My thoughts on current state of game

[Sfan]

I've heard many people say it becomes tedious, a chore, micromanagement or whatnot. I feel like that's the game even before they hit late. They just don't realize it and enjoy themselves because of immersion and the ability to roleplay.

I agree with what you say, but the tedious micromanagement is way more important lategame as well, simply because you have more armies, more fronts and there are more forts.

 

[Dominion]

I agree with what you say, but the tedious micromanagement is way more important lategame as well, simply because you have more armies, more fronts and there are more forts.

While that might be true, at least early game you have something to interrupt these things.

Personally I am sometimes annoyed by events early.

"Okay, 2 more days until x, then 16 days for z, in 400 days I have enough diplopoints for y an-OH CMON, I DON'T WANT THAT TEMPLE".

Which is why many say you can't have a perfect game.

Well, lategame you can. There's barely anything to interrupt you.

No wild alliances, no rewarding missions (aside from settler increase and inspiring victory), no penalizing events (-100 ducats? really? That's less than a month's net income) and much much more.

Or less.

You can map out everything and plan really well. Everything is and can be expected and while that's also true for your early game you might not be able to prepare for all of it pre-1600 and have to react instead.

Lategame, what's there to surprise you really.

I am delighted once I get there, but I am surely the minority.

 

[Indigo Blue]

While that might be true, at least early game you have something to interrupt these things.

Personally I am sometimes annoyed by events early.

"Okay, 2 more days until x, then 16 days for z, in 400 days I have enough diplopoints for y an-OH CMON, I DON'T WANT THAT TEMPLE".

Which is why many say you can't have a perfect game.

Well, lategame you can. There's barely anything to interrupt you.

No wild alliances, no rewarding missions (aside from settler increase and inspiring victory), no penalizing events (-100 ducats? really? That's less than a month's net income) and much much more.

Or less.

You can map out everything and plan really well. Everything is and can be expected and while that's also true for your early game you might not be able to prepare for all of it pre-1600 and have to react instead.

Lategame, what's there to surprise you really.

I am delighted once I get there, but I am surely the minority.

Well I can understand your point. But, I think the primary counterpoint to it is that if you are focused on WC odds are after the first 100 years there won't be many surprising or challenging things. This is usually because by that point - as you've pointed out alliances and coalitions cease to be an issue.

I would point out though there is always the Bureaucratic despotism issue that shows up which is pretty mean. And for some nations like Ottomans they have unique rebellions that will fire if certain regions have been conquered (GB/England does as well).

I think one thing that should occur is that the civil war mechanic should become a mandatory fire at some point. And it needs to be re-written as well since its written for over seas provinces.

At some stage average autonomy mechanic should include non-stated territories. If it does this average autonomy will approach 75% (at lowest autonomy). Civil war probably should be a disaster that you can't avoid especially if you are expanding at a massive rate.

But, yes the major issue is that after you hit about 100 FL and an average income of 100 ducats/month super exciting stuff slows down. Cause all the real fun is trying to make sure you don't get crushed by larger powers.

 

[Indigo Blue]

I'd actually like the idea of giving nations like Germany, Italy or Scandinavia made up DHEs and especially missions if they're formed so early for additional flavor. Event chains like a conflict between Germany and the HRE (or alternatively Austria if it's big enough), perhaps a conflict with the Netherlands to reincorporate the "Germans" into the union, a conflict between Italy and the exiled pope or Catholic nations in general if Italy is Protestant/Reformed, a struggle with the Ottomans over East-Mediterranean sovereignty, Scandinavian attempts to claim the Baltic coast and ensuing conflicts with nations like Russia, Poland or north German nations, perhaps an attempt to reclaim old Norse territory, leading to a conflict with England/Scotland/Great Britain over the British Isles. Would give the game something extra if it goes into the direction of having either of these nations forming.

Very eurocentric view. But I agree big flavor events would add some dimensional portion to the late game.

I think during this time frame - at least I know it was so with the Habsburg dynasty - was part of the dream of the dynasty was a united European continent. So maybe continental decisions can be unlocked similar to that of Unify Islam might be a way to build in extra goals/directions.

 

[SchwarzerKaiser]

Very eurocentric view. But I agree big flavor events would add some dimensional portion to the late game.

These nations were just examples that came to my mind first, of course this could (and should) be applied to nations outside of Europe as well. This is where a lot of potential lies after all.
Would require a lot of work of course, but could easily be created in DLC packs similar to Purple Pheonix or so. I'd like to see things like that in DLCs much more than essential core features like development.

 

[BritNavFan]

I've heard many people say it becomes tedious, a chore, micromanagement or whatnot. I feel like that's the game even before they hit late. They just don't realize it and enjoy themselves because of immersion and the ability to roleplay.

Just as an anecdote from my own experience, but my current game has de facto ended at 1612. All the strategy is pointing to my next war being with Lithuania. I enjoy wars between countries with 40 provinces each. Me vs. Lithuania would be a war between countries with about 100 provinces each (don't take that literally, it's been a little while since I last played it), and I just don't want to deal with the grind of that.

What counts as "micromanagement" is partly a matter of scale.

Events play a rather big role in this. Aside from missions, which also become ridiculous lategame.

Really? I own all of Africa, America and Europe and _one_ province taken away from Benghal is what my nation wants?
Force me to do something. Penalize me if I don't. It's 1750 and my income is 1000 ducats with a Force Limit of 600. I can afford to get stabbed in the back by a forced mission.

My current game I'm playing as Byzantium (a modded game to make the start easier; I'm no hero.) And by 1612 I am stuck with 3 of Byzantium's custom missions that I have no desire to do. Which severely limits missions for me for the rest of the game. Though, as you say, there aren't a lot of missions that are very relevant to a 100-province empire.