Russia

Primary culture

Muscovite (East Slavic)

Capital province

Moskva (295)

Government

Tsardom

State religion

Orthodox

Technology group

Eastern

Russian ideas

Traditions:

+33% National manpower modifier

−10% Core-creation cost

Land of the Rus

−10% Aggressive expansion impact

Siberian Frontier

Automatically discover adjacent when a colony is built.

May establish Siberian Frontiers

Russian Artillery Yard

−10% Artillery cost

+10% Artillery combat ability

Life-Long Conscription

+50% Land force limit modifier

Abolish the Mestnichestvo

−0.10 Yearly corruption

The Table of Ranks

+0.25 Yearly army tradition

−10% Advisor cost

Broaden the curriculum of the Cadet Corps

+5% Morale of armies

−10% Fire damage received

Ambition:

+1 Yearly legitimacy

For the region, see Russia (region).

Russia does not exist at the beginning of the Grand Campaign; it is a formable country. Historically, the Tsardom of Russia was formed by the Grand Principality of Muscovy on 16 January 1547 when Ivan IV the Terrible crowned himself the "Tsar and Grand Duke of all Rus'", and Muscovy will usually form Russia in most campaigns. It is also possible (but more challenging) to form Russia as Novgorod and even more challenging to form it as Ryazan or Tver.^[1] Russia's primary strength lies in its lineup of geography, ideas, and abilities to create an unconquerable juggernaut when ruled by the player and an often formidable opponent when left to its own devices.

Tsardom[edit]

The Tsardom is a special government for Orthodox Russia and Ruthenia with fixed empire rank. It uses ‘Russian Government’ mechanics as well as ‘Russian Principalities’ and ‘Veche Republics’. The Tsardom has the following benefits:

+20% National manpower modifier
−0.05 Monthly autonomy change
+250 Governing capacity
+0.5 Yearly absolutism

Russian Government abilities[edit]

Uses Russian government mechanics: Each year, this government gathers 3 + ruler skill progress in each category (//). Once 100 progress in a category is reached, the related government interaction can be activated:

Icon	Ability	Type	Effects
	Reform Sudebnik		−10% local autonomy in all provinces
	Support Oprichnina		−30% progress for all rebel factions
	Raise Streltsy		−2 war exhaustion, raises 20% of forcelimit as streltsy units in the capital.

If not activated the points continue to gather until 150 is reached and any more is lost.

Fabricate Claim on Area[edit]

A tsardom can claim an entire area owned by a country instead of individual provinces for just +50% the spy network cost. Since most areas are 3-5 provinces large, this is both time and spy network efficient, while also allowing to have claims on non-bordering provinces of neighbours.

Siberian Frontier[edit]

Siberian frontier is a unique colonization system for Russia to model its rapid expansion into Siberia. Once a united Russia unlocks its second national idea, it may establish a Siberian Frontier colony in any empty province with a direct land connection to its capital passing through non-colony provinces. Establishing a frontier costs 20 diplomatic points. Frontier provinces do not count towards the colony limit or require monthly maintenance. They grow at a varying rate of +5 - 15 settlers per month, but since many Siberian Frontiers can be established at the same time, Russia can reach the Pacific Ocean fairly quickly.

Formation[edit]

id

Form Russian Nation

Through conquest and diplomacy Russia has managed to transform from a mere settlement into a dominant principality. After several eastern expeditions the Mongol hordes have finally been subdued and a centralized Russian state, ruled under the suzerainty of the Tsar, is emerging. Influences from Western Europe are helping us modernize and reform our nation and Western style of education is being adopted.

Potential requirements

Playing with normal or historical nations
Was never an end-game tag

The country:

is not the Papal State, the Holy Roman Empire, Poland or Russia.
has Muscovite, Novgorodian or Ryazanian as primary culture.
is not a colonial nation.
has not yet enacted this decision.

If the country is AI-controlled, then it:

must have at least 3 cities.
can not be a former colonial nation.
can not be a custom nation.
Russia does not exist

Allow

Russia does not exist

The country:

has an administrative technology of at least level 10.
is not a subject nation other than a tributary state.
has not enacted the States General government reform.
is not at war.
is not a nomad nation.
owns its core provinces Moskva (295) and Novgorod (310).
owns and cores either Smolensk (293) or Ryazan (301).
owns and cores either Tver (294) or Yaroslavl (308).
owns and cores either Nizhny Novgorod (306) or Vladimir (307).

Effects

If is Novgorod:

complete missions "Invade Novgorod" and "Conquer Novgorod"

The country:

changes to Russia.
gets new missions.
gets empire government rank.
gains a permanent claim on all unowned settled provinces in the regions:
- Russia, Pontic Steppe and Ural.
gains 25 prestige.
gets the modifier “Increased Centralization” for 20 years with the following effects:
- −0.05 monthly autonomy change,
- +1 national unrest.

If the country:

is not a monarchy and not revolutionary
- then change government type to monarchy
is not revolutionary
- then it enacts the Level 1 Government Reform Tsardom^[2].
is a member of the Holy Roman Empire but not the emperor or an elector
- then all its provinces are removed from the HRE.
does not have custom ideas
- then it gets the event ‘New Traditions & Ambitions’.

Provinces needed for formation

Missions[edit]

Main article: Russian missions

Russian Missions focus entirely on expansion of the motherland. Historical actions such as expansion into the Eastern Steppes, Colonization of Siberia, and capture of the "Window on the West" are encouraged by missions granting claims and modifiers upon completion.

Events[edit]

Main article: Russian events

Russia's rich and interesting history is represented in game by several dynamic historical events including, most importantly, the Pomjestija Reform, Time of Troubles, the Grand Embassy, and even the rise of the Romanov Dynasty.

The Pomjestija Reform[edit]

Russia shares The Pomjestija Reform event with Muscovy, an event that grants reduced technology cost for 10 years.

Time of Troubles[edit]

Russia runs the risk of running into their Time of Troubles at any point between 1550 and 1650 if its stability is below 0. This event series gives neighbours opportunities to back pretenders to the Russian throne, which will further extend Russia's internal chaos. To bring an end to the Time of Troubles, Russia (or Muscovy) must not be at war, have a war exhaustion less than 3, no revolts going on, positive stability and not have the Usurper on the Throne modifier. Once all these conditions have been met, the mean time for the End of the Time of Troubles event to fire is 24 months.

The Grand Embassy[edit]

The Grand Embassy event is modelled after Peter the Great's accomplishments in the late 17th century. If Russia has not westernised, its monarch has good stats, and the date is late enough it is possible for the monarch to travel around Europe, learning various things for his country and increasing relations with neutral nations.

Decisions[edit]

Make St. Petersburg the Capital

As a more western oriented state, Russia must have their capital in the west, and St. Petersburg will be our glorious beacon!

Potential requirements

Playing with normal or historical nations

The country:

is Russia.
owns Neva (33).
does not have Neva (33) as capital.
does not have country flag relocated_capital_st_petersburg.

Allow

Russia:

has a core on Neva (33).
is not at war.

Effects

Russia:

set country flag relocated_capital_st_petersburg.
loses ducats equal to 1 year's worth of income.
moves its capital to Neva (33).
gains 100 prestige.

Neva (33):

changes its name to St. Petersburg (with province capital St. Petersburg).
gains 6 base tax.
gains 3 base manpower.
changes its culture to the culture of the former capital.
if does not have level 3 center of trade
- gets level 1 center of trade

Establish Russian Patriarchate

Constantinople is no longer the bastion and defense of Christianity. We need to pick up the mantle and establish a third Rome.

Potential requirements

Playing with normal or historical nations

The country:

is Russia.
is Orthodox.
does not have country modifier “Russian Patriarchate”.
does not have mission Russian Patriarchate.

Allow

Russia:

is not at war.
has a prestige of at least +2.
has less than 3 innovative ideas.

Constantinople (151) is not owned by Byzantium.

Effects

Russia:

gets the modifier “Russian Patriarchate” for the rest of the campaign with the following effect:
- -20% cost of reducing war exhaustion.

Strategy[edit]

Main articles: Muscovy#Strategy, Novgorod#Strategy

Virtually every Muscovy playthrough will involve forming Russia, and the vast majority of Russia games start with Muscovy. Forming Russia will likely also be the goal when playing Novgorod or one of the weaker Russian states. For detailed strategy see the respective page of the nation you want to start as.

Achievements[edit]

All belongs to Mother Russia

Start as a country of Russian culture and form Russia.

Relentless Push East

Starting as a Russian nation, By 1600 own the East Siberian Coastline.

Notes[edit]

↑ Theoretically, any other of the small Russian-culture nations in Eastern Europe ( Rostov, Beloozero, Odoyev, Pskov, Yaroslavl) could also form Russia, but since these are extremely weak, this is very difficult.
↑ If the country is not orthodox, the tsardom reform is removed immediately.