Paradox strategy games - where to start?

KalosKagathos · Mar 11, 2011

I've never played one, but the stuff Vaarna posted at the HoI discussion thread in /gd/ sounds interesting.

curry · Mar 11, 2011

Europa Universalis 3 is probably the easiest to start with.

FatCat · Mar 11, 2011

then move to Victoria 2 or start with Victoria 2 it's their best game IMO , but quite complex.

Spectacle · Mar 11, 2011

Europa Universalis 3 is definitely the easiest to start with, both the Victorias and HoI series require you to tweak your country's organization and make important decisions right at the start, which is hard when you don't know the gameplay yet.

EU3 with at least a medium sized country let's you plod along for a while with few ill effects, letting you see what happens and deal with game features like war and trade when you feel like it. I'd avoid playing minor countries to start, they can get fucked very quickly if you're not careful, and don't have the resources to do very much at first either.

Black Bart Charley · Mar 11, 2011

kasmas · Mar 11, 2011

If you can wait for few weeks EU3 complete complete will be out and you can start from there.
Vicky is more like hard work and less of a game while Rome (full) and Crusader Kings are not bad at all and they are relatively easy to start .

Vaarna_Aarne · Mar 11, 2011

kasmas said:
Vicky is more like hard work and less of a game

Start from EU3, since it'll give you the basic structure all Paradox games build up from. Then HoI2, as it's easier to learn than HoI3 (which you can try out after HoI2). Finally, when you think you understand the drill, go see if Victoria 2 finally has a new patch or got an expansion, since it's Paradox' best game. The only thing as good as it is HoI3 with mods (I use DiDay's Iron Cross Edition, aka ICE, with modifications of my own on top).

The basic gist of the thing is that Hearts of Iron has fantastic wartime strategy, Victoria 2 has extensive political and economic mechanics (if only it'd use the HoI combat model instead of EU3 combat model...).

Crusader Kings/Rome is a lot of fun with all the randomly generated drama that happens in them. Nothing like looking at the portrait of your latest consul and going "hey, he looks familiar" and finding out he's the grandson of that fucking lunatic Bulbus (true story in one of my Rome campaigns). Or just the whole business of overseeing the lives and times of the various important noble houses of the Republic. The only problem with Rome is that the tech system is kinda weird and easy to fuck up with. I definately recommend playing Rome instead of Crusader Kings, because the Republic has a lot more characters around at once, and of course the whole more meritocratic aspect through which you can see talented men from humble origins ascend to greatness. And of course, the more sensible Civil War mechanics add to the fun.

Furious Flaming Faggot · Mar 11, 2011

I'd recommend Rome after EU3. The dynasty, character and civil war mechanics mean that shit flies at the drop of a hat, which is always fun.

If you don't mind wading through the occasional ocean of bullshit, Magna Mundi for EU3 is also pretty good.

kasmas · Mar 11, 2011

Magna Munti will make you take stability hits even while you are sleeping .

Serus · Mar 11, 2011

Furious Flaming Faggot said:
I'd recommend Rome after EU3. The dynasty, character and civil war mechanics mean that shit flies at the drop of a hat, which is always fun.

If you don't mind wading through the occasional ocean of bullshit, Magna Mundi for EU3 is also pretty good.

EU3 with Magna Mundi (version for EU3 In Nomine) installed is perhaps the best thing Paradox has to offer... BUT i am not sure if its something to be recommended to someone who never played a Paradox Game before.
This, and the fact that Magna Mundi is too slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. You really need to be patient (or have a monster PC but im not sure if it really helps).

Magna Munti will make you take stability hits even while you are sleeping .

No, not really - people are too dramatic about the issue. Stability in MM is well balanced, its simply that the player is not supposed to have Stab +3 all time. It is part of the challenge too - challenge the unmodded game lacks very badly.

Magna MunTi !?

KalosKagathos · Mar 11, 2011

Thanks for the suggestions. EU3 seems to be the ideal starting point.

Destroid · Mar 11, 2011

I'd just dive straight into MMU - it's not as difficult as people make out, once you understand the systems.

The Magna Mundi game should come out later this year so maybe start with HoI and try MM when it releases.

Topher · Mar 11, 2011

I just saw the new "Europa Universalis III Chronicles" edition. It ships with all the expansion and comes out really soon (March 22nd) so I'd recommend starting with that.

Yeesh · Mar 11, 2011

If you want to play HoI2, start with HoI2. That's what I did. You don't need to learn any other of their games to ramp up to it.

Demnogonis Saastuttaja · Mar 11, 2011

Victoria is great when it flows, but when it doesn't it's just pause, pause, pause, pause, pause, pause oh man all this shit stop EVEN MORE SHIT

Topher · Mar 11, 2011

Did they ever patch Victoria 2 up? I remember that it had quite a few problems on release and I opted to put it down until they had been resolved.

Malakal · Mar 11, 2011

EU3. Its where it all started (well in EU1 but you get what I mean) and all main game mechanics are present there. All other games stem from this title. Its also very fun and a true Paradox flagship.

Destroid · Mar 11, 2011

Also the only Paradox game to make it into the codex top 10 strategy games.

Vaarna_Aarne · Mar 12, 2011

Topher said:
Did they ever patch Victoria 2 up? I remember that it had quite a few problems on release and I opted to put it down until they had been resolved.

They've released a single patch so far... It somehow fucked up more things than it fixed. But still, the baseline Vicky 2 is by far the best game Paradox has made so far, so it's worth to eagerly await for patches or an expansion.

Zed · Mar 12, 2011

Crusader Kings!

It's the only Paradox game I've almost learned how to play.

XenomorphII · Mar 12, 2011

Vaarna_Aarne said:
Topher said:

Did they ever patch Victoria 2 up? I remember that it had quite a few problems on release and I opted to put it down until they had been resolved.

Click to expand...

They've released a single patch so far... It somehow fucked up more things than it fixed. But still, the baseline Vicky 2 is by far the best game Paradox has made so far, so it's worth to eagerly await for patches or an expansion.

They have actually been releasing beta patches pretty frequently for the last week or 2, in fact the most recent one came out today, and they have made the game far more enjoyable to play.

Topher · Mar 12, 2011

I'll need go back and check out Vicky 2 again because I was having a bast playing as the nation of Texas.

Lesifoere · Mar 12, 2011

What does anyone think of Cities in Motion? I tried it for a bit but gave up due to... actually I'm not sure, but it was mostly the interface.

torpid · Mar 12, 2011

Cities in Motion? Never heard of it. What's it about?

Lesifoere · Mar 12, 2011

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/01 ... in-motion/

About building transport infrastructures, basically.

Paradox strategy games - where to start?

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