@Mileau  
I wonder what the hoofed equivalent of being six-fingered is.
 
Good to hear there is an over-haul coming for them though!

@Mileau  
Dang you, now I’ll have to do a Jurva campaign once the overhaul comes out… For over 10 in-game years, as well.

@Feydrid Kearn  
I accept full responsibility. Jurva here should watch out, though, lest he have a bit in common with a certain six-fingered man roughly a decade down the line after seizing power…
 
Yes, that’s a teaser, hopefully the reference isn’t too vague.

@Mileau  
You can’t rush art, as they say. I saw that Nova Griffonia is getting a refreshment, at least the Democratic path is, so the news of a deer rework is not too surprising. Still, not surprising does not mean not exciting. Thank you very much for telling us this.
 
Kauan eläköön kuningas!
 
Pretty sure we are going to get multiple “Paavi” versions of that saying in a minute… I want it on record that you started it. XD

From the sound of things here, I’m sure you’ll all be happy to know, if you don’t already, that there is an overhaul for Olenia actively in the works. No ETA at all, may be a long time, but it’s coming.
 
Kauan eläköön kuningatar.

I’d also highly recommend making use of those boost strength settings for countries with wonky AIs that usually AInnihilate themselves. In my experience it doesn’t make too much difference in the long-run, but depending on who you play can make the world a lot more fun.

@Feydrid Kearn  
I recommend also setting every country possible to “random” in the settings (the same ones where you can boost the strength of different countries), except for ones where you want to see specific paths for some reason or another (usually because your gameplay is partially based around other countries going a certain path without you being able to much influence them, e.g. as Bastion of Harmony River Republic). This makes things even less predictable than usual.

@Workable Goblin  
You know what? You’re right. Next campaign I play, historical focuses will be turned off. And thank you for the tip on the auto orders most likely being what screwed me over. No wonder my mountaineers barely saw action despite shuffling around dozens of times on my last attempt…

@Feydrid Kearn
 
You have to micro your infantry divisions around because the AI has a bad habit of moving them from provinces where the other guy is trying to attack you to provinces that are totally quiet because they’re “too weak”. But it’s totally doable; in fact, I just did it last week and I’ve done it several times previously.
 
Of course, Velvet is the best one to do this, because she can invite Equestria into the war just as the changelings have stationed all of their divisions around Hjortland, then cackle madly as Celestia does all the actual work. But it’s just as doable as Johan or Jurva.
 
 
@Feydrid Kearn  
The thing is that they’ve put a ton of effort into developing not just the primary, historical paths, but also the alternative, non-historical paths. Look at Skyfall’s ten (!) different paths for an example. And all of that is totally wasted if you just go historical every time. Plus it makes the AI much more predictable and easier to exploit.

Draw precious Grover VI my dude

@Krispony  
I can see how it would get boring, but I really love the world-building by the mod developers, so playing on historical focuses is just my way of trusting them and their lore to do as it is suppose to do.
 
Though, I might give non-historical a try now. See what explodes and screws me over somehow.

@Feydrid Kearn  
Way too boring with default, I like the world to randomly explode. Plus otherwise a lot of interesting countries get AI’d into oblivion otherwise.

@Kam3E433  
I tried the fortification of the peninsula strategy. I held out for a good while, but eventually a random panzer division broke through. You are making me want to give it a third go.
 
 
@Krispony  
I never play off of historical focuses, so I always just see dead deer news papers. XD
 
And hey, placating the church is needed for a strong monarchy. Going with Johan, it’s almost guaranteed to appease Jurva, since without the church approval, the Divine Birthright needed to legitimize the ruling monarch disappears, which makes revolution inevitably.
 
So, if you think about it, going with either, you can keep both.

@Feydrid Kearn  
I’ve seen them beat the Changelings twice, but only with the default settings changed so that the Changelings face a civil war. Occasionally the AI will be smart enough to decide to attack before the Changelings rebuild, or before they get auto-annexed if Thorax somehow wins. They never attacked Equestria though, and so Equestria eventually took the focus to cause a civil war.
 
And yeah - that is what I was referring to. Keep all the Norse-deer around! Then again, he does have some questionable ideas regarding how to deal with the Changelings.

@Feydrid Kearn  
Defending against the changelings is pretty straightforward if you reinforce the capital peninsula at the rivers/mountains around the north opening and grind them down until your war economy develops. It took a good part of the game to eventually conquer them as the Rike but it’s a satisfying playthrough. You do occasionally see AI surviving but yeah it’s rare.
 
That said I would love a rework that gives them an easier time being their own nation and expanded their gameplay, but Olenia’s kind of the stick that Chryssy is supposed to use to beat Equestria to death with so it’d be a big nerf to the Changeling Lands.

@Krispony  
To be fair, it is unbelievably difficult to survive the Changeling Queendom’s attack. I’ve attempted it twice, failed both times, and that’s just on regular difficulty. (I’m not the best player, but I’m not entirely rubbish, either) Why add content to a nation that is (if played by the AI) cannon fodder?
 
And on a technical basis, Jurva can keep Johan around as a puppet leader after his coup to take control. I believe keeping Johan around as Jurva gives you a national spirit that boosts political power gain, so similar to a Silent Workpony/Workbird political adviser.

@Feydrid Kearn  
Why not both? Its only a shame they don’t really have more content; like potential satellite states or decisions to core/claim more land.

I usually support the rightful ruler, King Johan Jelzek, but Allsherjargodi Jurva is a close second option to rule well.
 
After all, if not the son of the king to lead the deer, then the head of the church will do.

Nice to see more art of/for one of the best hearts of iron IV mods.