National Awakening and Iberian Twilight freepatch speculation thread

[Vohen]

Many people complained how this Season pass seems rather light in content, but let's look on the optimistic side here, Vicky3's team actually has a pretty great track record with their free patches.

The last flavor pack (PoE) had the movements and discrimination reworks, and CoC will come with the (much anticipated) trade rework, so I'd consider we have a good possibility to see some relevant reworks still this year.

For NA, they already hinted at a nationalism rework, with nationalist fervor/pride and whatnot. I'm also not ruling out a Germany/Italy unification rework, though it'd surely be strange to not have any extra flavor for it in the DLC, even if the rework itself is in the free patch.

For IT maybe the (also much anticipated) navy rework could finally come? It's pretty on theme for both Spain and Portugal, but I'd also expect some extra flavor for it in the DLC, so I dunno...
Maybe also a civil wars rework for the Carlists? Modernization reworks like it was hinted on the flavor text? Those aren't in the Post-release plans, and I don't think its such a high priority right now, so who knows.

What do you guys think? What are you hoping for?

 

[Helmut von Dandy]

National Awakening will be accompanied by a national fervour mechanic, which is obvious from the announcement, but I think that and autonomous trade and treaties are it as far as major reworks go.

Just look at the patch history and you’ll see that the trade rework and a national fervour mechanic are about the limits of what can be done in terms of significant new features in a single year. I think the idea that they could also manage a naval rework and civil war rework in the same release cycle as those two things is extremely unrealistic.

 

[Rudolf Nechvile II]

National Awakening will be accompanied by a national fervour mechanic, which is obvious from the announcement, but I think that and autonomous trade and treaties are it as far as major reworks go.

Just look at the patch history and you’ll see that the trade rework and a national fervour mechanic are about the limits of what can be done in terms of significant new features in a single year. I think the idea that they could also manage a naval rework and civil war rework in the same release cycle as those two things is extremely unrealistic.

Yeah, as much of a bummer as it is, I think you're right and the devs have already said as much:

However, navy will not not be a focus of updates for the near future (e.g. 1.9), but will be when we can dedicate the time needed to it as we are quite passionate about the navy ( we really like ships and trains)

We also would like to come back to the naval improvements we have previously teased, but these changes are much larger in scope so we can’t tell you exactly when they are coming at this point.

Although it's debatable as to what qualifies as "near future", but the general vibe is that it definitely won't come this year anymore. At the very least, I'd be shocked if it did, but who knows, miracles happen...

Because of the video discussion from last year, I would guess, it probably was intended for this year (maybe even the next DLC), but the scope of navy grew too large, was deemed lower priority (compared to trade) and is therefore on the backburner for now. I don't think they'd tease/announce a rework if they always intended its inclusion to be two years down the line.
I think the naval rework will release next year, and they could pair it nicely with some content for Britain and her dominions (Canada, Australia, and South Africa). They could maybe even throw in some content for the Boer republics and the Boer Wars.

 

[Desseabar]

Here's the roadmap from December:

They said naval rework is out of scope for this year, but I would guess "national fervor" will probably tie into a legitimacy improvement, or better integrating foreign and domestic policy.

I would really hope that we get a diplo play rework, either via diplo treaties or later in the year.

I suspect National Awakening will get a new subject type somewhere between a puppet and a state, otherwise they wouldn't put so much emphasis on Bulgaria and Hungary, which aren't independent at game-start (and playing as the Ottomans only to release Bulgaria doesn't seem as fun).

For Iberian Twilight, I think "updates and improvements for nations in the orbit of the Iberian powers" probably includes semi-major content for Cuba, Philippines, and Brazil. I could maybe imagine a bit of content around Kongo, Gaza and other Portuguese holdings, as well as Morocco/Western Sahara. It's not really clear how much bespoke content for the rest of the Americas will receive, though.

 

[Vohen]

To be fair, last year we had two DLCs, each with a major rework in the free patch, but this year there'll be three, so after trade with CoC and nationalism with NA, we could expect something for IT as well.
Maybe nothing major, but it might happen nonetheless.

 

[Desseabar]

To be fair, last year we had two DLCs, each with a major rework in the free patch, but this year there'll be three, so after trade with CoC and nationalism with NA, we could expect something for IT as well.
Maybe nothing major, but it might happen nonetheless.

What on their roadmap ties in with potential IT updates? Naval rework is the clearest answer but has been ruled out for this year.
Maybe it could be a strategic interest rework of some way – a strategic interest to conquer Central America looks different from one to set up trade, or something like that.

Of course we've gotten updates outside the scope of the roadmap, like harvest conditions or prestige goods, but I doubt we'd have anything completely out of the blue.

 

[Vohen]

What on their roadmap ties in with potential IT updates? Naval rework is the clearest answer but has been ruled out for this year.
Maybe it could be a strategic interest rework of some way – a strategic interest to conquer Central America looks different from one to set up trade, or something like that.

Of course we've gotten updates outside the scope of the roadmap, like harvest conditions or prestige goods, but I doubt we'd have anything completely out of the blue.

Maybe the legitimacy one? They could introduce national pride in NA tying into legitimacy and then expand legitimacy as a whole in IT.
I could see it fitting in for the Carlist and Two Brothers Wars.

Could also have some of the diplomacy entries fitting here, it was actually mentioned in the Portuguese features:

American ambitions - navigate the diplomatic relations with Brazil, defining your position as a former suzerain of the region.

Could be a long shot, but who knows.

 

[OnceSetCannotBeChanged]

CoC, IT, NA… Ugh I hate these acronyms

 

[Vohen]

CoC, IT, NA… Ugh I hate these acronyms

I too wish PDX named their DLCs with better acronyms...

 

[Manchura]

as of the last dev diary, they showed off what and when the new dev diaries are and considering this thread is post release of that... yall really dont read them considering what you are all asking for compared to the dev diaries to be released lol

 

[Vohen]

as of the last dev diary, they showed off what and when the new dev diaries are and considering this thread is post release of that... yall really dont read them considering what you are all asking for compared to the dev diaries to be released lol

You shoud read the title of the thread...

 

[Manchura]

You shoud read the title of the thread...

I did, but people are asking for new diplomatic pacts and demands, which is what the next dev diary is about....

 

[Vohen]

I did, but people are asking for new diplomatic pacts and demands, which is what the next dev diary is about....

Nothing is to say they can't add diplomatic pacts after this DLCs, in fact I imagine CoC's diplomacy will be focused on trade and companies, possibly not having much beyond that.
The thread is for speculation on the features for after CoC anyway.

 

[Desseabar]

Nothing is to say they can't add diplomatic pacts after this DLCs, in fact I imagine CoC's diplomacy will be focused on trade and companies, possibly not having much beyond that.
The thread is for speculation on the features for after CoC anyway.

We still don't actually know what diplo treaties are. They're presumably distinct from diplomatic actions, but we don't know what they'll actually entail. Maybe some of that diplomatic roadmap is covered with them, but who knows.

Besides that, we know from history that most DLC comes with free patches with mechanical updates, and we know there's a lot of diplomatic features on the roadmap. I think it's fine to speculate on what countries will get content and what mechanical updates we'll get.

 

[Desseabar]

• Austrian Internal Content - will Klemens von Metternich keep the crumbling empire together, or will nationalist forces break it apart? Is there a future for all the different ethnicities under Habsburg's absolute rule, or maybe it’s time for a more federationist state?
• Hungarian Flavour - determine the place of the proud Hungarian nation within or without the empire.
• Powderkeg of Europe - engage with intricate narrative content surrounding the emerging Balkan states, struggling for independence and power.
• New southern states - form Yugoslavia or Illyria, carving out their borders and national outline as you please.
• Historic characters - join a whole cast of bigger-than-life figures who helped shape the outline of Austria and Balkans.

From the announcement for national awakening, I'd maybe index on two things:

• Big emphasis on characters: they cite Metternich as the key character for Austria, and they specifically mention adding a lot of characters. I suspect this could be a cabinet-adjacent update? Or at least splitting out the head of government and monarch. Maybe some adjustments to the agitator system too.
• Hungary (and Bulgaria) mentioned still makes me think there will probably be a new subject type so you can play as them from 1836, before they're independent.

 

[Delterius]

While the Austrian update is, well, the Austrian update I wonder to what extent it will end up being like Colossus of the South. Which was a Brazil DLC with implications for the whole continent. If the Austrian DLC is focused on nationalism in general and the balkans in particular, then it should have implications not just for the Hungarians and a hypothetical Yugoslavia but also for the Ottomans, the Romanians, and the Greeks.

 

[Vohen]

• Hungary (and Bulgaria) mentioned still makes me think there will probably be a new subject type so you can play as them from 1836, before they're independent.

Going for a very wild and out there idea, what if they're taking a cue from EU5 and CK3 for landless play? Playing as a Hungarian or Bulgarian "devolved" parliament or government. Or maybe even federalism, with Brazil or the US having state governments.
Honestly, this wouldn't be on my list for something the game actively needs at this point, so I'd have mixed feelings.

 

[Desseabar]

While the Austrian update is, well, the Austrian update I wonder to what extent it will end up being like Colossus of the South. Which was a Brazil DLC with implications for the whole continent. If the Austrian DLC is focused on nationalism in general and the balkans in particular, then it should have implications not just for the Hungarians and a hypothetical Yugoslavia but also for the Ottomans, the Romanians, and the Greeks.

I think on the Steam page they confirmed a few more countries across the Balkans? Montenegro, Serbia, and Illyria are all confirmed, if I recall. It will definitely add content for the Ottomans and Russians, though.
I don't think it's being framed as an "Ottoman DLC" which gives me a tiny glimmer of hope that we'll still get the Crimean War + international debt DLC of my dreams...

Going for a very wild and out there idea, what if they're taking a cue from EU5 and CK3 for landless play? Playing as a Hungarian or Bulgarian "devolved" parliament or government. Or maybe even federalism, with Brazil or the US having state governments.
Honestly, this wouldn't be on my list for something the game actively needs at this point, so I'd have mixed feelings.

Hmm, if that's the case, that would presumably tie in with companies too, right? Opening up a world where you play as United Fruit or whatever.

That feels like it would be a major update, though. I think "new subject which can't really do diplomacy and contributes political power to the overlord" feels more plausible, and helps represent other decentralized countries like the US. Plus it would make the transition into a personal union as Austria-Hungary much smoother.