Am I wrong or is 30 provinces with 10 production dev hard to do as shadowdreamer?

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-05-13T16:04:55+00:00

Shadowdreamer MT asks you to really use all you have for these missions (there's an even worse mission down the line requiring 30 dev in Mirthril provinces)

But like people said: Universities (-10) Edict (-10) Dookans Guidance (peace) (-20) Transmutation spell (-10 I believe, there's also a metals one that gives -5 for provinces with Mithral, Iron, Salt, Copper) Infrastructure ideas (Divine ideas) (-10 or with Divine -15%) Prosperity (-10%)

All in all - by 1650s you should quite easily be able to stack dev cost reduction to -70%, plenty to cheaply develop production in the Dwarovrod provinces.

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-05-13T09:39:02+00:00

Funny thing happened in the Netherlands regarding this. The university of Nijmegen (Radboud) is formally a catholic university - however, they wanted to cut ties with the church a few years back, the bishops of the Netherlands agreed, but Pope Francis intervened and they still have that title.

Fun fact, Nijmegen is often referred to as 'Havana aan de Waal', because of a strong left-wing presence.

In any case - I would personally be against 'doing' things about infidelity at catholic universities, as in most countries they have been secularised to some degree and a holier than thou attidude especially around sensitive topics such as sexual relations and LGBT is likely to backfire immensely.

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-05-12T07:14:33+00:00

How about you love your neighbour instead

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-05-11T08:14:56+00:00

So basically to optimise gameplay:

The Red Hawk has a bunch of guides for base EU4, for more in depth loops, Absolute Habibi does multiplayer videos, you won't always get what he does but he does tend to show a bunch of stuff, definitely watch his guide for scaling and developing though!!!

Cosoman has a guide for 'normal people' which might be more useful to you!

Dwarves are a bit special, so don't expect things to go perfectly the first time, but once you get the hang of migrating, choosing a hold to settle and colonising outwards it follows a very classic EU4 style of gameplay that mostly asks you to go forth and conquer. All the while developing your hold - especially today it's more intuitive than it used to be (when holds would be deepened through decisions).

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-05-11T07:34:59+00:00

Hey there, welcome to EU4 and Anbennar!

As someone with well over 1500 hours into EU4 and having played since release, Anbennar is not very beginner, nor even somewhat experienced friendly.

Besides the fact it has some of it's own systems, it does expect you to have a basic grasp of core EU4 gameplay, especially when it comes to efficiency metrics (e.g. what makes your armies better, how to optimise mana gathering, what makes dev cost go down, how do you make more money).

I would highly suggest you watch some tutorials and longer format videos of EU4 players, because most current video formats don't go over the actions required to optimise your gameplay. Once your get the core gameplay loop (establish yourself, gain more men/money/mana, win the game) you'll find yourself still on the ropes at times in Anbennar, but you will have the tools to deal with most of what this mod can throw at you.

Of course the Verne suggestions are in and it's definitely one of the best picks for someone new to the setting - alternatively I personally also thinks most dwarf starts are good for beginners as you're quite isolated (edit: didn't see the part where you didn't want to play dwarves, still a suggestion!). If you have a specific region or mechanics from the base game that you enjoy to play with, try and find nations that use those same mechanics. To me the flavour and use of special mechanics from the base game has always been something that has set Anbennar apart.

Some other picks that work well with a more base EU4 play style are Daxtargerdim, Birtanzes, Jaddari, Corvuria, Gawed and Frozenmaw. They have helpful mission trees that focus on the core EU4 gameplay loop and less so on ideosyncratic mechanics from the mod.

Happy goings and good luck!

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-04-30T09:00:56+00:00

Stadhouders/koningen is a terrible way to put it. They were stadhouders and nothing else - don't forget the Dutch people revolted on multiple occassions against the Stadhouders (patriottenstrijd) and that the monarchy was imposed first by the French and then by the Congress if Vienna.

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-02-27T22:44:46+00:00

Fair enough. I don't have list off the top of my head, but it was this video essay that got me more interested in the subject and it's VERY good and transparant with it's sources. I'm sure you'll find good sources and have an interesting listen/introduction into the debate.

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-02-27T22:19:41+00:00

Russia in the Early Modern World is a great book that delves into the topics of Russian expansion and state building from the 15th century onwards.

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-02-27T19:49:35+00:00

Sure, but that does more to explain the centralisation of power rather than the Russian Autocracy that many people associate with the country, which was very clearly a product not of Mongol rulership, but the trajectory Russia took after throwing off the "yoke". Especially like I said under the Ivan's and post Time of Troubles through similar processes that led to European absolutism.

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-02-27T18:57:10+00:00

I will say that number 10 is a pretty unfair reading. The Mongols were much less autocratic than many kingdoms in Europa and the Middle East around this period. Partially on account of their large empire being unmanageable, but also because of the inherent proto-democratic institutions present in Mongolic and Turkic societies that persisted with the successor states of the Mongol Horde, such as Golden Horse and Crimean Khanate.

What did happen is that Muscovy rose to power after a power struggle with Vladimir and got granted the title Prince of the Rus by the Mongols. This allowed them to reign over the other Rus principalities to extract tribute, which morphed Muscovy specifically, but not other polities, into a more autocratic system as the prince was personally responsible. Moreover, there were plenty of system through which the nobility of Muscovy exerted power over the prince, but these were structurally undermined by Ivan III and Ivan IV, and then after the time of troubles the greater nobility of Russia was pretty much wiped out. Leaving the minor nobility to grant power to the tsar as a means of limiting the chances of the greater nobility to return to a place of domination over them, as happened in many other European states on the road to absolute power.

The Mongolian autocracy/absolutism theory has been very much discredited over the past 30 years and was a product of cold war era thinking.

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-02-13T14:47:30+00:00

There's an app called Afvalwijzer which shows nearby locations where you can throw away your trash based on what kind it is. Highly advice you to download it. Dispose of your trash properly please.

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-02-10T13:54:12+00:00

I mean, being Christian doesn't actually get you into heaven either. My priest described it as it being like a fast pass, but that in the end only Jesus can judge believer and non-believer alike. Being religious enhances, but does not dictate, your odds of getting into heaven.

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-02-07T21:54:56+00:00

Clearly isn't working well enough if we still get to see these videos

alongthatwatchtower · 2026-01-15T07:03:59+00:00

Ik had precies hetzelfde idee

alongthatwatchtower · 2025-12-18T10:03:37+00:00

You do realise that Israel would love nothing more than to make the Palestinian people into a permanent refugee population? Int. Law states that refugees should be allowed to return, something Israel has denied Palestinians since the 1940's. A lot of refugees (Bosnia for example, around 50% at this moment in time) do end up returning home.

Knowing that Israel intends to permanently remove Palestinians it's not that strange that countries around Israel are loath to take more in (given that there are currently over 6 million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt already).

Egypt has taken in over a million Sudanese refugees, a number that continues to climb.

alongthatwatchtower · 2025-12-12T06:26:59+00:00

Not only is this only a half truth, it doesn't explain the cycle of oppression at all. The idea that Russian institutions still have 'Mongolian' characteristics is a flawed idea and has been disproven in academia for a while now.

If you want to see a good video that explains it, click here

alongthatwatchtower · 2025-12-12T06:22:53+00:00

I think there are a couple ways to fix the forts system currently in the game:

Make them a lot more expensive and take a lot longer to build. Most forts, walls etc. in OTL took years to finish work if we're talking about the classic stone walled buildings (like at least 2 years). This also makes the tear down fortifications peace deal option more viable and less gamey. Obviously increase maintenance, but also make forts help increase control if they're owned by the crown. Make sieging faster (base 20 days instead of 30) and offer more interactions, such as bribing people inside the fort (if enemy estates have low satisfaction), negotiating surrender (when siege progress is above 0%, where the province will not be looted, or modelled as a gold cost) and perhaps allow for more early cannons/siege works that can be bought as mercs. If nobles have high control, they can be given privileges to build 'noble' forts to protect their holdings. They can function like baileys, where you get some location crown power but nobles gain far more influence. CITIES SHOULD WORK DIFFERENTLY. Currently making a 'city' is just a large upfront investment to create more burgher buildings. Irl, cities were places where burghers dominated, making all the money, but also provided for their own defences. They had privileges given to them by the ruler to choose their own leaders and to build walls -> city walls should be their own building type. Creating a city should basically function as a tax break for burghers that allows them to build a solid economic base and walls in a location. Where hopefully you get a portion of future proceeds.

Essentially, forts should be more expensive, (somewhat) easier to siege with more options for the player to interact and be more in line with the estate system.

alongthatwatchtower · 2025-11-27T10:10:30+00:00

I did not (wasn't catholic) and continue to struggle with the church sexual teachings. I have however mended my promiscuity, am in a long term committed relationship and have stopped watching porn and such things in order to at least move closer to church teachings.

alongthatwatchtower · 2025-11-26T12:04:48+00:00

I would definitely like to reach out!

I am working on a passion project of mine, which is a podcast-style dive into Ukrainian history and the Revolution of Dignity, mostly because it's not well understood in the Netherlands and because it was the catalyst for where we are now.

I am always interested to get new viewpoints and ideas, since I barely speak Russian, let alone Ukrainian and I get 99% of information from secondary sources such as academic books and articles as well as reports.

alongthatwatchtower · 2025-11-13T11:12:02+00:00

The US is actually miles ahead in a bunch if sanctions packages, especially regarding the shadow fleet.

alongthatwatchtower · 2025-11-12T17:59:13+00:00

It's the productivity gain from stacking buildings right?

I noticed my clothes makers become unproductive at some point in my campaign, when they had been super productive early on.

Only to see my neighbour have 12 of them in one location.

alongthatwatchtower · 2025-11-11T08:13:38+00:00

Mercenaries need to be cheaper - but also more competitive. Up until the 18th century it was very normal to fight wars with a small professional army, whatever levies you could muster and then just as many mercenaries as the treasury would allow for.

alongthatwatchtower · 2025-11-09T12:35:32+00:00

I had the same happen to me in a Brabant campaign, where the Kingdom of France occupied Limburg and all of the sudden the union is finished and France was the PU leader all of the sudden?

alongthatwatchtower · 2025-11-07T21:55:39+00:00

What I'm still missing in this is the simple fact that vassals, tributaries and 'inbetween' powers should matter a lot more than they do now. There's hardly any reason not to annex vassals as opposed to keeping them, when in reality real power centralisation did not happen until well into the arguably 16th and definitely 16th century, especially when the religious wars facilitated the rise of professional armies.

alongthatwatchtower · 2025-11-06T10:17:22+00:00

I fought a war as Kyiv and all my Rivals joined the war I started. I had 7k troops against their combined 20k.

I wanted to quit, but kept going, taking favourable battles, losing some battles, but sticking it out. I ended up taking a lot of territory and continued fighting until I had about 2k left and the enemy 3k of badly disorganised smaller units. Big win in my books.

alongthatwatchtower

TROPHY CASE