EUIV Starting country for first timer

[Gusington]

^So this new EUIV is newb friendly? So tempting.

[MetalDog]

I posted my little synopsis of Castile with the express intent of grabbing your attention ;) 

In answer to your question, yes, it is newb friendly.  As with any game, there is a learning curve.  And every time I play, I am learning more.  But it is not near as impenetrable as EUIII appeared to me.

[Gusington]

Gah I don't know what to do now. I must go to Steam and stare at the EUIV product page.

[MetalDog]

All I have is the base game.  No DLC or new content. 

[Gusington]

Hmm...the 'Extreme Edition' is 5.00 more than the base game...44.99. Kinda pricey even with all the DLC in there. Did you get it on sale?

Edit: can I play as the Papal States?

[Tuna]

Hmm...the 'Extreme Edition' is 5.00 more than the base game...44.99. Kinda pricey even with all the DLC in there. Did you get it on sale?

Edit: can I play as the Papal States?

Play some Rome II.. you know EU IV will be 10 bucks again soon..

[Gusington]

Actually right now I am not playing anything...when I start again it will be Shogun 2. But I do agree that 44.99 is high and I should wait for a sale, and if I do that I can grab all the DLC. But I am counting on 'Phro here telling it like it is that even a knave like me can actually get into the game and play it without smashing my head into the monitor in frustration, as has happened with Victoria 2 and EUI.

[MetalDog]

I got it on sale at Amazon a couple of weeks ago.  Three days later, tgb started a thread where they were giving keys away for FREE!

In any event, I would wait for the sale unless you just have forty bucks sitting around doing nothing.  In which case, I would be glad to give you my address and the proper spelling of my name for the check you write me for all your, 'sitting around doing nothing,' cash.

Seriously, though.  It's not very difficult to get in to.  Yes, there is a lot going on initially.  And yes, there are times of intense activity (try playing without pausing, that'll give you a different perspective), but, it IS pausible.  You can issue orders when paused.  There are many filters regarding what messages you receive.  There are on screen reminders of things that you can take advantage of.  And even the trade system becomes more clear the longer you play.  It's been a lot of fun knocking around so far and the game is only thirty years in.  Still have three hundred forty odd to go :)

[MetalDog]

I always find that pics help to clarify things.  So here are a few to help you in your decision.







My little corner of the world.

[Gusington]

In the Paradox games I've played I've felt as if all I was doing was watching the game play itself and reading the resulting messages...is that the case here? Is there more a feeling of 'doing?'

[Nefaro]

Actually right now I am not playing anything...when I start again it will be Shogun 2. But I do agree that 44.99 is high and I should wait for a sale, and if I do that I can grab all the DLC. But I am counting on 'Phro here telling it like it is that even a knave like me can actually get into the game and play it without smashing my head into the monitor in frustration, as has happened with Victoria 2 and EUI.

It's still not a cakewalk, but the basics of EU4 do seem a bit easier to get into than EU3.  I'm not sure if there are just more & more informative tooltips and UI labels or what. 

Don't get me wrong, you'll still have some learnin' to do.  Notably so with trade nodes and some of the diplo tricks, but that's how it goes in these Pdox games.  I think EU4 is much more fun than all other Pdox games.. maybe even CK2, although the latter is probably more of an RPG game than strategy.

[MetalDog]

These are my advisors.  Their skill level is added to the Monarch Points I already produce according to my King's statistics (Administrative, Diplomatic, and Warfare).  Any effects on my nation, good or bad, are here as well.

[MetalDog]

The Diplomacy screen.  Gives me reams of information on my own countrys relations and my relations with the rest of the world.

[MetalDog]

This where they tell me how my money is made and where it goes when I spend it.

[MetalDog]

This is the Technology screen.  It tells me what I am researching now and the effects of what I am researching as well as what effects already happened as a result of previous research.