In Victoria II using the Pop Demand Mod (including HPM, GFM, or similar heavy mods), the Transcaucasia tag (TCA) represents a unique formable nation that unites Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia under one banner. While not accessible from the start in vanilla, this decision-based creation offers rich gameplay possibilities involving culture, geopolitical power, and oil wealth making the Transcaucasia tag a compelling focus for ambitious players.
Formation Requirements
To form Transcaucasia, you must begin as Georgia, Armenia, or Azerbaijan. Then you need to:
- Be at peace
- Control the provincial capital Tblisi (#1090)
- Have Baku (#1102) under your control, in your sphere, or Azerbaijan must be your ally with relations ≥150; newly released Azerbaijan from Russia also qualifies
- Similarly for Erivan (#1098), whether owned, sphered, or Armenia meets relations threshold ([turn0search0])
Successfully forming the nation grants +10 prestige, cores on all provinces belonging to Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, accepted cultures include Georgian, Azerbaijani, and Armenian, and the country tag becomes TCA. Existing nations holding those cores surrender them via sphere or annexation event even if outside powers form Transcaucasia ([turn0search0]).
Gameplay Effects & Mechanics
Upon formation, the game immediately adjusts diplomatic relations: original nations (Georgia/Azerbaijan/Armenia) may be annexed via event, typically agreed unless there’s strong government incompatibility. If refused, you suffer major influence or relations loss with the former tagholders. Secondary powers forming Transcaucasia automatically cause core transfers to occur from affected countries in their sphere.
Secondary Formation by Outside Powers
Not only can internal Caucasus tags form Transcaucasia, but outside powers excluding Russia can release it as a puppet, provided they control or sphere appropriate provinces. In that case they lose cores they conquered if they also belong to candidate formation nations ([turn0search0]).
Mod-Specific Variations
Different major mods introduce adjustments and expanded mechanics around Transcaucasia. For instance, in Divergences of Darkness (DoD):
- Formation limited to the Shaki Khanate or Azerbaijan
- Secular government requirement added
- Decisions to accept several North Caucasian cultures like Kumyks, Tats, Abkhaz, Avar, Chechen, Dargin, Ingush, and Ossetian after full core ownership
Players have described building up to eleven accepted cultures in a tall Transcaucasia run, leveraging oil-rich provinces to fuel economic growth and eventual regional dominance ([turn0reddit12], [turn0reddit14])
Strategic Considerations
Culture and Population
Forming Transcaucasia unlocks accepted status for Georgian, Armenian, and Azerbaijani cultures. In mods like DoD, further accepted cultures can be obtained via decisions, which helps reduce unrest, integrate pops, and maximize national unity across a diverse region.
Economic Potential
The added prestige/useful oil provinces like Baku and northern Caucasus provide major economic opportunities. Reddit players have noted transforming Transcaucasia into a robust oil exporter and industrializing quickly after gaining full accepted cultures and control of petroleum-rich states ([turn0reddit14], [turn0reddit23]).
Geopolitical Risk
Being sandwiched between Russia, the Ottoman Empire, and Persia makes Transcaucasia geopolitically vulnerable. Players must prepare for pressure or outright annexation from great power rivals. In many mod runs, Russia eventually chooses to annex the country or contest core claims via decisions ([turn0reddit14], [turn0reddit23]).
Starting Scenarios & RPG Flavour
Starting as Georgia gives a particularly satisfying early progression: you can unify nearby sub-states like Mingrelia or Svaneti, then annex Armenia and Azerbaijan diplomatically or via warfare, before forming Transcaucasia proper. Reddit players note the difficulty of handling mountainous warfare but reward value remains high ([turn0reddit21]).
Alternatively, Azerbaijani or Shaki Khanate starts offer earlier formation routes in mods, with unique flavor events or decision chains guiding transitions toward a unified Caucasus identity ([turn0reddit12]).
How to Play Transcaucasia Effectively
- Focus early on securing control or sphere influence over Baku and Erivan to meet formation triggers.
- Use diplomatic/market influence to sway the smaller Caucasian states or puppet them where possible.
- After formation, pursue accepted culture decisions for minority groups to maintain stability.
- Invest oil income from regions like Baku into industry and military modernization.
- Prepare for conflicts with Russia/Ottomans alliances or Great Power protection may help.
Community Insights
Players describe the Transcaucasia tag as colorful due to multiple ethnic groups packed in mountainous terrain. One Reddit report: A million different ethnic groups living in the mountains tends to make a very colorful culture graph after unifying Caucasus and annexing Persia or other targets ([turn0reddit14]).
Another user shares success in playing as the Shaki Khanate, using the decisions to annex downstream Persian territory, release/absorb Georgia and Armenia, and eventually form Transcaucasia leading to dominance in oil with ease due to large high-population provinces and accepted cultures ([turn0reddit23]).
Risks and Trade-offs
Players caution that forming Transcaucasia may provoke Russia. If Russia forms itself or chooses a decision to reclaim northern Caucasus, you might lose cores or face war. Also, diverse accepted cultures create administrative complexity balancing reform and pensions is important to avoid unrest.
The Transcaucasia (TCA) tag brings together political ambition, cultural integration, and strategic opportunity in Victoria II gameplay. Formable via Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan or released by outside powers its creation transforms localized Caucasus states into a unified nation with cores, accepted cultures, prestige, and economic strength. Mod variants like Divergences of Darkness add depth with expanded decision trees and cultural policies. Ultimately, Transcaucasia offers mid-level complexity with big-game potential through oil exploitation, diplomacy, and regional consolidation but only if you can navigate great power politics. Whether playing tall or wide, it is among the most nuanced alternative formations in Victoria II modded history.
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