While battles aren’t the game’s major draw, they are nevertheless crucial. Whether it’s to expand their empire or to defend their borders from aggressive neighbors, most countries will ultimately resort to war.
Combat in Victoria 3 is, unsurprisingly, as intricate as the rest of the game’s systems. If you want to win a war, you’ll need to strategically push the front lines, manage your Generals and Battalions, and pass legislation to strengthen your force.
How to go to war?
A direct declaration of war is impossible in Victoria 3. The correct move is a diplomatic one. These threats should be viewed as official challenges in the international arena, where one country pits its military might against another, and other parties with an interest in the region are aware of the situation and are free to intervene as they see fit. If you employ a certain Diplomatic Play to spark a disagreement, the results will vary depending on the sort of play you use. Keep in mind that the other countries with an interest in the same region will like you less if you use various Diplomatic Plays.
Importantly, Diplomatic Plays can only be made in crucial regions in which a country has declared an interest. Depending on your status and influence, you may only be able to do so in a limited number of places, and certain tasks call for consistent dedication. That is to say, the proclamation must have been made for quite some time. Following the selection of a Diplomatic Play, a timer will start counting down, and a new menu will appear on the right side of the screen, represented by a filling circle. This procedure consists of three steps:
Escalation, is when more military aims can be added to the battle. Available war aims change every country, but they usually correspond to the many Diplomatic Plays you may have made against that nation. You can’t just make a Diplomatic Play to get the country to pay you after you lose the war, but you also can’t do a Diplomatic Play to win the war.
The subsequent stage, Diplomatic Maneuvers, is typically the longest. The time has come to win over neutral nations to your cause. It’s easy to tell which countries are going to be on your side of the battle based on their placement in the Sway tab, as they’ll already be leaning in your favor. You may also check out the size of their armies to get an idea of how effective they are in battle.
When you select a nation in the Sway tab, you’ll see a list of options; to influence its vote, select the one that appears to be the most popular among its citizens. Having been picked, you will now have to wait while they think about the offer. If they agree to fight on your side, you’ve gained an official ally. However, be aware of the allure of the easy-to-use Obligations to win over supporters. Countries may force you to fight in their conflicts because of your obligations to them. Even if a nation has publicly declared its support for the opposing side, it is still feasible to alter its decision. If you accept their terms, they will remain impartial and won’t fight on your side.
Once the Maneuvers phase concludes, the Countdown to War phase begins. Either side can now choose to withdraw their support for the war, which will result in the loss of lives and property but terminate the conflict. If you have a significant advantage over an AI, it will probably back down.
