These choices define Europa Universalis IV, giving you plenty of freedom to shape the destiny or doom of your empire. How the Doge handles each of these choices will decide whether Venice would remain a free mercantile republic or a vassal of a larger empire. And his merchants - the backbone of Venice’s strength - were struggling abroad. The Austrians, in alliance with a number of smaller, but still Germanic, kingdoms, coveted the Doge’s territories on the northern border. With the backing of the Austrians and the Holy Roman Empire, the Doge found himself having to give up conquests made over the Milanese, even though Milan started the war in the first place. The Doge of Venice sat in his hall, contemplating his next move. Join gaming leaders online at GamesBeat Summit Next this upcoming November 9-10.