes with a "We also changed the default name to Empire of the Romans and made the ahistorical moniker of Byzantium a part of the gamerule"
As a historian, the very people who invented the 'Byzantium' concept: No, please let us play with our toy!

:p
 
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I wish I could react to this with both a Like and a Love at the same time, the fact that developers listen to the community to make the game as accurate as possible to this extent is amazing. We can't thank you enough.
As it looks like there's a clear majority for 'Dukhovenstvo', just changed it:

Dukhovenstvo.png
 
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That's an impressive amount of flavour! I planned to complain about the name of the clergy estate as soon as I found out about this week topic, but from the devs' responses I realized that I was beaten to it, good job!
Anyway, there are some naming issues:
1. Razriadnyi as separate adjective doesn't make sense. Instead, use Razriadnye knigi or Razriady, and it's plural.
2. It's better to use Russian Tsardom name by default, while Empire name should be granted (via event maybe) when certain conditions are met, such as government reforms and great power rank. In Russian historiography, Tsardom is traditionally heavily associated with pre-Peter era, and also before Peter international recognition of the emperor title was almost impossible, despite his predecessors insisted that the tsar title is equal to the emperor title. EU4 recent Russian content update handle it perfectly.
 
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Please, change the color of the Kremlin from red to white. Not many people realize that it was painted red only when the Bolsheviks came to power, well after the timeframe of the game. Furthermore, will there be events regarding the Streltsy? Their influence was considerable and they were only disbanded by Peter the Great, who replaced them with the more modern Preobrazhensky regiment.
Here you can see the painting of Peter the Great disbanding the Streltsy with white Kremlin in the background called "Morning of the Streltsy Execution" by Surikov


Surikov_streltsi.jpg
 
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Formable Ruthenia should also have access to the 'Siberian Frontier' mechanic. In EU4, it's odd when they replace Muscovy but don't expand eastward.
 
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The event takes dynamically the last ruling dynasty in Byzantium, and uses that dynasty to create the character, including the dynamic localization of the event (the event title, and the event description). The second text box is the 'Historical Info' box, which is a purely historical description (this is a new feature in EU5). This second box is something that the players can select to keep, or discard and just have the dynamic description box, with a game rule.
notice how pavia said Byzantium and not empire of the romans
romaboos in shambles rn
 
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Also small note - Kremlin should be white, it was repainted after Bolsheviks came to power
Originally, it was built in red, as natural colour of bricks.
1748017207493.png

Simon Ushakov's icon "Praise to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. The Tree of the Russian State. It was made in 1668, and we clearly see that Kremlin is red.

1748017369015.png

And this is Sforza castle in Milan. Really reminds me something (fact about italian architectors, invited to build Kremlin)


But, it was painted white after, i agree
1748017315635.png

1797, Gerard Delabarte.
We see kremlin is white

Then, again red)
 
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Will there be content for Cossack Hosts and establishing them to advance imperial control? Areas like southern mountain borders with Georgia and Far East should need them. Its different from more civilian settlement focused Siberian Frontier event shown

HOst should have different "focuses":

Settlement and providing military (Kuban/East Ukraine region), COntrol of Locals (Caucasus), trade and exploration (Far East)
 
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Formable Ruthenia should also have access to the 'Siberian Frontier' mechanic. In EU4, it's odd when they replace Muscovy but don't expand eastward.
I think it's better for Ruthenia to have their own content/flavour and identity rather than just being a carbon copy of Russia with a different flag.
Especially since forming Ruthenia requires you to unify a region that doesn't even border the Urals, let alone Siberia.
It would be like giving France conquistadors rather than their own colonial flavour.
1748017762962.png
 
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If you are considering changing to transliteration, then maybe it's then only logical to use transliteration for Burghers and Commoners as well? (That is likely to be "Meschane" and "Krestjane" correspondingly)

edit: or "Meschanstvo" and "Krestjanstvo" to be in the same form as "Dukhovenstvo"
Some more work:
Estates2.png
 
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Will there be content about foreigners moving into Russia for opportunities? This happened a lot historically as it was an opportunity for advancement and wealth due to rapid expansion of the Empire. There are multiple categories:

1. Peasants running away from Poland/Lithuania (were crucial in settlement of some territories and creation of Cossack hosts)
2. German Settlements (considering this happened historically Russia should be excluded from Catholic only requirements)
3. Foreign Nobility, especially German was invited to Russia. This should give progress towards reform/technology as this was very common way for Empire to get education elite and scientists while having bad education system.

Considering this practice really solves the issue of a country having conservative/traditionalist views on education/religion while pushing back and winning against enlightened states, i think it makes sense for Russia to have as a unique action (that will help with research/income/military) it can take at the cost of the nobility happiness (who didnt like foreigners taking their jobs) and even some peasant happiness. It will allow the player to balance the amount of these foreign invitees they can have vs the stability of the state.
This will also help the institution/technology spread issue, as historically Russia went through multiple radical jumps vs slow and steady change more common in rest of Europe

 
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I know it probably doesn't make sense with the current culture unification mechanic, but I do wish that Kyiv was able to form Russia (or at least the same tag with a different name 'Rus' and flag). It would be really cool to be able to choose between a European-centered Ruthenia and an alternative Russia. Especially since 'Ruthenia' is a bit of an anachronistic exonym.
 
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I think it's better for Ruthenia to have their own content/flavour and identity rather than just being a carbon copy of Russia with a different flag.
Especially since forming Ruthenia requires you to unify a region that doesn't even border the Urals, let alone Siberia.
It would be like giving France conquistadors rather than their own colonial flavour.View attachment 1305107

While I agree that Ruthenia should have its own distinct flavor and identity, I don’t think the idea of eastern colonization should be entirely off the table. Historically, Ukrainian Cossacks played a role in eastern expansion — consider examples like Green Ukraine in the Russian Far East, as well as references to Yellow, Pink, and Grey Ukraine. So, the concept of Ruthenia having some eastern ambitions or interactions isn't entirely unimaginable within a historical or flavor context.

Green Ukraine, Yellow Ukraine, Pink Ukraine and Grey Ukraine
 
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