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zzzdragon Pattern Select : RHB from The Duchy of Riksent Since: Sep, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Pattern Select : RHB
#1: May 11th 2011 at 9:30:37 AM

Anyone else play this regularly? I just bought Chronicles after trying the demo a few weeks ago and am loving it. I actually ended up pulling an all-nighter last night finishing getting my United Japan into the Western tech group.

My biggest problem is that England, who I used to westernize and am allied with, keeps dragging me into a bunch of it's colonial wars in India/Africa while I'm still trying to stabilize my position as the dominant power in the Far East. I'm especially miffed about it because it cost me a good chunk of my navy recently.

Fear the Gothilolions! | Anime list
JAF1970 Jonah Falcon from New York Since: Jan, 2001
Jonah Falcon
#2: May 11th 2011 at 10:23:18 AM

I haven't played EU since the first one.

Jonah Falcon
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#3: May 12th 2011 at 10:42:07 AM

I bought it (with some of the expansions) when it was on sale on Steam a while ago. It's pretty cool, but I suck at it. I have yet to complete a single game, even playing as France.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
GameChainsaw The Shadows Devour You. from sunshine and rainbows! Since: Oct, 2010
The Shadows Devour You.
#4: May 12th 2011 at 3:12:15 PM

France actually isn't the easiest faction to play as (at least in Heir To The Throne they aren't.) England can trounce them soundly pretty easily, and if all else fails they can block the channel. France is also surrounded by enemies; as England I always waited until they inevitably got into a war with Provence before dog-piling them. France is really easy to split up; you can turn them into about four small nations; England can only lose Wales and a few provinces here and there.

The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
Swish Long Live the King Since: Jan, 2001
Long Live the King
#5: May 12th 2011 at 5:30:18 PM

The biggest thing one must remember when playing against France(assuming one is close enough to consider them a threat), is that once you get France on the ropes, never let up, and never let them survive. If you give France an inch, they will walk over you completely.

When playing as France, it's difficult if you get into massive wars and get swarmed by everyone else. While it's tempting to attempt to cross the channel and take Britain, it's usually not worth the trouble... And, honestly, sometimes it's not a good idea to swallow up your vassals early in the game...

Kinkajou I'm Only Sleeping from you're not your Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Hiding
I'm Only Sleeping
#6: May 12th 2011 at 6:25:42 PM

France actually isn't the easiest faction to play as (at least in Heir To The Throne they aren't.) England can trounce them soundly pretty easily, and if all else fails they can block the channel. France is also surrounded by enemies; as England I always waited until they inevitably got into a war with Provence before dog-piling them. France is really easy to split up; you can turn them into about four small nations; England can only lose Wales and a few provinces here and there.

It's possible to get France to release all but Paris as independent states. France is far easier when used by the AI than by a human player.

When playing as France, it's difficult if you get into massive wars and get swarmed by everyone else. While it's tempting to attempt to cross the channel and take Britain, it's usually not worth the trouble... And, honestly, sometimes it's not a good idea to swallow up your vassals early in the game...

It's a worthwhile long-term strategy to swallow vassals on whom you have cores, but otherwise they're better off as allies who almost never betray you.

"Wait, it's IV. Of course they are. They'd make IV for Dreamcast." - Enlong, on yet another FFIV remake
GameChainsaw The Shadows Devour You. from sunshine and rainbows! Since: Oct, 2010
The Shadows Devour You.
#7: May 13th 2011 at 5:41:09 AM

I played an interesting campaign as Delhi. Managed to unite the Indian subcontinent (grabbed half of Tibet while I was at it.)

The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
Kinkajou I'm Only Sleeping from you're not your Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Hiding
I'm Only Sleeping
#8: May 13th 2011 at 5:57:33 AM

Yeah, I'm reading that liveblog of yours.

I also played Delhi months ago; I managed to Westernize all the way to Western tech group, and I got to the 17th century before I got too bored.

"Wait, it's IV. Of course they are. They'd make IV for Dreamcast." - Enlong, on yet another FFIV remake
zzzdragon Pattern Select : RHB from The Duchy of Riksent Since: Sep, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Pattern Select : RHB
#9: May 13th 2011 at 9:49:59 AM

I'm starting to develop a real soft spot for my vassalized Mutapa (an African tribal nation). They keep loyally jumping into my wars even if I don't ask. They can't do anything to help, but when I see the "Mutapa has honored our Military Alliance," message come up I can't help but think "Awww, you guys, you're trying so hard. You may have a cookie."

Fear the Gothilolions! | Anime list
Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#10: Jan 2nd 2012 at 6:25:13 PM

I got it a few months ago, i'm gonna give it a try soon.

I'm baaaaaaack
JAF1970 Jonah Falcon from New York Since: Jan, 2001
Jonah Falcon
#11: Jan 3rd 2012 at 10:07:43 AM

EU 3 to me is one of the worst Guide Dang It! games.

Jonah Falcon
zzzdragon Pattern Select : RHB from The Duchy of Riksent Since: Sep, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Pattern Select : RHB
#12: Jan 3rd 2012 at 3:56:04 PM

Agreed, don't play your favorite historical country on your first game, save for your second or third; you'll probably need to take a mulligan on your first play attempt.

Fear the Gothilolions! | Anime list
Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#13: Jan 25th 2012 at 8:34:11 PM

First attempt- screwing around with inca. failed horribly and couln't even cruch the one province guy next to me

Second attempt- Scotland. Managed it fairly well, though my involvement in a crusade against morroco only lasted long enough for 4000 soldiers to be killed.

failed to save*Facepalm*

Third attempt-on going.

  • Takes deep breath*
Portugal. allied with castila, and navarre. I know, were supposed to dislike each other, but we were all working together for about 40 years without incident. Fought a war with morroco, and both them and england sent troops. in a few months we racked up a 69% war score, and each of us was to get a province we captured. I unfortunately left england out by accident, and that was the end of our alliance.

As a counter-balance to a possible war with england, I allied with scotland. They helped in the next war with morroco only a few years later(I hit"declare war" to see what the cost would be, and hit accept instead of cancel). kicked there butt again, won me another territory, ditto for castile, navarre lost theres a few years ago to rebels and seemed to have sold it back the morroco after that. After some peace, castile went to war with navarre, and since i didnt have a death wish, i sided with them. My land forces stayed out, but I sent the armada to patrol navarre's coast, and engaged a few transports.

some time around then, scotland went to war with england. Overestimating my power, half the armada(about 6 large ships) met 21 Ships of the royal navy. they ran for it, and the rest arrived to help. It wasn't enough. after quite a bit of running and hiding, i was about to trap an under sized british fleet of about 4 ships when Scotland made peace. it kinda bugged me, but i wasn't on the brink of death so I didn't mind much.

I'll post more tommorrow. I'm currentally on track to begin colonising America with by 1455. I already had a colony in africa, thanks to a border with one of my morrocan provinces. I made it a city with in 3 years since I had no where else to send colonists. (I did have to wipe out the natives, three revolts before i finally attacked them)

edited 25th Jan '12 8:34:50 PM by Joesolo

I'm baaaaaaack
Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#14: May 1st 2012 at 6:59:41 AM

Well it's been a little more than a Day. I made some colonies in the carribean but then started getting into problems with france attacking castile. I tried to help but didn't do much but slow them down.

Anyway, re started with Naples. So far, through wars with sicilly, ferrara, and milan I control most of the boot. I also fought the papal state which got me a few territories but they still hold rome and another provience. 2 wars with the ottomans got me corfu, albania, and the provience bordering corfu.

The first war almost completely depleted my manpower reserves(I was down to little more than 2000) because of a huge battle with 20000 ottomans and some of their allies, which I did NOT enjoy. I managed to seize Corfu and the sothern tip of greece by posting a few Galleys along the coast to block them from crossing in(and a small fleet of 2 in reserve incase they wre attacked), while the remainder of my fleet(about 6 carracks *

and some 8 odd galleys) were based in Byzantium and patrolled the agean sea and the straights around Constantinople to keep there troops from Turkey out. some rebels kept rising up on the southern tip of greece which I just left alone after a while. Once the Ottomans surrendured I left them to deal with it, and now they've become independant as Moria.

Eventually I won. That was followed by the war with the Pacapcy where, with help from ferrara(my vassal) I took most of their land. This gave me the man power needed for a second war with the Ottomans, though I was excommunicated.

The second war with the Ottomans is ongoing. They have about 12000 troops left in Greece, 8000 of which refuse to stop trying to cross back into turkey despite my blockade. I'd let them go but theres about 13,000 are trying to cross FROM turkey. Luckily their entire fleet seems to consist of only a few transports. I managed to capture a few. *

Right now they are even activly resisting. The current plan is to conquer everything tey've left undeffended to get my war score up high enough to force them to release some vassals. I'd tried to free byzantium but they cost about 57, so that might have to wait. Moria's been fighting them too but they don't like me much for some reason so they won't ally. :/

I'm baaaaaaack
Zyxzy Embrace the mindscrew from Salem, OR Since: Jan, 2001
Embrace the mindscrew
#15: May 1st 2012 at 11:53:07 AM

Curses. I have great generals, a large tech advantage, and the Russians are busy fighting the swedes, but I have no cassus belli, the stability to take the hit, and the "Generation of cowards" lack of discipline. But Polotsk will be mine eventually...

What's the frequency Kenneth?|In case of war.
Heatth from Brasil Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: In Spades with myself
#16: Jun 2nd 2012 at 9:55:36 AM

Discovered this game recently. I really liked the concept. Particularly the complete discard toward "Competitive Balance"*

and the absurd number of of potential nations.

But, yeah, this game is difficult. Doesn't helps matter the tutorial sucks and the completely lack of intuitive gameplay. Had to restart my Portugal game 3 times already because I was always making some fatal mistake that would eventually bankrupt me. And I am starting to believe I will have to restart yet again as I apparently made more colonies than I can support.

I also suck at the money making thing. I don't think I know how to deal with the traders either and I wonder if I am actually expending more money than gaining by sending them to the trade centers.

zzzdragon Pattern Select : RHB from The Duchy of Riksent Since: Sep, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Pattern Select : RHB
#17: Jun 2nd 2012 at 10:45:09 AM

Re: Money

Don't expect to break even every month, monthly balances should be negative. As Portugal, don't bother sending your merchants anywhere except Lisbon early on, your mercantilism slider lowers your compete chances at foreign CoTs.

And yes, the learning cliff of this game is pretty bad. It could be worse though; I can't even imagine what jumping into Vicky without having played EU III first would be like.

Fear the Gothilolions! | Anime list
Heatth from Brasil Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: In Spades with myself
#18: Jun 2nd 2012 at 10:56:11 AM

[up]I know (now) that my monthtly balance should be negative (as long as the yearly one is positive) and it doesn't bother me anymore (I bankrupted myself with inflation trying to counter-attack that minting money at one playround). This does seem to be the most important lesson.

Since sending traders around seems to be the only way to improve my economy early on, I spend most of my time pre-colonization trying to get out of mercantilism because of that. Was it a mistake? I noticed trying to compete with the big European markets to be a futile effort, but I still made an effort of sending merchants to the less competitive Andalusia and Alexandria regardless. Should I haven't done that? Is the money spending sending merchants there more than what I earn? How do I know it is safe to send merchants to foreign markets?

Also, thanks for the help.

edited 2nd Jun '12 10:56:25 AM by Heatth

zzzdragon Pattern Select : RHB from The Duchy of Riksent Since: Sep, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Pattern Select : RHB
#19: Jun 2nd 2012 at 11:40:33 AM

How much one earns with merchants vs spending depends on the scenario. Depending on your sliders you pay 5-20 ducats per merchant. Each merchant makes a certain profit based on the CoT's total value and your nations trade efficiency (based on trade tech and sliders). so if you have to click send once a month for 15 ducats, but the monthly income from the merchant is only 10 ducats it might be better to invest that cash in constables and province improvements.

As for general mercantilism vs free trade theory, there are two ways to go, what's best is usually based on the size of your empire. Large empires (usually warmongering) who get massive bonuses to compete chance in their own CoT's can go full mercantilism and simply push everyone else out of the CoT, when that happens, you pick all the extra income from the unoccupied slots. Free trade is better for less warmongering nations, who don't expand too much past real life borders. Being able to maintain 2-5 merchants in Venice, Lubeck, and Antwerp or Ille de France is a big boost to income, if you can maintain it with only sending 6-8 merchants a year using auto-send.

Btw, the general paradox interactive thread is more active than this one. It might be easier to find other people who have played this there. Also, what version do you have? What's the latest expansion and Steam/not steam?

Fear the Gothilolions! | Anime list
Heatth from Brasil Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: In Spades with myself
#20: Jun 2nd 2012 at 12:28:43 PM

[up]Thanks for your answer.

About the merchants, their income is kinda vaguely explained. My monthly trade income is currently of only 5.6*

but in Lisboa alone, the "value of our trade" is of 21,49. I assume this 21$ is yearly instead of monthly? So I am only making 1,27 ducat monthly there?

On a more practical example, my 5 merchants on Alexandria has a value of 35,5. My competitive chance is of 39,5% and I expend 6,23 to send a merchant there. Is trying to compete there a mistake? Am I losing money?

My I have the non-steam version. All expansions and the latest patch (well, not the beta patch, I usually avoid betas).

I haven't thought on searching for a general Paradox thread. I will go there now.

edited 2nd Jun '12 12:31:38 PM by Heatth

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#21: Jul 27th 2013 at 7:18:21 AM

Hi there! I'm considering buying a EU game. Which would you recommend, that has the best bang for the buck?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#22: Jul 27th 2013 at 8:35:23 AM

Well, EU 4 is coming out in a few weeks, so you might want to wait for that one.

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#23: Jul 27th 2013 at 8:36:33 AM

But it's expensive and my PC is two years old...

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
SpookyMask Since: Jan, 2011
#24: Jul 27th 2013 at 9:28:22 AM

Paradox games arent exactly graphics heavy

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#25: Jul 27th 2013 at 9:47:21 AM

Good. I donloaded the demo for 3 anyway. How is For The Glory?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

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