Part 4

Master the EU4 game flow! This guide breaks down the 5 phases: Draw Cards, Actions, Peace & Rebels, Income & Upkeep, and Cleanup. Learn how to manage your empire turn by turn.

Alright, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of how a game of Europa Universalis IV actually plays out. This section, "Part 4: Sequence of Play," is super important because it lays out the entire turn structure. Think of it as the heartbeat of the game, dictating everything that happens. Each Age is made up of 4 Rounds, and each Round is broken down into 5 distinct Phases. We'll go through each one so you know exactly what to expect. Here are the 5 Phases we'll be covering: * 1. Draw Cards Phase: This is where you get new cards and make some crucial decisions about your missions. * 2. Action Phase: The core of your turn, where you'll be playing cards, taking actions, and interacting with the game world. * 3. Peace & Rebels Phase: Things get a bit dicey here as wars can end, and those pesky rebels might start causing trouble. * 4. Income & Upkeep Phase: Time to see how your economy is doing, collect your resources, and manage your monarch power. * 5. Cleanup Phase: A final tidy-up to get ready for the next round. Let's break each of these down so you're not caught off guard! ## 4.1 Phase 1: Draw Cards This is the start of your Round, and it's all about getting ready for the actions to come. ### A. Reveal Events First up, any relevant events will be revealed. Keep an eye on these, as they can present opportunities or challenges that might shape your strategy. ### B. Draw Action Cards You'll draw a fresh hand of Action Cards. These are your primary tools for doing things in the game, so managing your hand is key. ### C. Pay to keep Action Cards Sometimes, you might want to hold onto certain Action Cards for later. You can pay a cost to keep them, but be mindful of your budget! ### D. Pick/Replace Missions This is a good time to look at your available Missions. You can pick new ones or replace ones you've decided not to pursue. Missions are vital for guiding your expansion and earning rewards. ## 4.2 Phase 2: Actions This is where the real gameplay happens. You'll be taking turns to perform actions. ### Taking a Turn Players take turns performing actions. What you can do depends on the cards you have and the game state. #### Taking an Event If an event was revealed, you might have the option to 'take' it, which usually means resolving its immediate effects or making a choice. #### Unpicked Event If an event isn't taken by any player, it might have a default resolution or remain for a future turn. ### Passing When you've done all you want to do for the round, or can't take any more actions, you'll 'Pass'. #### Triggering End of Action Phase Once all players have passed consecutively, the Action Phase ends, and we move on to the next phase. ## 4.3 Phase 3: Peace & Rebels This phase deals with the consequences of war and internal stability. ### A. Remove Casus Belli and Truces Any Casus Belli you have might expire, and Truces with other nations will tick down. This is important for planning future wars. ### B. NPR Invasions Non-Player Rebels (NPRs) might launch invasions. Keep an eye on your borders! ### C. Rebels Siege or Move If rebels are present in your territory, they might start sieging down your provinces or moving around. ### D. Peace Resolution Any ongoing wars that have reached a conclusion will be resolved here. You'll get the peace deal you negotiated. ### E. Prestige Penalties Be careful! Failing to manage your wars or internal issues can lead to Prestige Penalties. ### F. Interregnum In some cases, an Interregnum period might occur, which can have significant effects on your nation. ### G. Religious Dissent Religious tensions can flare up, leading to Dissent in your provinces. This can increase unrest. ### H. Gain/Remove Unrest Based on events, actions, and other factors, Unrest in your provinces will be adjusted. ### I. Roll Rebel Dice Rebel factions might roll dice to determine their actions, such as sieging or spreading. ## 4.4 Phase 4: Income & Upkeep This is where your nation's finances and resources are tallied. ### A. Cut Costs You might have options to reduce your expenses, like cutting army maintenance. This can be crucial if you're low on funds. ### B. Collect Income minus Costs Your total income for the round is calculated, and then your expenses are subtracted. This is the net amount you gain or lose. ### C. Corruption Corruption can be a real drain on your resources. This is where its effects are applied. ### D. Collect Monarch Power You'll gain Monarch Power (Diplomatic, Military, and Administrative) based on your ruler's stats and other modifiers. This is vital for taking actions and enacting reforms. ### E. Score Prestige Prestige is a key resource. You'll gain or lose Prestige based on your performance and actions this round. ## 4.5 Phase 5: Cleanup The final phase of the round, preparing for the next one. ### A. Update and refresh Game elements will be updated, and various tracks and counters will be refreshed. ### B. Board and Status Mat Cleanup Any temporary markers or effects on the game board or your status mat will be cleared. ### C. Discard down to 5 Action Cards If you have more than 5 Action Cards in your hand, you'll need to discard down to the limit. Choose wisely! ### D. End of Age Routine If this is the final round of an Age, special End of Age routines will be triggered. This can involve scoring and other significant events. ## 4.6 End of Age Routine As mentioned, if an Age is concluding, this routine kicks in. It often involves scoring based on your achievements during that Age. ## 4.7 Final Scoring This is usually at the very end of the game, where a final tally of points determines the winner. You'll want to be in a good position by this point!