Europa Universalis IV - Why can't I wrap my head around it?

sandman2575 · October 21, 2015, 09:42:59 AM

Not sure about first question, Huw, but I believe that's correct about q2. I *think* that reinforcement puts strain on the Maintenance cost of your army, in addition to drawing down Manpower. You prob. already do this, but during peacetime I definitely keep my army upkeep slider at about 60%, and then have to remember to amp it up to 100% before I want to go to war. Always leave naval upkeep at 100% though if I'm playing a naval power -- and that can get expensive quick.

Agree EUIV is an absolutely superb game -- but for me, CKII still takes the crown (heh) as Pdox's masterpiece. The sheer novelty of the game -- and the way it so deftly manages some incredibly complex dynamics, e.g. dynastic succession and 'de jure' demenses -- never ceases to amaze me.

I can't wait for Hearts of Iron 4... and pray that a Victoria 3 is somewhere in Pdox's future plans.

undercovergeek · October 21, 2015, 11:17:15 AM

Huws a cock - now i want to play EU IV again, goddammit

AchillesLastStand · October 21, 2015, 11:56:59 AM

I have no doubt its a quality title that many enjoy but I have tried and just don't get it. After a while I feel like im just looking at spreadsheets and should be in accounting.

Huw the Poo · October 21, 2015, 12:30:48 PM

Quote from: sandman2575 on October 21, 2015, 09:42:59 AM
You prob. already do this, but during peacetime I definitely keep my army upkeep slider at about 60%, and then have to remember to amp it up to 100% before I want to go to war.

Yeah I did shove that slider down as soon as I saw how fast I was losing money! Thanks again for the tips mate. O0

QuoteI can't wait for Hearts of Iron 4... and pray that a Victoria 3 is somewhere in Pdox's future plans.

Yep I'm definitely in for HoI4. And I really, really hope they make a Victoria 3 as I haven't managed to play any game in that series yet.

Quote from: undercovergeek on October 21, 2015, 11:17:15 AM
Huws a cock - now i want to play EU IV again, goddammit

You want working on, boy!

Nefaro · December 04, 2015, 10:06:06 AM

Paradox just gave a freebie Unit DLC Pack to those with a Community/Login forum:

QuoteTo show our appreciation for having you as a member of the Paradox community, we've got a little something extra for you. As such, please accept Europa Universalis IV: Evangelical Majors Unit Pack as a minor token of our gratitude!

Notification via email with details.

Smart suggestive advertising, once again, because I directly went to check which EU4 & CK2 DLC I didn't have after activating this in Steam. Although I didn't buy any at the moment (don't plan on starting a new campaign yet), I did make sure to wishlist some for the near future.

Barthheart · December 04, 2015, 10:28:41 AM

Quote from: Nefaro on December 04, 2015, 10:06:06 AM
Paradox just gave a freebie Unit DLC Pack to those with a Community/Login forum:

QuoteTo show our appreciation for having you as a member of the Paradox community, we've got a little something extra for you. As such, please accept Europa Universalis IV: Evangelical Majors Unit Pack as a minor token of our gratitude!

Notification via email with details.

Smart suggestive advertising, once again, because I directly went to check which EU4 & CK2 DLC I didn't have after activating this in Steam. Although I didn't buy any at the moment (don't plan on starting a new campaign yet), I did make sure to wishlist some for the near future.

LOL! I did exactly the same thing.... I need a good sale though as I'm way behind on DLC....

Barthheart · December 22, 2015, 03:49:18 PM

Argh! Ok so now most everything I need to catch up is on sale for 66% off... the total comes to $55....

I've only just dabbled in EU IV. Loved EU III. I'd have a steep learning curve to catch up on all the new goodies... but it should be worth it... right... ???

So weak.... :P

I really want to learn this game so I can have a different addiction form Civ V......

.... help....

glen55 · December 22, 2015, 06:10:52 PM

It's best if you kind of think of it as an avocation. And just know in advance that sometimes you simply cannot find an answer to your question, no matter how many stones you turn over.

The difficulty in learning EU is that the manual is all but worthless: that's a product of how significantly the game changes as it gets patched. Unlike pretty much any other game I've played, EU has, on multiple occasions, undergone a patch of such significance that it is virtually a new game, and your old strategies don't work any more. Not because it was bugged, but because the forum and mods are always working to make the game better.

Yes, start with a small nation. Try to closely track everything you do, and note its effect. Your own trial and error will be one of your best learning tools.

There is a rich wiki, but use with care for the same reason that the manual probably shouldn't be used at all: this game changes radically from time to time, and some of the wiki gospel ain't gospel no more.

Really, the best source of info is the forum. Check out the stickies, search for keywords related to your questions, but more than anything, just always check out the forum every couple of days. New topics are ALWAYS popping up, because the forum remains insanely busy for such an old game. Don't just look for topics related to your question, but for anything that looks interesting or educational. This is where you will find the latest scoop on EU IV.

After you feel you are gaining competence, try a big nation but don't just wing it: find one of the approved strategies on the forum or wiki for how to begin with nation X, and do what it tells you to do. (Suggestion: there's a very cut-and-dried strategy for starting out with Great Britain, and if you play the Brits you'll learn the whole game, including exploration and colonization. Portugal or Spain are good starters for similar reasons, although they're a bit less isolated.) Figure out WHY you are doing these things you were told to do, and why it works, and pretty soon you will be able to try another big nation and kick butt using your own ideas. From that point, you can go for a medium-sized nation and try to do big things. Some of the top players like to start with one of those one-province city-states on the Rhine, or maybe take a Native American nation and just deal with the foreigners when they come - but that stuff is HARD!

I'm with Huw: when it comes to strategy games, this is THE game for me. I've been playing EU games since the original, but EU III was a big step up and so was EU IV. This is now a great game. Get all the expansions. Play all of it. Be patient, and learn.

Jarhead0331 · December 22, 2015, 06:19:31 PM

I've read that the common sense doc really nerfed the ga,e in a major way and was a major step back? Is this true? Have the problems been addressed or patched?

JasonPratt · December 23, 2015, 09:12:49 AM

The Common Sense DLC probably made the game easier for beginners to get a handle on, actually: now you can start with one or handful of counties somewhere and just stick with building those up without having to worry about trying to expand to continue competing in the game.

Nefaro · December 23, 2015, 01:01:09 PM

I just picked up Common Sense but probably won't start up EU4 again for awhile.

So do the new "building up" improvements still cost quite a bit, like other improvements used to?

Wouldn't seem too unbalancing if small nations still have to save up a lot longer for such things, compared to larger, more wealthy nations.

undercovergeek · December 23, 2015, 02:04:19 PM

all province upgrades now have a straight monetary value, once researched you pay and build

glen55 · December 23, 2015, 02:41:20 PM

Quote from: undercovergeek on December 23, 2015, 02:04:19 PM
all province upgrades now have a straight monetary value, once researched you pay and build

Actually, in addition to the monetary cost, they also have a monarch points (trade/admin/military) cost, which is an incentive to balance your builds. Especially for the upper-level buildings, the monarch points cost can be very high. And since monarch points are also what you pay for tech, ideas and some of the other cool stuff, it's a balancing act.

JasonPratt · December 24, 2015, 12:36:54 PM

Yeah, the main problem (I gather) isn't the internal balance of making it work, but rather that the AI naturally starts trying to do it, too, which radically changes the dynamic of how the game as a whole develops.

The 'problem' being that it doesn't seem like EU4 anymore but a quite different game.

Nefaro · December 24, 2015, 01:44:44 PM

Quote from: JasonPratt on December 24, 2015, 12:36:54 PM
Yeah, the main problem (I gather) isn't the internal balance of making it work, but rather that the AI naturally starts trying to do it, too, which radically changes the dynamic of how the game as a whole develops.

Just glad the AI can do it.

The AI in EU3 was crap & would almost never upgrade it's buildings & fortifications. One of the many frustrations of the predecessor which look to have been resolved with EU4.