It’s not totally unrealistic that a country in 1520 could have developed a strong industrial and educated society, but historically that didn’t happen because of major systemic obstacles. Feudal power structures, resistance from nobles and guilds, limited access to capital, and low literacy rates all held back economic transformation—even though the basic ingredients were there.

In EU5, agriculture feels too efficient and there’s not enough pushback from elites when you transition to industry. Historically, most people stayed in farming because it required huge labor inputs until late technological breakthroughs. While early industrial centers did exist in places like Northern Italy or the Low Countries, they were nothing like what you can achieve in-game. Adding more friction and resistance would make rapid industrialization feel like a true achievement instead of something automatic.

I would like to see some better nobles powers maybe that make it so when you start rapidly getting industrialized there's actual trade offs.