Pivot Of Empire in Victoria 3 brings much needed depth to India

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Victoria 3The schedule of updates in the two years since launch follows the pattern of releasing a crisp expansion that spans the game's systems and adds depth to its signature Paradox, followed by a more palatable immersion pack focused on enhancing the look at a comfortable pace. has taken Gameplay for a specific region of the world. Pivot of Empire, Victoria's second DLC this year, falls into the latter category, offering a campaign of tension, intrigue, and warfare on the Indian subcontinent.

Capitalists inspect a factory in Victoria 3

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South Asia has long needed more attention in Victoria 3, especially given the region's importance to the period. Until now, the British Raj played more or less like any other country, a much bigger issue. Pivot of Empire adds new events, unique mechanics, and even rules to break free from British subjugation or tighten the Queen's control over her most valuable colony.

People of delhi celebrate phool walon ki sair in an exclusive event for empire axis dlc in victoria 3.

Pivot of Empire is not DLC for newcomers to Victoria. Even the simplest start in the subcontinent – taking over the East India Company and maintaining control in the name of Taj – requires a good working knowledge of the game just to stay afloat. While you have full access to the resources of the British Empire at its height, expectations from London are almost impossible. You will be expected to expand the company's assets while changing your construction priorities to suit the whims of the board of directors and maintain the loyalty of local princes and priests.

If that seems like a tall order, that's because it is. If you can't masterfully thread the needle, there will be a riot in the first few decades of the game. It's not a matter of if, it's when. However, unlike standard Victorian rebellions, the Sepoy Rebellion allows any region of India (and Pakistan, if also conquered by Britain at the time the die is cast) that is sufficiently rebellious to become an independent state. As the player, you can stay on track and suppress the rebels or switch to one of the freedom fighters.

The rebels are not allied with each other, but all are fighting the East India Company. Assuming the tumultuous battle was won and the British kicked out a century early, there would be no unified India when the dust settled. Freedom is only the beginning – now you have to see if you can work with your new neighbors, establish yourself as their new master, or fall prey to another invader if you can't stand together.

Forming a power block with the Sphere of Influence DLC can make for a fun mid-game campaign in South Asia.

Of course, Victoria 3 is more of an economy sim than anything else, and Pivot of Empire offers plenty of unexpected challenges to maintain your gold reserves. The high population of India's major cities, combined with the way the game's tax system works, means that you will never be able to effectively collect taxes, no matter how many government offices you create. This means you have to rely on cash crops through the DLC's unique Extraction Economy rule, which favors farming and mining, but bans advanced industries. In particular, you need to make sure that your government owns the most farms and plantations, as well as the railroads that transport goods. The usual strategy of taxing jobs and workers goes out the window in this campaign.

All in all, I can only recommend getting Pivot of Empire if you plan to play a campaign in South Asia, which you should only do if you're looking for a challenge. This one is for the hardcore players. That said, this DLC is a must when you decide it's time to visit 19th century Bengal and Mysore.

However, if you're not quite ready to give it a go, never fear. Pivot of Empire launches alongside patch 1.8, which includes many quality-of-life improvements that give Victoria 3 more immersion and narrative depth.

Political movements are now more numerous and stable. At any time, you will see more movements within your country, but now they can be suppressed or strengthened (instead of interest groups), and only the most radical or grassroots movements will start to make demands. Cultural acceptance (or lack thereof) is also more nuanced now, as opposed to the binary status a pope once had.

Wild harvest conditions are underway in Victoria 3

The most fun additions in 1.8 are weather events that can affect productivity in an area. They add a layer of unpredictability to campaigns, and encourage you to think twice about putting all your grain production into a single state to maximize economies of scale – Anyway, it would be a shame if the fire burned all the good stuff. Efficient fields

All in all, Pivot of Empire and patch 1.8 represent another step in Victoria 3's steady growth. They're not universal updates, but they're welcome nonetheless.

Navigating the uncharted waters of history to give the British Empire a black eye and create a free India is a monumental task, and long-time fans of Victoria will be eager to rise to the challenge.

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