Newbie confusion

[unmerged(103958)]

Let me preface this post by saying that I've never played any of Paradox's games. I have played games like Civilization and Rome Total War. I thoroughly enjoyed both of those games. The only reason I bought this game was because I wanted to try something different.

Ok, one thing I'd like to know is how do you monitor the size of your population? I started a game as Sparta and invoked the omen that gives you a boost to your population gain. I don't see any benefit from this. Why doesn't the number of citizens, freemen, or slaves ever change?

I have no idea what to do in this game. When you start off it takes about 10 years for your research to improve, and when it does...what effect does it have? I still couldn't build anything. This game makes no sense.

Granted, I've just started playing this and I'm sure I'll pick it up...but the learning curve is extremely steep.

 

[Kasimal]

the population is showed when you hover your mouse over the bar with citizens, freemen and slaves.
The omens changes populationgrowth, showed in lower right corner of each of your province(s). A province will grow each 1st january, provinces above a population of 10 are slowed in growth to 1/10 though. If you get 5% in a province of 30 pop, it will grow by 0.15 in a year (30*0.05*0.1).

The goal of the game is easy to describe, expand your empire till you rule the world.

The first buildings will be possible to build after you researched architecture lvl 1 and then have it activated by an event happening randomly.

 

[unmerged(103958)]

Ok, I looked at what you said and after almost 2 years my population went from 20.0 to 20.1 with a 6% pop. increase for one year. Does that sound right?

Also, how can the country above me afford 19 units when I can't even afford to build 5?

 

[SonofWinter]

Ok, I looked at what you said and after almost 2 years my population went from 20.0 to 20.1 with a 6% pop. increase for one year. Does that sound right?

Also, how can the country above me afford 19 units when I can't even afford to build 5?

You need to trade with a neighbor. If you open up a trade route through diplomacy. You should get about 0.10 gold per month if not more. I think you can afford a bigger army than 5 units if you have 0.10 coming from trade, not to mention taxes, which might be another 0.5 gold each month.

 

[SirGrotius]

Focus on your economy first. Trade as SOW said and select good governors (high finesse) for your provinces to reap a good profit. When at war try to annex territories that are similar religion/culture to you, so you can get more manpower and riches from them. The game is open ended so you decide what your goals are. I usually go for something that makes sense, like the Seleucids owning the Eastern Half of the world or as Rome making a Mediterranean Lake or as a small country surviving always is nice.

 

[unmerged(103958)]

Maybe I should pick Rome to play. I've tried 3 games using Sparta and lost miserably each time.

I just downloaded the strategy guide, maybe that'll help.

 

[unmerged(96825)]

There's a trick to playing Sparta, which is to get military access from Macedon and jump Epirus as soon as they make peace with Rome.

But yeah, the big powers are easier to learn the game with. Macedon is the easiest, as the strat guide says.

 

[Eber]

The strategy guide definitely will help. I always find it helpful to learn the game by picking a small power so you are able to become more acquainted with the economical aspect of the game. Once you've accomplished that, military knowledge and war will become second nature (and a big power is good to learn that.)

You definitely picked one of the hardest (if not the hardest) nation to play as your first try. Out of all the greek states, Sparta is the poorest. That is why you were seeing 15k armies to your 5k. The one nice thing though is that the Greek minor states basically love militia, which is why their armies swell in numbers. If you can jump Epirus (a good recommendation), you will have enough money to build about a 10-12k army full of heavy infantry. Your army if commanded by a good general will be able to take out any of the Greek minor allies.

 

[unmerged(104222)]

Can someone tell me how to get units onto ships?

 

[unmerged(96825)]

Can someone tell me how to get units onto ships?

You have to take your fleet out of port to board your troops. Make sure you have one ship per regiment you want to carry.

 

[SonofWinter]

You have to take your fleet out of port to board your troops. Make sure you have one transport (not warship) per regiment you want to carry.

Don't pay him any mind, he is a HoI Boi. :rofl: All your ships are trasports and warships. Each ship actually represents a squadron of ships. In those days, they didn't have ships big enough to cary 1,000 people. But he is right, 1 ship per 1 cohort is the max possible.

 

[unmerged(96825)]

All your ships are trasports and warships.

my mistake, I've got In Nomine in my head o

 

[unmerged(54975)]

since this is a thread with noob questions in il ask here.

Is there any stat that effects how fast a person will research techs?

the reason i ask is cos although i have more research points (and i often invoke the gods to increase this gap even further) my friend is still ahead on most techs :wacko:

 

[SonofWinter]

since this is a thread with noob questions in il ask here.

Is there any stat that effects how fast a person will research techs?

the reason i ask is cos although i have more research points (and i often invoke the gods to increase this gap even further) my friend is still ahead on most techs :wacko:

Finesse. 1 Finesse gives +10%, 10 finesse gives +100% bonus, you can pick, which you want. :rofl:

 

[Lord Canterbury]

I have no idea what to do in this game. When you start off it takes about 10 years for your research to improve, and when it does...what effect does it have? I still couldn't build anything. This game makes no sense.

Compared to almost any other game, the whole EU series takes things at a very relaxed pace... It's all about gradual change. If it's your first game I'd suggest playing as Rome or one of the other big boys as it will give you a more rounded playing experience.

 

[unmerged(96825)]

since this is a thread with noob questions in il ask here.

Is there any stat that effects how fast a person will research techs?

the reason i ask is cos although i have more research points (and i often invoke the gods to increase this gap even further) my friend is still ahead on most techs :wacko:

A ruler who is an Inventor or Pious will boost research 10 %. A ruler who is Narrowminded or Sceptical will drag it down 10 %.