Europa Universalis V News

[p]Hello everyone, and welcome to another Development Diary for Europa Universalis V![/p][p]Over the past six diaries, we’ve journeyed through the core pillars that define EU5:  from the intricacies of population mechanics, to government and economy, exploration and colonization, religion and culture, and finally military. Each of these systems lays the foundation for the next generation of grand strategy.[/p][p]But today, we turn our focus to something even more delicate and equally powerful: Diplomacy, the art of managing relationships between nations.[/p][p]While wars may shape borders, diplomacy defines the world that emerges from them. So let's get right into it.[/p][p]“To hold a pen is to be at war.” And nowhere is that truer than within the Holy Roman Empire, where 312 states exist in a constant web of alliances, rivalries, and imperial politics. In such a landscape, the pen often proves mightier and potentially far more dangerous than the sword.
[/p][h2]Diplomacy Basics[/h2][p]
[/p][p]To begin we will start with the Diplomats system within EU5. [/p][p][/p][p]In our previous Europa Universalis title, diplomacy relied on a fixed number of diplomats, each capable of performing one action at a time. In EU5 this system of diplomats has been reworked. Diplomats now function as a form of diplomatic currency, representing how much diplomatic activity your nation can sustain at any given time.[/p][p]Every diplomatic action, whether it’s forming an alliance, proposing a royal marriage, or declaring war will require spending a diplomat. While ongoing diplomatic actions such as improving relations, currying favors, or building a spy network will require a monthly diplomat cost. [/p][p]The number of diplomats and generation of new diplomats varies depending on country rank, societal values, advances, diplomatic spending and building the Royal Garden building in your capital. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Starting diplomats and diplomatic generation of Upper Bavaria, the emperor of the HRE in 1337.[/p][p][/p][p]Another key element shaping international diplomacy is Diplomatic range, the measure of how far your diplomats can reach beyond your borders. [/p][p]As the game progresses, your Diplomatic Range expands through advances and upgrading country rank (i.e Duchy versus Kingdom). This value determines the maximum physical distance your diplomats can travel to conduct diplomacy, calculated by the distance between the capitals of the two nations involved. 
[/p][p]In the early game, the diplomatic range is similar to what nations can see. For example England in the start date will be able to diplomatically interact with the Golden Horde, Morocco, Mamluks or Georgia but will be unable to diplomatically interact with Yemen. 
[/p][p]Although England in 1337 can interact with the Mamluks, Yemen is out of their diplomatic range.[/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]Foreign envoys is an advance in the Age of Renaissance that increases diplomatic range by 33%.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Once you have begun forging alliances, creating subjects, or joining some international organizations, another vital mechanic comes into play: Diplomatic Capacity.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Diplomatic Capacity represents the extent of your nation’s diplomatic commitments, determining how many formal relationships your state can actively maintain at one time. But not all relationships are equal. Stronger allies and larger vassals will cost more in terms of diplomatic capacity usage. An alliance with France will be much more costly than alliance with the county of Ulm, a large fiefdom will be more costly than a small vassal. You can go over this diplomatic capacity limit but it will cost you in diplomatic reputation and prestige. [/p][p][/p][p]Diplomatic capacity increases with country rank, advances, diplomatic spending and building the embassy building in other nation’s capitals.[/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]Careful on who you choose to ally and how big your vassals get, you might find yourself overwhelmed in your diplomatic endeavors.[/p][p]
[/p][p]In Europa Universalis V, you can invest directly in diplomacy through the Diplomatic Spending slider found in the Economy tab.[/p][p]Increasing your spending boosts subject loyalty, diplomatic capacity, the maximum number of diplomats, and your monthly diplomat generation. How much you invest depends on your strategy, sometimes saving ducats for wars or building is wiser, while other times, investing heavily in diplomacy can secure alliances and maintain subjects.[/p][p]Diplomatic Reputation returns in EU5, now closely tied to the Trust mechanic between nations. Your country’s Diplomatic Reputation represents how highly regarded it is in international relations, particularly it affects how nations view you in terms of reliability. This reliability is represented through the Trust between two nations. Trust measures how confident one country views your nation in acting honorably, whether it's maintaining alliances, honoring treaties, or keeping promises. [/p][p][/p][p]Diplomatic reputation is a flat country modifier, increased through advances, laws, government reforms, and national values. Meanwhile trust is a value that varies from country to country, starting at a base level depending on your diplomatic reputation and then impacted by your actions throughout your campaign. You can also increase trust with a nation by professing trust to them, heavily increasing the trust between your two nations at the cost of diplomatic reputation. Increasing trust will greatly impact a nation’s chance of acceptance of alliances, royal marriages and diplomatic subjugation.[/p][p][/p][p]The Diplomatic Traditions government reform is an early game reform that can be used to increase your Diplomatic Reputation. A wise choice for the diplomatic player. [/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]The Great Power with the highest diplomatic reputation will become the diplomatic hegemon starting in the Age of Discovery. Being the Diplomatic Hegemon gives a new diplomatic action, Influence Country, allowing you to simultaneously improve relations and trust over time.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Throughout your campaign, you may find yourself in need of money, looking to improve cultural opinion, in need of pops from other nations or aiming to isolate an ally from your rivals. All these diplomatic maneuvers rely on Favors.[/p][p]You can curry favors with other nations, with the rate of accumulation depending on your Cultural Influence compared to their Cultural Tradition. However, use them wisely, every favor you spend grants that nation favors on you in return. If they later call in those favors and you refuse, your Trust with them will take a major hit.[/p][p]Favors between two nations are mutually capped, meaning the total of what you owe and what they owe cannot exceed a set limit. Overusing favors can therefore prevent you from gaining more until the balance shifts.[/p][p]Currying favors with the right nation can change your campaign greatly as a minor power, use them wisely. [/p][p][/p][p]Royal Marriages are no longer just a diplomatic action in EU5 and do not cost diplomatic capacity. Instead, they represent a direct union between characters of two royal families. Forming a royal marriage will strengthen trust and relations between nations, but it also carries the potential for dynastic claims. Over time, these ties can evolve into Personal Unions under a Union International Organization, where one crown inherits control over the other’s nation. We will go into more detail on the Union International Organization later in this development diary. [/p][p][/p][p]This finally leads to Rivals, countries can declare their hostility towards other countries by declaring them as Rivals. Countries that are declared rivals unlock additional hostile actions against them, like the ability to intervene in wars or the ability to fabricate Humiliation wars, which allows you to heavily reduce your rival’s prestige and increase yours. Choosing a rival also comes with huge negative opinion and removing the ability to do certain diplomatic options. [/p][p][/p][p]Who you decide to rival will greatly impact your diplomatic landscape.[/p][p]
[/p][h2]Subjects[/h2][p]
[/p][p]In EU5 there are multiple types of subjects, the five main types are: [/p]

• [p]Tributaries: a country that is forced to pay a period tribute to their overlord in the forms of Ducats, Manpower, and Sailors. Tributes can declare their own wars or even declare war on another tributary. They may join their overlord’s wars but it is not guaranteed and is the choice of the subject. This tributary gets protection from their overlord in return. Tributaries cannot be diplomatically annexed by their overlords. [/p]
• [p]Colonial Subjects: a subject centered around the administration of overseas colonies on behalf of its overlord. They benefit from increased population capacity, institution spread from their overlord, and the ability to use slaves to work in their R.G.Os even if their religion does not allow it. These subjects grant their overlord an upsurge of Trade Advantage as well as payment in manpower, sailors and ducats. They will join their overlord’s offensive and defensive wars. These subjects cannot be diplomatically annexed.[/p]
• [p]Dominions: a subject nation that is a self-governed subject exclusive for Monarchies who have the same religious group, nations with the same primary culture, nations with kindred cultures, or for the nations of England or Great Britain. This subject enjoys an increase in their Efficiency of Cabinet and outside of England/Great Britain can only be made when nations are already in a Union International organization with each other. These subjects always join both defensive and offensive wars and can be diplomatically annexed after 100 years. [/p]
• [p]Vassals: the most typical type of subject, a Vassal oversees its territory on behalf of its overlord, paying a vassal fee. Overlords benefit from vassals in terms of prestige increase compared to other subject types and giving both nations, the subject and overlord, better shared institutions. Vassals will always join both defensive and offensive wars but when disloyal can be separately peaced out of wars. They can also declare independence through an independence war if they are disloyal for long periods of times, maybe even allying with other disloyal Vassals. Vassals can be diplomatically annexed after 10 years. [/p]
• [p]Fiefdoms: are a junior title that is the property of its Overlord’s ruler. Exclusive for monarchies of the same religious group of one another, these subjects differ from vassals in that they have more loyalty and cannot directly declare independence. However they come at a much larger diplomatic capacity cost than vassals and do not share institutions with their overlord. Fiefdoms can be diplomatically annexed after 10 years.[/p]

[p]
[/p][p]You can directly interact with any of your subjects diplomatically but also can interact with them using the manage subjects interaction screen under the diplomatic tab. Allowing you to see all subjects’ loyalty, opinion and liberty desire and allowing you to choose their military stance from the choice of Normal, Aggressive, Supportive, Passive and Defensive. [/p][p][/p][p]How you manage your subjects is a strategic choice, many options are available to you whether you want your subject to attach to your armies (supportive) or focus on defending territory (defensive). [/p][p]
[/p][p]This does not include region unique subjects, available to only some nations in EU5 such as the Indian Samanta, the French Appange, or the Middle Kingdom Tǔsī subjects. These are just some of the unique subjects that you will see while playing EU5. Each with their own abilities, bonuses and setbacks. [/p][p][/p][p]Great Yuan Starts with 125 subjects, from Tǔsī subjects, standard vassals to autonomous tributaries.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Every subject has a subject loyalty towards their overlord. Ranging from 0 to 100, once it is below 50 the subject will become a disloyal subject. Disloyal subjects will not aid in wars, only protecting their own land, can be separately peaced out and cannot be diplomatically annexed. Loyalty of subjects can be increased with trust, diplomatic reputation, and improved relations. While loyalty can be decreased by liberty desire, your subjects being more powerful than you and negative relations. Playing as a subject nation you can use a cabinet action to reduce loyalty to your overlord with the sow disloyalty cabinet action. [/p][p][/p][p]Liberty desire represents a subject’s current drive for independence from its Overlord. This value ranges from -100 to +100 but it has a monthly decay towards 0. Liberty desire can also be used as a subject currency, with some actions such as enforcing culture, diverting trade or siphoning their income costing Liberty Desire. [/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]Rightfully ‘repurposing’ your subject’s income costs at a cost of 20 liberty desire. [/p][p]
[/p][p]For some subjects, you may want to integrate them eventually. Different subjects will need more time to begin the integration process but all subjects will need 190 opinion to start integrating and above 125 relations must be maintained while doing the integration process. Diplomatically annexing a subject will cost 0.10 diplomats monthly and the speed in which you integrate them varies depending on how many cities, towns, rural settlement locations they have, with cities and towns costing more Diplomatic Annexation cost than rural locations. The Diplomatic annexation process can be further increased by having the same primary culture as your vassal, having higher cultural influence than your subject’s cultural tradition, being much bigger than your subject, and advances. [/p][p][/p][p]Integrating this Jaunpur subject with 14 million pops and 41 cities is going to take some time.... [/p][p]
[/p][p]Personal Unions are no longer considered subjects but instead an international organization, which we will cover later in this development diary. [/p][p]
[/p][h2]Casus Belli[/h2][p]But what is diplomacy without its breaking points, sometimes the option left for a country in EU5 is to declare war. This is where creating and using a Casus Belli (or CB for short) comes into play. [/p][p]
[/p][p]The option to create spy networks at the cost of diplomats is there allowing you to create certain CBs but usually none of the CBs you can make before the age of Revolutions will be that potent for conquest. [/p][p]
[/p][p]For the most part, your parliament will have to be used to make a CB through the ‘Prepare for War Action’ at the cost of 50% parliamentary support.  [/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]The ‘Prepare for War’ Parliament action will be the primary way to create conquest CBs before the Age of Revolutions. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Outside of parliament, you can get events or use certain situation actions to get claims for conquest. [/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]The Rise of the Turks situation has an available action for the strongest Turkish Beylik, allowing them to create CBs at the cost of ducats.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Besides conquest, other CBs can be made using a spy network. These CBs range from disrupting trade, humiliating a rival, declaring on an excommunicated ruler, or dealing with piracy. Each CB comes with a war goal and bonuses to war score depending on certain objectives such as winning naval or land battles. [/p][p]
[/p][p]In the Age of Revolutions in 1737, the Imperialism CB is unlocked. Allowing you to create wars of conquest using a spy network. This CB varies to a normal conquest CB in that it reduces war score cost, allowing you to take huge swaths of land from a single peace deal. [/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]Time to take conquest to a whole new level[/p][p]
[/p][p]Unless you are in an international organization like the Holy Roman Empire, the option to declare war without a CB is possible, costing some stability and Antagonism gain. [/p][p]
[/p][p]What CBs you use in your wars will shape your peace deals and how you generate warscore, so remember to choose wisely. [/p][p]
[/p][h2]Antagonism[/h2][p]After completing your first war of conquest, you may notice a value known as Antagonism. Antagonism is how negatively other nations view you in your campaign. Countries with high Antagonism toward you will be less inclined to engage in diplomacy and may even act against your interest or join against you in wars. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Unlike Aggressive expansion in EU4, antagonism is not just a value that is caused by aggressive action such as taking land in war. Any nation can have a base level of antagonism towards you based on differences of societal values, government types, religion, culture and language. [/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]In 1337, the Byzantines start with antagonism with the Ottomans [/p][p]
[/p][p]Some actions can also cause an Antagonism ‘bomb’ in a location that affects the countries near it varying degrees depending on how much they care about that location and about the antonizer country. Examples of antagonism ‘bombs’ are conquering land, subjugating through war, events, or executing prisoners. [/p][p][/p][p]Over time Antagonism ‘bombs’ will generally dissipate. You can also decrease a nation’s antagonism towards you by improving relations. [/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]I think this is going to cause some issues[/p][p]
[/p][p]In the worst case, nations with over 50 Antagonism will start and join a coalition international organization against you. These coalitions will fire if the coalition feels they are stronger than you militarily and will defend one another if one is attacked by the coalition target. [/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]I think I took too much land[/p][p]
[/p][h2]International Organizations [/h2][p]In EU5, nations can band together in some kind of agreement or organization, these groups of nations form what we call International Organizations (IO for short). [/p][p]
[/p][p]There are multiple types of International Organizations varying in size from 2 nations to over 500 nations, with some in the start of the game such as the Holy Roman Empire and the Japanese Shogunate and others forming as the game progresses such as Crusades, the Guelphs and Ghibellines and coalitions. [/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]The Japanese Shogunate International Organization starts with 146 members in EU5’s start date. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Some of these international organizations will have laws that impact all the members or gameplay rules such as the HRE’s internal rule of no no-CB wars that shape the organization as a whole. 
[/p][p]International organizations for the most part will have a leading nation, this nation has the authority to start the process of enacting laws or kicking out members; however there are many cases where the leader of the international organization will need either approval of other members through a voting system or International organization value to do actions within the IO (or both). International Organization values differ from organization to organization, sometimes representing the authority of the leader of the IO, like in the Holy Roman Empire. In other international organizations like a Religious Sect IO, the Value represents the influence of the International Organization itself. [/p][p]
A consistent leader of the HRE with high Imperial authority can eventually unite it using the HRE international Organization laws [/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]The Illkhanate International Organization starts with no leader, giving the opportunity to a nation to rise and take the leader role. [/p][p]
[/p][p]This brings us to Personal Unions and the Union International Organization.[/p][p]When a ruler governs multiple nations, those nations form a Union IO. This IO is a shared political structure led by a single ruler (or a marriage of rulers) who holds the crowns. While Unions primarily act as defensive alliances, they can also cooperate in offensive wars if members approve such actions through the Union Law voting system.[/p][p]Each law within a Union IO must pass by majority vote among its members. These laws can shape the union’s nature, from its foundation to the pivotal Question of Unification, where the senior partner may begin integrating the junior members. Unification requires a 50-year-old union and follows a process similar to integrating subjects, as discussed earlier.[/p][p][/p][p]In order to diplomatically annex junior members, the junior member must have the same level of integration as the senior member and the Question of Unification must be passed for unifying the crowns.[/p][p][/p][p]If a new member enters a Union IO years after the original formation of the union, the union parliament can be used to get them on the same level of integration as the senior member. [/p][p]However, Union IOs aren’t solely about unification. Some may evolve into federal unions, emphasizing equality among members and granting shared bonuses such as improved diplomacy, greater diplomatic capacity, enhanced cabinet efficiency and more.[/p][p]Over time, the Senior member may diplomatically subjugate smaller ones, turning them into dominions, vassals, or fiefdoms depending on their size. Allowing integration outside the traditional unification path in the union IO.[/p][p]
[/p][h2]Belligerent vs Conciliatory Values[/h2][p]To finish this development diary we will discuss a value bar that you should consider while playing. This value bar is the Belligerent versus the Conciliatory values. [/p][p]
[/p][p]On one end of the spectrum, being a Belligerent nation will reduce Antagonism received, decrease warscore cost, increase spy network speed, and increase CB generation speed but at the cost of Diplomatic Reputation. [/p][p]
[/p][p]On the other end of the spectrum, being a Conciliatory nation will increase cabinet efficiency, boost loyalty of subjects, and improve your diplomatic reputation at the cost of Antagonism gain and longer CB generation speed. [/p][p]
[/p][p]You may find that in some campaigns, ignoring the opinions of others and expanding through conquest suits your ambitions best. In others, the power of diplomacy, forging alliances and subjugating nations through negotiation rather than war, may prove the wiser path to greatness. [/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Belligerent or Conicillatory, the choice is yours…. [/p][p]

[/p][p]Diplomacy in Europa Universalis V is far more than a series of actions.  It’s a living system of relationships, trust, and influence that shapes the fate of empires. Whether you rule through strength of arms or the subtle art of negotiation, every choice you make will ripple across the world stage. Will your nation rise through conquest, or thrive through compromise and alliance? The balance between war and words is yours to command.
[/p][p]That wraps up our look at diplomacy in Europa Universalis V, if you haven’t already, check out the accompanying feature video here: (link)[/p][p]
That’s all for today ! Thank you for taking time to read this Dev Diary, and don’t forget you can pre-purchase Europa Universalis V now[/p][p][/p][p]And make sure to follow us on social media ![/p][p][/p][p]Until next time ![/p]

[p]Hello everyone, and welcome back to another Development Diary for Europa Universalis V![/p][p]This week, we’re talking WAR. A topic I’m sure a lot of you were waiting for.[/p][p]War during the modern era was evolving constantly, and went from the late medieval armies, made of knights and levies, to professionalized armies with gunpowder and destruction power never seen before, to end up, at the beginning of the XIXth century, a mass conscription force wielding efficiently both firepower and shock.[/p][p]
[/p][p]If you’ve read earlier Dev Diaries, you understand now what drives us: trying to make a living simulation where every choice has consequences. And warfare in EuV follows the same philosophy: armies are made of people, logistic matters and the world will fight back against your dreams of conquest.[/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]War Screen in a war between France and England in 1351[/p][p]
[/p][p]At the start of Europa Universalis V, most states do not field professional armies. To fight in the multiple wars started by the many kings and dukes, each state will rely on levies, raised from their population : peasants, burghers, nobles… Whoever your laws and institution can call upon. [/p][p][/p][p]Calling Levies can be done through the Military Tab

[/p][p]But those people, raised in the army, are real members of your population, and they will leave their jobs to go fight in your wars. Which means also, that when they die on the battlefield or from other causes, the Pop is gone forever. And, of course, if you disband the remains of your army, survivors will return to their home and resume civilian life.[/p][p]
[/p][p]The quality of the levy will vary by the type of pop. A peasant levy will probably form the backbone of your army, but will end up as an undisciplined frontliner with a spear. While noble levy will provide heavy armored knights. Different pops produce levies with distinct equipment, discipline, and role on the battlefield.

[/p][p][/p][p]Levies come in different types depending on which social class they come from. Peasants make standard levies, burghers and clergy make footmen and Nobles make Knights.
[/p][p]But be careful : Levies will not replenish during your campaigns. To refill the losses, you have to disband the army and raise a new one, making every battle a crucial decision.[/p][p]
[/p][p]

[/p][p]As technology and institutions develop, you’ll unlock more means to field a Standing Army.. As well as many new Military Buildings that employ a particular class of pop: soldiers[/p][p]
[/p][p]Soldiers are employed in buildings that generate manpower for your standing armies such as the Armory, as well as used for castle garrisons and other military based buildings.[/p][p][/p][p]Armories - the first building that can be built nationwide that can recruit manpower. This building gets unlocked in the Age of Renaissance under the Professional armies institution. Armories can only be built in urban locations. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Training Fields - the first building that allows you to recruit manpower out of rural locations. Unlocked in the Age of Discovery under the Pike and Shot institution. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Every standing regiment has to be maintained financially, but can also drill and be upgraded over time, as technology progresses. You will manage the transition from standard men-at-arms and archers, to halberdiers, musketiers and canons.
[/p][p]Early Arquebusiers are an Age of Discovery Gunpowder unit unlocked in the Pike and Shot institution. They have higher initiative than other units but take more morale and strength damage. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Falconets are an Age of Discovery Gunpowder unit unlocked in the Pike and Shot institution. They have higher combat power than Early Arquebusiers but only do damage in the bombard phase of battles. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Armies are structured into Left Flank, Center, Right Flank, and Reserves. [/p][p]
[/p][p]This will crucially impact where your troops will meet the enemy on the battlefield, playing a pivotal role in how the battle plays out. [/p][p]The speed at which each regiment enters the fight is determined by their initiative.  Cavalry and light infantry will usually be quicker to get into the fray than heavy infantry. And this difference can make a battle, as if one of the flanks collapses, the center becomes vulnerable to a flanking strike, devastating for morale.

Battle tab in a minor battle between Russia and Sweden.[/p][p]
[/p][p]You can be as precise as you want, and set up your troops on the flanks or the center, depending on your plan, or you can set up an even distribution of your troops across the battlefield.[/p][p][/p][p]Mid game army composition of an army of 38 regiments. Every regiment is assigned a front with reserves and logistical support sitting in the back.

[/p][p]The choice of your general is crucial in determining the quality of your army. Your general is usually a member of your court, and all his stats are important in warfare.[/p]

• [p]The administrative skill boost siege ability, helps troops get into fight faster, and the logistic distance[/p]
• [p]The diplomatic skill boost the army morale, initiative and the unit food consumption[/p]
• [p]The military skill boost the army movement speed, the discipline, and the combat speed of the army[/p]

[p]
[/p][p]Administrative, Diplomatic and Military Ability of a character all play a role in a General’s capabilities in war.

[/p][p]But, to choose the right general for each situation, you will have to plan things ahead of time, as changing commanders takes time..[/p][p]
[/p][p]The army is separated into four categories : Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, and Auxiliaries. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Each of these groups has upsides and downsides in a battle. And the modern era is one of transition. [/p][p]During the late-medieval era, the early stage of the game, heavy cavalry is one of the strongest units you can field and can be decisive in a battle. But, as the game advances, the warfare will slowly transition to more infantry oriented armies, with artillery support and cavalry dedicated to precise and powerful shock.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Within each of these groups, there are regional, cultural and technological variants, from English longbowmen, Ottoman Janissaries to Polish Winged Hussars.[/p][p]
The English Longbowmen, a unique levy only available to England. These levies have incredibly high initiative, allowing them to enter the battlefield very quickly compared to other levies. [/p][p]
[/p][p]The size of regiments will also vary throughout the game. When the early version of your regiments will usually field around 100 men, with later tech and reforms, some regiments can go up to 3.000 men, drastically upping the size of warfare.[/p][p][/p][p]Hunters are an Age of Absolutism unit unlocked by the Siege Artillery Institution. Requiring 1600 manpower for one regiment.

[/p][p]But to accompany so many men, you will have to rely on auxiliaries regiments, which is your army support structure. For example, early in the game, the Camp Follower unit will increase your army food storage, allowing your troops to go deeper into enemy territories without a direct supply line.[/p][p][/p][p]Camp followers are vital to supplying an army in enemy territory.[/p][p]
[/p][p]In an effort to create a credible warfare system, moving your armies around will depend on supply lines, and access to resources. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Armies will carry food, but will ultimately need to gather it from a friendly location. This is represented by a line linking your army to the closest friendly location. But this line can only be stretched so far, and can quickly become vulnerable to enemy armies.[/p][p]
[/p][p]“Amateurs talk Tactics, but professionals study logistics” [/p][p]
[/p][p]Once the supply is low, the army will suffer attrition and heavy losses, sometimes forcing a retreat.[/p][p][/p][p]Placing supply depots and controlling key provinces will now be the key to an efficient campaign, as planning and strategic decisions will now determine the outcome of most wars.
[/p][p]You’ll also have to take into consideration the weather and diseases. The map, the terrain and natural elements are also your enemies during wartime.[/p][p]Winter will reduce food production, and raise attrition, but can also freeze coastal sea, allowing risky crossings and sometimes stranding fleets. Severe winters can also make some mountain passes impassable.
Finally, disease can be caught by an army, and spread to the location it occupies, adding civilian losses to the military ones.[/p][p][/p][p]
Frozen over waters can be traversed but be careful, your army will face severe attrition on these tiles and once the ice thaws, the army could end up on the bottom of the sea. [/p][p]
[/p][p]
[/p][p]Once your army is built, your logistics ready, and your campaign planned, it is time to fight.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Once on the battlefield, the battle will open with artillery fire, making hell fall on the poor souls you’ve sent to die for your dream of grandeur perfectly reasonable reasons.[/p][p]
[/p][p]After that, the main combat starts. Engaged regiments will fight according to the 3 positions : Left flank, center and right flank. Each unit will fight until opponents are eliminated or lose morale, then proceed to attack the closest next regiment.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day, at dawn look to the east

[/p][p]If a regiment retreats, it is replaced by another one in reserve. But a time will come when one side has no more troops to send against the enemy, and it’s at this moment that the army morale is hit, and can lead to a collapse of one of the flanks, or even the center of the army. [/p][p]This situation has a devastating effect on the rest of the army, allowing flanking maneuver and usually making defeat inevitable. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Once the left flank crumble, the center follows and the losses are terrible

[/p][p]The result of a battle depends on a lot of factors : unit type, technology, number, commander skills, army composition, terrain, morale, discipline, and sometimes a little bit of luck. All of these factors are vital to ensure victory in a battle.[/p][p]
[/p][p]
[/p][p]Naval warfare is not left aside, and will follow more or less the same rules as land warfare.[/p][p]Pops to man the ships are sailors, you will need to build specific buildings to field more ships and have more sailors, and having a standing fleet is necessary to provide food support to each of your armies across your global empire.
Fleets will also allow you to blockade cities and cripple your enemy trade, a crucial tool to have in time of war.

[/p][p]Italy and the Maghreb are two important regions for naval warfare early in the game.

But having a strong navy can also help stabilize your proximity and your trade, making it worth having, even during peace time.
[/p][p]As in land warfare, there is a great variation in sea zones, impacting fleet movement and combat ability.
[/p][p]In a time of global discovery and colonization, having a strong navy is paramount to allow you to extend your empire across all the continents.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Mastering warfare, both on land and sea, will require a deep understanding of multiple factors : Army composition, logistics, combat mechanics and strategic planning. But once you've mastered those, your enemies will be many, but none will be your equals.[/p][p]

[/p][p]If you have not seen it yet, make sure to check out the accompanying feature video released on youtube here : [/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]As the saying goes : “War begins where diplomacy fails“, so obviously, next week, we’ll cover Diplomacy and International relations.[/p][p]
[/p][p]That’s all for today ! Thank you for taking time to read this Dev Diary, and don’t forget you can pre-purchase Europa Universalis V now[/p][p]
[/p][p]And make sure to follow us on social media ![/p][p]
[/p][p]Until next time ![/p][p]
[/p]

[p]Hello everyone, and welcome back to another Development Diary for Europa Universalis V! We’re thrilled to continue sharing this journey with you as we build Paradox Interactive’s next grand strategy title together with our amazing community.[/p][p][/p][p]In our very first diary, we introduced the foundation of EU5: the population system. Today, we’ll take the next step by diving deeper into how individual pops are defined across the world through their Religion, Culture, and Language. [/p][p][/p][p]Every pop in your nation carries with them an identity shaped by these traits. Their religion guides their values, needs, and aspirations. Their culture and language define their sense of belonging, their traditions, their influence and their names. Together, these elements form the living tapestry of your nation, influencing not only the daily lives of your people but also the kinds of advances, buildings, and bonuses available to you while playing EU5.[/p][p][/p][p]These systems are designed to make your population feel more alive than ever before, tying the identity of your nation to the people who make it up.[/p][p][/p][p]This is our longest development diary yet so buckle up and enjoy![/p][p][/p][h2]RELIGION[/h2][p][/p][p]Religion has always been a driving force in history, and in EU5 it plays an even deeper role in shaping your nation’s identity and trajectory. The game represents nearly 300 distinct religions, making the spiritual diversity of the early modern world more represented than ever in a Europa Universalis title. [/p][p]While the majority of these faiths are already present at the game’s start date, others will emerge dynamically over time. Movements such as Sikhism in South Asia or Lutheranism during the Protestant Reformation can rise and spread as your campaign unfolds, reshaping societies and sparking new conflicts.[/p][p][/p][p]Religion Map Mode in 1337 Religions Map Mode in a playthrough in late 1600s[/p][p][/p][p]Religions are structured into denominations under broader religious groups. For example:[/p]

• [p]Christianity encompasses traditions such as Catholicism and Orthodoxy.[/p]
• [p]Islam includes Sunni, Shiism and Ibadi branches.[/p]
• [p]The Dharma group covers South Asian traditions such as Hinduism and Jainism.[/p]
• [p]The African Folk Religious group covers indigenous beliefs throughout Africa such as Bantu, Bori and Cwezi.[/p]
• [p]The Buddhist religious group covers Far East religions such as Sanjiao, Shintoism, Theravada, Eastern Buddhism and more.[/p]

[p]These are just some of the many religious groups represented in EU5. This layered approach allows us to reflect both the shared heritage of religious groups and the unique differences between denominations in terms of their specific practices and beliefs, opening up new possibilities for interaction, conflict and cooperation.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Buddhism is one of the many religious groups represented in EU5[/p][p][/p][p]Religious diversity in Europa Universalis V extends far beyond broad groups and denominations. Within some faiths, there exist distinct branches that are represented in-game as multi-national religious organizations. These institutions transcend political borders, linking together nations that share allegiance to a particular religious authority or tradition.[/p][p]Each of these organizations has a recognized leader, and that leader wields significant influence. By issuing religious laws, they can shape not only the internal affairs of their own nation but also the policies and practices of every country that belongs to their branch.[/p][p]The most prominent religious organization is the Catholic church ruled by the Pope in his seat in Rome. But other international religious organizations exist in EU5, with some forming as the game progresses. For example, the Autocephalous Patriarchate of Moscow represents a specific branch of the Orthodox Church. Nations aligned with this branch are bound by its spiritual leadership, and the Patriarch’s decisions ripple outward, influencing the faith and governance of multiple countries at once[/p][p]
Autocephalous Patriarchate of Moskva in Muscovy run in 1397[/p][p][/p][p]Each religion in Europa Universalis 5 has its own unique bonuses, limitations, interactions and customization available to the players as they play. 
[/p][p]A Sunni Islamic nation has a bonus to trade efficiency, the export and import of alcohol banned, access to religious figures that can give nationwide bonuses, and access to specific Sunni schools of jurisprudence such as Maliki and Hanafi. A Christian Catholic nation has a big bonus to Clergy literacy, a ban on becoming an Empire, access to the Catholic church interactions such as Papal Bulls, and the ability to canonize Saints using religious influence. While a Buddhist Shinto nation has a bonus to nationwide literacy, access to the Honor and Purity systems, and the ability to join a sect within Shintoism.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Shinto religion screen as the Ashikaga Shogunate in 1337[/p][p][/p][p]In EU5, locations do not just represent a single religion, it is lived and practiced by the pops that make up that location.[/p][p]This creates far more dynamic and realistic religious landscapes. A bustling Mediterranean metropolis, for example, might include Jewish, Orthodox, Lutheran, Sunni, and Catholic pops all living side by side. Rather than a monolithic faith, your cities and towns can become mosaics of belief, reflecting the historical pluralism of the early modern world.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Religion of Valencia in the year 1337
[/p][p]As your empire expands through conquest or colonization, your religious demographics will naturally become more diverse. Managing this diversity becomes an active challenge for the player as they play their campaign. Balancing tolerance and conversion will play a key part of governing effectively. [/p][p]This is where the tolerance mechanic comes into play. If you’ve played EU4, the concept may sound familiar, but in EU5 it has been expanded and tied more directly to your population system. Tolerance represents how respectfully and fairly a society treats followers of different faiths.[/p][p]Every nation tracks tolerance in three categories:[/p]

• [p]Primary Religion – the primary religion of your nation (not necessarily your majority religion)[/p]
• [p]Heretics – Groups that share the same religious group but follow a different denomination (e.g., Catholic vs. Lutheran).[/p]
• [p]Heathens – Groups belonging to entirely different religious groups (e.g., Christianity vs. Islam).[/p]

[p]High tolerance brings tangible benefits. Pops of tolerated faiths will enjoy greater pop satisfaction, reducing pop’s joining rebellions and contributing to your control and institution spread in locations throughout your nation. Diplomatically, tolerance also improves relations with nations that share those faiths, strengthening your international position.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Tolerance of Primary religion, Heretics and Heathens in Two Sicilies playthrough in 1540[/p][p][/p][p]However, embracing broad tolerance is not a universal strategy of pop religious management in EU5. Many nations will find it easier to focus loyalty and stability around their primary religion, leaving heretics and heathens at a disadvantage. In these cases, conversion becomes a powerful tool to reshape your demographics, unify your population, and assert the religious character of your realm. [/p][p]This is where religious conversion comes into play. In EU5, religious conversion is a slow process that takes time depending on a multitude of factors varying from location to location. [/p][p]Examples of these factors include:[/p]

• [p]Advances in technology[/p]
• [p]Estate Privileges [/p]
• [p]Average literacy of Clerics in a location[/p]
• [p]Control of the location[/p]
• [p]Buildings[/p]
• [p]Government and religious organization laws[/p]
• [p]Humanist versus Spiritualism value bar (covered later in this DD)[/p]

[p]You can also use a cabinet action to increase pop conversion in a province, affecting all locations in that province. [/p][p]So is one faith still possible in EU5?[/p][p][/p][p]In Europa Universalis V, your primary religion is not locked. At any point in your campaign, you as the player have the agency to change the nation's primary religion. This flexibility allows your nation to evolve alongside its population, but it comes with both opportunities and risks.[/p][p]Switching between denominations within the same religious group is usually easier, not requiring much in terms of pop demographics. However, adopting a heathen religion is far more demanding, requiring 40% of your pops to be already following that new faith you want to adopt. [/p][p]Of course, conversion at the state level is never painless. Changing your primary religion will sharply reduce national stability, and pops loyal to your former faith will be deeply dissatisfied, potentially sparking rebellions and a civil war. Choosing when and how to make this transition is therefore a high-stakes decision that can reshape the future of your empire.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Someone say Orthomans?[/p][p][/p][p]Your primary religion also unlocks unique advances that are exclusive to specific religions or religious groups. These advances grant powerful bonuses that can shape your long-term strategy and benefit you as you progress through the game. Examples of these are the Holi advance, available to nations of the Dharmic religious group, or the Mendicant Orders advance, unique to Catholic nations.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Holi Advance, only available to nations with the Dhamaric religion group in the Age of Reformation[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Mendicant Orders Advance only available to Catholic nations in the Age of Reformation[/p][p][/p][p]This also means there are buildings available to only specific religions and religious groups. Some come at the start of the game and others unlocked through religion locked advances. Examples of these are the Madrassa building for Islamic nations and the Confucian academy for Buddhist nations[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The Madrassa, a building unique to Islamic Religious Group nations[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Confucian Academy a building unique to Buddhist Religious Group Nations[/p][p][/p][h2]CULTURE[/h2][p][/p][p]In our quest to simulate the most precise living world possible, we ended up with a lot of details concerning cultures. On a scale never seen before, the world in EUV is divided into over 2,000 different cultures.
[/p][p]Culture Map Mode of the world 1337[/p][p][/p][p]Each culture may belong to a wider culture groups, representing shared traditions or historical connections between cultures. Giving a bonus to cultural opinion and making accepting cultures within that culture group cheaper in terms of culture capacity. The particularity here is that a culture can belong to multiple culture groups, but if the culture is isolated enough, it can also not belong to any culture group. An example of an isolated culture is the Kurdish culture, not belonging in any culture groups. While an example of a culture belonging to multiple culture groups is Muscovite, belonging to both East Slavic and Slavic culture groups. 
[/p][p]Each country in the game will have a primary culture, representing the nation’s representative culture. For example, Hungarian is the primary culture of the Kingdom of Hungary (duh), but within the Kingdom of Hungary there are also Slovak, Croatian, Transylvanian, Serbian, Székely, Rusyn, Cuman, Jasz, and many more cultures, especially as you conquer and expand into more territory. Very few nations in EU5 are perfectly homogenous, most contain a myriad of secondary cultural groups present throughout each location. [/p][p]
Each of these groups might have different aspirations as your primary culture, and can even become rebellious depending on their acceptance level and pop satisfaction. And depending on their acceptance level these other culture pops will be limited in terms of being able to join your armies and limit your level of integration as locations must have a majority of your primary or accepted culture in order to go from integrated to core level of integration.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Hungary is a very culturally diverse country in 1337, posing an internal challenge for anyone who plays as them[/p][p]Culture tab of Hungary in a Hungary playthrough in 1723[/p][p][/p][p]As the player, to avoid those maluses, you have two options: Tolerate and Accept a culture or to assimilate the culture into your primary culture. For now, we’ll focus on accepting cultures.
[/p][p]First, before accepting a culture in your country, they must go from being discriminated against to being tolerated. In order to tolerate a culture there must be at least 1% of your total pops or 1 million pops represented in your nation.[/p][p]
[/p][p]In this campaign, we lack the amount of pops to tolerate the Greater Polish culture[/p][p][/p][p]To be able to accept a culture in your country, there must first be enough Pops from that culture. Either that culture must represent 2.5% of your total pops or have 1 million pops represented in your nation.[/p][p]Although we have tolerated Serbian culture in this campaign, we need more Serbian pops to accept them[/p][p][/p][p]Both tolerating and accepting a culture comes at a cost of cultural capacity. The price of tolerating or accepting culture, in terms of cultural capacity, depends on the number of Pops in the world compared to the number of pops of your primary culture in the world, whether your primary culture and that culture share a cultural group, and the cultural opinion of your primary culture to the one you’re trying to accept. This means that tolerating and accepting cultures comes at a varied cost depending on these factors, one culture may cost you 0.15 cultural capacity to accept while another might cost 2 cultural capacity to accept. [/p][p][/p][p]Each nation starts with a base of 0 cultural capacity but this can be increased by these factors:[/p]

• [p]Nation rank: Duchies get +0.5 cultural capacity, Kingdoms get +1 cultural capacity and Empires get +2 cultural capacity.[/p]
• [p]Advances: Certain advances will increase cultural capacity by a flat number or by a percentage, most nations start with the Cultural Acceptance advance in the age of traditions granting +1 cultural capacity.[/p]
• [p]Laws: laws can either increase or decrease cultural capacity depending on what you choose.[/p]

[p]You can go over this limit; however it comes at the cost of efficiency of your cabinet and the growth of your primary culture’s influence and tradition.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Culture capacity in Muscovy campaign in 1445[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Culture Capacity in Vijayanagar in 1652[/p][p][/p][p]Culture opinion defines the relationship between two cultures. There are Five levels of cultural opinion: [/p]

• [p]Enemy - This culture sees your culture as a lifetime enemy, they will be heavily dissatisfied and rebellious being a part of your nation. Enemy cultures cannot be tolerated or accepted. [/p]
• [p]Negative - This culture sees your culture negatively, they will also be dissatisfied but can be managed if their needs and wants are met. Negative cultures cannot be accepted.[/p]
• [p]Neutral - This culture neither sees your nation negatively or positively. They can be both tolerated and accepted. [/p]
• [p]Positive - This culture sees your culture positively and cheaper to tolerate and accept in your nation compared to neutral opinion.[/p]
• [p]Kindred - This culture sees your culture as kindred friends, almost one in the same. They are much cheaper to tolerate and accept in your nation[/p]

[p]Although Andalusian culture makes 10% of our pops, we cannot tolerate or accept them since they view our primary culture (Castilian) as an enemy culture
[/p][p]To improve this opinion, nations have access to a diplomatic action called “Ask to improve Cultural opinion”. This action will improve their primary culture’s opinion of your culture by one level. In order to be able to do this action you must have friendly relations between two nations, have favors available and not be a rival. A loyal subject with a positive opinion will also accept this diplomatic action. Making it a great strategy to improve cultural opinion with a subject of different primary culture before integrating to make accepting their culture cheaper in the future. [/p][p][/p][p]As Muscovy we can use favors to improve the Novgorodian culture’s opinion of our primary culture (Muscovite)
[/p][p]
[/p][p]With the amount of cultures in EU5 and the limit of a nation's cultural capacity, tolerating and accepting every culture is not always possible in a large spanning kingdom. This is where cultural assimilation comes into play. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Just like religious conversion, cultural assimilation is a slow process. Every integrated location that has a majority of either your primary culture or accepted culture will get a base of +2 pop assimilation to your primary culture a month; however this does not mean every integrated location will automatically assimilate. Other factors comes into play:[/p]

• [p]Average literacy of clergy in the location.[/p]
• [p]Buildings like the marketplace[/p]
• [p]Level of control of the location[/p]
• [p]Laws[/p]
• [p]Estate Privileges[/p]
• [p]Spiritualism versus Humanist values[/p]
• [p]Your Cultural Influence versus the location majority’s cultural tradition[/p]

[p]A cabinet action can also be used to assimilate a province, assimilating all locations within that province at the same time depending on your nation’s ruler and cabinet member’s diplomatic skill.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Thats some fast assimilation[/p][p][/p][p]Cultural influence of your culture versus the cultural tradition of the culture you are trying to assimilate is usually the largest factor in cultural assimilation. 
[/p][p]Cultural Influence is the “Attack power” of a culture in the context of a culture war, representing how impressive it appears to other cultures, and the reach it has beyond its own borders.[/p][p][/p][p]It can be increased by many things, like works of art (which we’ll talk about later), prestige, advances, laws and cultural buildings like libraries. This number has a monthly growth, increased by all nations with that primary culture, but also a monthly decay. Cultural influence eventually will plateau to a level until you or another nation with your primary culture increases it further. [/p][p][/p][p]The Cultural Influence is opposed to the Cultural Tradition, the “defense power” in the context of culture war. Likewise, it has a monthly change, depending on buildings, values, advances, etc.[/p][p]
The comparison between those define the Culture war power of your primary culture, impacting multiple processes, like Assimilation, Integration, Spy Network, Diplomacy, and even Siege ability. [/p][p]
Having a high cultural influence will help you assimilate faster and cultures with low cultural tradition will be more susceptible to being assimilated[/p][p]
[/p][p]Cultural tab in a Two Sicilies Campaign in 1540[/p][p][/p][p]Usually, you will assimilate a culture to your primary culture, to help your country be more unified, but you can technically change a local culture to any culture that is present in your country, allowing you to shape the cultural tapestry of your nation in any ways you want.[/p][p]Note that some specific cultures are directly tied to their Faith, so they will not be able to be assimilated unless they are converted first.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Nice.[/p][p][/p][p]Apart from the opposition between cultures, focusing on the cultural influence of your primary culture allows you to become the Cultural Hegemon of the world. Activating in the age of discovery, the Cultural Hegemon gives a bonus of 25% increase in cultural tradition gain and more importantly the ability to assimilate full areas (as a cabinet action) instead of provinces. Allowing much faster assimilation in your nation. To become the cultural hegemon you must have the highest total cultural influence in the world.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Everyone must eat Goulash[/p][p][/p][p]Just like religion, certain cultures and culture groups have unique advances: unlocking special units, buildings, and laws. One prominent example of this are the Iberian special boats advances available only to Iberian culture nations like Portugal and Castile.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Its better than the standard Galleon, because its Iberian[/p][p][/p][h2]Spiritualist vs Humanist Value[/h2][p][/p][p]As we’ve explored religion and culture in Europa Universalis V, it’s important to highlight a core ideological tension that runs through every nation: Humanist versus Spiritualist values. These two opposing outlooks shape how your society views faith, culture, and identity.[/p][p]A Spiritualist nation grounds its identity firmly in its primary religion. The clergy play a central role, and religion becomes interwoven with the fabric of the state. This approach comes with faster conversion to your primary religion at the cost of assimilation to your primary culture.[/p][p]By contrast, a Humanist nation shifts away from making its primary religion being the cornerstone of identity. Instead, it embraces tolerance, allowing heretics and heathens to coexist more freely. This also increases pop cultural assimilation but at the cost of conversion to your primary religion.[/p][p]Together, these values create a strategic trade-off. Do you weave religion into the heart of your nation, ensuring unity through faith? Or do you foster a broader, more inclusive society that grows stronger through cultural integration?[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Spiritualist versus Humanist values, which will you choose?[/p][p][/p][h2]LANGUAGES[/h2][p][/p][p]Tied closely to culture is the Language system. Every culture is associated with a language, the most common vernacular spoken by its people. This doesn’t just shape immersion through character names; it also determines how cultural tradition and cultural influence are built up over time, estate satisfaction and research speed. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The French Language in 1337

At the heart of this system is Language power, a measure of how influential a language is on the world stage. Language power can be increased by how much it's used throughout the world and at what level.[/p][p]
In each nation there are four different languages used:[/p]

• [p]Court Language - the official tongue of the administration and high politics. The more politically powerful the nation using this court language the more powerful the language becomes.[/p]
• [p]Common Language - the everyday speech of pops throughout your nation depending on your primary culture. The more cultural influence of cultures using this language and the more total trade capacity of nations who have this language as their common language, the more powerful the language becomes.[/p]
• [p]Market Language - the language of trade and commerce, varying from market to market. The market language is determined by the common language used in the market center. The more total trade advantage of markets using this language, the more powerful the language becomes.[/p]
• [p]Liturgical Language - the language of religion, worship, and ceremonies. The more clergy pops who use this language throughout the world, the more powerful the language becomes. [/p]

[p]The language for all four of these can be the same throughout your nation but that is not always the case. For example England in the start of the game uses French (with the Norman dialect) as their court language, English as their common language, English (London Market) as a market language, and Latin as their Liturgical language. While the Mamluk Sultanate uses Arabic for everything.[/p][p][/p][p]You can change your court language in the laws tab of your government at the cost of 20 stability[/p][p][/p][p]Estates have their own agenda regarding languages, nobles want a powerful language as the court language to increase their own prestige, increasing their satisfaction the more powerful the court language is. The clergy want the liturgical language as the court language to increase religious influence on the nation. While commoners will want the common language to be the court language to increase their ability to take part in the court. [/p][p][/p][p]Language power comes into play with research speed, with the more powerful liturgical languages gaining more flat research speed. However liturgical language cannot always be changed, for example Islam is locked to Arabic liturgical language and Catholicism is locked to Latin. Technically Mandarin is the strongest language in 1337 but no religion uses it as a liturgical language at game start. This means that Latin is the strongest liturgical language at the start of the game (with Arabic at a close second) but after the protestant reformation, that might not always be the case. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The impact of Latin as a Liturgical Language in 1337[/p][p][/p][h2]WORKS OF ART[/h2][p][/p][p]Within your population, certain illustrious individuals can rise above the rest. These are painters, writers, architects, philosophers, storytellers and more. The great minds and creatives whose works leave a lasting impact on history.
[/p][p]When such a figure produces a work of art, it contributes directly to your nation’s primary culture’s Cultural Influence and boosting prestige. The total number of great works a nation possesses also strengthens its Cultural Tradition, reinforcing your people’s sense of identity and pride over time. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Works of Art in a Two Sicilies Campaign in 1540[/p][p][/p][p]The quality of the work of art will depend on the artistic skill of your nation which is impacted by average literacy and prestige. You can increase your cultural investment directly, increasing your prestige and artistic skill. This is managed in your budget, and directly helps artists, but the artist can also be very competent on their own, especially if they are a historical artist like Michelangelo or Shakespeare.[/p][p][/p][p]Lists of Artists in a Two Sicilies Campaign in 1540[/p][p][/p][p]A work of art can have 8 levels of quality : Locally Known, Locally Well Known, Well Known in Area, Renowned in Area, Regionally Well Known, Regionally Renowned, Masterpiece, Magnum Opus.[/p][p][/p][p]The higher the level, the higher the cultural influence and prestige gained from that work of art. Making art not just decorative but a strategic asset, shaping the legacy of nations. A patron of the arts can find their cultural influence reaching levels not even comparable to other nations, while neglecting art may leave your people overshadowed by more vibrant civilizations.
[/p][p]When a work of art is completed it is present in a Location where it was made, some works of art are moveable but others such as buildings cannot be moved.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Sorry Vector, you cannot steal the Pyramids of Giza in EU5[/p][p][/p][p]This also means that war plays a factor in art as art pieces can be stolen or destroyed through war. Either through sieging armies or land being conquered, so be careful when at war or that precious piece of art could end up becoming history.[/p][p][/p][p]That's Religion and Culture in Europa Universalis V. I had a great time telling you guys about this and can’t wait to see how players take these mechanics to their limits when Europa Universalis V releases on November 4th. [/p][p][/p][p]If you have not seen it yet, make sure to check out the accompanying feature video released on youtube here:[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]
[/p][p]Next week we will cover Military and War, so stay tuned for that development diary here on the paradox forums!

[/p][p]That's all for today! Don't Forget you can Pre-Purchase Europa Universals V now: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]You can of course follow us on social media for all your Europa Universals News, Documentaries, Announcements and other fun stuff! [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Twitter/X Facebook [/p][p]Instagram Discord EU5 Forum[/p][p][/p][h3] Until next time! - Ryagi [/h3][p][/p]

[p]Welcome back to another exciting development diary for Europa Universalis V. This week, we’ll be diving into one of the most iconic and transformative aspects of the era: exploration and colonization. From the first daring expeditions into the unknown seas, to the rise of sprawling colonial empires and global trade networks, this system aims to capture the ambition, risks, and rewards of charting the wider world.[/p][p][/p][p]Between the 15th and 19th centuries, nations across the globe set sail in search of wealth and opportunity. Driven by the hunger for exotic goods like spices, gold, furs, and sugar, these voyages reshaped the balance of power and laid the foundation for the first global economy. In EU5, we want players to feel that same pull of discovery and ambition as they expand their horizons beyond their home markets and feel the risks and rewards associated with it.[/p][p]With the pop and character systems, exploration and colonization in Europa Universalis V reaches a new level of depth and immersion. From who leads your expeditions, choosing which states will populate your new colonies, choosing which locations you own directly and which you will let a new colonial nation control, and eventually the trade between your colonies and your homeland, will shape your nation’s long term fortunes[/p][p]
[/p][p]Castile into Spain playthrough with New World Domination in the the early 1700s[/p][p][/p][h2]Exploration[/h2][p]Exploration in EU5 is about more than simply revealing the map, it’s about opportunity, ambition, and risk management. The ability to explore depends on your nation’s technological advances, maritime presence, characters, and pops. An advanced sea-farring nation will be able to chart safer, faster, and more ambitious expeditions, while reckless adventurers may risk lives and resources in pursuit of glory.[/p][p][/p][p]Exploration and colonization are part of the new geopolitical tab in EU5. It's in this page that you can see all possible explorations, all ongoing colonizations, and all possible places you can settle. This page also tells you your colonial range, the value that determines how far you can explore and colonize. [/p][p][/p][p]Exploration of Portugal in 1501 in the Geopolitics page[/p][p][/p][p]Colonial range has a base value of 1000 then gets increased by advances, some of these advances are unique to some nations such as Portugal however any nation can explore and colonize in EU5, mainly after the age of discovery and embracement of the New World institution. The higher your colonial range value, the further you can explore and the further you can colonize. [/p][p][/p][p]The Oversea Exploration advance, available in the Age of discovery, increases colonial range by 1500 and allows open sea exploration[/p][p][/p][p]To do an exploration you can select a variety of locations determined by your colonial range and your closest port, including ports owned by subjects and allies. You then choose the port in which the exploration voyage launches from and assign a character to undertake the exploration. All types of exploration have an initial cost in ducats and either sailors or manpower depending if the exploration is on sea or land[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Exploring the Gulf of Mexico will have an initial cost in ducats and sailors to begin.[/p][p][/p][p]Once you choose the place you want to explore, a character to lead the expedition needs to be selected. This character is taken from your nation’s pool of characters but can also be historical explorers such as Columbus or Magellan, acquired through events. After that the voyage will need to be prepared, requiring materials to be able to set sail such as lumber, naval supplies and liquor. Without the proper resources, the exploration preparation will halt, stopping until the proper resources are available in the market in which exploration is setting sail from.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The required goods needed to begin the exploration to the Gulf of Mexico[/p][p][/p][p]Once your nation has prepared an expedition, the voyage will set sail into the unknown. The exploration’s duration depends on two main factors:[/p]

• [p]Distance of the exploration compared to your nation’s naval range. Naval range increases with advances such as the Naval Ambitions advance in the Age of Discovery.
  [/p]
• [p]Terrain of the region being explored, whether its harsh open seas, coastal waters, or rugged inland areas.[/p]

[p]The time it takes to complete an exploration action is then calculated by comparing the total exploration cost against your nation’s monthly Exploration Progress. By default, exploration progress begins at 0.05 per month, but it increases with advances, government reforms and the skill of your explorer. During the Age of Discovery, nations also benefit from a flat +0.25 exploration progress, reflecting the surge of ambition that fueled early voyages of discovery.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Exploration Progress of Exploring the Gulf of Mexico as Portugal in 1501[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Modifiers for all nations during the Age of Discovery. For nations with colonial ambitions, this would be the age to start your colonial empire[/p][p][/p][p]Exploration is never without risk. While an expedition is underway, a variety of events can occur that influence its progress. These can range from favorable winds and unexpected discoveries that speed up exploration, to storms, or disease that will slow the exploration. [/p][p]In the most severe cases, explorations may suffer devastating setbacks. An explorer might perish, or the voyage could fail entirely, forcing you to reconsider its plans for overseas expansion.[/p][p]But the consequences of these events are not confined to the expedition alone. They can ripple back home, shaping the societal values of your nation. These events might inspire curiosity, ambition, or even religious zeal, while disasters can sow caution, disillusionment, or resistance to further overseas ventures.[/p][p]
An exploration event while exploring the Indian Horn as Portugal[/p][p]Don’t trust the Seagulls[/p][p][/p][p]Unlike EU4, new terrain is not discovered until the exploration is completed and the voyagers are back home. Giving access to new explorations and in the case of land being explored, new access to colonization opportunities. [/p][p][/p][p]This system ensures that exploration in EU5 is not just about sending out ships. It’s about timing, preparation, and weighing risks against rewards. Choosing when to explore, the level of characters you send out to do your voyages and how much of your nation’s resources to dedicate to it, will shape the speed at which you uncover the wider world.
[/p][h2]Colonization[/h2][p][/p][p]With new lands discovered, the next step is establishing colonies. Through the Colonization Tab in the Geopolitics Page, you can review all potential colonial charters available to your nation. Any uncolonized territory within your colonial range can be targeted for settlement, provided you have the ducats to start the colonial charter and ducats to maintain it. Colonial charters are done on a provincial level, with a colonial charter completing when every location is fully colonized in any given province. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Available Colonial Charters for Portugal in 1509, each new colonial charter will cost 200 ducats to start and have a monthly maintenance cost depending on how many colonial charters are active.[/p][p][/p][p]Colonization, however, is no simple undertaking. It is a process that is both costly and time-consuming, demanding that pops from your homeland uproot their lives and migrate to distant frontiers. When setting up a colonial charter, you choose which province these new settlers will come from. [/p][p][/p][p]Pops from Portugal leave to find new opportunities in the colonies. Those fools…
[/p][p]The difficulty of colonization varies greatly depending on the land itself. Regions with dense native populations will require far more time and investment to claim compared to sparsely inhabited areas. Similarly, location modifiers such as harsh climates, limited arable land, or the presence of diseases like malaria, will slow colonial progress and increase the risks for settlers. [/p][p]You can also increase the speed in which you colonize by increasing your Colonial Migration. Colonial Migration determines how many pops leave from your homelands to settle in your colonial charters. This value can be increased by advances in technology, laws, government reforms, having more outward societal value and increasing Maritime Presence in the region in which you are sending settlers from. But it also can be decreased by distance from the region you are sending settlers from and having more inward societal value. The Outward vs Inward Societal value bar gets activated in the Age of Discovery.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Monthly Migration to a colonial charter as Portugal in 1509[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Outward Societal Value[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Inward Societal Value[/p][p][/p][p]In Europa Universalis V, colonization is a serious investment of ducats, pops, and time. And like any investment, it carries risk: the rewards of overseas expansion may take decades, or even centuries, to fully materialize.[/p][p][/p][p]Resources in EU5 are fixed and tied to each location (outside of the unique historical situation of the Columbian Exchange). This means that every settlement decision matters. Choosing where to start colonial charters can be guided by the Resource Gathering Operation (RGO) available in any given location. Whether it produces furs, sugar, gold, silver, cocoa or other valuable goods; prioritizing high-value locations can give your nation a significant long-term advantage.[/p][p][/p][p]This system naturally encourages patterns of historical colonization. Regions rich in resources are likely to become hotspots of competition, while less valuable lands may remain untouched until later centuries. Investing early also gives certain nations powerful advantages: for example, Portugal can establish its foothold in Brazil for its gold and gems, while Spain may choose to push aggressively into Mesoamerica to seize its wealth.[/p][p]
RGOs of Brazil[/p][p][/p][p]RGOs of Meso-America
[/p][p]Founding a colonial charter in Europa Universalis V does not instantly grant exclusive ownership of a territory. Instead, multiple nations can target the same province, creating a colonial race where rival powers compete to establish dominance. Locations within a contested charter may be divided among competing colonizers.[/p][p]Victory in this race comes down to the nation being able to send the largest number of pops to the province of the colonial charter first. The first will eventually secure control and complete the colonial charter; however, the story does not end there. Pops sent by rival colonizers are not erased, they remain in the settled colony, contributing to its growth and character.[/p][p]This means colonies that were contested during their founding may end up with a diverse and multi-ethnic population, shaped by the contributions of multiple nations. Such diversity can lead to unique opportunities and challenges. This also means contesting a charter later than others can lead to lost pops in control of another nation. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Portugal and the Papal States compete to colonize the province of Temne with Papal states getting a head start due to starting their charter first. But with Portugal's current colonial migration, they may come out on top[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]That's going to be one ethnically diverse province![/p][p]
This colonial competition can come to a head for Catholic nations during the Age of Discovery, triggering one of history’s most famous compromises: the Treaty of Todesillas. [/p][p][/p][p]This situation can be triggered once two competing Catholic nations in the new world begin completing colonial charters in the Age of Discovery. When this happens, a dynamic situation fires where both nations may petition the Pope to arbitrate the dispute. By leveraging influence within the Church, each colonizer can attempt to secure exclusive claims to vast swaths of territory overseas.[/p][p]
Importantly, this event is not locked to history. While Spain and Portugal famously divided the world in our timeline, your campaign might see entirely different outcomes. If, for example, France and Portugal are the leading Catholic colonizers, the situation could result in the Treaty of Lisboa, the Treaty of Havana, or another name tied to the powers involved.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]In this campaign, its Sweden and Portugal who are divvying up the New World[/p][p][/p][p]In order for a colonial charter to complete, at least 1000 pops must be present in every location in the charter and you need 36% of the pops in every location to be either your primary culture or an accepted culture and 36% of the pops to be your nation’s religion. That means a location with 20000 natives will take much longer than a location with 200 natives to colonize. When the location is colonized, those natives will become tribesmen pops, a pop class that's harder to promote compared to peasants. [/p][p]When a colonial charter is completed, the new lands officially come under your nation’s authority but what you do with them is entirely up to you. EUV offers several options for how to manage freshly colonized territories, each with its own strategic implications:[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Create a New Colonial Subject – Establish a semi-autonomous entity that governs the territory on your behalf. If the region has low market access, this also creates a new market, helping the colony develop economically.
  [/p]
• [p]Play as the Colonial Subject – Step into the shoes of your new colony, guiding its growth and carving out a unique destiny separate from its mother country. Similar to the first option, if market access is low, a new market center is created.
  [/p]
• [p]Integrate into an Existing Colonial Subject – If the new province borders one of your existing colonial subjects, you may fold it into their domain, strengthening and consolidating their power.
  [/p]
• [p]Retain Direct Control – Keep the land as part of your core empire, allowing you to exploit its resources directly but also requiring more active management and of course less control.
  [/p]

[p]Colonial subjects in EU5 are not restricted to the New World. They can be established anywhere across the globe reflecting the truly global reach of empire-building during this era.[/p][p][/p][p]The choice is yours…[/p][p][/p][p]Depending on where you colonize, sending pops to your newly established colonies may be necessary to fully utilize the resources there. You can do this through the Send People to the Colonies cabinet action, unlocked as an advance in the Age of Discovery. [/p][p][/p][p]In fertile but barely populated locations, population growth will be faster than back at home, leading to huge population growth opportunities that you can also increase with the settlement building. This building is not limited to colonies but requires a location to have below 5% population capacity, a requirement that will be more prevalent in new world locations.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Settlements are great for population growth in newly created colonies; however once the location goes above 5% population capacity, this building is automatically deleted[/p][p][/p][p]Every nation can colonize in EU5, whether you are playing as Portugal or the Shogun of Ashikaga, the option and opportunity is there. If you find AI non European countries colonizing to be immersion breaking you can set AI colonization to only European nations in the game rules when starting a campaign. This does not impact achievement eligibility. [/p][p][/p][h2]Colonial Subjects and Colonial Trade[/h2][p][/p][p]Deciding whether to directly control newly colonized land or to establish it as a colonial subject is a fundamental strategic choice in EUV. Both approaches carry benefits and trade-offs, shaping not only your empire’s strength but also its stability.[/p][p][/p][p]Directly controlling grants your nation full sovereignty over their resources and output. However, distance comes at a cost: far-flung provinces are harder to control. Direct rule is best reserved for strategically vital locations or compact colonial holdings. [/p][p][/p][p]Creating a subject places authority in the hands of a local colonial government, which operates with its own national capital closer to the territory. This alleviates the burden of direct administration while still ensuring your empire benefits from its colonies. Overlords can directly build buildings and roads in their colonial subjects, and can increase their RGO levels. Directly investing in their colony to not only increase their colony’s wealth but the overlord’s as well.[/p][p][/p][p]Viceroyalty of Brazil in a Portuguese Campaign in 1510

Colonial subjects provide their overlord with the following contributions:[/p]

• [p]2.5% of monthly income from all sources.[/p]
• [p]Monthly manpower and sailors to reinforce your armies and fleets.[/p]
• [p]33% of their trade advantage and trade capacity, representing the integration of their markets into your own. (Can be increased by an additional 50% at the cost of 33% subject loyalty).[/p]
• [p]Loyal colonial subjects will join all offensive and defensive wars of their overlord.[/p]
• [p]Access to actions such as siphon income and press sailors, giving short boosts of ducats or sailors. [/p]

[p]Colonial subjects are not passive entities, either. They possess their own Cabinet and can enact cabinet actions, focusing on local development and control. This makes them semi-autonomous partners within your empire. Useful allies, but also potential rivals if their loyalty is strained.[/p][p]
Although the market of Anace is owned by Portugal’s Colonial Subject, Portugal can still extract their gold and gems to their own home market.[/p][p][/p][p]With the new interconnected systems at play in EUV, development in the New World is designed to be a gradual and organic process. Colonies do not instantly transform into bustling cities or economic hubs. Instead, growth unfolds over time, shaped by when and where colonization begins.[/p][p][/p][p]Regions that are colonized early will naturally develop earlier, gaining population, infrastructure, and trade connections before their later-settled counterparts. This reflects the historical pace of change, where the earliest colonial footholds became centers of wealth and power, while more remote or less desirable lands lagged behind until much later.[/p][p][/p][p]As your campaign progresses, you will see the world evolve dynamically, with colonial regions rising and falling in importance, just as they did historically. Your decisions on where to invest first will leave a lasting mark on the geopolitical and economic landscape for centuries to come.[/p][p][/p][p]Development of Americas in 1337
[/p][p]Development of the Americas in a England to Great Britain campaign with Great Britain, Spain, France and Portugal colonizing in 1762[/p][p][/p][p]If you want to know more about two situations relevant to colonization, The Colombian Exchange and Colonial Revolution, check out Tinto Talks 79 here:  https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/developer-diary/tinto-talks-79-3rd-of-september-2025.1857843/[/p][p][/p][p]And make sure to check out the accompanying feature video on our YouTube channel found here:[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]And of course another Chapel Comic![/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][p]That's all for today! Don't Forget you can Pre-Purchase Europa Universals V now: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]You can of course follow us on social media for all your Europa Universals News, Documentaries, Announcements and other fun stuff! [/p][p][/p][p]Twitter/X Facebook [/p][p]Instagram Discord EU5 Forum[/p][p][/p][h3] Until next time! - Ryagi
[/h3]

[p]Greetings once again, everyone, and welcome back to our Europa Universalis V development diary series![/p][p][/p][p]Today, we’re diving into one of the cornerstones of empire-building: the economy. In Europa Universalis V, we’re designing an economic system that’s not just about balancing the books, but about weaving together production, buildings, trade and the prosperity of your people into a living, dynamic world of growth.[/p][p][/p][p]Your challenge will be to harness these forces to strengthen your nation, expand its influence, and realize your imperial ambitions.[/p][h2]
Production[/h2][p][/p][p]To start things off, let's discuss production, the bedrock of your nation’s wealth. Every Location in EU5 has a type of raw material it produces and to gather that raw material, you need to gather it whether it be farming, hunting, mining, extracting or whatever else it may be. [/p][p][/p][p]We call these raw material extractions as a resource gathering operation or R.G.O for short. [/p][p][/p][p]R.G.Os are staffed by a sub-group of the commoner class known as Laborers. Positioned just above peasants in the social hierarchy, Laborers form the backbone of your economy by working in R.G.Os as well as certain production buildings, ensuring the steady flow of raw materials your nation depends on. In some cases in EU5, R.G.Os can also be worked on by slave pops. [/p][p][/p][p]The range of goods produced across the world in Europa Universalis V is vast and varied — from essential staples like grain and livestock, to strategic resources such as iron, copper, and coal, and all the way to coveted luxuries like silk, cloves, and precious gems.[/p][p]What a Location produces is shaped by these factors:[/p]

• [p]Geography & Climate: The natural environment heavily influences production. Fertile plains favor grain harvests, while mountainous terrain may conceal rich mineral deposits. Climate determines what crops thrive and which resources are accessible, with certain raw materials tied to specific regions. For instance, cloves in south east asia or Cocoa in Central America. [/p]

[p]Cloves in South East Asia - the only place in the world where cloves exist in game start[/p][p][/p][p]Similarly Cocoa can only be found in Central and South America[/p]

• [p]Historical Context: Many Locations begin with outputs that reflect their historical legacy. A location famed for its winemaking will likely yield wine in EU5, while regions that hosted famous mines, such as those rich in silver or gold — will continue that tradition within the game.[/p][p][/p]

[p]The Bohemian silver mine of Kutna Hora[/p][p][/p][p]The resources produced in a location generally do not change however there are events and the Colombian exchange situation that can potentially change a location’s R.G.O. While the type of resource is usually fixed, the potential level of an R.G.O is dynamic and shaped by many factors as your campaign progresses.[/p][p][/p][p]Here are the key elements that influence R.G.O capacity and output in Europa Universalis V:[/p]

• [p]Infrastructure & Population: Every R.G.O has a current level and a maximum potential level. You can invest to raise the current level of R.G.O infrastructure towards the maximum level, but it won’t operate at full capacity without sufficient Laborer pops. A larger population also increases the maximum level, allowing more resources to be gathered.[/p]

[p][/p][p]City of Vijayanagar in the year 1580[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Development: A location's development directly affects how far its R.G.O can be expanded. Higher development means greater potential, and development itself grows over time through prosperity, cabinet actions, estate privileges, events, parliament, and improvements such as road networks.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Effects of a location with 57 development[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Devastation: War, rebellion, natural disasters, or instability reduce productivity. A devastated province will underperform compared to a stable, peaceful one.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Local Modifiers: Some Locations feature unique modifiers tied to geography, culture, or history that enhance or alter production.[/p]

[p]Fertile Nile Delta is a location modifier throughout the Nile Delta, increasing output of food production[/p]

• [p]Location Rank: Transitioning from a rural area to a town or city decreases the maximum R.G.O size, reflecting urbanization’s shift away from raw resource extraction.
  [/p]
• [p]Technology: Advances in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing boost output. Certain advances are tied to specific goods output, for example, the Slitting Mills Advance in the Age of Reformation, increases iron production by 66% nationwide. Many other advances increase maximum levels of R.G.Os throughout your nation.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Slitting Mills Advance Age of Reformation[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Literacy: Higher literacy among labourers in a given location increases the potential size of resource gathering operations.
  [/p]
• [p]Buildings: Infrastructure such as windmills can improve output for specific goods, like boosting wheat and rice production in agricultural locations. There are also buildings that produce raw materials such as sand pits and salt collectors.[/p]

[p][/p][p] don't like sand, it's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere… But I need it to run my other buildings[/p][p][/p][p]Together, these systems ensure that resource production in EU5 is not static, but evolves alongside your nation’s growth, technology, and the challenges it faces.[/p][p][/p][h2]Buildings[/h2][p][/p][p]Buildings are the instruments through which you shape your locations and unlock their full potential. In Europa Universalis V, they are far more than simple upgrades, each structure serves a distinct purpose, influencing production, resource output, trade, and the character of your locations  in meaningful ways.[/p][p][/p][p]Buildings can be categorized into several types:[/p]

• [p]Basic Industry and Raw Materials Buildings: These buildings directly create goods, by using other goods as input, Examples include Tools Guild creating tools from Iron or a Printing Shop creating books with lead, paper, lumber and dyes. These buildings become better with further advancements with time, such as the tools guild becoming a tools workshop and eventually a tools factory. As mentioned earlier in this development diary, some of these goods that buildings produce are also extracted resources while others are more complex goods that can only be produced in buildings.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Tools Guilds are the only way to produce tools until the age of Reformation[/p]

• [p]Infrastructure Buildings: These are a type of building that increase goods output, population capacity, disease resistance, proximity cost or development gain. Examples of this are the irrigation building or Hospitals. [/p]

[p][/p][p]Irrigation buildings are a great way to increase population capacity in locations with rivers flowing through them.[/p]

• [p]Trade Buildings: These structures enhance a Location's role in the trade network. Increasing the amount of trades your nation can do in the market the location is in and increasing trade advantage, the level of trade power you exert, in that given market. Examples of this are marketplaces and trade offices.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Marketplaces are a vital part in establishing strong trade power[/p]

• [p]Military Buildings: These buildings support your military efforts by increasing monthly manpower and sailors. This also includes defensive buildings such as forts and bastions that make sieging your territory harder. [/p]

[p][/p][p]For Most Nations, the Armory is the first building that produces monthly manpower[/p]

• [p]Villages: These are buildings that can only be built in rural locations of your nation. Usually increasing food capacity in that location and giving other minor bonuses in exchange for peasants power in the location. These buildings also produce some goods on their own but are not as efficient as other production buildings. Examples of this are Farming Village or Forest Village.[/p]

[p][/p][p]A Forest Village may not be the most efficient building, but it employs peasants and its cheap[/p]

• [p]Cultural Buildings: These are buildings that help educate the masses or elevate cultural influence or tradition. Examples of this are the Library and Theatre.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Temples are a great way to increase control in Urban locations[/p]

• [p]Government Buildings: These are buildings that generally impact your nation on a nationwide scale, giving bonuses such as crown power and cabinet efficiency. Many of these buildings are limited in number and can only be built in the capital. Examples of this are the Chancery or Royal Court.[/p]

[p][/p][p]You can only have one Royal Court in your nation [/p]

• [p]Location Unique Buildings: While buildings that only certain nations can build exist in EU5, such as the janissary barracks for the Ottomans or the Fretoria for Portugal, there are also unique buildings that are location specific. These buildings give unique modifiers, sometimes country wide, that can only be built and upgraded in specific locations in the entire world. Examples of this are the Seljuk Mints in Sivas and Konya or the Library of Vijayangar in the city of Vijayangar. [/p]

[p][/p][p]Seljuk Mints can only be built in the locations of Konya and Sivas[/p][p][/p][p]Many buildings will upgrade over time depending on advancements in research and some buildings fit many of these roles in one building, such as a dock that gives more sailors for your navy while also reducing proximity cost through a port. [/p][p][/p][p]Docks give both sailors and proximity cost
[/p][p]Deciding which buildings to construct in a location is always a strategic choice, guided by the broader direction of your empire. A nation striving for economic dominance will naturally favor different structures than one seeking military supremacy or religious unity. These decisions are never made in isolation; as every building comes with an upfront cost and ongoing maintenance that must be balanced against the strength of your treasury.[/p][p][/p][p]Progress and innovation also play a central role. More advanced structures only become available after key technological breakthroughs, rewarding innovation and literacy.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Over time a paper guild eventually can be upgraded to a paper factory
[/p][p]At the same time, access to the right raw materials is essential, as many buildings require specific resources to be constructed in the first place and need goods to function properly.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]This Hospital is operating at 83.33% due to lack of mercury[/p][p][/p][p]Finally, the needs of your population cannot be ignored. Each pop group consumes different goods to maintain its satisfaction, the clergy may demand books and incense, the burghers may demand tea and fine cloth, and the nobility may demand weaponry and horses. Meeting these demands shapes markets and creates pressures you must navigate carefully.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Goods Demands of the Nobility as Naples in 1580[/p][p][/p][p]In Europa Universalis V, buildings sit at the heart of a living economic cycle. Raw materials fuel construction, buildings drive production, and that production strengthens both your markets and your empire’s growth. Mastering this cycle is what allows you to transform ordinary locations into flourishing centers of power, prosperity, and development.[/p][h2]
Markets[/h2][p][/p][p]Europa Universalis V is the first title of the series with dynamic flow of goods between ever changing markets. Markets expand and retract based on their market attraction, goods flow dynamically from market to market depending on trade range and trades being done by nations with trade capacity in those markets.[/p][p][/p][p]Markets Mapmode in 1337[/p][p]Market Map Modes in 1798 - Can you guess which nation was being played in this run?[/p][p][/p][p]Simply put, a market is where goods are bought and sold. Each market is anchored by a market center, located in a specific location, but its reach extends to other locations based on the Market Attraction and Market Protectionism of the market owner. The market owner is the nation that owns the market center, though ownership does not guarantee dominance. Weaker market owners can be outmaneuvered and dwarfed, and stronger rivals can often dictate the flow of trade.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]A Breakdown of the Genoa market mid campaign (late 1500s). Genoa is struggling to maintain control over their own market[/p][p][/p][p]Every market assigns a unique price to each good, anchored in the selling price set at the market center. This price is dictated by the balance of supply and demand: scarce goods under high demand can climb to as much as 500% of their base cost, while oversupplied goods with little demand may fall to –90% of their base cost.[/p][p]Over time, prices adjust toward a target price — the predicted value based on shifts in supply and demand within that market. Because no two markets are identical, the same goods can carry vastly different values across regions.[/p][p]
[/p][p]A huge difference between the price of Fish and the price of Chili in Constantinople in 1781[/p][p][/p][p]Market owners are not limited to their immediate sphere of influence — they can project their market outward, competing directly with rivals in what amounts to trade wars. At the heart of these struggles are two opposing forces:[/p]

• [p]Market Attraction, which measures how strongly a market center can pull nearby locations into its orbit.
  [/p]
• [p]Market Protection, which shields Locations from being absorbed into competing markets.[/p]

[p]When two markets collide, Attraction and Protection are set against each other in a tug-of-war. The outcome decides which market ultimately claims control over contested Locations, redrawing the boundaries of economic influence.[/p][p]If neglected, a market can quickly be overshadowed or absorbed by a competing market, diminishing its size and reach.[/p][p]
[/p][p]The Vijayanagar market is dominating its neighboring markets of Kozhikode and Pazhaverkadu - 1493[/p][p]From the Age of Reformation onward, market influence gains a new layer of complexity through Mercantilism vs. Free Trade values. Moving towards Mercantilism strengthens market protection but reduces trade efficiency, while moving towards Free Trade enhances trade efficiency at the expense of trade protection. The balance between these approaches shifts from campaign to campaign, shaping not just your economy, but the way your entire game unfolds in Europa Universalis V.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Mercantilism vs Free Trade values[/p][p][/p][p]You might assume that consolidating everything into one large market is always the optimal strategy in EU5. However, markets that cover vast areas are hindered by the Market Access mechanic. The further a location is from its market center, the less access it will have, which directly reduces the goods available, lowers output, and diminishes the local tax base. In extreme cases, a location with 0% market access will be completely cut off from the market’s goods. It should be mentioned that RGO output does not get impacted by market access unlike buildings that will. [/p][p]Fortunately, there are several ways to improve access. Constructing roads, relocating your market center, or even establishing entirely new markets can all help ensure your realm’s economy remains connected and prosperous[/p][p]
Locations with lower market access are shaded darker in the market mapmode[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]A location’s market access can be found in the location screen, showing the transportation distance to the market center[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The location of Hamarøy struggles due to having 0 market access to the Oslo market[/p][p][/p][p]Deciding whether to create new markets, dismantle old ones, or relocate existing market centers is a key strategic choice. Shifting a market center to a province with better reach, superior harbor capacity, or deeper access to inland trade routes can greatly strengthen your nation’s position.
[/p][p]Alternatively, emerging powers may establish entirely new markets to seize control over the flow of goods — a decisive step that can form the foundation of a thriving and independent economy.[/p][h2]
Trade[/h2][p]Simply put, trade is the movement of goods between markets. Goods are purchased in one market and sold in another, either to generate profit or to alleviate shortages by supplying a destination market with resources it otherwise struggles to access.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]A list of active trades out of the Konstatinyye market as Ottomans in 1419 [/p][p][/p][p]Trade profit in Europa Universalis V is determined by the price gap between markets: the difference between what a good sells for in the exporting market and what it can fetch in the importing one. From this margin, the maintenance costs of conducting the trade are subtracted. Distance between the two markets, along with any tolls encountered along the route, will steadily erode profits. Making efficient routes and favorable conditions essential for a thriving trade network.[/p][p][/p][p]The Kronborg Castle acts as a Sound Toll, taxing all trade that flows through Øresund[/p][p]
As mentioned earlier in this developer diary, not all raw materials are naturally extractable or produceable in every market. Not every market will have gold, silver, copper, mercury or gems. Not every market will be able to produce Lacquerware or Porcelain. Trade will be the only tool at your disposal to relieve the demands of the goods you do not have access to. Without trade, many of your buildings and pops will suffer. Weighing whether it's worth bringing in access to goods, even if it's at a loss, is another strategic decision to be made while playing Europa Universalis 5. A decision you may see yourself doing more than not. [/p][p]
Within any active market, every nation with influence competes for the most favorable trades through their trade advantage. Nations with the highest trade advantage secure first access to goods to export out of the market, while those with little trade advantage are left with the scraps. Trade advantage can be increased by investing in buildings like Marketplaces, strengthening maritime presence, or controlling more Locations within the market.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Trade Advantage of Vijayanagar in the Vijayanagar Market 1580[/p][p] [/p][p]Once established in a market, nations can engage in trade according to their trade capacity, representing the volume of goods they are able to import and export. More trade capacity, the more trades in and out of a given market. This can be increased with buildings, advances, and estate privileges. [/p][p][/p][p]Trade Capacity in the same market[/p][p][/p][p]Not all markets are accessible, whether a market can trade from one market to another is determined by Trade range. Trade range is the maximum distance at which a country can conduct trade between two markets, calculated from their respective market centers. As long as a market has trade capacity, it will be able to trade with all markets within its trade range. Trade range can be increased through Advances, laws, estate privileges and government reforms.
[/p][p][/p][p]Transportation Code Government Reform, one of the many ways to increase trade range[/p][p][/p][p]In Europa Universalis V, trade is not conducted solely by nations. The Burgher class also engages in independent trade, moving goods to alleviate shortages within their own Locations. The scale of this activity grows with the size of your Burgher population and can be further expanded through the estate privilege Burgher Trade Monopolies. However, granting this privilege comes at a cost, as it reduces your nation’s own trade capacity in exchange for greater Burgher-driven commerce.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Trade Monopolies estate privilege increases burgher trades at the cost of nation wide trace capacity[/p][p][/p][p]The economic systems of Europa Universalis V are designed to be dynamic, interconnected, and deeply strategic. From the resources extracted by laborers and shaped by geography, to the buildings that transform locations into centers of prosperity, and the markets that bind nations together in trade and rivalry, every decision you make influences the flow of goods and the fortunes of your people. Mastering the balance between production, markets, and trade is not just about wealth –  it is about power, influence, and the ability to shape the ambitious destiny of your empire.[/p][p][/p][p]Now, Enjoy a comic from our good friend chapel on the topic of the Economy! [/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]As well a link to the accompanying feature video![/h3][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]
That's all for today! Don't Forget you can Pre-Purchase Europa Universals V now: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]You can of course follow us on social media for all your Europa Universals News, Documentaries, Announcements and other fun stuff! [/p][p][/p][p]Twitter/X Facebook [/p][p]Instagram Discord EU5 Forum[/p][p][/p][h3] Until next time! - Ryagi
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