14 DAY TRIAL // The team at Paradox Development Studio announces that the Art of War expansion for its grand strategy title Europa Universalis IV will introduce an entirely new custom client state mechanic which is designed to allow very successful players to reshape the territories they conquer in any way they see fit.
The studio explains that the new feature is designed to reflect the way the flow of time tends to change what population thinks about old political entities, especially when under the rule of a foreign power.
The development team states, “As is often the case, Napoleon was an inspiration here. We have added the concept that the great Emperor introduced to so many places in Europe, creating countries with new identities and flags out of territories he liberated from the decadent monarchies of Europe.”
Once the player manages to reach tech level 22 in the Art of War expansion for Europa Universalis IV, which is just before the 1700’s roll around for gamers who choose the Western European nations, the game can create a Client State.
They do this by choosing a capital on the map and then selecting a name for it and then a flag, a map color and a symbol.
After that, it’s easy to choose adjacent provinces that can be added to the new political entity, which begins life as a very loyal vassal but can develop its own priorities over time.
Easier to get into and out of battle
As the name implies, the new expansion for Europa Universalis IV is designed to improve the way warfare works, and one easy way to do that is by improving coordination between allies, with the fleets of the gamer not able to pick up troops that belong to a player that shares war goals.
Allies can also take a look at each other’s ongoing battles in order to know whether they should risk their own troops or not.
The company adds that “We’ve also spruced up the battle results display a bit. When a battle is over, the results screen will now show 3D models of the leading participants’ infantry, allowing you to admire your victorious soldiers in full detail after they are done routing the enemy.”
Europa Universalis IV is one of the most complex and enjoyable strategy titles of the moment, and Art of War, which will arrive before the end of the year, aims to make it even easier to play while also introducing a range of new core ideas.
