14 DAY TRIAL // Europa Universalis IV is a grand strategy title that’s designed to simulate as much of the Middle Ages as possible, with players able to deal with the political, economic, diplomatic and military affairs of their country, and religion was one of the most important elements of life during that period.
With the new Art of War expansion, the team at Paradox Development Studios wants to introduce more nuance when it comes to the interactions created by the Reformation and Counter-Reformation movements, with the overall aim being to allow something like the Thirty Years’ War to take place.
In a developer diary, the studio says that it will introduce religious Leagues for the Holy Roman Empire, which will simulate how the spread of the Protestant faith has changed the balance of power inside the political entity.
As the Reformation gains adepts, an Evangelical Union will be created and it will be followed by the Catholic League.
The team adds, “Any country in Europe is then free to join either League regardless of their faith, with AI countries generally favoring their own religion unless they have strategic reasons to support the other League. For example, France might join the Protestant side to balance against the Emperor.”
Paradox will also introduce a new Religious Supremacy war goal, which allows a side to enforce its own faith on the Holy Roman Empire and all its electors if they can get 50% warscore, and if that goal is not achieved, a special peace event will fire which will simulate the Westphalian order.
There are both tech-based and diplomatic reasons to try to join a Religious League and win the coming war. A win for either side can strengthen the HRE.
A new take on the Reformation in Art of War
Paradox is also changing the mechanics of the Reformation itself in Europa Universalis IV, and the modifications will be part of the free patch that’s offered alongside Art of War.
Centers will appear in the countries which first adopted the new religion and will spread the faith into near provinces unless they are conquered and they get converted to Catholicism.
The team adds, “This replaces the old system of random events spawning new faiths in provinces and, we think, makes for a stronger and more consistent Reformation, as well as rewarding countries who convert early because they are near one of these Centers of Reformation.”
Art of War will be launched before the end of the year.
