Paradox has awarded me a free game!

[Jolt]

Two days ago, Marketing Assistant Shams set up a trivia thread where he asked questions related to movies and whoever was the first to answer the question correctly would win a free Paradox game.

In the third question, I answered the third question first correctly, therefore winning a free Paradox game at my own choice.

I am currently undecided over which to choose.

I should say that I have no Clausewitz engine game whatsoever. Thus, I am stuck between EU 3: Complete, or EU Rome: Gold. I'm not sure I want HoI 3 as through the demo, it seemed immensely complex and apparently still suffer from a lot of mindless A.I.

I shall pick the game tomorrow.

And Jolt wants YOU
to help pick a Paradox game.

[seireikhaan]

EU III, personally. Has some quality mods for it, and Paradox seems committed to the game through and through. Less so for Rome, which I admittingly haven't played, but haven't heard much good about.

[Jolt]

There, asked for EU 3: Complete + HttT, for a full complete package.

Presuming he can't get me EU 3: Complete and the expansion, I'll settle for EU 3: Complete alone.

[Megas Methuselah]

Lucky dog.

[TinCow]

EU3 Complete is an exceptional game.

[ajaxfetish]

I assume you already have Mount & Blade? (Or is it just games developed by Paradox, not those only produced by them?)

Ajax

[Jolt]

I assume you already have Mount & Blade? (Or is it just games developed by Paradox, not those only produced by them?)

Ajax

They didn't specify, but I think it would be rather ill-looked if I asked for a game that wasn't produced by Paradox, even if it was published by it.

[Beskar]

I will hijack the topic slightly and ask - How is Hearts of Iron 3?

I played EU3, Sword of the Stars, Mount and Blade, etc if you want to use comparisions with them to describe/explain.

[Meneldil]

How is Swords of the Stars? :P

I didn't like HoI2 and 3 because they simply ditch the nation building aspect of the game that made EU and Vicky good game, to replace it with (way too much) strategical micromanagement. I know you can automate many things in HoI3, but what's the point of having a game where everything is done by the AI simply because it's too tedious for the player?

And obviously, IMO, HoI3 greatly suffers from the new engine (is it Clausewitz?) and Paradox's new mindset, which tends to eliminate set-in-the-stone historical events. I don't have much problem with this in a EU3 game, but it simply outright blows for a WWII game.

WWII was the outcome of specific events that have had their roots as back as 1918. There was a reason why Germany declared war on that day and not on this one, why Italy decided to invade Greece and not Yugoslavia. In HoI3 it just goes randomly. Italy attacks France for no reason in 1938, Germany stays neutral until 1942, and what not. Doesn't feel like WWII at all.

[Furunculus]

Two days ago, Marketing Assistant Shams set up a trivia thread where he asked questions related to movies and whoever was the first to answer the question correctly would win a free Paradox game.

In the third question, I answered the third question first correctly, therefore winning a free Paradox game at my own choice.

I am currently undecided over which to choose.

I should say that I have no Clausewitz engine game whatsoever. Thus, I am stuck between EU 3: Complete, or EU Rome: Gold. I'm not sure I want HoI 3 as through the demo, it seemed immensely complex and apparently still suffer from a lot of mindless A.I.

I shall pick the game tomorrow.

And Jolt wants YOU
to help pick a Paradox game.

HoI3

[Beskar]

HoI3

Don't get HoI3. I got it the otherday, EU3 is far superior.

[seireikhaan]

Don't get EU3. I got it the otherday, EU3 is far superior.

???

[Beskar]

I meant HoI3.. I will change it.

[Jolt]

I already got EU3: Complete days ago. >_>

[Jolt]

Huzzah! I have been awarded yet another free game by Paradox!

This time it was in celebration of the 200,000 members of the Paradox forum, the team is throwing several daily quizes amongst which the top three recieve free games, finally I have achieved victory! I already have a golden platypus and am a member of the 200,000 member club, with the great Golden Platypus forum icon to boot!

The choices are now restricted to EU: Rome and HoI 3.

Which one do you think I should pick? Give your opinion without ceremonies!

[Madoushi]

I've never played an EU game, but I've played all the HoI games and HoI 3 is certainly good.

I think the AI is pretty good, and the HQ system lets you semi-automate battles the way you can automate anything else, however it can take a bit of micromanagement to make sure your armies have the right composition (ie if a General has naval units under his command and is fighting a mostly land battle, they might not make best use of the ships)

[Jolt]

I should probably mention I played a lot of HoI 2: I have HoI 2: DD

[Madoushi]

How is Swords of the Stars? :P

I didn't like HoI2 and 3 because they simply ditch the nation building aspect of the game that made EU and Vicky good game, to replace it with (way too much) strategical micromanagement. I know you can automate many things in HoI3, but what's the point of having a game where everything is done by the AI simply because it's too tedious for the player?

And obviously, IMO, HoI3 greatly suffers from the new engine (is it Clausewitz?) and Paradox's new mindset, which tends to eliminate set-in-the-stone historical events. I don't have much problem with this in a EU3 game, but it simply outright blows for a WWII game.

WWII was the outcome of specific events that have had their roots as back as 1918. There was a reason why Germany declared war on that day and not on this one, why Italy decided to invade Greece and not Yugoslavia. In HoI3 it just goes randomly. Italy attacks France for no reason in 1938, Germany stays neutral until 1942, and what not. Doesn't feel like WWII at all.

On the one hand, I agree with you, as historical accuracy is what provides the context that adds richness to the experience; however on the other hand, the fact that every game has the potential to be different makes up for it. I guess it depends who you play as. I've been playing mostly as Germany, and so most of the historical innacuracies in my gmes have a lot to do with my own aggression and willingness to pre-empt anyone I'm at war with (it's pretty funny that Slovakian and Hungarian divisions are holding France along the Maginot Line while I Blitzed around through the Netherlands)

[Jolt]

I ended up getting HoI 3! Will download it in two weeks!

[Beskar]

I ended up getting HoI 3! Will download it in two weeks!

Poor you.

[Jolt]

Poor you.

To be fair I played EU: Rome's demo and wasn't too impressed. Since I wouldn't get Vae Victis either way, I decided to get HoI 3 which is still being supported

[Beskar]

I bought HoI3, thinking it would be good, I was so mistaken. It is almost unplayable. I got so bored with it, I used a couple of the cheats to try to make it interesting, ended up invading Euroasia with Yugoslavia.

But on one serious save, I got really annoyed. I was playing as Republic Spain, and I ended up invading and owning Portugal (sorry Jolt) and defeating Nationalist Spain. When I took over portugal, there was a piece of land north of Aussie, which kept rebelling, and the game just wouldn't allow me in anyway send units over and handing over AI control was completely useless. The game relies heavily on the AI doing a lot of the work for you, but that AI works horrible.

[Madoushi]

I've only played a few games so far, but I personally have been very satisfied with HoI3.
Rather than 'leaving everything' to the AI, I just use it to keep things running smoothly.

For example, I'll take control of Production long enough to get everything I want built queued up, then I'll hand it back to the AI who will keep all my sliders balanced and keep production moving.

I'll jump into Diplomacy to choose who to influence, then hand it back.

As for the Army AI, yeah, it is somewhat weak. I find it works better to give out objectives at the Division level rather than the army group level, but even them, it's usually better to direct them yourself.