View original postEuropa Universalis is the starting point for most people. It's a general overview focusing on the state. It's also the longest-spanning game, time-wise. There's a general balance between economics, research, war, and diplomacy. It's generally considered the easiest grand strategy game Paradox produces.
I might like EU as well - it's a game that for a long time I intended to buy but never could as my computer was just that backward.
It might be fun, but somehow Victoria sounds more appealing, perhaps because I've gotten so fascinated by the nineteenth century in recent years. View original postCrusader Kings is dynasty-based. It's much more centered on people; as a result, economics, research, and war take a distant second to diplomatic ties and intrigue. CK is also a fairly easy game to get the hang of.
Yes, I played it rather intensively for a couple of weeks not long ago... it was fun, but still kind of relied a lot on luck for my taste. Fairly easy indeed if you started out with something powerful - and didn't have any monarchs dying at really inopportune times - but I couldn't be bothered to start off with something really modest and try it from there.
Still, I might get back to it some time, see if I can add a couple of extra crowns to my king of France, Ireland, Wales, Burgundy, Aragon and Germany (I think that was where I left off).
View original postHearts of Iron is largely military. It's set in 1936-1947, though the expansion lets you play until 1964. Given that the time proceeds by minutes and hours rather than by days, this is a pretty substantial amount of time. Hearts of Iron is considered rather terrifying in regards to difficulty; the interface is complex, and because you're fighting a World War there's not a lot of time to step back, collect yourself, and breathe.
I'll pass on this one. If I want absurdly difficult games, I'll go back and make some new attempt to win any Capitalism mission other than the first one. At least that might help me in my career somehow.
View original postVictoria (or Vicky, as some people affectionately call it), focuses largely on economics, politics, and colonialization. You can be one of the eight Great Powers (Austria, UK, USA, France, Spain, Russia, Prussia, and the Ottomans), one of the secondary powers (initially Belgium, Netherlands, Bavaria, Mexico, Two Siciles, and Portugal), and the civilized/uncivilized nations (everyone else). Obviously nations can rise and fall in these rankings. You focus on dealing with your nation's government, industrializing your nation, and managing your nation's standing in the world. Conflict exists, but it's generally between the Great Powers and it's less important than general stability and prestige. You can check out (http://www.paradoxian.org/vicky2wiki/New_player_guide) if you're interested in the general way of things. It's complicated, but not nearly as much as Hearts of Iron. It also has an expansion that lets you play out the American Civil War in greater detail.
Tempting. I think I'll get that one sooner or later. Well, one of the two.
Crusader Kings II
- 10/04/2013 07:32:27 PM
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My experience is based on the first in the series, but...
- 12/04/2013 08:01:29 PM
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I can give you a brief rundown on the Paradox Grand Strategy games.
- 17/04/2013 09:55:56 AM
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Hm. That does sound good... "Vicky", that is.
- 17/04/2013 10:04:29 PM
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Bought "Vicky II" and its expansion - there's a Steam sale for it at the moment.
- 21/04/2013 08:53:03 PM
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It can be difficult to row against the tide of history. *NM*
- 28/04/2013 09:28:59 AM
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*NM*
- 28/04/2013 09:28:59 AM
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Well, turns out it was rather easier to avoid once I learned about the 25 infamy cap.
- 28/04/2013 12:22:37 PM
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