New player trying EU4

[Wolfbanesons]

Hello there I'm new to these forums and I had purchased Europa Universalis 4 a while ago and was trying to start off. I feel bit stupid to ask as though I watched some tutorials on youtube and tried as well the ingame tutorial I still can't grasp how to play the game. I studied the icons prestige, diplomacy and stuff but I would like to know how to start off basically. Where I need to check first to enhance my Empire. Is there a link where there are starting guides please?

Thank you

 

[Qoff]

Is kind of hard to say something because every nation have something different, ask specific questions or add me on ate and I'll give you some tips, the steam is the same nick of here.

 

[mgoetze]

I recommend watching other people play on YouTube or Twitch.

 

[Lundgreen]

Welcome to the forum Wolfbanesons It's always great to see a new face here.

I'd recommend to start up a France game, you are the strongest nation in the region, and because of that you should be able to learn while playing, without much hassle. Remember to view the guides in the right side of the interface.

Have fun controlling Europe!

 

[AurochsAway]

Don't start as France for your first nation. You'll have to figure out war and diplomacy very quickly or suffer quite a bit.

Play as Castile or Portugal. They are the quintessential beginner nations.

 

[eon47]

Don't start as France for your first nation. You'll have to figure out war and diplomacy very quickly or suffer quite a bit.

Play as Castile or Portugal. They are the quintessential beginner nations.

Especially Portugal. As long as you make a point of being friendly with Castille, you'll be isolated from the rest of the world, so you can learn at your own pace

 

[V1ribus]

Your first few games will probably be as Castile, Burgundy, Austria or the Ottomans. They'll show you an in-depth run of colonisation, war, the HRE or Religion and war; respectively..

 

[atwix]

read the eu4 wiki articles. Very helpful. Play the eu4 tutorials.

You will likely need a few months before you understand the basics of the game, as all newcomers have to.

Start with an easy big nation to learn the game. This game is very very VERY complex even after grasping the basics on how to play.

 

[987655mm]

Hello there I'm new to these forums and I had purchased Europa Universalis 4 a while ago and was trying to start off. I feel bit stupid to ask as though I watched some tutorials on youtube and tried as well the ingame tutorial I still can't grasp how to play the game. I studied the icons prestige, diplomacy and stuff but I would like to know how to start off basically. Where I need to check first to enhance my Empire. Is there a link where there are starting guides please?

Thank you

The first thing I recommend you to do is not to play a trade nation. When I started playing the game first, trade was super confusing and I only started figuring it out when I had figured out other concepts of the game. If you want a little challenge you should play France as France is very active in the Europe. If you want to play a colonization game where you compete for global trading power, go for Castille or Portugal. Whatever you do, don't play England as your first nation, as though they might seem easy to play, they can be a pain in the ass for a new player to manage. I also recommend you watch Quill18's Intro for new players.

 

[Casus_Belli]

I learnt with Castille myself, people say youtube or twitch are good for learning, but if your like me, you might prefer to learn by playing.

 

[Wolfbanesons]

Thanks guys for the tips and links. I started as Castille and was learning the basics but once I got dragged into a war I didn't know what I was doing and was losing my armies pretty fast even when I was outnumbering them. Usually thats what I do I start playing but this game is really complex (which I like). I'll start a new campaign again and see how it goes.

Also someone mentioned trade. I too didn't understand a thing yet.

Thanks Qoff I will add you on steam. Mine is the same nick as well. Think I'll try Castille or France since they're beginner factions.

Btw sorry for replying late but somehow I cannot access the forums through my mobile. It keeps loading the page

 

[The kalrSalian]

U just have to continue as you have done and try to learn at ur own pace. Its a complex game but after a few tries everything gonna start to make sense.

The first thing to understand that is really important is technology and Monarch points. These are the basis for the game. Then work your way from there.

 

[Wolfbanesons]

Thank you Kalrsalian I will try and have another go. I'm a total noob in this game and I haven't played it recently. I got Crusader Kings 2 too but haven't installed it. Maybe it's simpler or?

 

[987655mm]

Thank you Kalrsalian I will try and have another go. I'm a total noob in this game and I haven't played it recently. I got Crusader Kings 2 too but haven't installed it. Maybe it's simpler or?

I wouldn't say CK2 is simpler than Europa Universalis 4. CK2 might seem easier than EUIV because you tend to not need all of the mechanics in CK2 to expand your realm but you do need all the things in EUIV to be able to play the game efficiently unlike CK2 where you just need the basics.

 

[gaius valerius]

Hello there I'm new to these forums and I had purchased Europa Universalis 4 a while ago and was trying to start off. I feel bit stupid to ask as though I watched some tutorials on youtube and tried as well the ingame tutorial I still can't grasp how to play the game. I studied the icons prestige, diplomacy and stuff but I would like to know how to start off basically. Where I need to check first to enhance my Empire. Is there a link where there are starting guides please?

Thank you

And think about your own style of play, what is it you want fro EU? To paint the map in your colour? To simulate something more or less historical? etc etc.

 

[ero_sk]

1. Don't follow guides which tell you exactly how to play certain nations, e.g. attack country X, ally country Y etc.
2. Watch/read guides introducing you into mechanics of the game (handling economy of the country, technology, diplomacy, waging wars- this is all covered by tutorials).
3. Accept that tutorials will not give a real feeling of the game- your own experience will.
4. Understand that in game such as EUIV you need to think strategically, i.e. plan in short term, try to anticipate medium term, set goals for a long term.
5. Remember that making friendships (remember, friendships is all about common interest only!) and alliances is as important as declaring wars in this game.
6. Read
7. One more time- remember that it's all mostly about strategy, not necessarily tactics. Know the difference.

Basically when starting up a game as a new country always follow some steps:
1. Check your economy.
2. Check your forces.
3. Check your friends/enemies/potential enemies.
4. Set up short term and long term goals (it doesn't have to be conquest from the start).
5. Remember- the more big neighbour the higher threat for you. Try to ally some powerful neighbour.

 

[SacredDatura]

One thing I'd suggest that I haven't seen anyone else bring up is read some gameplay AARs instead if guides seem boring to you. There are a lot of fun gameplay AARs that will give you a feel for how the game plays while still being entertaining as hell. Good AARs are also in my experience more engaging than video LPs, especially if you still don't know the game that well.

I know I found EU3 insurmountable until I read PrawnStar's AARs.

I got Crusader Kings 2 too but haven't installed it. Maybe it's simpler or?

987655mm is right that CK2 isn't necessarily simpler, but I would say it's more beginner-friendly. With EU4 it's sometimes possible to dig yourself into a hole that you can't get out of. With CK2 if you play in, say, England in a eleventh-century start, you can basically coast along and learn at your own pace until you figure out the mechanics.