Most strategy games typically have that war component. Europa Universalis IV, however, is going for a different route by offering players other ways to win. Instead of an army of soldiers, they can have an army of diplomats to use flattery as a weapon, an alternative for swords and spears. Players can even build their own metropolis and have an economy envied by all.
All of this will be available in the Leviathan expansion arriving on April 27. As hinted, Leviathan is centered around economics and diplomacy. It is currently offered at $19.99 and you can get it here.
In Leviathan, players gain the ability to use diplomatic Favors to get benefits from other nations. To boot, players also gain access to these:
- New Regency Options
- Regency councils represent the interests of the most powerful estate and can be extended to delay the ascension of a monarch, found to be unfit.
- Specialized Colonial Nations
- Players can have their colonies focus on military help, trade power, or self-government.
- Concentrate Development
- It’s now possible to steal development from vassals or territorial possessions.
- This is useful in improving the power of the capital city.
- Pillage Capital
- Loot the capital of an enemy as a condition for peace. The development can then be brought back to the metropolis.
- Expand Infrastructure
- The capacity of the provinces can now be expanded to allow the construction of new structures.
- This should let smaller nations have their own centers of wealth at a modest cost.
- Centralize State
- Lower the cost of government by spending unused Reform points.
- Totemism
- Nations that follow the Totemist religion can revere a pantheon of past leaders, and thus earn bonuses, which reflect the skills they had in life.
- Monuments
- Expand and establish great projects. This helps add new bonuses to the empire.
- New Unit Models
- Access new army sprites for Southeast Asian nations, including Indochinese, Indonesian and Polynesian nations.
In addition to these features, Leviathan now lets players carpet siege enemy provinces and even draft transports as a plutocratic nation. They can also watch heirs gain legitimacy as they wait to inherit the throne and other changes.
Like other expansions released to the game, a free major update will accompany it. The update will offer changes to the Southeast Asia and North America maps. Gameplay changes are coming as well for North American First Nations while Australian Aboriginal nations will be introduced.
What are your thoughts? Excited about the expansion?
