Europa Universalis III

[Rhyfelwyr]

Just downloaded the demo version for this, the diplomacy side of the game seems great, although I'm not so keen on the battles, don't really understand how they work with the dice etc. Also, I can't work out how to group regiments into armies.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here also had the board game, and if its any good. I like games like Axis&Alies, and games like Risk don't cover the renaissance era in such detail.

[Sjakihata]

Hi,

I have that game and I enjoy it. I bought it directly from gamersgate.com so no waiting time. A couple of patches have already been released with new tweaks and features, and within a couple of week the new 1.3 will be released too.

I have played a lot of paradox games, and although EU3 is missing some historical flavour it makes up for that in terms of replayability and balance.

See this thread if you are interested in some MP action with a few fellow orgahs: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=84814

[ElectricEel]

Just downloaded the demo version for this, the diplomacy side of the game seems great, although I'm not so keen on the battles, don't really understand how they work with the dice etc.

You might want to take a look at this if you are interested in detailed information about the combat mechanics.

Also, I can't work out how to group regiments into armies.

Grabbing a random screenshot from the Strange Screenshots thread at the Paradox forums:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

See the button with the arrows pointing towards a dot above the list of fleets? Clicking it combines all selected armies or fleets into a single army or fleet. The button with the arrows pointing away from each other allows you to choose to transfer regiments between two armies/fleets you have selected (it is also possible to combine two armies in this manner), or to create a new army/fleet. You can only use the buttons when the involved armies/fleets are in the same province/sea zone, stationary, and not involved in combat.

[Rhyfelwyr]

@ ElectricEel:

Thanks for the links, glad to get that sorted out.

@ Sjakihata:

I'm a complete beginner to EU, and I'm just trying out the demo just now, but I might get the game and join you when I have more time during the summer holidays.

EDIT: Don't get that button with the arrows and dot. Is it because I've only got the demo version?

[FesterShinetop]

EDIT: Don't get that button with the arrows and dot. Is it because I've only got the demo version?

No, I think you can also get that in the demo. Make sure you place a few units in the same province than drag a box around them with the mouse and you should be able to create armies!

And if you get the full version, this paradox game actually comes with a good manual!!! And if you get the collectors edition you also get a pretty good strategy guide as well!

[Rhyfelwyr]

Oops, I wasn't dragging the box around the units.

I think I will get this game, I'd love to try the MP.

[Csargo]

Vicky and DD is what I'll stick with. I've heard the EU3 isn't great.

[Bijo]

So how do I enjoy the game? Perhaps it is due to the fact I'm not so much used to playing a video game anymore, but this is the kind of strategy game I find difficult to be enthusiastic about upon seeing it and its overwhelming and vague nature. It seems very open-ended as well. No specific objectives given other than what you want yourself? Interesting. And it seems I can only select a European faction.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
The map at the opening menu is scrollable, move your mouse pointer towards the edges. The interface sucks not just there...

Extremely open-endedness may be a bother, or may not. I find the trade system stupid. However, diplomacy is a marvel. Battles are like MTW naval battles; you have no control over them at all once they start.

If you can figure how to manage the economy and appease your population, for both of which a high stability level is a key, then you can start making big profits and muster majestic armies and ravage the map...sort of.

Diplomacy works in this game! Manage your relations carefully and don't get into alliances potentially leading you to pointless wars. Oh, one stupidity of the diplomatic system: If a war, in which you are a minor ally ends, you're not informed or prompted. Watch the war icon closely, until it disappears.

Good luck. It may get frustrating at times. I give it a break and return to MTW then.
.

[screwtype]

So how do I enjoy the game? Perhaps it is due to the fact I'm not so much used to playing a video game anymore, but this is the kind of strategy game I find difficult to be enthusiastic about upon seeing it and its overwhelming and vague nature. It seems very open-ended as well. No specific objectives given other than what you want yourself? Interesting. And it seems I can only select a European faction.

I'd like to know that myself! I really tried to like it, but to me it's just like a big empty sandbox. Takes ages to get anywhere, and IMO it's another complex game system in search of a game. But at least Paradox tries to give people complexity, which is more than most companies do these days.

I eventually went back to DD which I find to be more fun but it also suffers from a lousy UI and over-complex mechanics. Continuous play might be good in theory but in practice I think a turn based system would be more sensible for games of this scope.

[AntiochusIII]

Jeez, Bijo and screwtype, you guys seem to hate every game I like.

I myself thought that the implementation of a continuous clock in a grand strategy game is the best thing ever done by Paradox, so yeah.

Turn based has too many artificial limitations. Imagine a Total War with realistic army/navy movement time! That would've been perfectly sensible in the Paradox system while in, say, RTW, it would've made the campaign map altogether even more senseless.

P.S. Bijo, you can select every faction in game. I don't think there should be any problems whatsoever with that. Unfortunately though, life is just not *that* interesting outside of good old Europa in Europa Universalis. Even the mods tend to focus on enriching Europe first, the rest of the world second.

P.P.S. screwtype, I actually agree with you that unmodded Paradox games tend to be rather sandbox-y. Although that's also where all the mods come in; the big ones really make your game much more interesting than vanilla. And while I can see where the UI complaints for EU III come from, I always thought that the Hearts of Iron II UI was rather well done.

[screwtype]

Jeez, Bijo and screwtype, you guys seem to hate every game I like.

Don't take it personally, I seem to hate nearly every game everyone else likes too

[Lemur]

I just downloaded this game off Steam, 'cause I need something with greater depth and detail than ETW. However, I'm finding it very confusing. Ran through all of the tutorials, but the simplest things are very difficult to wrap my mouse around.

Does anybody know a place where there's a good n00b guide to EUIII? The wiki and the Paradox boards have lots of in-depth discussions of mechanics, but vanishingly little about, you know, simple how-to-click-and-move stuff.

How does one move merchants? How do you group an army? How do you send a colonist? Simple stuff, completely non-intuitive.

I have a feeling there's a great game buried under the weird interface, and I just need a guide to get me there. Links? Ideas?

[Bijo]

My main problem with this game is its interface, lack of clarity, lack of facilitation of efficiency. I do not even see why there are marching and battle animations in it for they hardly add clarity. On-land symbols, flags, with all the necessary military information displayed clearly would be sufficient. Also, instead of a cheap arrow that shows travel progress, position change of the flag (immediate update) would be clearer. Why should I have to select the terribly annoying animation which I have difficulty spotting in the first place to see how much progress they've made? Complexity is good but if the design isn't immediately clear and intuitive to enable a player to enjoy it then **** that ****.

And yes, about being at war, it is vague. Or if you are offered some proposal I would like to know exactly WHO they are, what their stance is, and most importantly WHERE they are, but it seems there is no quick way other than to just check every faction on the map and to go through boring lists. Why not make it so that you can see quickly all the important information of a faction contacting you?

You cannot even change keyboard settings and the scroll sensitivity by the arrow keys is too little which also limits my enjoyment.

I have read about how people praise it. Well, that is all fine, but whatever. I just don't play it. It takes too much hassle to appreciate it.

Can't they just, I don't know, IMPROVE THE INTERFACE AND ITS CLARITY?

[screwtype]

Can't they just, I don't know, IMPROVE THE INTERFACE AND ITS CLARITY?

Totally agree. As I've said myself on the Paradox boards, what this company needs more than anything is someone who knows how to design a good UI.

It doesn't matter how good the underlying game is, if the interface sucks it might as well be a piece of junk. Conversely, even a lousy game can hold your interest for a while if the UI is good. UI is such an essential element, but sadly there are very few companies who seem to realize it.

BTW I think game mechanics should also be transparent. So much is hidden in Paradox games that if you don't spend a month researching their forums, you really haven't a clue what you're doing.