Pacifist run

[Abuse_Claws]

So I hadn't played for a while (since like 1.3.4 iirc), and now decided to come back. But when I started the campaign, I noticed how much more we can influence diplomatic relations now, and I decided to do a little experiment.
So a pacifist run! No wars (with major nations, as invasions against minor nations aren't always player-controlled) allowed, additionally I restricted myself from going bankrupt, having a revolution or going below 0 Naval Prestige (the latter only applies since like 2nd year of the campaign)
I'm playing on Hard difficulty

It's been 30 years (1890-1920)

• All my diplomatic relations are above 50
• My unrest is exactly 0
• My NP is 382, the highest among all nations (next contender is the Italian admiral with 318, then the French with 111)
• My GDP is rising quickly and will seemingly within a few years surpass all other countries except France, which for no apparent reason has a GDP growth rate of 10% even while at war
• My technology level is Very Advanced, only matched by Britain and France
• I have 20 trillion in naval funds, more than anyone else except France. This amount of money will presumably allow me to buy myself out of wars more or less indefinitely even if my diplomatic strategy fails

So what's the point of fighting wars in this game about naval battles?
Like, getting provinces, sure, but I don't think provinces give you anything other than a sense of achievement (for finally rolling the dice well on a naval invasion) and a bunch of unrest
It seems like the balance could still use some work

[PalaiologosTheGreat]

Who are you playing as? 

[Abuse_Claws]

10 hours ago, PalaiologosTheGreat said:

Who are you playing as? 

AH, which is convenient, as I only get negative relations regularly vs Russia

And even then it's so few tension points I can usually go right back in the next 3 turns

[Wowzery]

On 8/9/2023 at 8:25 AM, Abuse_Claws said:

So what's the point of fighting wars in this game about naval battles?

For me, to see my designs in battle.

[Abuse_Claws]

12 hours ago, Wowzery said:

For me, to see my designs in battle.

Same here, but I'm talking from like an in-game strategy standpoint
Also of note, if at 1920 I decide to toss the pacifism and start my conquest (which I might do on a copy of this save), I'm in a much better position than everyone else, as I had 30 years of booming economy unburdened not just by war, but even by maintaining a navy at all
Basically there's no game mechanic that would make me actually fight or even build a decent fleet at any point, therefore allowing me to store up on resources as much as I want, gaining an (unfair) advantage over the AI
Like I legit have one 1890 BB in my fleet the entire 30 years of the run and no country even thought of attacking me
In Civ V for example if other leaders thought player's army was pathetic, they would smell blood like sharks and try to gobble you up instantly
Which actually forced the player to, you know, have an army at least.
I think there was a similar concept in Stellaris
And it makes sense to have something like that in a PvE strategy game, disallowing some cheesy strats

[neph]

Seconded--there should be a "blood in the water" mechanic if your navy is too weak

[Vinrellren]

On 8/9/2023 at 8:25 PM, Abuse_Claws said:

So what's the point of fighting wars in this game about naval battles?
Like, getting provinces, sure, but I don't think provinces give you anything other than a sense of achievement (for finally rolling the dice well on a naval invasion) and a bunch of unrest
It seems like the balance could still use some work

I agree. I actually did a pacifist run as the USA, and I just realized how damaging war is against other nations that especially have no province with oil to take. I started in 1890 till 1932 without wars and I achieved 2.3 Trillion in GDP as the US, with France at 1.3 Trillion with 6% growth even at war. I achieved 17% growth yearly due to oil production.

I think wars are only beneficial if we took oil-producing provinces, as it boosts our GDP growth immensely, but other than that yeah wars are kinda useless. Especially with the broken peace deal, where wars can drag on for years without any battle (thus 0v0 VP) from both sides and unable to peace deal with the enemy. Resulting in a tanked economy (Halved GDP growth).