Preparing for HOIIV (what game to start with)

[Elygion]

I've had my eye on paradox games for awhile. I've briefly played around with them and was, of course, overwhelmed. I am pumped for HOIIV and cant wait. I want to prepare and try and get my feet under me with paradox, so when the game comes out I can alteast have some idea whats going. I'm basically looking for a recommendation on what paradox game I should learn now in preparation.

EUIV looks like it might be the most similar (of course, we cant know until HOIIV comes out)
Darkest Hour, since its WWII
HOIIII (this is the one that I've briefly tried, the micromanagement killed me)
CK2

 

[Mobsterman120]

Start with EUIV, it's the most newbie friendly. Do not in any case start with HOI3 as you will find yourself hating HOI3 and it may leave a bad taste in your mouth. DH is pretty good but I still recommend EU4 due to it being more current.

(I love HOI3 but its hard to start out with.)

 

[seattle]

I'd start with Vicky 2, the best Paradox game of all. Very beginner-friendly and the timeline is perfect to prepare for HoI 4. You start right after Napoleon and end after WW1.

 

[Zaku]

EU4 is completely different from HOI4.
It's a great game, but you won't learn the ropes of HOI4 by playing with EU4.
I think you need to read the developer diaries to get the basics, and play the tutorial when the game is out. Maybe watch a few youtube vids when they become available. I think someone from the Devs mentioned that they will start a single player campaign on twitch/youtube soon. That may help understand the game a bit better.

 

[bengast]

EU4 is completely different from HOI4.
It's a great game, but you won't learn the ropes of HOI4 by playing with EU4.
I think you need to read the developer diaries to get the basics, and play the tutorial when the game is out. Maybe watch a few youtube vids when they become available. I think someone from the Devs mentioned that they will start a single player campaign on twitch/youtube soon. That may help understand the game a bit better.

Tomorrow on Paradox twitch channel they will stream a WWW in sp

 

[Sun_Killer]

Start with EUIV, it's the most newbie friendly. Do not in any case start with HOI3 as you will find yourself hating HOI3 and it may leave a bad taste in your mouth. DH is pretty good but I still recommend EU4 due to it being more current.

(I love HOI3 but its hard to start out with.)

I started with HoI3 and i am hooked to paradox games ever since. Moved from hoi3 to EUIV than little CK2 and Vicky2. Still like HoI3 the best.

 

[Elygion]

Even though EU4 is different, I wonder if it will help me get into the grand strategy concept. I've more use to Civ games....alot more simple.

What I found difficult in the brief time I played, was starting with so much already happening. With Civs you start with nothing and build you're way up. I seems with grand strategy stuff is already happening and getting acclimated seemed daunting.

 

[Goodis]

Just rewatch WWW and take notes/try to understand divions and different combinations.

 

[Sun_Killer]

Even though EU4 is different, I wonder if it will help me get into the grand strategy concept. I've more use to Civ games....alot more simple.

What I found difficult in the brief time I played, was starting with so much already happening. With Civs you start with nothing and build you're way up. I seems with grand strategy stuff is already happening and getting acclimated seemed daunting.

If you have a problem with happening too much too early, then HoI3 is still your best bet. If you play as germany(that is how i started and still play must rounds of HoI3) you have until late 1939 from 1936 to prepare your country. Where you from? maybe I can give you an introduction.

 

[Number 7]

if you try HOI3, you can make use of heavy AI automisation in areas. For example its quite possible to have large parts of your army be under direct AI control with no input from you required after clicking a few key objectives and choosing their stance

 

[Denkt]

Read something like the arts of war over and over again. It should more or less say how you should do in any situation the game will put you through.

 

[Jamey]

I'd start with Vicky 2, the best Paradox game of all. Very beginner-friendly and the timeline is perfect to prepare for HoI 4. You start right after Napoleon and end after WW1.

I love V2, it's my favorite Paradox game, but I cannot agree at all with "beginner friendly".

 

[Ultimate_Hobo]

Id recommend EU4. Id argue its their most 'gamey' game and is very transparent with a comprehensive wiki. Furthermore, its newer and its playerbase is larger than Vicky 2 or HoI3 making it easier to find a multiplayer game and a friendly face to teach you. However, i would say CK2 is an easier game and also has these benefits.

While i love Vicky 2 i wouldn't recommend it as a first paradox game. Understanding pops and factories can be a lot to get your head around and then after that you have the combat system which is just a more complicated version of EU4's.

HoI3 was my most recent paradox game and, as much as i love it, its age shows more than Vicky 2's. Lots of things aren't explained very well in HoI3 at all and it has certain abstractions which have always bothered me. Not to mention the fact that there are a lot of units to control and giving control of them to the AI is just unacceptable.

One thing worth mentioning, however, would be that combat is quite different in HoI3 to EU4, CK2 or Vicky 2 and HoI4s seems to be in the same vein. As a result, it might be worth dipping your feet into HoI3 after learning the ropes with another game just to learn the combat. Playing one the the scenarios would probably be good for this.

 

[Elygion]

How does darkest hour stand up as a beginner game?

 

[TiberiusfromSWG]

personally i would start with hoi3. for me learning how to give the ai all the tools it needs to defeat the soviet ai in a year with out bogging down on supply issues. that means playing with division compositions, and doctrines, until you find what works.

the other games mentioned are all fun. i started with hoi3. and then bought all of the others

 

[Evan05]

The best way to learn how to play a Paradox game is a combination of doing the tutorial, looking at guides/helpful videos, and just messing around having no clue what you're doing until you understand what you're doing.