Strategy games depend on the quality of their maps and the team at the Paradox Development Studios is eager to make sure that it increases the quality of its Europa Universalis IV experience by making extensive changes to the provinces and the nations that are part of the new Art of War expansion.

The team has been talking about the way the zones outside of Europe have been upgraded and the focus for this week on the official forums is South Russia, which gets access to more hordes, Genoan colonies and more states to play with.

There are 23 new provinces for gamers to battle over and all the names have been changed to Tatar, in order to enhance immersion.

Paradox explains that “In time, when Russia will begin to push Tatars away and settle the Russian plain. Civilization will come there and due to the dynamic province names system, big Russian cities will appear instead of Wild Fields. No more anachronisms!”

In Crimea, gamers can take over Theodoro, which is inhabited by Hellenized Goths and will need to deal with some powerful neighbors in order to survive in the long term.

The Tatars have also been broken up into eight new cultures, Crimean, Qasim, Nagaybäks, Astrakhans, Sibirtars, Mishars, Bashkirs and Qazanli.

In Ruthenia, there are more principalities that can unite the region, and a New Kieven Rus empire can also be created.

The team adds, “We’ve split the Moldavian province in two, better reflecting the historical situation in Moldavia. We’ve also added a new province to Moskovia and new unique ideas for other Russian countries.”

Changes are also coming to South America

Paradox also talks about major changes made to South America, designed to increase the immersion and the historical realism of Europa Universalis IV, and there are also changes to provinces and cultures in East Africa and in Asia.

Art of War for Europa Universalis IV is the biggest expansion that Paradox has delivered for one of its grand strategy titles.

As the name implies, the focus is on warfare mechanics, with a number of mechanics now streamlined in order to make it easier for gamers to battle their rivals.

There are also new ways to deal with the Papacy and a new set of features aims to portray the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation more realistically while offering players a way to recreate the Thirty Years’ War and the devastation it has brought to Europe.

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