Hello and welcome, everyone! I am Prop Bavarian, and today we’re diving into the essentials of diplomacy in Victoria 3, focusing on starting from the Netherlands. In this guide, you’ll learn how to leverage your unique position as the Dutch to build and protect your empire—ruling not only over your European homelands and Luxembourg but also managing minor colonies in Africa and South America, and of course, the crown jewel of your realm: the Dutch East Indies. Let’s get started by breaking down the basics and then moving into advanced topics like lobbies, subjects, and power blocks.

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1. Assessing Your Starting Position

Before you even think about extending your reach through military conquest or economic investments, it’s essential to understand your initial setup:

• Core Territories: As the Netherlands, you begin with your home region, Luxembourg, and a selection of overseas colonies.
• The Dutch East Indies: This is your flagship colony—a massively beneficial asset that must be protected and integrated into your diplomatic strategy.
• Strategic Location: Your European position means you are surrounded by neighbors with competing ambitions. Early in the campaign, evaluating your relations and potential alliances is key.

Pro Tip: Open your diplomacy screen and take a close look at your neighbors’ attitudes and current relations. For example, Britain might view you with wary optimism—while their current stance is benign, their future goals could limit your expansion. Always prepare for a shifting diplomatic landscape.

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2. The Foundations of Diplomatic Interaction

Diplomacy in Victoria 3 isn’t just about signing treaties—it’s a dynamic system where intentions, current relations, and active interests all play pivotal roles.

A. Attitudes and Relations

• Attitudes: These reflect how a country might act toward you in the future. They are your window into another nation’s long-term plans.
• Relations: These are the current standings between your nation and others. They can be friendly or hostile and give you immediate context for your diplomatic moves.

For instance, while Britain might currently have decent relations with you, their long-term agenda may be to check your expansion. Thus, knowing where you stand now is crucial to planning ahead.

B. Active Interest and Shared Regions

To even interact diplomatically, both countries must share an active interest in a region. This interest is determined by where you or your vassals hold land. Additionally, your navy’s size and your overall prestige (gained through military and economic successes) will determine the extent of your diplomatic interactions.

C. Diplomatic Actions: Instantaneous vs. Continuous

• Instantaneous Actions: Some diplomatic moves, like a sudden friendly gesture or demand, happen once.
• Continuous Actions: These require ongoing investments of a resource called influence. For example, if you want to maintain or boost relations with a neighbor, you need to allocate influence continuously. Conversely, if you run low on influence, it might be time to adjust your strategy—cutting down on active relations or declaring rivals can free up this resource.

Important Reminder: Hostile actions, such as expelling diplomats or making numerous wartime demands, accrue infamy. Once infamy reaches 100, the great powers will form coalitions against you, potentially dismantling your empire. Always keep an eye on your infamy levels, and consider easing tensions by reallocating influence to lower that score.

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3. Managing Domestic Opinion Through Lobbies

Your citizens and interest groups play an influential role in your diplomatic efforts. In Victoria 3, this is managed through lobbies, which reflect how different segments of your population view your actions.

• Lobby Dynamics: Lobbies show which interest groups support or oppose another country. When you take diplomatic actions, these groups can be swayed—either to back you further or to become agitated against you.
• Impact on Stability: A powerful interest group upset by your hostile measures might catalyze revolutionary sentiments. It’s crucial to strike a balance between advancing your diplomatic agenda and keeping your domestic allies satisfied.

Expert Insight: In a smaller country like the Netherlands, nurturing strong domestic lobbies can be the difference between smooth diplomacy and internal unrest. Use diplomatic actions that align with the preferences of your influential groups, and consider funding foreign lobbies to convert neutral nations into allies.

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4. Subjects: Extending Your Influence Without War

Subjects in Victoria 3 can be a major source of income and strategic support. They contribute to your economy, join your wars, and provide critical resources—if managed correctly.

A. The Role of Subjects

• Economic Contributions: Subjects deliver income and resources, which is especially valuable when managing your overseas colonies.
• Military Support: They can also participate in wars, providing you with additional troops without the cost of direct annexation.
• Liberty Desire: Keep a close watch on their Liberty desire. When managed well through good relations and economic dependency, their desire to secede decreases, securing your hold over them.

B. Managing Subjects

• Direct Control vs. Autonomy: You can intervene directly—such as by imposing new laws or even conquering local powers in key regions like Indonesia—to keep Liberty desire low.
• Foreign Investment: Investing in your subjects can help tie their economies more closely to yours, reducing the risk of rebellion.

Strategic Note: The Dutch East Indies, as your crown jewel, require particular attention. Ensure that they remain integrated and that their unrest is minimized, preserving your economic and strategic advantage in the region.

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5. Leveraging Power Blocks for Grand Strategy

Power blocks are a sophisticated diplomatic tool that allow you to build and customize your empire’s network of alliances and influence.

A. What Are Power Blocks?

• Definition: Power blocks are groups formed by major and great powers that help solidify your sphere of influence.
• Customization: As the leader of a power block, you can shape its identity and set additional principles, which evolve as the block’s cohesion increases.
• Automatic Membership: Vassal states typically join your power block automatically, but other countries require strategic leverage to be pulled in.

B. Building Leverage

• Diplomatic Bonds: Strengthen your ties with countries through continuous diplomacy, economic integration via trade, and foreign investments.
• Invitation Criteria: When your bond with another country surpasses all others by a significant margin (a leverage advantage of +200 points), you can invite them into your power block.
• Strategic Expansion: This system allows the Netherlands to add allies and extend influence across continents without firing a single shot.

Pro Strategy: Focus on forming strong alliances with powers like Prussia, Russia, and France. Their backing will not only protect your European homelands but also let you focus on exploiting the rich resources of your overseas colonies.

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6. Final Thoughts: Crafting Your Diplomatic Masterpiece

As the Netherlands, diplomacy is your lifeline in Victoria 3. It’s a game of nuanced interactions where each decision has cascading effects on your empire’s stability and growth. Here’s a quick recap of what you need to keep in mind:

• Start with a solid assessment of your relations and attitudes. Know where you stand with both neighbors and potential allies.
• Use diplomatic actions wisely. Balance instantaneous gestures with continuous investments of influence, and be mindful of your infamy.
• Engage domestic lobbies. Their support is crucial to maintaining internal stability while you navigate the external challenges.
• Manage subjects effectively. Ensure that your colonies and vassals remain loyal and economically intertwined with your core state.
• Build and lead power blocks. Use your diplomatic leverage to form alliances that extend your influence far beyond your borders.

The road to building a glorious Dutch Empire in Victoria 3 is complex and fraught with challenges, but with the right diplomatic strategies, you can turn potential adversaries into steadfast allies and secure your nation’s place as a major world power.

Thank you for joining me on this diplomatic journey. Now, go forth and build your magnificent empire—remember, diplomacy is as much an art as it is a science, and every choice you make shapes the future of your nation.