Hearts of Iron 3

[naut]

Sounds too complicated for my first paradox game, can anyone recommend an easy to use but still fun one? It seems like a series I'd enjoy but I always find myself completely lost and quickly destroyed in any demos I try...

HOI:2, I find it's more straight forward than the earlier EU titles and Vicky. Also, DV I don't find too hard, since you can pick a small County and just gently play through to get the hang of it.

(By the way, does anyone recommend Armageddon?"

I've got it, I really don't know what's that different about it to be honest. The two campaigns it adds can be quite fun.

Edit:

Hopefully they don't screw it up like they did EU:ROME

I never looked into that one, but what was wrong with it?

[KarlXII]

Rome was very nice for me. Wasn't Game of the Year worthy, but basically what it is is the EU 3 version of Rome, but it includes Barbarians (You can compare them to revived factions in MTW, or the Barbarians in RTW, to a degree), civil wars caused by disloyal generals with loyal legions, and, to a degree, characters.

[Csargo]

From what I heard it was just horrible, but I've never played it.