Good YouTuber to Learn Game From? Is Now Even a Good Time?

[Alsark]

So with the new expansion coming out I have all of these ideas of who I want to play but am fairly limited because I'm not really that great (not terrible, but probably way below the average forum-goer here).

My question is: who would be a good YouTuber to follow to learn more about the game? I know DDRJake is a really good EU4 player; but I know he also focuses on doing really unusual things. Would he be a good person to follow regardless, or would there be better options for a more practical/normal game? Further, would now even be a good time to learn about the game seeing as a big expansion is coming out? I'd think most of what I'd learn would still be applicable but with the new revolt system, colonization autonomy floors, client states, war changes, and HRE changes, maybe too much is changing for me to bother trying to get a better grasp of things at the moment?

Heck, I've bought all of the expansions and haven't even played them yet... just grabbed them when they were on sale a few weeks back.

 

[oblio-]

In my opinion just try to do things. Don't be afraid to lose and to restart.
Get Art of War, as it looks like an awesome expansion, wait about a week for the major bugs to be fixed, and start playing.
And as long as you're having fun, keep chugging.
If you feel that you're not doing great, just lower the difficulty, give yourself bonuses and pick an easier country (Portugal is usually easier to handle for new players).
Once you know the game better, start removing crutches and even move towards Ironman.

 

[AdmiralPrice]

Arumba is great with numbers. Shen plays instinctually, but he's also very good. DDRJake is the master of, well, figuring out how to do things in a way very few others would ever think of. He's not someone you pick up how to learn the game from, but when you do pick it up he's fun as hell. I'd go with either Arumba or Shen (Shen also does a lot of mods).

 

[BobbyDylan]

I learned to play CK2 from Quill 18. He's done a number of EU:IV plays you might want to watch:

[video=youtube;ZlcscBCW4DQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlcscBCW4DQ[/video]

 

[blackchoas]

Now really isn't the best time with us just one the edge of the biggest overhaul yet, to the point that the devs literally called it EU 4.5 as some things you just may not apply any more

This is an issue with learning the game in general though, after all you go far enough back in videos and people will be diplo annexing for free and not forming CNs in the new world, westernization was different, the important stats for combat have changed around alot, there is just an endless list of things you might end up learning that just don't work anymore

I would suggest watching a little to get a small feel but largely I advise just trying to go through the game on your own, trying to a safe and relatively forgiving start, like England or Portugal even Spain or France work

 

[Alsark]

In my opinion just try to do things. Don't be afraid to lose and to restart.
Get Art of War, as it looks like an awesome expansion, wait about a week for the major bugs to be fixed, and start playing.
And as long as you're having fun, keep chugging.
If you feel that you're not doing great, just lower the difficulty, give yourself bonuses and pick an easier country (Portugal is usually easier to handle for new players).
Once you know the game better, start removing crutches and even move towards Ironman.

Oh, I guess I should mention I only play on Ironman. I basically try to do achievements, like Ireland forming Great Britain, but fail miserably. I definitely intend to pick up Art of War.

@ AdmiralPrice: Thanks! I'll make a note of them.

@ BobbyDylan: Thanks! I watched Quill back before EU4 was released since he had some kind of exclusive beta stream thing, and I enjoyed watching him. Actually I just found out he has a somewhat recently made playlist targeted towards beginners (here), which is nice. Fairly short videos so I should be able to skip those few and then watch Arumba/Shen.

 

[oblio-]

Oh, I guess I should mention I only play on Ironman. I basically try to do achievements, like Ireland forming Great Britain, but fail miserably. I definitely intend to pick up Art of War.

@ AdmiralPrice: Thanks! I'll make a note of them.

@ BobbyDylan: Thanks! I watched Quill back before EU4 was released since he had some kind of exclusive beta stream thing, and I enjoyed watching him. Actually I just found out he has a somewhat recently made playlist targeted towards beginners (here), which is nice. Fairly short videos so I should be able to skip those few and then watch Arumba/Shen.

The most important thing in EU4 is budget-management. You have several resources and you need to pay attention to them:
1. Do I have enough troops for the next war?
2. Do I have enough manpower/mercenaries for the next war?
3. Do I have enough military points to stay on par with everyone else when the next war happens? (especially the important targets)
4. Am I using my diplomatic relations to maximum effect - i.e. the strongest allies or vassals?
5. Do I have enough money to support my expenses?

You need to play quite a bit to get a feel for the game and IMO start with something easier. Also don't mind failing.
You start with this to get to this.

 

[theJalden]

Just like how video tutorials of the game pre WoN are still relevant, I think there is a lot to learn from old let's plays. Just know that a lot of the tricks and exploity things have been patched out. For example, you can't get free CBs for just giving nations loans. I don't think dishonored call gives a CB either. But more general things, like army composition, pincer attacks, isolating unit stacks when a nation is trying to rebuild its army are still useful.

 

[Miganto]

Me - I play more like the average human than these others with their superhuman abilities - that's my excuse and i'm sticking with it.

I post 2-3 times a day, link below.

 

[Victor Cortez]

I find Quill18's videos very good

 

[artemis667]

Quill18's really entertaining, very respectful of his audience, and a very decent and intelligent player who pays attention. He's not the best EU4 player but he's more than competent.

That said - just hang in there a little bit. Any game from after the expansion gets released tomorrow is going to look very different to a game from before.

 

[Mikalos]

i'd avoid quilll for "learning how to play" kust because he... isnt always the best at playing the games he plays

Arumba is preferable ot shen, but that's my personal dislike of how shen does things, especially mp.

 

[h0tSteel]

I learned to play CK2 from Quill 18. He's done a number of EU:IV plays you might want to watch

I find Quill18's videos very good

Quill18's really entertaining, very respectful of his audience, and a very decent and intelligent player who pays attention. He's not the best EU4 player but he's more than competent.

I learned to play CK2 from Quill 18. He's done a number of EU:IV plays you might want to watch

I wouldn't recommend Quill18 If you want to learn because he makes a lot of mistakes, especially with things like trade. So you could pick up a lot of bad habits when learning from his videos.

However I do enjoy his less serious and more just having fun approach to his "let's play" videos.

i'd avoid quilll for "learning how to play" kust because he... isnt always the best at playing the games he plays

Arumba is preferable ot shen, but that's my personal dislike of how shen does things, especially mp.

Pretty much what I was thinking as well.

 

[Osman Pasha]

So with the new expansion coming out I have all of these ideas of who I want to play but am fairly limited because I'm not really that great (not terrible, but probably way below the average forum-goer here).

My question is: who would be a good YouTuber to follow to learn more about the game? I know DDRJake is a really good EU4 player; but I know he also focuses on doing really unusual things. Would he be a good person to follow regardless, or would there be better options for a more practical/normal game? Further, would now even be a good time to learn about the game seeing as a big expansion is coming out? I'd think most of what I'd learn would still be applicable but with the new revolt system, colonization autonomy floors, client states, war changes, and HRE changes, maybe too much is changing for me to bother trying to get a better grasp of things at the moment?

Heck, I've bought all of the expansions and haven't even played them yet... just grabbed them when they were on sale a few weeks back.

You can learn a lot of things from DDRJake, but if you haven't mastered the basics yet, watch other youtubers like Quill18 and Arumba.

 

[Big Blue Blob]

DDRJake is the best. His games are very advanced, but the tactics transfer to easier games too.

 

[artemis667]

DDRJake is the best. His games are very advanced, but the tactics transfer to easier games too.

I can't recommend DDRJake to anyone learning the game. He thrives on finding unconventional ways to use game mechanics in advantageous ways that clearly weren't intended, and some of his more - exotic - strategies, have a way of disappearing or becoming less beneficial as the game gets patched.

 

[migalhone]

If you are unsure of your capability to play eu4, i would suggest starting a game with no lucky nations, ai bonuses, normal difficulty. Pick France or Castille, countries that are good for starting/inexperienced/rusty players, allowing you to commit mistakes and survive long enough to learn and improve.

If you really want to learn from a LP'er, my guess would be Arumba for you, since you have some knowledge of the game. He's reasonably good at this game, explains game concepts and usually details his long-term strategy for the current game.

Quill seems more like a good Youtuber to attract new players to EU4, because he plays mostly for fun, and games are supposed to be fun

Guys like Shenryyr, Madjinn, DDRJake are more appropriate to players who have already *some* experience with game and want to play as a non-recommended starting nation.

 

[BobbyDylan]

I wouldn't recommend Quill18 If you want to learn because he makes a lot of mistakes, especially with things like trade. So you could pick up a lot of bad habits when learning from his videos.

However I do enjoy his less serious and more just having fun approach to his "let's play" videos.




Pretty much what I was thinking as well.

Yeah, but I'm not there to learnt he "best" way to play the game, only to see someone working though the mechanics. Once I understand what all the sliders do, I can manage on my own, and learn it through Trial and Error.

Quill does that, in a polite and entertaining way. In fact, I'm watching his HOI3 Spain play through right now, trying to learn that game.

 

[Phalanx300]

Just play France and learn by trial and error, ur too big to mess up anyways. Otherwise go Portugal, ally Castille and play a passive game figuring everything out.

 

[Victor Cortez]

Quill18's really entertaining, very respectful of his audience, and a very decent and intelligent player who pays attention. He's not the best EU4 player but he's more than competent.

That said - just hang in there a little bit. Any game from after the expansion gets released tomorrow is going to look very different to a game from before.

That's true, but I find he doesn't give things for granted and will explain what he's doing and why. Also, his English is very easy to understand (not a problem for natives, but if you straggle with the language, having someone who speaks clearly is very important). What I don't like about him is the obsession with getting the names pronounced correctly (probably because lots of people are a pain in the arse in the comments).