Tinto Maps #4 Poland, Ruthenia, Baltic Feedback

[Kotyk-durkotyk]

Since it has been a hot topic in recent Tinto Flavour posts, here I suggest potential flavourful Ukrainian names for estates and professions.

ESTATES
Estates are localised for most of languages we've seen so far, so I suggest these estate names for tags and cultures using Ukrainian dialect.
I see them as the most flavourful, historically and linguistically relevant.

English​	Localised​	Ukrainian​	Notes and alternatives​
NOBLES​	Znat​	Знать​	Znat is the best fitting term with obvious local East Slavic origin imo. Shliakhta is also possible, but it came with the Polish-Lithuanian rule. Boiars were relevant for only very early game, unlike Russian territory.
CLERGY​	Klir​	Клір​	I would like to avoid -stvo terms here, so I prefer Klir over Dukhovenstvo.​
BURGHERS​	Mishchany​ or​ Mistiany​	Міщани​ або​ Містяни​	Other alternatives for discussion:​ Horodiany (Городяни) Kuptsi (Купці – meaning Traders)
TRIBESMEN​	Plemena​	Племена​	Direct translation​
COSSACKS​	optional (Kozaky)​	(Козаки)​	Since it is a borrowed term and quite 'localised' by itself, I would be totally OK with the English name Cossacks​
COMMONERS​	Prostoliud​	Простолюд​	Direct translation​

PROFESSIONS
I do not think they should be localised, but simply in case they are localised everywhere else, I write my suggestions.
Otherwise I think they should remain Labourers/Soldiers/Peasants/Slaves everywhere.

English​	Localised​	Ukrainian​	Notes and alternatives​
Labourers	optional (Remisnyky)	(Ремісники)	It's more like Craftsmen,​ but fits better into the time period than Працівники.​
Soldiers	optional (Voiaky)	(Вояки)	Direct translation​
Peasants	optional (Seliany)	(Селяни)	Direct translation​
Slaves	optional (Raby)	(Раби)	Direct translation​

Other East Slavic dialects could share some words too I believe. Like Znat' or Prostonarodye for Russian.

 

[gazr23]

Others may have flagged this but I wondered how you were going to represent Casimir the Great's confirmation of privileges and invitation to Jewish settlers, which led to mass Jewish immigration from the HRE/Italy during the years immediately before and after the game start.

 

[GenericUsername1444]

Really interesting insight from a YouTuber about this region (a qualified historian specialising in this time period):

Can't speak for the veracity of the contents of the video, but I found his views interesting.

 

[MinDiuSe]

Really interesting insight from a YouTuber about this region (a qualified historian specialising in this time period):

Can't speak for the veracity of the contents of the video, but I found his views interesting.

The issue with this video is that he is only talking and not explaining where the info comes from.

 

[MinDiuSe]

Others may have flagged this but I wondered how you were going to represent Casimir the Great's confirmation of privileges and invitation to Jewish settlers, which led to mass Jewish immigration from the HRE/Italy during the years immediately before and after the game start.

For ne it's interesting how this will be achieved : During his reign, nearly 30 towns were supplied with fortification walls and some 50 castles were constructed

 

[Dennis [UA]]

Hello all,

After watching Zleewik’s excellent video discussing the Eastern European setup in the EU5 dev build, I wanted to raise some points that deserve closer examination, especially regarding the early-game situation of Poland, the Galicia–Volhynia succession, and the region of Podolia.

---

1. Galicia–Volhynia: A Complex Succession, Not an Instant PU​

Currently, Poland does not begin EU5 with a personal union over Halych, but after selecting the event "The Succession of Leader Bolesław Piast," it immediately receives a Personal Union over Halych. This is historically inaccurate and oversimplifies one of the most dynamic periods in Eastern European history.

Historical Background​

• With the Rurikid line extinct, Volhynia passed to Liubartas of Lithuania, and Galician nobles invited Yuri II (Bolesław Jerzy II) to rule. He converted to Orthodoxy but was poisoned in 1340 due to conflicts with local boyars.
• After his death, the boyars offered Galicia to Liubartas, but Casimir III of Poland invaded Lviv that same year. In 1341, Dmytro Dedko emerged as a semi-independent ruler under Polish overlordship after resisting with the help of Tatars and Lithuanians.
• Dedko was later forced to submit, and after his death, Casimir III successfully annexed Galicia in 1349, ending its independence and vassalage to the Golden Horde.

Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Galicia–Volhynia Wars - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In-Game Issue​

• The event gives Poland a Claim Throne CB on both Volhynia and Galicia, which is historically grounded due to the succession crisis following Yuri II's death.
• However, the main issue is that the event also immediately places Halych in a personal union under Polish control, as if the claim was uncontested and accepted.
• Historically, while Casimir III did march on Lviv and take it in 1340, it was an invasion, not a dynastic inheritance. He had to assert military control in the face of resistance from Ruthenian nobles and other regional powers.
• Granting a PU instantly through an event conflates a military occupation with peaceful succession and skips one of the most pivotal regional power struggles of the 14th century.
• As shown in the in-game screenshot, once the event is taken, Halych appears in a personal union under Poland in the diplomatic mapmode, with no conflict, war, or negotiation required.

Suggestion:​

• Do not grant an immediate PU.
• Instead, trigger a "Situation" (as shown in other parts of the game) involving a succession crisis.
• Let Poland pursue the union via diplomatic maneuvering or war, with Lithuania, Hungary, Golden Horde, and possibly Ruthenian nobles contesting the outcome.
• Represent the eventual annexation through evolving challenges and rewards within the Situation system, rather than instant outcomes.

This change would restore both historical accuracy and early-game challenge.

2. Podolia: Mislabeling and Cultural Mismatch​

The Podolia region is another area in need of revision for historical accuracy. In the current dev build, we see provinces labeled as "Western Podolia" and "Eastern Podolia", but their placement and cultural assignment are problematic.

Geographical Inaccuracy​

• The provinces labeled "Western" and "Eastern Podolia" are placed around Ternopil and Khmelnitskyi, which historically lay on the western edge of Podolia or within Red Ruthenia.
• Additionally, despite Podolia's fertile soil, none of its provinces are designated as farmland in-game. Instead, much of it is portrayed as forest, which contradicts its historical agricultural significance.
  
  Podolia is part of the vast East European Plain, bordered by the Dniester River and the Carpathian arc, with fertile black soil (chernozem) and important trade rivers like the Dniester and Southern Bug. Its geography is marked by the Podolian Upland — low hills and fluvial valleys extending southeast.. It historically lies east of Red Ruthenia, primarily encompassing modern Vinnytsia Oblast and southern Khmelnytskyi Oblast, with parts of Ternopil, Cherkasy, and Odesa Oblasts. The core cities include Vinnytsia, Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Bratslav, and Bar.

Podolia

Cultural Misassignment​

• Both "Eastern" and "Western Podolia" are currently assigned Halician culture, which doesn't reflect the region's real identity.

I understand for simplification Podolian culture can not be added but i think it should not be Halychian but rather Ruthenian like the rest of Kyiv

The suggestions were brought to my attention by Tyraget who made a video about this and was linked here by @GenericUsername1444

 

[Polesie Admiral]

Suggestion:​

• Do not grant an immediate PU.
• Instead, trigger a "Situation" (as shown in other parts of the game) involving a succession crisis.
• Let Poland pursue the union via diplomatic maneuvering or war, with Lithuania, Hungary, Golden Horde, and possibly Ruthenian nobles contesting the outcome.
• Represent the eventual annexation through evolving challenges and rewards within the Situation system, rather than instant outcomes.

This change would restore both historical accuracy and early-game challenge.

here's my own suggestion, after an event where Yuri get poisoned,both Volhynia and Galicia would pass to Liubartas, prompting an event for Poland to pursue a diplomatic succession(it'll be inherited by Kazimierz after Liubartas) or war over Galicia, at the same time a revolt in Galicia under Dedko will commence, the revolt can ally the Horde or whatnot

 

[Kotyk-durkotyk]

Hello all,

After watching Zleewik’s excellent video discussing the Eastern European setup in the EU5 dev build, I wanted to raise some points that deserve closer examination, especially regarding the early-game situation of Poland, the Galicia–Volhynia succession, and the region of Podolia.

---

1. Galicia–Volhynia: A Complex Succession, Not an Instant PU​

here's my own suggestion, after an event where Yuri get poisoned,both Volhynia and Galicia would pass to Liubartas, prompting an event for Poland to pursue a diplomatic succession(it'll be inherited by Kazimierz after Liubartas) or war over Galicia, at the same time a revolt in Galicia under Dedko will commence, the revolt can ally the Horde or whatnot

I am not 100% sure, but if I got it correctly from other videos, Yuriy II gets scripted death only when you play as Poland, but not not when Poland is AI. At least in all other non-Poland youtube videos I saw Halych and Volhynia alive.
Maybe, similarly, when you only play as Lithuania, you get Volhynia immediately and CB on Halych.
And maybe when you play as Halych or Volhynia Yuriy II does not have scripted death, can get heirs, but maybe face other challenges.
But I might be totally wrong.

This approach would be fair because from the Mali TF we know that Mansa Musa does not have scripted death, even though in reality he died in 1337. At the same time if you play as Poland or Lithuania you get a nice event, flavour and benefit. I'll definitely use it in my Polish/Lithuanian playthrough

Overall I also agree that if you get Yuriy's death event in 1340 as Poland or Lithuania, the succession should be a bit more challenging.
_____

2. Podolia: Mislabeling and Cultural Mismatch​

The Podolia region is another area in need of revision for historical accuracy. In the current dev build, we see provinces labeled as "Western Podolia" and "Eastern Podolia", but their placement and cultural assignment are problematic.

I have also addressed this before and I totally agree.
But the devs here preferred much later Commonwealth borders instead of historical regions and Halych-Volhynian division for some reason.
Having Easterm Podolia to the west of Vinnytsia for Ukrainians looks odd. As well as tiny Polesia, wrong Halych-Volhynia areas border, that was well-known and defined in sources.

 

[Polesie Admiral]

And maybe when you play as Halych or Volhynia Yuriy II does not have scripted death, can get heirs, but maybe face other challenges.
But I might be totally wrong.

maybe there should be for Yurii a scripted death in 1340ish if the nobility are unsatisfied? since they poisoned him

 

[Dan29067]

@Dennis [UA] Really nice feedback and summary. I was waiting for relevant Tinto Flavour to talk abouth this topic more, and we probably would have many possibilities to leave more feedback in the future, so I just would address few moments about Podolia:

Geographical Inaccuracy​

• The provinces labeled "Western" and "Eastern Podolia" are placed around Ternopil and Khmelnitskyi, which historically lay on the western edge of Podolia or within Red Ruthenia.
• Additionally, despite Podolia's fertile soil, none of its provinces are designated as farmland in-game. Instead, much of it is portrayed as forest, which contradicts its historical agricultural significance.

Well, Ternopil is marked as part of the province of Terebovlia, but you are right: both the "Western Podolia" and "Eastern Podolia" provinces are actually located in Western Podolia. Eastern Podolia includes the area ruled by the Golden Horde at the start of the game, around Vinnytsia, Bratslav, and Torgovytsia. Historically, the borders of the area shifted, but I think its shape is shown more or less correctly in the game as the future area of Podolia (proper) and the Bratslav voivodeships. However, the names of the two mentioned provinces are certainly incorrect and should simply be named after the largest settlements in the region, for example, Kamianets and Mezhybozhe. And yes, the area in the region is probably too forested.

Cultural Misassignment​

• Both "Eastern" and "Western Podolia" are currently assigned Halician culture, which doesn't reflect the region's real identity.

I understand for simplification Podolian culture can not be added but i think it should not be Halychian but rather Ruthenian like the rest of Kyiv

It's currently divided between Halychian and Ruthenian cultures, which is indeed a bit controversial. (Actually, Volhynian culture could be a slightly better alternative, considering that the Podolian dialect is closest to Volhynian and there are many historical connections between the two regions.) To resolve this controversy, I actually do suggest adding a separate Podolian culture in the area, alongside the already existing others that are similar in size.

 

[Dennis [UA]]

Galicia–Volhynia Conflict​

The Galicia–Volhynia conflict should be more challenging for Poland and Lithuania. At the moment, it plays out too easily through a single event, when historically it was a long and contested struggle involving multiple powers. It would benefit from a more dynamic “Situation” or multi-faceted path involving resistance and rival claims.

Podolia Province Naming​

The provinces currently labeled “Western Podolia” and “Eastern Podolia” are both situated in western Podolia. Meanwhile, provinces like Vinnytsia (Central Podolia), which are farther east and correctly placed, highlight how inconsistent the naming is. These province names should be updated to reflect actual geography — the current labels are misleading.

Black Soil (Chernozem) and Farmland Terrain​

The chernozem (black soil) belt is one of Ukraine’s most defining geographic and economic features. Ukraine has long been known as the “breadbasket of Europe” due to the widespread presence of this fertile soil, which stretches across large parts of the country — including Podolia.

Other Paradox titles, like Victoria 3, represent this with a “Black Soil” production bonus. In EU5, the natural equivalent would be farmland terrain, but currently the region is underrepresented in that regard, with most provinces marked as woods.

• The broader Ukrainian region should include more farmland provinces to reflect its agricultural importance.
• Podolia, in particular, should have at least one farmland province to match its historical fertility and economic role.

Chernozem - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

For refrence current Ukraine Terrain map modes

Very few Farmlands in Central Ukraine and Kyiv only being one with no surrounding Farmlands at all

Really looking forward to how the region develops — there’s a lot of potential here for both immersive storytelling and strategic gameplay.

 

[Dan29067]

here's my own suggestion, after an event where Yuri get poisoned,both Volhynia and Galicia would pass to Liubartas, prompting an event for Poland to pursue a diplomatic succession(it'll be inherited by Kazimierz after Liubartas) or war over Galicia, at the same time a revolt in Galicia under Dedko will commence, the revolt can ally the Horde or whatnot

I don't think that Liubartas should pass titles to anyone else except his son without a fight. What Poland should be able to achieve is to secure neutrality of the Golden Horde. Historically this, together with Lithuanian inability to help Liubartas after disastrious defeat in Battle of Streva against Teutonic Order, allowed Casimir to successfully capture Halych in 1349, unlike his faillure nine years earlier. Although war still continued after that for few decades with mixed success. In any case, Poland shouldn't just get PU over Halych for free after Yuri II Boleslav's death

 

[Kotyk-durkotyk]

Black Soil (Chernozem) and Farmland Terrain​

The chernozem (black soil) belt is one of Ukraine’s most defining geographic and economic features. Ukraine has long been known as the “breadbasket of Europe” due to the widespread presence of this fertile soil, which stretches across large parts of the country — including Podolia.

I agree about Podolia and the Forested Steppe, there could be a bit more farmlands.

But regarding the southern steppe, despite having very fertile soil, it was extremely dry. Terrain type impacts population growth and farmlands there in the Steppe would mead exploding population, but this did not happen historically.

Otherwise the Forested Steppe and Podolia have both extremely fertile black soil and precipitation, so locations like Poltava, Kamianets, Vinnytsia, Bratslav, Cherkasy, Sumy could get farmlands.

 

[Otto_Jager]

I am not 100% sure, but if I got it correctly from other videos, Yuriy II gets scripted death only when you play as Poland, but not not when Poland is AI. At least in all other non-Poland youtube videos I saw Halych and Volhynia alive.
Maybe, similarly, when you only play as Lithuania, you get Volhynia immediately and CB on Halych.
And maybe when you play as Halych or Volhynia Yuriy II does not have scripted death, can get heirs, but maybe face other challenges.
But I might be totally wrong.

This approach would be fair because from the Mali TF we know that Mansa Musa does not have scripted death, even though in reality he died in 1337. At the same time if you play as Poland or Lithuania you get a nice event, flavour and benefit. I'll definitely use it in my Polish/Lithuanian playthrough

Overall I also agree that if you get Yuriy's death event in 1340 as Poland or Lithuania, the succession should be a bit more challenging.
_____


I have also addressed this before and I totally agree.
But the devs here preferred much later Commonwealth borders instead of historical regions and Halych-Volhynian division for some reason.
Having Easterm Podolia to the west of Vinnytsia for Ukrainians looks odd. As well as tiny Polesia, wrong Halych-Volhynia areas border, that was well-known and defined in sources.

Dear Kotik and Tinto.

As a historian and a game lover, I should also express my opinion

I would like to challenge the artificial and historically unjustified division of Volhynia and Galicia into separate principalities. Yuri II was elected to the throne of the Kingdom of Rus. This is evident from the titles of 5 charters that have survived to our time. And although Yuri II did not take the title of king (this would mean a war with the Golden Horde, which was at the zenith of its power), he was the ruler first of Rus, and then of Galicia and Volhynia. Therefore, the division into two principalities should be done after the death of Yuri II Boleslav (if he has no heirs)

Also according to the video Zlewikk. Poland receives these lands very simply, which is absolutely not historical. In reality, we should have a conflict that lasted on a scale until the annexation of Lviv during the time of Queen Jadwiga. Poland had to give up its claims to the Baltic in order to conquer the lands of the Kingdom of Rus.

Also advice to Tinto. War for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Rus (war for the inheritance of Galicia-Volhynia). Can be one of the two main paths of development for Poland. Modern research suggests that Casimir was one of the conspirators who wanted the death of Yuri II. He, in particular, bribed the stronger pretenders from the family of the Masovian Piasts (Włodko Gorbaty and Bolesław Żemowyt) so that they gave up their claims in his favor. Therefore, for Poland at the beginning of the game there may be a choice for the player - where to choose the direction of expansion. To fight with the Teutonic Order or to weave intrigues and annex the Kingdom of Rus

You can also play the card of Dmitry Dedko, who was able to knock the Poles out of Galicia for 9 years with the help of the forces of the Golden Horde and Daniel of Ostrog. Formally, Dedko was a vassal of Lyubart, but de facto he was a sovereign ruler. What can be tried to play through the oligarchic republic in the Galician Principality.

As a historian, he could paint a couple of more possible tracks related to the prerequisites and course of the war for the inheritance of Yuri II

 

[Dennis [UA]]

I agree about Podolia and the Forested Steppe, there could be a bit more farmlands.

But regarding the southern steppe, despite having very fertile soil, it was extremely dry. Terrain type impacts population growth and farmlands there in the Steppe would mead exploding population, but this did not happen historically.

Otherwise the Forested Steppe and Podolia have both extremely fertile black soil and precipitation, so locations like Poltava, Kamianets, Vinnytsia, Bratslav, Cherkasy, Sumy could get farmlands.

You're absolutely right to highlight the unique advantages of Podolia and the Forested Steppe for agricultural development. Both historical evidence and modern data reinforce this.

Looking at the first map (Gross Agricultural Production), it's clear that central and western oblasts like Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, and Kirovohrad are among Ukraine's agricultural powerhouses, consistently showing high gross agricultural output (UAH 4700–7100 million range). These regions overlap significantly with the Forested Steppe and Podolia, known for their extremely fertile chernozem (black soil) and favorable precipitation patterns — a rare and powerful combination.

The second map (Corn Production and Ports) further strengthens the case. It shows that oblasts such as Vinnytsia and Cherkasy, as well as surrounding regions, are major corn producers, with outputs often exceeding 3,000 to 4,000+ thousand metric tons. This aligns closely with historical centers like Bratslav, Vinnytsia, and Kamianets-Podilskyi, which have long agricultural traditions due to their terrain and climate.

While it's true the southern steppe (e.g., Kherson, Zaporizhia) has extremely fertile soil, the lack of consistent rainfall has historically limited its agricultural potential without irrigation — hence the absence of explosive population growth or dense historical settlement despite its fertility.

In contrast, Podolia and the Forested Steppe offer a more balanced natural environment for agriculture — rich soils, moderate climate, and reliable water sources, which explain both their modern productivity and historical agricultural prominence.

So yes, areas like Vinnytsia, Bratslav, Kamianets, and even Cherkasy or Sumy not only deserve farmland designation — they essentially define Ukraine’s agricultural heartland.

 

[Aldaron]

There is a wrong assumption here that I would like to clarify.

Yes, Chernozem is the most fertile terrain in the world. However, there is an issue. It is not easy to work with medieval techniques. In other words, Chernozen cannot be farmland during the timeframe of the game because it cannot be worked to extract its whole potential.

 

[Dennis [UA]]

There is a wrong assumption here that I would like to clarify.

Yes, Chernozem is the most fertile terrain in the world. However, there is an issue. It is not easy to work with medieval techniques. In other words, Chernozen cannot be farmland during the timeframe of the game because it cannot be worked to extract its whole potential.

Hi Aldaron,
Thanks for your thoughtful clarification — it's great to see deeper discussions around historical realism in game design. That said, I’d like to challenge the idea that chernozem couldn’t be farmland during the game’s timeframe due to medieval technological limitations.
I am deeply interested in that topic so is it possible you can provide some sources ?

Challenging the Core Assumption​

You mentioned that chernozem is “not easy to work with medieval techniques” and “cannot be farmland during the timeframe of the game.” But historical and scientific evidence suggests that chernozem was not only used, it was actively and productively cultivated for millennia — long before the medieval era.

Evidence from Soil Science (MDPI Study)​

A recent peer-reviewed study published in Land (MDPI), titled
“The Soils of Early Farmers and Their Neighbors in the Southern Buh Catchment (Ukraine)” (2023), offers direct archaeological and pedological evidence that early farmers exploited chernozem soils as far back as 5250 BC — in what is now Podolia, Ukraine:

“The early farmers were able to exploit relatively heavy soils to cultivate wheat and barley as early as 5250–5050 cal BC.”
— Land, MDPI (https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/2/388)

It continues:

“Early farmers’ sites stood on chernozem soils (three cases)...”
and
“The available data show that the soils of early farmers [were] arable as are the present-day ones.”

This is particularly significant because these farmers used extremely basic tools — often wooden ards or hand tilling methods. Yet they still managed to cultivate chernozem productively. That suggests the idea that medieval farmers — with iron plows, oxen, and communal farming practices — couldn’t do so is historically unlikely.

Supporting Historical Context from Magocsi​

“As much as two-thirds of the country’s surface land consists of the so-called black earth (chernozem), a resource that has made Ukraine one of the most fertile regions in the world and famous as the ‘breadbasket’ of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and then of the Russian Empire...”
— Magocsi, A History of Ukraine: The Land and Its Peoples, p. 6

This underscores that chernozem soils were not only farmed but central to the region’s economy during the late medieval and early modern periods — well within the timeframe of many historical games. It’s important to note that this reputation wasn’t based on untapped potential — it was based on centuries of actual, productive use.

Personal Experience & Practicality​

While we often think of medieval agriculture as distant and unfamiliar, it’s worth noting that Ukraine remains a deeply agricultural country to this day — not just industrially, but at the household level. Even now, it’s extremely common for families to maintain their own plots of chernozem soil, growing vegetables like potatoes, onions, and carrots using very basic tools — often just spades, hoes, or hand plows.

Sure, potatoes aren’t medieval, but this practice shows something important:

Working chernozem with simple tools is not only possible — it’s still routine.

In fact, almost every Ukrainian can relate to the seasonal rhythm of planting in spring and harvesting in summer — a rhythm so deeply embedded in rural life that it shaped societal customs. For example, Ukraine’s school summer break is three months long, traditionally so that children could help their families with the harvest. That’s a living cultural reminder of how agricultural labor shaped everyday life — and it directly reflects how things must have worked in the medieval period too.

Historical farmers didn't need to extract the full scientific yield we might expect today. They needed sustainable, practical food production — and chernozem has supported exactly that for millennia, with or without modern equipment.

 

[Dewit]

There are other places that have also been cultivated for "millennia" and are grasslands or woods. And that's ok.

Also, read again what they said, Alderon never disputed that there was farming done in that area.
It was just not possible to used to its whole potential, you can say similar things about areas e.g. in the US before the steel plough and other tools were invented and commonly available.

 

[Dennis [UA]]

There are other places that have also been cultivated for "millennia" and are grasslands or woods. And that's ok.

Also, read again what they said, Alderon never disputed that there was farming done in that area.
It was just not possible to used to its whole potential, you can say similar things about areas e.g. in the US before the steel plough and other tools were invented and commonly available.

Thanks for the follow-up! I understand the nuance about not extracting the full potential of chernozem with medieval tools — that’s a fair point.
But just to be precise, Aldaron originally said:

“Chernozem cannot be farmland during the timeframe of the game because it cannot be worked to extract its whole potential.”

That goes beyond reduced efficiency — it suggests it couldn’t function as farmland at all, which doesn’t align with historical or archaeological evidence. Chernozem was cultivated for centuries, even if not at maximum output.

Plus, there are several regions in the game marked as Farmlands that have far less historical association with agriculture than Ukraine’s chernozem-rich areas.

 

[Dewit]

That goes beyond reduced efficiency

thats your opinion

— it suggests it couldn’t function as farmland at all, which doesn’t align with historical or archaeological evidence. Chernozem was cultivated for centuries, even if not at maximum output.

you can farm on grassland or in woods, whats your point?