A Good, Small Country for a Beginner

[unmerged(16181)]

A Good, Small Country for a Beginner

I have almost finished my first Victoria game, as Britain, and I have found the game to be, well, somewhat difficult to understand, despite having played EU2 for about a year before getting Victoria.

I think part of the problem was that I played a very large and powerful country, which created micromanagement problems for me.

I was wondering if anyone could suggest a country that is good for a beginner to learn the game, is small, is unlikely to get involved in a land war, and can fairly easily make a profit.

I was thinking of either Portugal, Switzerland, the Netherlands, or Belgium. The former two are unlikely to have a land war, but would perhaps be difficult to make a profit with, whereas the latter two would have an easier time making a profit, but start out at war with one another.

 

[unmerged(16181)]

Oh, lovely. I can't use VB code tags in thread titles, apparently.

 

[Memnon]

If you insist on playing something small, play Belgium.

But I highly recommend November's guide to playing Brazil, available from VickyWiki.

 

[Henry v. Keiper]

People criticize Holland a lot, but I like them quite well, frankly.

Right now I'm playing a nice game as Bavaria. I've so far swallowed up all the German states that turned rogue...and keeping relations with Prussia and Austria at tops

 

[unmerged(23487)]

Belgium.

 

[unmerged(19936)]

I had a pretty quiet game playing as Saxony. The only wars I got involved in was one against France with Prussia and the rest of the minors (no French armies came anywhere near me) and against Austria which I started and took 3 provinces from them. Saxony produces coal and iron and starts with a somewhat large population, and it has a high growth rate.

Krakow is also playable, it always seems to survive in GCs I've played. It gets a lot of Polish immigrants but only produces coal in it's lone province, but at least you can make glass right off the bat. Steel production can be hard because there are no nearby sources of iron to buy/conquer.

 

[unmerged(25053)]

Belgium, "fer sure, mahn!"

Brazil may end up in a war but is the de facto power in S America
Swiss is way small
Portugal not large enough industrialize
Sweden?
Bavaria gets tied up in a war
So do the Italian minors
Hey, how about Wallachia? (j/k)

 

[Darkrenown]

Hey, how about Wallachia? (j/k)

Or Serbia?

 

[unmerged(25053)]

DR, for a beginner?

 

[Memnon]

DR, for a beginner?

Goodness, no! Certainly not Serbia for a beginner, they're way too easy. I suggest you get Darkrenown to send you his save, and you can play as his Albaina satellite.

 

[unmerged(25053)]

That is what I meant ... was a sarcastic post

 

[Memnon]

That is what I meant ... was a sarcastic post

As was I, my friend, as was I.

 

[Darkrenown]

DR, for a beginner?

You're the one who suggested Wallachia

I would have made a serious suggestion, but Memnon pretty much said what I would have said right at the start. And I like my serbia pic

Hey, how many games do you need to play before you're no longer a beginner? I've only played 10 games:

Sweden
Prussia (twice)
Ottomans
Austria
UK
Russia
USA
S-P/Italy
Serbia

I'm a newb! :rofl:

 

[unmerged(25053)]

Btw, GOOD LUCK MEM on the Tom campaign .. I'm pulling for ya!

 

[unmerged(16181)]

Well, then, thank you to everyone for their help...I think I will try Belgium (although the Swedish option is attractive as well...they're always overpowered. )

And would anyone happen to have any Belgium-specific suggestions? Especially on how to defeat (read: get away with no loss of territory) the Netherlands in the initial war? Bear in mind that in my Britain game I lost every single land battle I fought against Russia.

 

[Lamprey]

Just hold off the Dutch for a month or two with Belgium and the London Treaty event fires giving you peace and a province. As well as guarantees of independence from the UK, France, and sometimes Austria/Prussia.

 

[unmerged(16181)]

Just hold off the Dutch for a month or two with Belgium and the London Treaty event fires giving you peace and a province. As well as guarantees of independence from the UK, France, and sometimes Austria/Prussia.

Oh...well, all right then. That shouldn't be too hard.

 

[unmerged(19936)]

No one wants to play as Saxony?

Surely Darkrenown quakes to see my mighty empire. And look and mighty Krakow, standing up to Russia, Prussia and Austria.

All good choices in my opinion.

 

[Heretic]

if you try sweden, stick to inductrialisin on the timber-lumber-furniture chain,
also on the steel-machine parts chain
although I think you may need to secure additional coal supplies
(i always find the choice of factory development to be crucial)

Heretic

 

[Darkrenown]

Surely Darkrenown quakes to see my mighty empire.

I might quake, but only if I could see it.