Games Check: Europa Universalis 4 – Lions of the North + Sweden Patch – News

With Lions of the North is a new immersion pack for the “Grand Strategy” game Europa Universalis 4 published by Paradox. Thematically, it is dedicated to the Baltic Sea region. After a good 20 hours of play, I’ll tell you how worthwhile the expansion is and what the 1.34 “Sweden” patch brings with it in terms of content and changes.

With the Teutonic Order, I have chosen the goal of Christianizing the East. This decision brought me some territorial claims.

Mission Accomplished

The heart of the expansion: Around a dozen countries in the region benefit from new mission trees. In my main run I played the Teutonic Order, which now has a slightly easier start and can easily join the Holy Roman Empire via mission and subsequent event. The risk of being picked apart by Poland-Lithuania at the start of the game is significantly reduced. The mission tree includes the new “Forked Missions”. That means it is dynamic and changes depending on your decisions. In the end I decided to go the way of the God state in order to advance the Christianization of the East and to leave the HRR again.

After campaigns of conquest, mainly against Poland, Lithuania, Sweden and Denmark, I was able to move my borders at a favorable moment and with Russian help as far as Constantinople. On the way to the “Baltic Crusader” achievement, however, I soon have to contend with my hitherto loyal ally Russia, which is one of the strongest countries in the game alongside France, Spain and Great Britain. I could also have chosen one of the Prussian paths and ultimately played one of the other mission trees because of the branching missions. These options naturally increase the order’s replay value noticeably. Not all countries have branched missions, but with the new player Gotland, for example, you have to decide right at the start of the game whether you would rather fight for the Danish crown as a monarchy or play as a (pirate) republic. So Gotland has three mission trees even without branching missions!

In addition to all the missions, there are of course also new events. There are also 15 new government reforms and nine estate privileges for the Baltic and Scandinavian countries. The Livonian Order was also provided with five privileges. I haven’t been able to try out the two special units of Sweden and Poland-Lithuania. Six very good pieces of music as well as Scandinavian unit models enrich the games audiovisually.

The free update brings over 100 new government reforms.

Patch 1.34 “Sweden”

Patch 1.34 includes not only over 700 bug fixes, but also new content. The two new stages for government reforms (religion and economy) and a total of a good 100 new government reforms with which you can individualize your country and which – much more than before – always presented me with a real agony of choice should be emphasized. There is also a new mission tree for Lübeck, new national ideas and eleven achievements. For some content you need extensions, namely the eight new monuments (Leviathanin the game check) and nine naval doctrines (Rule Britannia).

For the numerous game balancing and AI changes, but above all the revised combat system and the buffs and nerfs of ideas, it is best to take a look at the before your next game patch notes. The AI ​​performed well overall. Only in the war for the Crimea did the Tunisians, allied with the Ottomans, constantly send troops in dribbles into the war objective, which I occupied with an army.

I would like to emphasize that the state house, the courthouse and its upgrade to the town hall no longer require free building space. I had rarely built the courthouse, as it was often not absolutely necessary and “more important” buildings (e.g. money-making ones) contested the place. Now it will be easier to play “wide”, i.e. to conquer a lot, since the court ensures, among other things, that the province requires less of your government capacity. In order to be able to make good use of the numerous government reforms, your reform progress is increased if you hold more than 50 percent crown land. Up to a 100 percent bonus if the stalls are landless. The status game has also been expanded: each status can receive six instead of four privileges. After all, all modders and mod users are happy about the expanded options.

The update buffs some ideas, for others it sets nerfs.

Conclusion

Paradox Tinto is consistently continuing on the path it has taken: bug fixes, careful balancing changes and an expansion that can stand on its own. The new mission trees are fun and the “Branching Missions” provide even more replay value. It will take dozens of hours to play even one game with each of the countries. After my run with the Teutonic Order, a pirate game with Gotland and the colonial game with Norway are at the top of my list. A new map mode that shows provinces in looting range and recently looted provinces will help me in the pirate game.

Lions of the North has become round and extensive and therefore a great expansion. “Sweden” also makes a good impression. So we recommend the following: Get Lions of the North and let off steam in the Baltic States and beyond! This also and especially applies if you are in the mood for new, exciting games after a EU4 break and maybe want to get hold of one or the other achievement.

• grandstrategy
• Single and Multiplayer
• Intermediate to Pro
• Price: 14.99 euros
• In one sentence: Well-designed, partly branching mission trees, high replay value and many new details make Lions of the North a “must” expansion for every run in the Baltic States.