Mid 1700s... doing well, now what?

[Poorlaggedman]

First off, over many years and 600 hours of playing this game (and others) I've grown a great deal of respect for Paradox and their commitment to strategy, just not for the DLC strategy.

Every couple years I get an urge to conquer the world and it's way easier to do it in EUIV than real life. The problem is that I feel like the sense of purpose fizzles out in gameplay after you become too successful.

I'm now playing as France. I'm still a Fuedal Monarchy. My income is ~400+ a month and I've got 100K in the bank. I've given away a few thousand to my colonies and built/building the Panama Canal. I have accomplished all my missions, with a foothold in India. A few medium-sized colonies in the Americas and I have about 50% of the colony zones in the Pacific and a number of other strongholds in Africa, pulling trade towards my home node(s). Money is not an issue.

The only possible rival is the Ottomans whom I humiliated twice now and took Jerusalem from them for an extra Missionary.

I'm currently in a small war with the Netherlands and some allies and have peacing then one at a time, forcing them to transfer trade power. I've stack wiped 50% of their forces but why? I'm planning on taking Religious ideas as my final Idea group because I want to fight infidels. I stayed Catholic

I don't really see a point to 'painting the map' but I suppose I could. The steam achievements don't interest me that much.

Is there anything else I can do to enjoy it further? I hate to quit 80% through but this is usually how it goes and I'm lacking motivation.

 

[Cancerofthehead]

If you are no longer interested in the game, start another.

If you want to do something crazy, release a vassal to play as or switch to a colonial nation and try to beat your empire.

 

[Poorlaggedman]

I look at gaming as a necessary evil. Taking on new campaigns is a liability that's sometimes necessary for my own health. I'm someone who might be perfectly happy just gaming all day and barely scraping by but that's not what I find a particularly meaningful existence and therefore I take it relatively seriously the thought of getting into a game anew. Another campaign is a 100+ hour commitment. This may well be the last time I play EUIV if I have my way in other areas of my life.

 

[MagentaPhoenix]

I look at gaming as a necessary evil. Taking on new campaigns is a liability that's sometimes necessary for my own health. I'm someone who might be perfectly happy just gaming all day and barely scraping by but that's not what I find a particularly meaningful existence and therefore I take it relatively seriously the thought of getting into a game anew. Another campaign is a 100+ hour commitment. This may well be the last time I play EUIV if I have my way in other areas of my life.

Um... you do know you can turn speed up, yes? Your screenshots are in speed 1 and a campaign should under no circumstances be 100+ hours, not even some min/max wc as sarig yogir nonsense.

In terms of your current campaign... you honestly haven’t come that far for a 1760 France. Owning half of Europe by 1650-1700 is pretty normal. Your income is really low for late game France, and you have a ton of money saved up, which makes me think you don’t really build buildings. Build furnaces on coal (if you have rule brittania), and build manufactories in every possible province. In terms of goals... just conquer? France isn’t the most entertaining nation to play anyways, you have to create your own goals. Be creative with them.

 

[Blust]

If you need goals, maybe go for some achievements or underdogs countries. If you don't want to start another game well... okay ? But if you play at speed 1 like mentioned above, yeah, the game must be boring, especially if you don't colonize much or conquer when playing France.

 

[F_Man]

Well, in my opinion (if I see your screens correctly on my phone), it's really unfrench of you to let the HRE still exist...

 

[KaiserJohan]

Eventually you will reach the point where you are the strongest nation in the game. I usually quit long before that and start another game. There is no shortage of new scenarios you could do though! Try playing for example Mongolia and you'll see it's an entirely different experience

 

[Commonblob]

Maybe the OP is on speed 1 only because he's in a war. I'd feel very, very bad for someone if they played through several EU4 campaigns on speed 1 . But every paradox game tutorial tells you how to change the game speed so the probability of anyone not knowing about it should be fairly low.

 

[PossibleTango]

I like to always have a goal for myself before I start playing. For example I played Brandenburg and I wanted to own all of Europe.

 

[corgi911]

I usually quit long before that and start another game

I am in a similar situation playing Burgundy as No1 with a big income with several colonies all over the world, all canals are built as well all manufactories and so on.
Since a week ago I stopped my game because there is no challenge or any emotion to continue.
Looking for a new "task". I wonder if one could build a "united states" with a native tribe. Is it possible and if which would be the best for this challenge?

 

[FrogCrusher]

... Taking on new campaigns is a liability that's sometimes necessary for my own health. I'm someone who might be perfectly happy just gaming all day and barely scraping by ... if I have my way in other areas of my life.

Sorry to be a bit abrupte but maybe see a therapist?

 

[KaiserJohan]

I am in a similar situation playing Burgundy as No1 with a big income with several colonies all over the world, all canals are built as well all manufactories and so on.
Since a week ago I stopped my game because there is no challenge or any emotion to continue.
Looking for a new "task". I wonder if one could build a "united states" with an native tribe. Is it possible and if which would be the best for this challenge?

Absolutely. As a North American tribe, the first century might be slow before the Colonizers come, although you can still war other tribes. I would recommend playing the Aztecs/Mayans/Incans and try reform their Religions before the old world comes

 

[corgi911]

@Kaiser Johan thx

 

[Vohen]

Well, since you're, you know, France...

Then put the HRE out of their misery already.

Edit: Also, not a very orthodox playstyle, but if you want help not spending 100+ hours on a single campaign, try playing without pausing, putting the game on speed 2 only when things become really hectic and you truly need time to think your move, but spending most of your time on speed 3 or 4.
I do it in every PDX game, it gives an interesting sense of urgency and puts some real pressure on me sometimes, somewhat leveling the field between me and the AI.

 

[holyvigil]

View attachment 538877 View attachment 538876 First off, over many years and 600 hours of playing this game (and others) I've grown a great deal of respect for Paradox and their commitment to strategy, just not for the DLC strategy.

Every couple years I get an urge to conquer the world and it's way easier to do it in EUIV than real life. The problem is that I feel like the sense of purpose fizzles out in gameplay after you become too successful.

I'm now playing as France. I'm still a Fuedal Monarchy. My income is ~400+ a month and I've got 100K in the bank. I've given away a few thousand to my colonies and built/building the Panama Canal. I have accomplished all my missions, with a foothold in India. A few medium-sized colonies in the Americas and I have about 50% of the colony zones in the Pacific and a number of other strongholds in Africa, pulling trade towards my home node(s). Money is not an issue.

The only possible rival is the Ottomans whom I humiliated twice now and took Jerusalem from them for an extra Missionary.

I'm currently in a small war with the Netherlands and some allies and have peacing then one at a time, forcing them to transfer trade power. I've stack wiped 50% of their forces but why? I'm planning on taking Religious ideas as my final Idea group because I want to fight infidels. I stayed Catholic

I don't really see a point to 'painting the map' but I suppose I could. The steam achievements don't interest me that much.

Is there anything else I can do to enjoy it further? I hate to quit 80% through but this is usually how it goes and I'm lacking motivation.

Don't feel like you need to complete the game. It's entirely normal to not reach 1820 and the majority of games end earlier. 80% of my games I don't even reach your current time.

 

[corgi911]

I would recommend playing the Aztecs/Mayans/Incans and try reform their Religions before the old world comes

Ok I try but its really strange game(feeling) but how to reform their Religions? Should they convert to Christianity? And when?

 

[Shiny Dog]

You can:

1. Decide Catalonia is rightfully French.
2. In true French fashion, destroy the English.
3. Fix that abomination in South Africa.
4. Turn Sweden "plus bleu"
5. Kill the Prussian unicorn, and prevent the next ~200 years of humiliation.
6. Take Algiers
7. In true French fashion, have your government collapse from owning Algiers.
8. In true French fashion, decapitate your ruler after your government collapsed from owning Algiers.
9. In true French fashion, attempt to invade everything up to and including Moscow.
10. Obtain Corsica, they got it in 1768 historically.