EUIII has a myriad of problems. Paradox games always do. Propitiously, Paradox is famously dedicated to their titles & customers, and most problems will be ironed out eventually.
Thus the small problems and complaints do not give me pause when considering the purchase of this game. That lack of history in the game does. As currently construed the game, in my opinion, shades too much Civ-school of generic, interchangable nations. In EUIII one can currently choose the same Nationa Ideas, the same governments, and recruit the same troops as virtually any nation. The only difference between nations is tax base. This is not what I expect from the Europa Universalis series.
Fortunately I believe these issues can be fixed with but two changes to the gameplay. The first is to make National Ideas goal-based. Meaning that instead of all Ideas being accesible from the start, the player would have to accomplish an in-game goal (to simulate a nation's dedication to that Idea) before the Idea is unlocked. For example, a Grand Fleet National Idea would require something like building a fleet of 100 ships. Thus National Ideas are not just bland inter-changable bonuses, but a recognition of an in-game drive and commitment of resources to that Idea. Ideas could also be added by either random or scripted events.
My second suggestion is to restrict the recruitment of certain troop-types to certain nations. For example, under such a system, only the English and Scots could recruit longbowmen. Any nation could hire such units as mercenaries for the increased cost. This would pour some of the rich history back into the game, and add much-needed dymanism in warfare.
I believe that the implementation of this type of historically-driven gameplay will have a large, and positive, impact. As it is now all European nations differ only in their shield, with is anything but historical. And history is why I buy games from Paradox.
What do you guys think?
Thus the small problems and complaints do not give me pause when considering the purchase of this game. That lack of history in the game does. As currently construed the game, in my opinion, shades too much Civ-school of generic, interchangable nations. In EUIII one can currently choose the same Nationa Ideas, the same governments, and recruit the same troops as virtually any nation. The only difference between nations is tax base. This is not what I expect from the Europa Universalis series.
Fortunately I believe these issues can be fixed with but two changes to the gameplay. The first is to make National Ideas goal-based. Meaning that instead of all Ideas being accesible from the start, the player would have to accomplish an in-game goal (to simulate a nation's dedication to that Idea) before the Idea is unlocked. For example, a Grand Fleet National Idea would require something like building a fleet of 100 ships. Thus National Ideas are not just bland inter-changable bonuses, but a recognition of an in-game drive and commitment of resources to that Idea. Ideas could also be added by either random or scripted events.
My second suggestion is to restrict the recruitment of certain troop-types to certain nations. For example, under such a system, only the English and Scots could recruit longbowmen. Any nation could hire such units as mercenaries for the increased cost. This would pour some of the rich history back into the game, and add much-needed dymanism in warfare.
I believe that the implementation of this type of historically-driven gameplay will have a large, and positive, impact. As it is now all European nations differ only in their shield, with is anything but historical. And history is why I buy games from Paradox.
What do you guys think?
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