Is EUIII better than EUII?

[naut]

I'm also hesitant to get EUIII, I'm still quite content with EUII.

[TinCow]

I have never played EUII, but EUIII is an excellent game. From what I can tell, the vanilla release is less historical. However, there have since been two expansion packs which dramatically change the game. The latest (In Nomine) in particular adds a great deal of historical events and options back into the game. EUIII with both expansion packs is easily one of the best strategy games I've ever played. I have also seen numerous comments from older EU fans on the paradox forums which indicates that while EUII is better than vanilla EUIII, EUIII with both expansion packs is better than EUII.

[JR-]

this persuades me to rip the cellophane of my copy of EUIII which i bought about 18 months ago.

[naut]

I have never played EUII, but EUIII is an excellent game. From what I can tell, the vanilla release is less historical. However, there have since been two expansion packs which dramatically change the game. The latest (In Nomine) in particular adds a great deal of historical events and options back into the game. EUIII with both expansion packs is easily one of the best strategy games I've ever played. I have also seen numerous comments from older EU fans on the paradox forums which indicates that while EUII is better than vanilla EUIII, EUIII with both expansion packs is better than EUII.

Problem is purchasing expansion packs significantly racks up the price... and being a student I'm poor. I guess I'll stick to EUII for a while yet.

[Csargo]

EUII FTW!!!

I prefer EUII over EUIII but I've only played vanilla EUIII. With the expansions for EUIII I hear it's pretty good game like CA and TC said, but like Rythmic I'm poor and can't afford the two expansions.

[TinCow]

The complete set (EU3 plus both expansion packs) can be purchased together as EU3: Complete for $27.

http://www.amazon.com/Europa-Univers.../dp/B001EK7S82

[Apoc]

The complete set (EU3 plus both expansion packs) can be purchased together as EU3: Complete for $27.

http://www.amazon.com/Europa-Univers.../dp/B001EK7S82

I just bought it from Play.com for £17.99 (free shipping).

[anweRU]

The complete set (EU3 plus both expansion packs) can be purchased together as EU3: Complete for $27.

http://www.amazon.com/Europa-Univers.../dp/B001EK7S82

Just bought it for $13 and change... May 20th, 2009

[frogbeastegg]

I think Martok needs to tell us if he took the plunge or not. The suspense is killing me!

[Jolt]

Problem is purchasing expansion packs significantly racks up the price... and being a student I'm poor. I guess I'll stick to EUII for a while yet.

We all should make a EU II Multiplayer session! :D

[TinCow]

For people looking for a serious challenge and historical accuracy in EU3, I highly recommend the Magna Mundi mod. I discovered EU3 about 6 months ago, without ever having played any Paradox game of any kind. I was very intimidated by the game at first and found it seriously challenging. I consider myself to be a very good strategy gamer and the level of challenge I met in the vanilla game was mind boggling to me even when playing a large nation, and it kept me coming back to the game. I have since gotten to grips with the game mechanics and can usually succeed even as a one-province minor now.

I downloaded Magna Mundi Platinum (the latest version, for the game with both XPs installed) about a week ago, and I feel like I've had to relearn the entire game. The game is vastly more difficult, but in many good ways. There are tons and tons of additional historical events and mechanisms that make it fascinating in its own right. The new mechanics also manage to keep nation expansion to a relatively historical level. Conquering the world is pretty much impossible, and serious expansion of any kind can be a challenge, even for a large nation like France. The end result is a game that feels much more like a real alternate history than the regular EU3 game. I very much enjoy it and urge all serious EU3 players to give it a try.

A word of warning, though. The MMP mod adds an absurd level of complexity to a game that was already one of the most complex that I've ever played. The game manual for the mod alone is 177 pages, and you actually do need to read a decent amount of it to understand the changes. I heavily discourage anyone from playing MMP until you've first become experienced with the mechanics of vanilla EU3.

[Zim]

I second TinCow's suggestion. MM is a great mod, and I believe you can still get versions for Vanilla EU3, NA, or IN.

With MM it's almost a completely different game, and still very challenging even after you get the hang of all the changes and new content. I started playing at MM Gold (for NA) and just recently downloaded the newest versions, and it seems better than ever.

I do admit I often go back to the regular game or lighter mods. I like the sandbox feel of vanilla, where anything can happen. I also get a bit of lag in the new versions, which I fear will get worse as they add new content.

That's more to my and my computer's shortcomings, though. It's a terrific mod.

[Jolt]

A word of warning, though. The MMP mod adds an absurd level of complexity to a game that was already one of the most complex that I've ever played.

...You obviously never played Victoria, nor even looked at the game. :P Victoria must make EU 3 (Never played it), look like a baby's sandbox.

[CountArach]

...You obviously never played Victoria, nor even looked at the game. :P Victoria must make EU 3 (Never played it), look like a baby's sandbox.

Yeah Victoria: Revolutions is, without a doubt, the most complex Paradox game ever made