Victoria II

**Monk** · 03-03-2013, 06:25

Victoria II: Communist Boogaloo is the sequel to Victoria: Revolutions and a grand strategy game made by Paradox Interactive. Set in the Victorian era, the game covers the time from 1836 up until the first Great War. Whereas Crusader Kings II sees you watching the evolution of families and dynastic power and EUIII the evolution of statehood, Victoria II sees industrialization and economic policies shaping the world just as much as it's military aspect.

Its a bit more complicated than EUIII for beginners to learn, and therefore, a bit more rewarding to take an uncivilized nation and make them a Great Power.

Its expansion, A House Divided, is considered essential to gameplay due to a large number of fixes and improvements to both the AI and the game's mechanics. Westernizing your nation is now less backward, and the game's economy no longer simply ceases to work in the later half of the game. It also added a lot of new mechanics to rebels, including the new 'national movement' system, which helps rebels organize for certain reforms and put pressure on the government in logical ways.

Why you should be interested: because you can finally stick it to the capitalist pigs once and for all! Nah, but seriously, it's just a different flavor game than the other strategy games we play, and well worth the look if you ask me.

Vicky 2 is due for an expansion soon, Heart of Darkness, which focuses on the Great Powers' scramble for the African continent.

Originally Posted by announced feature list of Heart of Darkness

Experience a brand new colonization system: Use your navy to expand your empire, compete against other colonial powers and struggle to maintain your overseas control. Colonial conflicts can spiral out of control and become international crises where they will have to be decided by diplomatic negotiations or risk costly wars.

Battle your enemies in the new naval combat system: Together with the new colonization system, your navies are more important than ever. We have revamped the entire naval combat system and made it much more detailed and exciting with a new system of gun ranges and maneuvering into positions for battles. New powerful battleships join the other classes of ships to bridge the gap to Dreadnoughts.

Prepare for International Crises: Around the world international crises continually call on the Great Powers to mediate and compromise, with war always being the last resort. As one of the lesser powers, use your influence to stir up the local flash points so you can use fleet footed diplomacy to get the Great Powers to right the wrongs that have been committed against your nation!

Follow the global events with the new newspaper system: You will receive reports on local and global events as well as the world's changing situation to keep up to date and get a greater sense of immersion. Over 60 newspapers, both historic and otherwise, periodically present you with the latest news reports of war, major events, royal gossip and other matters of interest.

Sounds pretty cool right? Want some more details? check out the new dev diaries that are going up regularly on the paradox site:

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...%96-Newspapers

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...-Crisis-System

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...e-naval-system

Will update this post with links to more dev diaries as they come.

**Alexander the Pretty Good** · 03-03-2013, 20:28

The crisis thing sounds cool, I just wish I understood the economy at all. The best I do is limp along as a great power until I'm no longer one, or just do nothing as a secondary or civ nation.

**Monk** · 03-04-2013, 23:54

If you are fans of tutorials mixed with AARs and are having trouble grasping Vicky II, then you should definitely have a look at Reliving the Restoration (for noobs) by Avindian of the Paradox forums.

His tactics aren't perfect and he makes some rather humorous blunders, but he explains absolutely everything about Vicky's mechanics. From economic policies and what they mean, to managing clipper convoys, to the new AHD mechanics, everything seems covered in a logical and entertaining way.

**Alexander the Pretty Good** · 03-06-2013, 00:52

That's a great read. Maybe I'll try taking the plunge, probably as USA, then maybe someone in South America...

**Monk** · 03-09-2013, 07:42

New dev diary is out detailing the new naval system: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...e-naval-system

Looks like navies have gotten a complete overhaul in the form of balance, supply and combat mechanics. Paradox seems to be making Naval combat a particularly big (or at least, much bigger) focus in this expansion to Vicky II. The way ships seem to dynamically seek and destroy while in combat looks really cool.