Last updated 19 November 2021

How do I improve the performance of the mod?
Use Fast Universalis, which is 100% compatible with this mod; make sure to lower your settings and follow the instructions on that page to optimize your game for the best performance.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=820151246

How can I help or contribute to the mod?
It depends on what you want to contribute, but in any case, use #vn-support in the Discord server. There are some contributor resources that can be made available on request. The priority right now is on adding and rebalancing mission trees for important tags.

When is the next update?
Updates will come when they are ready, there is no set schedule.

Are any DLC required to play Voltaire's New Nightmare?
No DLC is required, though Mandate of Heaven is greatly recommended to enhance gameplay in the Swiss region. Emperor is also recommended for the Imperial Incidents and Reforms as well as enhanced Papacy and Revolution mechanics.

Is Voltaire's New Nightmare compatible with any other mods?
I can't guarantee that Voltaire's New Nightmare will be compatible with any other mods, including graphics and font mods, and they may crash your game, so use them with care. However, here is a recommended graphics mod that shouldn't cause issues:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2412966907

Why is the mod called Voltaire's New Nightmare?
The Enlightenment writer Voltaire once famously quipped that "The Holy Roman Empire is neither holy, Roman, nor an empire", which is why it's his nightmare. The 'New' is a nod to the A Nightmare on Elm Street sequel 'Wes Craven's New Nightmare'.

Why can't the Emperor demand Unlawful Territory?
That's intentional as the AI would waste its entire Imperial Authority otherwise, resulting in no reforms getting passed, as well as avoiding making conquests in the HRE impossible as the Emperor would always demand conquered provinces back.

Why can't I fabricate claims?
If you are playing as Bohemia, you need to revoke the Landfryd privilege to fabricate claims. Sadly hardcoded limitations make this tooltip unclear in-game.

Are any off-map nations invading the map at some point?
There are invasion events for Denmark, Spain, France, and Sweden, though not all will happen every game.

Are there any new gameplay mechanics like an automatic population system?
No, I want to make Voltaire's New Nightmare accessible for new players so I keep the mod as vanillish as possible, relinquishing any new mechanics (but you are free to create submods yourself for sure).

Is there a list of formables?
Newly Reformable tags:
Württemberg, Mecklenburg, Palatinate, Brunswick, East Frisia, Friesland, Nassau, Alsace, Three Leagues, Holstein (name only)

New formable tags:
Lombardy-Venetia, Lombardy, Romagna, Belgium, Süddeutscher Bund, Norddeutscher Bund, Francia, Österreich, Old Saxony, Rhineland, Slovenia (name only), Magna Frisia (name only)

Will the map/timeline continue to be expanded even further?
For an expanded map or timeline, play the main Voltaire's Nightmare mod. For now there are no plans to expand the timeline, but a date slightly earlier in the 1400s could come in the future.

Can you add (Culture)?
Unlike previous versions of Voltaire's Nightmare, this mod's design philosophy for culture involves a mix of language and culture (like vanilla) rather than purely linguistics. I will definitely not re-split groups into subgroups or add microdialects like 'East Bergish' that existed in the 2016 mod.

Will you add (my hometown) as a tag/province?
No.

(Province) should be named for (City) as it was much more important than (City)
Some of the provincial capitals/names are unorthodox due to me avoiding having two provinces with the same name or highlighting the presence of a significant medieval castle. Generally the only circumstance in which I rename a province is if the name turns out to be from after 1821.