Other Paradox Games?

[MyNameIsOmali]

I got CK2 after reading a review of it and have loved it, it's my most played game on steam with 232 hours of playtime on it (i've seen others on the forum with much much more playtime but still is the best value i've ever had, that much entertainment for what was it, $40?) So what i'm wondering is, from a CK2 player who came from the Total War camp, what is next paradox interactive game you guys think i'd most likely be interested in? I got HOI3 in one of the steam sales, a bit harder to get into than CK2 but i'm working at it (i've heard CK2 is the easiest one to get in to) Should I keep at HOI3 for now? Or try out Europa Universalis? Others? Thanks!

 

[Korbah]

This doesn't really have anything at all to do with CK2 modding and would've been more appropriately posted in the Off-Topic forum.
I'd recommend Victoria II; after CK2 it's my favourite of the Paradox Clauswitz games.

 

[MyNameIsOmali]

jeez didn't realize i was still in modding okay someone delete this / move please

 

[liamgamer55]

Victoria 2 and eu3 are great as well. Eu3 is getting a bit dated (gameplay wise if that's even possible) but it's extremely good when you play it with the magni mundi mod and a unique game in it's own worth with that that stands up to v2 (with xp) and ck2.

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

jeez didn't realize i was still in modding okay someone delete this / move please

Done

If you like CK2 more then HoI3, then I would suggest EU3, after CK2 it is the best game by Paradox IMHO.

 

[nimrod123]

Done

If you like CK2 more then HoI3, then I would suggest EU3, after CK2 it is the best game by Paradox IMHO.

its certainly one of the more simple, and is arguably the logical next step. (i see it as CK2->EU3->VIC2->HOI3)

i persoanlly came in the other way HOI3 down

 

[Ciaphas Cain]

HOI3 is the weirdest of the bunch. I really like it but I can see why people have problems with it. Get EU3, it's full of wacky BS on a global scale. My favorite Paradox game.

 

[liamgamer55]

I'd say that eu3 and HOI3 are the more mechanics driven, and that ck2 and v2 are the more emotions/atmosphere driven games so v2 seems like the next logical step. That said the big 4 are all great games, couldn't get into hoi3 that much myself but I could tell it's a really great game with awesome mechanics and a great AI, I'll try it a bit more some day. Don't forget when playing each game to try out the 1 or more major mods for it. There's definitely at least one major mod for the big 4 (if you guys don't mind me naming them, ck2+, balsengang & GOT are my ck2 picks, although I haven't played half of them, Ice seems to be the one for HOI3, A pop divided (APD) is the one for vichy, and magni mundi is the one for eu3). Obviously different people are going to have different picks for mods, but definitely try out the major mod(s) for each game before fully giving up on it gameplay/fun wise.

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

If you like the character aspect of CK2 then Rome or Sengkoku would be good choices, since they also involve characters, much more then the other games.

 

[ZechsMerquise73]

Victoria II is a very good, complex game. The expansion pulls it together, so you're want that, too. Its kind of a combination of EU3 and HOI, with less emphasis on painting the map, and more to do with state progress. Its kind of hard to explain, but its the second most fleshed out PI game besides CK2.

EU3 is a really good game, but sort of a 'paint the map' version of CK2. However, there are some features CK2 doesn't have, such as: colonization, whole world map, more meaning and feeling to cultures. State progress rather than character progress. There are some cool things, too, like hordes. But the game has annoying things, like realm stability and rebellions. Imagine a roguelike where the bad things that happen don't enrich the story, can't kill you, and are simply irritating. There's also a lot of downtime in the way of war exhuastion, which means a few years of sitting around twittling your thumbs, playing with diplomacy and city building. I think its gotten better in that reard since the last expansion, though.

 

[Ipsissimus]

I'd recommend Victoria II but with the expansion.

 

[Ahaz Flagg]

Hands down my all time favorite game is EU3. I call it a strat game on roids.

 

[OrdepNM]

Vic II + Expansion + PDM mod remains #1 in games I played the longest, so personally id say give that a go, the game (and mod) strikes a great middle group between random AI development and be believable game progression.

 

[salvettic]

I agree with CKII->EU3->VIC2->HOI3

I'm not so sure about HOI3, the timeline is quite reduced compared to the other games... CKII is a bit simpler than EU3 that is a bit simpler than VIC2 in my opinion, so you're playing them in the right order.

You forget about the fact that EU3 looks a bit dated the second time you start the game... or you could wait to EU4, but with winter sales coming to Steam and other sites you could get EU3 Chronicles at half price almost certainly.

 

[unmerged(26764)]

I'd say EU3.

Vic II is great for a certain type of person. It's very complicated. The interface is tough to get a handle on. There are features that are really difficult for a newish player to even understand. And there are a ton of design decisions that are wonky and frustrating, that an experienced player who loves the game can work around, but that a less committed player is going to curse. Sometimes I feel like I have to fight with the game to make it work right. Now, I still think it's a great game but it's not as polished as CK2 or EU3.

If you're a details-oriented person you might like Vic 2 better once you get to understand it. But if you're more of a "normal" you're going to like EU3 much better.

 

[Cymsdale]

You should obviously buy all the Paradox games, to support them making even more games!

CK2 is definitely much easier to get into than the others, but I think it's worth it to push forward with the others. With Paradox games, you get out of them what you put into them, if that makes any sense.

I love EU3 and Vic 2, it's hard for me to recommend one over the other, but they are quite different games, it depends on what I'm in the mood for.

HOI3 I'm the weakest on and makes me feel dumb, but I dive deeper into it once I find the time.

 

[Sarius1997]

Hmm, try VicII, it´s my favorite of all the big four, it can be hard to understand, but if you´ve learned it, there is no better game. (espacially with APD)

 

[unmerged(535200)]

VicII is the best vote from me too

 

[KPJ]

I'd say Victoria 2, but only if you have a history/politics/economics interest. It's a lot more modern, with POPs (Portion of Population) dictating the game more than characters (there are very few characters, just some generals get names, and some politicians are mentioned in events).

It is a really great economic and political simulation, in my experience, more than it is a great wargame. War is fun in Victoria 2, but it's the economics and politics that always bring me back.

EU3 is also wonderful, I still play occasionally the vanilla with all expansions, and really enjoy myself. I find EU3 is probably easier to understand than Victoria 2 (but I learned EU first). EU3 has a number of, what I would call mini-games, inside it. So you're playing the trade game, the Curia game (for Catholics), the war game, the technology game, etc., and they all come together to get your result. Some countries focus more on certain parts of the game than others (i.e. if you play Oman, focus on trade; if you play Persia, focus on war). They all come together very nicely.

I'd prefer Victoria 2, because I like my games super-complicated; I like to manage the various aspects of Victoria 2 more than I do EU3. That said, EU3 might be the next best step after Crusader Kings 2, because of the time-frame, the simplicity, etc. I think EU3 is easier to wrap your head around.

 

[PureBeef]

EUIII and MB:Warband are two great games that you can pour tons of hours into.