How do you play EUIII? (Sorta)

[Kip]

Hey everybody,

After all the hub-bub and comparisons between the AIs of EUIII and Empire, I decided to download the demo through Steam and was very intrigued (Often times I find myself autoresolving battles in Total War campaigns anyways, so EUIII gives me an Empire-managing fix that Total War just can't match). I'm hoping to get the game soon, but I have a few questions in the mean-time.

How do you play EUIII?

I don't mean this in the sense of "What does this button do?" or "What do these numbers mean?". I'm curious to see how you guys play speed-wise, and zoom-wise. In the demo, I played as Milan (I enjoy taking a little state to greatness, rather than starting as a major power like France). However, since my starting economy was rather weak (I don't know how to grow it effectively... yet ), I found myself bumping the playspeed up to maximum, in order to get the yearly incomes (as the monthlies weren't doing me squat).

I feel like I'm missing out on all the subtle nuances of world diplomacy this way though. The event messages scroll by so fast, and while they seem so insignificant, I'd like to keep up to speed with world events as much as possible, even if it is just a royal marriage between two minor German duchies. What speed do you guys play on? Do you keep it slow, to watch what's happening around the world? Or do you play fast to establish yourself, and then slow it down?

Also, I wanted to ask about zoom. I've actually sorta answered this for myself, but I thought I'd ask your insight... my first playthroughs, I played zoomed in to keep track of when troops and buildings would be completed, only to zoom out and go "Wait, how long has Castile been unified with Aragon? And since when does Venice own West Africa?". Now I sorta know to let time pass zoomed out to watch as regions are occupied and ceded, and colonies are established.



So that's that. What do you guys think? Any other tips on how to physically play the game in order to maximize enjoyment? I'll learn the controls and strategies by and by, but what I want to know from you gents is how do you sit at your computer and actually play the game.

Thanks!

[Heinz Guderian]

I <3 paradox interactive, but i'm not a big fan of EUIII. But how i played was time on full speed and medium zoom (mostly to see what other nations were doing). If you havent played HOI2 Kippy, i strongly recommend you trying out the demo (if available) for that too.

[Musthavename]

Firstly, the demo is a bit limited, and second, the demo is only the vanilla game without expansions. If you buy the game through steam you'll get NA & IN, both of which improve many aspects and take away some of the micromanagement, just to bare that in mind.

Really, I would advise starting as either Portugal or England (if you play England, be prepared to sell/cede Calais to the French though) instead of Milan. You really can't be beaten with those unless you decide to annoy everyone, so they're great starter nations. Otherwise, just read a manual, try things out, then ask some more specific questions when you need help

In regard to the small questions you've posted, i'm generally playing on 3 speed at peacetime and 2 speed at wartime. Sometimes 4 speed if nothings happening. I really wouldn't worry about things like other factions forging Royal marriages or even alliances. You can go into "Message Settings" and make all the important messages appear as popups or disable any message that isn't nescessary. As for your zoom question, often when i've got brief breaks where nothing much is happening I generally look at what my neighbours are doing

[John I Tzimisces]

Generally I play on maximum speed unless I'm at war. If I want to do some micromanaging I pause. I don't have a default zoom: I go between close up and far away all the time. Generally I keep it medium-ish if I'm at war. That way I can see what's going on a little better while still bearing scope of conflict in mind.

I expand generally somewhat slowly. I don't usually like conquering large swaths of land because of the resulting revolts (unless of course they're cores). I also find badboy/reputation to be a major inconvenience...so I don't like to have too many enemies at once. I trade if I can but I usually like to rely on production income. Your enemies have to resort to direct means to kill that, so I find that and tax to be reliable income...hence I usually take smithian economics as soon as I can (that's a what, 20% production boost?).

[ivan_the_terrible]

I can't play on anything other than the 5th speed setting. Even in war. I just pause occasionally.

As for the zoom level, I prefer to zoom in to the point where the 3D figures are shown (not because they're exceptionally pretty - its just the most comfrotable zoom level for me). But it also depends on the size of my country.

[Lith]

The speed settings are dramatically affected by your computers performance in my experience. On my computer at home full speed isn't that fast and I could probably play a full game on it, while on my laptop at full speed a day takes a couple of seconds so I never use it.
I generally play at 3 speed and lower to 2 or 1 in a war.

I also play mostly zoomed in quite close on fronts if theres a war or on the settlements that I'm developing at peacetime. I only really fully zoom out if there's absolutely nothing going on or I need to find one of my navies (large flags are much easier to find when your fully zoomed out than the docked ship graphic when your zoomed in at all).

[ivan_the_terrible]

or I need to find one of my navies (large flags are much easier to find when your fully zoomed out than the docked ship graphic when your zoomed in at all).

Try using the quicklist thing in the top right. It's a godsend, imo.

[Lith]

Try using the quicklist thing in the top right. It's a godsend, imo.

How do you get it to show navies? Mine only shows Armies, Merchants, buildings/recruitment, Sieges and colonists.

[Gwyn ap Nud]

What you do, is right-click the list button, and it will drop down a second thing, asking you what you want to be shown on the list.

[D.B. Cooper]

What you do, is right-click the list button, and it will drop down a second thing, asking you what you want to be shown on the list.

Oh thank you.

[ivan_the_terrible]

How do you get it to show navies? Mine only shows Armies, Merchants, buildings/recruitment, Sieges and colonists.

Odd...they should show by default...

Try scrolling? Maybe it's too long to fit in the window whole?


Ah, Gwyn ap Nud beat me to it!

[Rugler]

High speed when game isnt paused!
And I mostly start as one or two province states and then expand by annexing everything I can no matter how big a negative effect it has.

[hellheaven1987]

High speed when game isnt paused!
And I mostly start as one or two province states and then expand by annexing everything I can no matter how big a negative effect it has.

Even Total War with everyone??

[Raglan]

i'm much more cursious when i start - usually play at higher speads in the begining and slow down as the game progresses - exception is in war as i think it impossible to keep track at higher speads

i pump everything into my economy and ignore military - it means that by 1550 i'm well behind but i then use my pumped up economy to play catch up suprisingly quickly and by 1650 i am usually untouchable

[Kip]

Thanks for all the tips and hints guys! I'm really looking forward to getting the complete game.

[Lith]

Excellent, can now find my navies lol, thanks.