I can't stop cheating!!

[iBaLkiD]

Statements like "To each is own" or "You can do whatever you want. Its your game" are true for all the hundreds of threads that not concern pure game mechanics. Still most normal people care what someone does and if someone doesnt. Its part of being a social creature, and kind of the idea with a forum. Maybe you should stay alone in the privacy of your home and not visit a public forum if you cant stand people haveing a free discussion.

You really missed the entire point of my rant. Treat other with respect, even if there opinions differ from yours. Logically, to be crass towards someone whos opinion differs from yours is IGNORANT and DISRESPECTFUL. Hardly characteristics of what a social creature should be. You have it all wrong, its the people who are rude and crass towards other who should stay home.

What right do you reserve as a SOCIAL creature to disparage or disrespect someone because they have differing opinions or play a FARGIN GAME differently then you do. To call someone weak in a thread for cheating? Its just not this thread my friend, it a reoccuring theme in these forums for the last three years. It also irrefutabley ignorant behaviour.


I am amazed that some people in this thread dont see an inhereht problem with insulting someone OVER HOW THEY PLAY A GAME.

Pitiful...

 

[iBaLkiD]

Apply your sayings to your own position. Just because you don't criticize people who cheat doesn't mean it's the
Every one is free to cheat or not, even if personnally my opinion is that it's taking most of the fun away and I'll always advise not to cheat. Likewise, everyone is free to voice his own opinion, whether they do cheat or despise it.

A word to the wise,
LK

Criticism and DISRESPECT are two totally different things. Insulting someone and disagreeing with them in a civilized manner are two different thing.

Never did i say there is only one way of approaching this or any other situation. My point is and always will be treat other with respect.

Dont know how you misconstrued what you did from my post. If it is a language issue and i misunderstand you then i apologize.

 

[unmerged(20077)]

Some of you seem to be missing my main problem, years have constant cheating have left me without any EU2 skill anymore. I don't even remember how to turn a profit without putting every single ducat into my treasury!

The only thing to do is play without cheating. You'll soon re-learn what you've forgotten.

 

[Nikolai II]

Portugal poor? What about that CoT in your capital? If you want poverty, try playing Wallachia...

Wallachia poor? What about a nice culture and iirc even some CB-shields. If you want poverty, try playing Albania..

(@S-Lob, try France 1492 - you'll soon relearn old skills..)

 

[unmerged(28604)]

It's not just this thread. This is a recurrent theme. Someone asks for help with "cheating" or editing, and they're called damned dirty cheaters. Ridiculous.

Then I understand.

 

[unmerged(14180)]

Why I started Cheating.

I started cheating because, at first, i sucked at the game. My governance was poor, and i was generally getting my arse kicked.

How I stopped cheating.

Just before HOI came out, i revved up my 50th EU2 game (non finished GC) and swore i would try a different approach. Choosing Austria, I refused cheating and role played everything. Every bad event was given a backstory in my mind, and i produced dice. I made different random modifiers for the dice rolls in decisions, depending on the make up of the current leader. various personalities would arise; Mad king, warmonger, secret protestant, etc.

These would affect decisions, and other nations reactions and wars also produced dice rolls. Where should alliances be centred? Should Austria create a little central powers bloc consisting of small neighbours? or go big time and join up with powers? Should an Alliance with the papal states be looked at? What should this alliance achieve? based on the Monarchs random traits i assigned?

Powergaming is a no no to me, it seems to make me want to cheat. Role playing has given me endless fun, and makes bad things become historic things that happened for a reason(made up).

I have done this with both HOI and Vicky as well, and never looked back. Since then i have happily dominated, and equally crashed and burned. The dice make a difference as well.

Just my way of conquering the cheating experience that nearly destroyed EU2 for me.

 

[unmerged(25696)]

Criticism and DISRESPECT are two totally different things. Insulting someone and disagreeing with them in a civilized manner are two different thing.

Never did i say there is only one way of approaching this or any other situation. My point is and always will be treat other with respect.

Dont know how you misconstrued what you did from my post. If it is a language issue and i misunderstand you then i apologize.

Same remark as

Could you please quote all the horrible people who said that.

Who didn't properly respect another one's opinion ?

You didn't even mention the word respect in your first post. Hence, probably, why at least two of us "misunderstood" your post.

Besides, about "who cares if someone cheats or doesn't", why don't take it one step further ? Who cares if newbies have difficulties with some rules, and when/if they ask questions, who'll care about answering them ? What if, suddenly, robin74, Daniel A, Sheridan, ws2_32, Adam Breit, some others and myself stopped to answer to the questions, and only took interest in our own games, or in boasting about our achievements, rather than explaining for the 6543547th time what are the conditions to diplo-annex, or how to trade efficiently ? I don't know for the others, but I do it to help the others, because I want them to get the maximum fun of the game. And you get more fun by avoiding cheating.*

* Yes, a long time ago, before even EU1 (makes a lot of years), I used to cheat (who talked about Civ2 ? ) ; luckilly enough, I've learned to avoid that behaviour. So, you can talk of personal experience. Like, I'd bet it, most of the anti-cheaters : call us Enlighteneds.

 

[DSYoungEsq]

Getting back to the OP, I'd suggest playing a game that you don't CARE about, Semi-Lobster, in which you don't cheat at all. That is, take some relatively easy slob of a country, and don't invest too much time in playing the game, just run it on extremly fast and make what seem like good choices at the time. Don't try to overturn bad results or bad events.

My guess is you will see that you don't end up that badly even without "cheating." This will give you the confidence to avoid use of the console or the save/reload to make up for what seem at the time to be crushing blows. And then, think of it! You'll be able to win a game even after getting your ass kicked by Austria in the 1500's!

 

[unmerged(25996)]

If you have allies you have to use richelieu in SP to keep them from doing stupid things. Your ally, left to its own devices, will pour 90 troops into a supply 6 province during winter. Your ally will abandon a siege in the red in order to send troops half way around the world.

After a CTD, use of tilly for a few months, can help prevent a chaotic reload.

It is a game. In SP, you should do whatever keeps the game fun and interesting.

 

[Chaingun]

If you have allies you have to use richelieu in SP to keep them from doing stupid things. Your ally, left to its own devices, will pour 90 troops into a supply 6 province during winter. Your ally will abandon a siege in the red in order to send troops half way around the world.

After a CTD, use of tilly for a few months, can help prevent a chaotic reload.

It is a game. In SP, you should do whatever keeps the game fun and interesting.

I agree to a certain extent; when you play purely for yourself you should make the game as enjoyable to yourself as possible. Remember that this can also be done without cheating since you will get more satisfaction out of it. However, if you want to compare your achievements with those of other people, you better be playing the official scenarios or noone will be seriously interested in terms of number comparison.

Example:
If you claim "I made a WC with Bremen which I finished in 1640 (new record)...I used montezuma at least 1000 times", then you're not likely to get a any positive response.

 

[Nikolai II]

If you have allies you have to use richelieu in SP to keep them from doing stupid things. Your ally, left to its own devices, will pour 90 troops into a supply 6 province during winter. Your ally will abandon a siege in the red in order to send troops half way around the world.

After a CTD, use of tilly for a few months, can help prevent a chaotic reload.

It is a game. In SP, you should do whatever keeps the game fun and interesting.

Well, your AI enemy is still going to do stupid things, so only helping your allies is kinda mean to the other AIs

But still, as you say, make the game keep fun

 

[iBaLkiD]

Same remark as

Who didn't properly respect another one's opinion ?

You didn't even mention the word respect in your first post. Hence, probably, why at least two of us "misunderstood" your post.

Besides, about "who cares if someone cheats or doesn't", why don't take it one step further ? Who cares if newbies have difficulties with some rules, and when/if they ask questions, who'll care about answering them ? What if, suddenly, robin74, Daniel A, Sheridan, ws2_32, Adam Breit, some others and myself stopped to answer to the questions, and only took interest in our own games, or in boasting about our achievements, rather than explaining for the 6543547th time what are the conditions to diplo-annex, or how to trade efficiently ? I don't know for the others, but I do it to help the others, because I want them to get the maximum fun of the game. And you get more fun by avoiding cheating.*

* Yes, a long time ago, before even EU1 (makes a lot of years), I used to cheat (who talked about Civ2 ? ) ; luckilly enough, I've learned to avoid that behaviour. So, you can talk of personal experience. Like, I'd bet it, most of the anti-cheaters : call us Enlighteneds.

Someone called people who cheat Weak in this thread. Its its not just about this thread, its about how you should commincate with your fellow man. If you have been a member of these forums for a while you will notice that people can be jerks when someone ask for help with cheating, or states that they cheat. Its a discernable trend here at Paradox. Im not the only one who has noticed it.

Inregards to your, "take it one step further comment". Its irrelevant. No disrespect meant. Honestly. Its about the motivator behind such comments. What motivates someone to comment in a negative manner about whether someone like s to cheat or not? If it makes someone have more fun, or learn the game better so that they dont have to cheat, who does it harm? Why does someone have to go out of their way to comment about it in a negative manner? If its a joke or jibe followed by emoticons that let the person know that its all in good fun and jest, then that great. A positive and fun tongue and cheek exchange is good for the soul. I have a problem whem someone looks down upon another because there opinions contradict each other.

I have no right to tell you how to play any of the games you OWN. I absolutley have no right to be rude to you inregards to the topic. I can respectfully state my opinion, and we can debate the topic like civilized adults. Super, communication at its best. Both parties being heard. On the contrary when someone drops and insult, or a one liner that is of a disparaging nature, then i do have a problem with that.

Thats all im saying. Im not persecuting anyone whos opinion differs from mine. Your are entitled to that and i will respect it. Its when one doesnt respect the others opinon when i have a problem. Read my first post. To say no one should cheat is saying that your opinion is the only valid one, and thats just not very logical is all. There wasnt much rude behaviour in this thread. I do believe that it would have gotten worse had the subject not come up. I base that on the fact that every thread in this forums that deals with this topic degrades into insults and innuendos. Thats all i was trying to curtail. Again didnt mena to offend you, just trying to have people be alittle bit more considerate towards each other.

I would hate to see these forums fall to the level of so many other gaming forums, where it becomes tit for tat innuendos, insults, and ignorant behaviourism's. Where you have to wade through thread full of crap to find anything of substance inreagrds to the game/strats/info.

Sorry if i aggravated you or offended you in any way. That was never my intention.

 

[unmerged(21937)]

Some of you seem to be missing my main problem, years have constant cheating have left me without any EU2 skill anymore. I don't even remember how to turn a profit without putting every single ducat into my treasury!

Build Tax Collectors in all provs and you will start getting nice amounts of census tax on jan 1st. Then try to have the census tax money last for whole year by having treasury slider on far left. There is no need to turn a profit each month, if the census taxes are enough to keep up your troops and finance your other expenses like traders.

 

[Semi-Lobster]

Build Tax Collectors in all provs and you will start getting nice amounts of census tax on jan 1st. Then try to have the census tax money last for whole year by having treasury slider on far left. There is no need to turn a profit each month, if the census taxes are enough to keep up your troops and finance your other expenses like traders.

I completely forgot about annual cencus taxes! I'm sooo stupid! Thank you!!! But how do you know much you're making from cenus taxes?

 

[Slargos]

*snip*.

Excellent post. This is exactly what it boils down to.

Ok: "I don't cheat because I don't like it."

Not ok: "You shouldn't cheat because I don't like it."

 

[Slargos]

I completely forgot about annual cencus taxes! I'm sooo stupid! Thank you!!! But how do you know much you're making from cenus taxes?

Check the economic summary in the ledger. It will reveal all the secrets.

 

[unmerged(25609)]

Portugal poor? What about that CoT in your capital? If you want poverty, try playing Wallachia...

You're right. I should have added "relatively". It's hard to colonize around the globe and dominate the spice trade on Portugal's income.
But on Wallachia's income it's hard to pay the deposit on your rented spears.

 

[tombom]

Some of you seem to be missing my main problem, years have constant cheating have left me without any EU2 skill anymore. I don't even remember how to turn a profit without putting every single ducat into my treasury!

And I wasn't missing the point with my post: I'm a bad EU2 player, yet playing in an AAR makes me not cheat, and even if I get killed in ten years, I've learnt something.

 

[unmerged(25996)]

I agree that if you are going to proclaim your achievement, such as WC by Bremen in 1640, it should be a standard and no-cheat game. I think AAR's should be standard and no-cheat games. If you want to see how the world might change if Henry V lived to the ripe old age of 70, however, edit the monarch and leader tables and have at it. In one sense, alternative campaigns are "cheats" using non-standard events, etc. The beauty of this game, IMHO, is the ability to create any world fantasy you want and play it out.

MP is different. Whatever the rules are should be uniform and strictly enforced. SP is not a competition, however.

If your concern is that cheating is ruining your gameplay or game skills, I would suggest MP where cheat codes are disabled.

 

[unmerged(29041)]

I completely forgot about annual cencus taxes! I'm sooo stupid! Thank you!!! But how do you know much you're making from cenus taxes?

Semi-Lobster, sorry for not taking you seriously in my first post. I thought you were joking.

Just by wanting to stop cheating you are on the right track to a higher enterteinment (meaning more fun). Your approach is the right one. Pick a second order country, sliver legion has a nice guide here. Sweden comes to mind as an easy enjoyable one with great events that make cheating less compelling.

Then download my guide from my signature and read the first chapters. They explain the basis, that you already know, but also help set the foundation for a strong economy.

Remember that good events and bad events even out over the course of a GC, even if they might appear in strings that can get to your nerves. Resist the temptation, they even out, I promise.

When converting, just keep trying. You get a great feeling when that stubborn province finally sees the light.

Doing badly in a war is not the end of the world. Cut your loses, seek a reasonable peace deal and prepare for the next. Remember that, unlike you, the AI is never revengeful nor does go for a kill when winning. The AI is therefore severely handicapped. Make the right allies and come back at a good time.

Remember that in SP you can recover from anything, bankrupcy, civil war, government fall... and still have more VPs than anybody else. Don't give up.

You don't need an empire, you can do without colonization, your navy doesn't have to rule the seas, to have a great game. What you give yourself with the cheats, you probably don't need in the first place.

I will always remember my excitement when playing for the first time a country that was not a great power, Venice, and I was able to conquer my first territory by using a leader and military access to steal a siege from a different alliance. It was a lot better than building an empire with Spain, because it was more difficult.

And as several said before, roleplaying is a lot of fun for many players of EU2.

Other countries worth considering that do not require cheating from an unexperienced player to win, yet are challenging (very long list):
-Bohemia. Just make sure Austria and Poland do not ally against you.
-Timur empire. Hold on during the bad years sheading wrong culture/wrong religion provinces as needed and then it turns a lot easier with the Mughals.
-Portugal. Keep in good terms with Spain and go for the economy.
-Muscovy/Russia. Use your manpower to offset your tech disadvantage, and winter warfare can also help you a lot.
-Persia. Just hold the ottos.
-CoT owners. Venice, Genoa, Oman, Bengal. They are all intermediate difficulty, with specific problems but a good economy to keep them going.