Banished is great. I go back to it every few years and play a similar amount to what warpus described. A very relaxing game. Except when my villagers aren't able to find enough food or are freezing in the winter. But most of the time.
Oh, I was not expecting that much of a morale difference! Yeah, the Teutons and I were at least on par with tactics and morale.
I'm seeing a -10 modifier with France
Interesting. Could be a flaw in the migration of my mod from 1.35 to 1.36. It doesn't help in diagnosing it that it also varies based on government - monarchies are -20 for heretics, but theocracies are -40, for example. But I can compare knowing that it's not always so severe in 1.36.
Update: Confirmed! Tag-switching to a monarchy shows a -10 modifier. I think is the first time I've played as a Theocracy, so it's something new!
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I played a few more decades as the Livonians. Circa 1460, the Danzig-revolts-from-the-Teutonic-Order-and-seeks-Polish-protection event fired, later than I usually see it. This is when we had the great Holy Orders vs Poland-Lithuania-Danzig showdown, being outnumbered 2.5-to-one, and still 2-to-one after a highly successful first year. Poland-Lithuania was overconfident, and split their army up, and we had just enough forces and generalship to deal them a series of stinging defeats. The decisive victory was at Konigsberg, where a bridge problem had been keeping out forces on opposite sides of the city. Combining a Livonian attack from the east with a Teutonic one from the west, we were able to win and secure a partial victory - half of the revolting Danzigian territory (including Danzig, but not Konigsberg) was returned to the Teutons. Which still left us weaker than before, but was better than how it usually ends for the Teutons.
Around 1470, I fought Poland-Lithuania again, this time with Hungarian help. This was an Insignificant Victory, netting one province, and prompting Poland-Lithuania to buff their army to about 50,000 combined - enough to deter our future plans.
All the while, I was pursuing a policy of detente with Muscovy, who was hostile, but not making any territorial claims. I also won a diplomatic coup when Sweden left the Kalmar union, and allied with the us instead of with Muscovy or England. This despite our alliance with their arch-nemesis, the Danes. I suspect the only reason that they haven't fought a vicious war is that they're both allied with us, so we're essentially their moderator insuring that their flaming of each other is limited to scornful insults and not actual armed conflict.
The big move came around in the early 1490s, when I was able to convince all of my allies - the Teutonic Order, Hungary, Mecklenburg, Lubeck, Denmark-Norway, and Sweden, to team up against Poland-Lithuania at the same time. The latter tried to knock Hungary out, but failed, and our victory was so decisive that the Ottomans and Muscovites decided to invade Poland as well. We took all of the Lithuanian homeland, the city of Riga, restored all the lands the Teutons had lost, and demanded reparations from Poland for all the grief they'd caused the Orders earlier. Sadly, freeing Mazovia would have required more than 100% war score, but I secretly have ambitions of making Mazovia our future non-coastal ally. We have little motivation to try to conquer all of Poland, but a more friendly regime would be nice to have.
With that victory, we quickly swung around to invade Muscovy while they were invading Lithuania. This was a success as well, taking four provinces (including Novgorod and the Neva estuary), and securing the release of Perm, Beloozero, and Sapmi as free states. Unfortunately the first two are heretical theocracies, but Sapmi is Catholic, and Perm will still effectively block Muscovy from colonizing all across Asia. The Hordes loved our anti-Muscovy actions as well, and both Kazan and the Great Horde sent us substantial gifts - likely an economically sound policy, considering Muscovy had been forming claims against their territory, and while still dangerous, is now somewhat reduced.
Thus, with both Poland-Lithuania and Muscovy having suffered setbacks, I finally feel secure in my position as Landmeister. True, our army remains an entirely mercenary force, but with control of the Daugava estuary in Riga, our economy is picking up, our military potential has increased, and our alliance system, considered one of the best ten in the world, has proven to be worth its substantial (2 diplo points/month) cost.
1497. Not visible in this map mode is the highly concerning Ottoman-Bohemian alliance.
To the west, Burgundy is the standout story, having defeated France under Marie de Bourgogne's leadership, at the time when they usually collapse, and gained HRE membership.
Livonia is now at a crossroads. Of their two branching mission trees - crusading and converting Ruthenia and Russia, or colonizing in the style of the Duchy of Courland, I have chosen the latter, seeking to explore the Random New World. But some local expansion may yet occur. The Teutons could be great allies, and will remain so at least until Poland-Lithuania is knocked down another peg, but they've allied with the bothersome Gotlandic pirates, and direct control of more of the Baltic ports would secure our economic standing. Meanwhile, Sweden has its own Baltic ambitions, and whether they will continue to stand by while we control the Neva and are also allied to Denmark remains to be seen. If not, we may seek a closer bond with the Finns, Sapmi, and/or Karelians, either as part of Livonia, or as allies.
To the south and east, I'm also seeking our potential friends. It occurs to me that perhaps the severe diplomatic penalties for religion are because Livonia is a Holy Order, and reforming to a secular monarchy may help with that. The Horde would be ideally positioned as a long-term friend, but our diplomats' ears are open to all.
Yesterday on the way to work, I passed a line of 8 of them going into a construction site. A lot of Peterbilts, a couple of Macks, one Freightliner. No Kenworths, no Western Stars. They were mostly the old-style "traditional" looks. Only the Freightliner had the more modern, sloped hood. I guess the old-style cabs are popular, because Peterbilt's 579 from 2012 uses the 'aerodynamic hood', but the 589 was introduced only last year, and that one went back to the extended hood. I get it. I think the older style looks better, too. If I had a real truck, I'd want one of those. The 589 has new features around the cab to comply with current EPA regulations for aerodynamics, while retaining the classic American 'long nose' look.
