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Europa Universalis: 30 Years’ War
Get ready for a journey back in time to one of the most destructive conflicts in human history.
The Thirty Years' War was a war fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648. One of the most destructive conflicts in human history, it resulted in eight million fatalities not only from military engagements but also from violence, famine, and plague.
The war was preceded by the election of the new Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand II, who tried to impose religious uniformity on his domains, forcing Roman Catholicism on its peoples. He viewed the Protestants as heretics and believed that it was his duty to bring them back into the fold of the Catholic Church. The northern Protestant states, angered by the violation of their rights to choose, which had been granted in the Peace of Augsburg, banded together to form the Protestant Union. These events caused widespread fears throughout northern and central Europe...
The Thirty Years' War sees several major powers intervening in the conflict, including the imposing figure of Pope Urban VIII, whose actions are feared by all sides. Urban VIII, the flamboyant and powerful leader of the Catholic Church, is a force to be reckoned with. His support for the Catholic cause is a major boost to the morale of Catholic forces, and his wrath is something that even the most powerful nations of Europe dare not provoke.

France, a key ally of the Protestants, is led by the shrewd and calculating Cardinal Richelieu, who knows that he must tread carefully to avoid the Pope's wrath. Spain, the steadfast ally of the Catholic cause, is known for its formidable military might and is led by the infamous Ambrogio Spinola, who is equally feared for his merciless tactics and willingness to commit atrocities. Sweden, the Protestant power that dares to challenge the might of the Catholic forces, is led by the legendary military commander King Gustavus Adolphus, whose daring and unconventional tactics strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, provides military support to the Protestants and is led by King Władysław IV Vasa. All of these major powers are capable of inflicting devastating losses on their enemies, and their involvement in the war makes the conflict all the more fearsome for those caught in its crosshairs.

In this megagame you get to reclaim the glory and alter the events and even the outcome of the 30-years war as one of eight nation teams, three trading house teams and five major powers. Are you doomed to repeat the same mistakes all over again or will you take this chance to reign supreme as the major powers turn up the heat on the pressure cooker that is the Holy Roman Empire? It's all up to you.
The Thirty Years' War is replete with larger-than-life characters and dramatic events that could easily inspire a blockbuster TV series. With its over-the-top battles, complex political intrigues, and family rivalries, the conflict is a backdrop for a game that tries to capture the grandeur and intensity of the era. History is written by the winners, and therefor this game has no ambition to be historically accurate in but inspiration for the actual setting, the different powers involved and the start of the conflict. Exaggerations and abstractions are made to make the game more accessible to those who are dipping their toes into the history of the era.

Austria, ruled by the powerful Habsburg dynasty, is a mighty force in the war and a staunch supporter of the Catholic cause. The Habsburgs' vast empire spans across Central Europe and is renowned for its wealth and military might. Emperor Ferdinand II, the leader of Austria, is a devout Catholic and a determined ruler who will stop at nothing to ensure the supremacy of his faith.

Mainz, one of the seven electorates of the Holy Roman Empire, is a key player in the Catholic side and is led by Archbishop Anselm Casimir Wambold von Umstadt, a fierce defender of the Catholic cause. He is known for his fiery speeches and his unwavering commitment to the faith, and his followers look to him for guidance and inspiration.

Bohemia, a predominantly Protestant region ruled by the Habsburgs, is a hotly contested territory in the conflict. Its leader, Frederick V, the "Winter King," is a charismatic and impulsive figure who is loved by his followers but is often underestimated by his enemies. He is determined to fight for the Protestant cause and will go to great lengths to ensure its success.

Brandenburg, a Protestant region led by Elector George William, is a key player in the Protestant cause and provides military support to the Protestants. George William is a wise and cautious leader who is respected by his subjects for his prudence and level-headedness. He is determined to see his region emerge from the conflict stronger and more prosperous than ever.

Saxony, another Protestant power led by Elector John George I, is a major player in the war and provides military and financial support to the Protestant cause. John George I is a skilled diplomat and military commander who is known for his ability to make shrewd strategic decisions. He is determined to see the Protestant cause succeed and will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.

Cologne, one of the seven electorates of the Holy Roman Empire, is a key player in the Catholic side and is led by Archbishop Ferdinand of Bavaria, a fierce defender of the Catholic cause. Ferdinand is a powerful and charismatic figure who is feared by his enemies and respected by his followers. He is determined to ensure the supremacy of the Catholic faith and will stop at nothing to achieve that goal.

The Palatinate, another Protestant region ruled by the Elector Frederick V, is a vital ally of the Protestants and provides military and financial support to their cause. Frederick V's wife, Elizabeth Stuart, is a powerful figure in her own right and is known for her intelligence and political acumen. She is a key advisor to her husband and is determined to see the Protestant cause emerge victorious.

Trier, the oldest diocese in Germany, is a key player in the Catholic side and is led by Archbishop Lothar von Metternich, a fierce defender of the Catholic cause. Lothar is a pious and devout figure who is deeply committed to the Catholic faith. He is feared by his enemies and revered by his followers, who look to him for guidance and inspiration.

The trading houses of the Thirty Years' War were wealthy and influential merchants who played a key role in shaping the politics and economics of the era. The Fuggers, a prominent family from Augsburg, were known for their ability to finance wars.. The Hanseatic League, a confederation of merchant guilds from Northern Germany and the Baltic states, dominated the trade routes of the Baltic and North Seas. The Frankfurter Handelshaus, a powerful trading house based in Frankfurt, was renowned for its financial expertise and logistical support.

To expand their influence and stay ahead of their competitors, the trading houses often employed skilled spies and informants to gather information. These spies might pose as merchants, diplomats, or soldiers, using their cover to gain access to valuable information and report back to their employers. By staying informed about the activities in the Holy Roman Empire, the trading houses were able to anticipate moves and take steps to counteract them, ensuring their continued success and influence in a complex and turbulent world.

What are the player roles?
Each nation team consists of a Head of State, a Diplomat, a General, and a Religious leader and are the nations of Austria, Mainz, Bohemia, Brandenburg, Saxony, Cologne, The Palatinate, and Trier.
The Hansa and the Frankfurter Handelshaus trading house team consists of a Matriarch/Patriarch, a Merchant, and a Spy. The Fuggers is a solo team with one Matriarch/Patriarch.
The major powers players are diplomats, one for each major power. The Pope, France, Sweden, Poland and Spain.
Other possible and impossible parties in the conflict will be handled by control.

What are the players doing?
The players are engaged in negotiations and diplomacy based around the game arenas, like the Reichstag, war, religion, and trade. The players are free to talk to whoever they like among the other teams, though some temporary restrictions may apply for in-game reasons. Part of the turn will be spent issuing orders for the part of the game you are involved with, but the emphasis is to help your team get the upper hand by altering the game state by spreading your faith, concurring territories, trading, and upgrading your abilities as well as strengthening your family’s legacy and controlling in the flow of information.

How will the game operate?
Like many megagames, this game is played over a series of turns where the players act out their various roles in their respective game arenas represented by game boards and maps. The game state in one arena will influence your team’s ability to act in the other arenas. The game relies on player interaction for the flow of information. Each turn is followed by team time where the teams re-convene and plan their moves for the upcoming turns. Important game state announcements are made by control during team time. There are no traitor mechanics within teams, meaning that you carve out your fate as a group.
 
You might like this game if you like
Rich historical sandboxes, shifting alliances between teams, over-the-top abstractions of historic events, larger-than-life characters, team play, and a hectic pace. The game tries to channel the spirit of games like Watch the Skies, Crisis in Elysium, and Lace Wars, as impossible as that may sound.

A note on gender
Striking the balance between the historical source material and player role gender preferences is something that the game tries to handle in the following ways: each nation team is led by the head of the family. The historical leader has been described in the text above but there is always the option to play the spouse who for the most part played a significant role in running things. The role will be referred to as Head of State for this reason. For the major powers, you are playing a non-gendered diplomat and not a historical figure. All other roles are also non-gendered. Historical profiles for the gallery of prominent figures in the handbook include female, male characters and even the non-binary leaning characters of the time like Queen Christina of Sweden. These profiles are there to create a sense of the time and setting of the game and not dictate the character or gender you will be playing.

Game design
The game was originally designed by Luca Kling at Paradox Interactive, the company behind the Europa Universalis computer game series, and was played at PDXCON 2018. It has been heavily reworked by Johan Olofsson of Gothenburg Megagames and Odd-Helge Gravalid of Megagame Oslo. The design is supported by the lovely people at Paradox.

Played in Vasa 336+Vasa 341