This. The same is also true for England and Castille. I got steamrolled in a very early game as Castille by and alliance of Aragon-Naples and France. In one England game France and their Scottish allies were overpowering when all the rebel events triggered. Both are actually very easy countries, but not always beginner friendly. Portugal is almost without fail.
Best Beginner Countries?
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This. The same is also true for England and Castille. I got steamrolled in a very early game as Castille by and alliance of Aragon-Naples and France. In one England game France and their Scottish allies were overpowering when all the rebel events triggered. Both are actually very easy countries, but not always beginner friendly. Portugal is almost without fail.
Playing around a bit with the Ottomans for the silk road achievment. And they are really a blast! I think the Ottomans with humanist ideas really can't go wrong.
No big power nearby that will screw things up. (Except Poland and Austria, but they almost never attacks)
You are rich. Filthy stinking rich.
You start with a demi god 5-5-6 ruler who is 12 years old.
Very good ideas,
Other than that Poland is a pretty good choice. Again, humanist ideas and you will never see a rebel uin your country that isnt event spawned.
Free PU over Lithuania. (After you create the Commonwealth you are one of the largest military powers in Europe. If not the biggest.)
INSANE military ideas. Go Aristocracy + Qualith for 53% cavalry combat ability.
No big power nearby that will screw things up. (Except Poland and Austria, but they almost never attacks)
You are rich. Filthy stinking rich.
You start with a demi god 5-5-6 ruler who is 12 years old.
Very good ideas,
Other than that Poland is a pretty good choice. Again, humanist ideas and you will never see a rebel uin your country that isnt event spawned.
Free PU over Lithuania. (After you create the Commonwealth you are one of the largest military powers in Europe. If not the biggest.)
INSANE military ideas. Go Aristocracy + Qualith for 53% cavalry combat ability.
France, Portugal, England or Ottomans is my advice as a good beginner country.
I do not advice Austria however; I am a player with 300+ hours but I am still figuring out how to nail that nation as I keep getting huge coalitions. So I would definitely say that it isn't a good beginner nation as very simple mistakes can ruin your whole game.
I do not advice Austria however; I am a player with 300+ hours but I am still figuring out how to nail that nation as I keep getting huge coalitions. So I would definitely say that it isn't a good beginner nation as very simple mistakes can ruin your whole game.
My first country was Vijayanagar. It was more powerful then that it seems to be now (they get owned by Bahmanis in my games) but at the time at least it was a fun game. You have plenty of warfare, religious conflict, small states to diploannex, eventually westernization and defending yourself against technologically advanced enemies.
Ming's quite a lot of fun, and not too scary at the start, although you do have to understand how it could all come crashing down if you make the wrong choices or get unlucky 
It's still a pretty good nation and the biggest Hindu nation in 1444, even if the AI can more easily screw it up now (I often see them get owned by Bahmanis and Orissa dogpiling them). Still, with one of the best religions in the game and more weight to throw around than pretty much any one of your neighbors, you're still in a pretty good position. The biggest downside is that most of their new DHEs sting pretty hard, especially in any Tamil provinces you have.
1) France
2) France
3) Maybe Castile or Ottomans
England is easy but isn't exactly a beginner country. Because unless you know the mechanics of the game, France is going to beat you really badly. And loosing early on is quite discouraging for a new comer.
2) France
3) Maybe Castile or Ottomans
England is easy but isn't exactly a beginner country. Because unless you know the mechanics of the game, France is going to beat you really badly. And loosing early on is quite discouraging for a new comer.
If you can get two other friends with EU4, I'd suggest an MP as denmark, norway, and sweden, just release and ally them. Failing that, I'd suggest the usual suspects. If however, you don't want to be in or around Europe, I'd suggest Vijyanagar, Songhai, or Ethiopia. Maybe Ayuttha as well.
France without question is the best western starting nation. You can play ever facet of the game with them. Continental warfare, vassals, trade, colonisation, HRE, reformation, etc. It's a lot more interesting than Portugal, Castile, or England, which are all quite isolated from the interesting stuff. Not to mention the fact that it's an extremely forgiving country provided you don't over-conquer too quickly and get a massive coalition against you.
Ottoman empire is an interesting and strong nation to play in the east. Lots of relevant missions directing you, plenty of infidel neighbours to conquer, and a large common cultural base to integrate. Without doubt, the most powerful Muslim nation, and naturally geared towards conquest and unity. You start off with a god-like sultan, and have the opportunity to initiate the Janissaries, a potent infantry fighting force. All in all, a great introduction to the non-christian world.
And finally, a less traditional starter nation - Denmark. Deceptively potent, when you factor in its Kalmar union minor partner attack dogs Sweden and Norway, the value of the Lubeck trade node, the potential for expansion both east and west, and easy access to north american colonisation.
Ottoman empire is an interesting and strong nation to play in the east. Lots of relevant missions directing you, plenty of infidel neighbours to conquer, and a large common cultural base to integrate. Without doubt, the most powerful Muslim nation, and naturally geared towards conquest and unity. You start off with a god-like sultan, and have the opportunity to initiate the Janissaries, a potent infantry fighting force. All in all, a great introduction to the non-christian world.
And finally, a less traditional starter nation - Denmark. Deceptively potent, when you factor in its Kalmar union minor partner attack dogs Sweden and Norway, the value of the Lubeck trade node, the potential for expansion both east and west, and easy access to north american colonisation.
A lot of people are giving sincere advice that I think many of us disagree with. Then there's the trolls (although you SHOULD click Albania once, just to get your mind right).
France is the best choice if you're new, but it's not your literal first time clicking into the game or you've played other paradox games extensively. As you've probably read repeatedly, they do everything! They're big enough to let you screw up hard and still be alright. They border the empire, so you learn that mess, without being in/surrounded in it, so you aren't stuck or hamstrung by them either. They can colonize. They require some trade maintenance, especially with aow and your capitol being in a funny node. They start with vassals, which means you both learn about annexing, which is key to being great at the game eventually, and you have them as friends fighting easier wars basically for you - especially useful when you'd like to be helping out allies but it's tedious; they grab their own border agreements and march on over on your behalf. If you play a bunch of france games you will basically familiarize yourself with all the core aspects of the game - there really is no better tutorial country.
If you're REALLY new - maybe someone reading this who has never played before - France is tricky for all of those reasons. You have to "do" a lot of "stuff" to play them. In this case, you should make a choice "colonize or don't colonize" and go castile or ottomans, based on that choice. Castile has the size and ease to let you play with colonizing and trade without a lot of worry, and your position keeps you very safe unless you screw with France. Ottomans are a nice easy intro to conquest, since you have cores on a lot of wimpy neighbors that you have to really try to lose to, and you get a string of missions to help you along as you figure things out. My only reservation for Ottomans would be - make some half decent allies. As long as you aren't isolated or pissing everyone off, I don't believe the mamluks or other Islamic countries will really mess with you, at least for a while. If your allies drag you into wars... great! Learn from them; you have less to lose than a country being directly invaded, and usually little is forcing you to participate if you don't want to.
Sorry to anyone I contradict here, but I very strongly recommend you NOT go:
England - bad monarch points and horrible early events. You lose a war, and then either have an awful leader OR a brutal civil war event. I am baffled that people even suggest this country for a new player - they're EXTREMELY tricky!
Denmark (or Sweden) - The union mechanics are not going to be fun for a new player. Denmark starts with a rebel group, lower stability, lots of expansion but all "tricky" in different ways, and a nasty powerful (lucky) vassal that will fight to be free asap. Sweden... I would just not pick until you know enough to be sure you can at least get free! That said, I consider Denmark really good for when you think you're decent but still have a lot to learn, and want a powerful but tricky (not necessary challenging) start.
Anything IN the HRE - You're gonna have a bad time. The mechanics here are really rough until you know enough to game them.
France is the best choice if you're new, but it's not your literal first time clicking into the game or you've played other paradox games extensively. As you've probably read repeatedly, they do everything! They're big enough to let you screw up hard and still be alright. They border the empire, so you learn that mess, without being in/surrounded in it, so you aren't stuck or hamstrung by them either. They can colonize. They require some trade maintenance, especially with aow and your capitol being in a funny node. They start with vassals, which means you both learn about annexing, which is key to being great at the game eventually, and you have them as friends fighting easier wars basically for you - especially useful when you'd like to be helping out allies but it's tedious; they grab their own border agreements and march on over on your behalf. If you play a bunch of france games you will basically familiarize yourself with all the core aspects of the game - there really is no better tutorial country.
If you're REALLY new - maybe someone reading this who has never played before - France is tricky for all of those reasons. You have to "do" a lot of "stuff" to play them. In this case, you should make a choice "colonize or don't colonize" and go castile or ottomans, based on that choice. Castile has the size and ease to let you play with colonizing and trade without a lot of worry, and your position keeps you very safe unless you screw with France. Ottomans are a nice easy intro to conquest, since you have cores on a lot of wimpy neighbors that you have to really try to lose to, and you get a string of missions to help you along as you figure things out. My only reservation for Ottomans would be - make some half decent allies. As long as you aren't isolated or pissing everyone off, I don't believe the mamluks or other Islamic countries will really mess with you, at least for a while. If your allies drag you into wars... great! Learn from them; you have less to lose than a country being directly invaded, and usually little is forcing you to participate if you don't want to.
Sorry to anyone I contradict here, but I very strongly recommend you NOT go:
England - bad monarch points and horrible early events. You lose a war, and then either have an awful leader OR a brutal civil war event. I am baffled that people even suggest this country for a new player - they're EXTREMELY tricky!
Denmark (or Sweden) - The union mechanics are not going to be fun for a new player. Denmark starts with a rebel group, lower stability, lots of expansion but all "tricky" in different ways, and a nasty powerful (lucky) vassal that will fight to be free asap. Sweden... I would just not pick until you know enough to be sure you can at least get free! That said, I consider Denmark really good for when you think you're decent but still have a lot to learn, and want a powerful but tricky (not necessary challenging) start.
Anything IN the HRE - You're gonna have a bad time. The mechanics here are really rough until you know enough to game them.
This is a tough choice. I typically like to start as England, but I will likely save them for later in EUIV.
I'm torn between Portugal and Castile, with the Ottomans also sounding tempting. I will have to think about this a bit more.
I'm torn between Portugal and Castile, with the Ottomans also sounding tempting. I will have to think about this a bit more.
The easiest options are Portugal and Ottomans.
Portugal is rather peaceful but you can learn a lot about naval, colonisation, catholics and the game in general. But it can be to peaceful.
Ottomans shows more combat, sunni islam, alliances, missions. But you can feel to powerful(early in the game)
If you think the game in general is overwhelming, you could try to start as an japanese daimyo, less options and less chance to be attack by big countries.
Portugal is rather peaceful but you can learn a lot about naval, colonisation, catholics and the game in general. But it can be to peaceful.
Ottomans shows more combat, sunni islam, alliances, missions. But you can feel to powerful(early in the game)
If you think the game in general is overwhelming, you could try to start as an japanese daimyo, less options and less chance to be attack by big countries.
Not anymore. Daimyos are now unplayable. I would go so far as to say Albania is better than a daimyo; you aren't sacked by the shogun no questions asked so long as any other daimyo has a claim.
I really start wih Albania and only play Albania since last month
Because my friend say the same as u
FUXK!
Dont mistake the beginner!
Because my friend say the same as u
FUXK!
Dont mistake the beginner!
Portugal isn't as peaceful as it was back at launch, with the introduction of those trade bonuses for certain provinces. Since Portugal's goal is to suck as much of the trade of the world as possible to their home node, it's very, very tempting (if not almost necessary) to grab those provinces. Whacking Benin and then Kilwa are your early wartime goals; since the latter has almost certainly blobbed the entire East African coast by the time you get there, Kilwa can be a pretty large and tough foe early on. But since those two won't be as advanced as you, they are a bit of an easier learning curve for warfare than having to learn to do so as a European power vs other European powers. After those two, you start getting entangled with more advanced Asian nations (from Arabia to Indonesia), were some of the more complex facets of EU4 warfare come into play...
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