Should a CK2 owner buy EU 4 as well?

[zlatky]

Hello there!


I am the proud owner of CK2, which I consider one of the top-5 games I've ever played so far. Having played around 600 hours, I've come to appreciate its versatility, the strategic thinking and the decisions that we, players, need to take to withstand "the test of time", and - last but not least - its *awesome* modding-community that has created dozens of creative and evolving mods, that have uplifted the game to a whole new level!...

...Now, without having done any "in depth" research, I've recently watched some vids regarding EU4, and I'd like to know from the respective owners of this game WHY would a CK2 owner like me, should also invest in EU 4.

From a quick look, I think that there are many more similarities than differences (I could be totally wrong though, and that's where *you* should chime in ). So is this just a "polished" version of CK2 with a little bit more focus on micro-management? Or is there a lot more to it?

Looking fwd to your replies now then!

 

[stilgarpl]

From a quick look, I think that there are many more similarities than differences (I could be totally wrong though, and that's where *you* should chime in ). So is this just a "polished" version of CK2 with a little bit more focus on micro-management? Or is there a lot more to it?

Looking fwd to your replies now then!

It's a totally different game. The only things that are the same is the map and way you move your troops
Europa Universalis is the best game from Paradox, you should just buy it.

 

[trcanberra]

The converter and free CKII sucked me in. The converter is for me, the free CKII copy for my son so we can play together.

 

[machtharry]

In CK you play as a family. In EU you play as the country.

So the game is completly different. If the thing you like most in CK is the family management you should play the demo first. You could still like EU but i wouldnt say it for sure.
If the thing you like the most is the warfare, building up you holdings or diplomacy you should buy EU instant.

 

[Kurospidey]

OK, from my perspective: they're similar but quite different at the same time. Obviously all Paradox titles are gonna be similar: same map interface, same options (diplomacy, technology, war, etc.).

But if CK2 is your only Paradox experience then you're playing probably a different style from the other games. In the sense than in CK2 all is character/dynasty driven and in my opinion it was the easiest Paradox game I've ever played. You don't need to heavily think about technology or diplomacy strategy. You can decide where you go but it's not gonna be the key to your success. Most of the time you can do world conquest pretty easily (now with the earlier date you even have time to spare). CK2 is so good (and I'm almost 1000 hours in) because of the RPG elements and the character focus. You want your king to have good heirs, gain a clami there through marriage, or marry that beautiful princess, whatever.

But in other Paradox games (I don't know about EU though) your strategy is much more important. You need to decide what technology branch you prefer to research, or what alliances are you gonna seek. Also, a lot of times you can fail (for example in HoI3 you can fail miserably if you take the wrong decision). Of course in the end all games against the AI in the Paradox case tend to be faily easy, but CK2 is the easiest game to manage, the one with the easiest learning curve.

So as an introduction to Paradox, CK2 is a good thing. Now that you probably mastered it if you're interested in grand strategy, then you should definitely check the other titles. Probably your best next step is EUIV as for the user friendly UI, the enhanced tutorials and the clearer design.

 

[I Killed Kenny]

EU IV is THE GAME. even though I have lots of fun with CK2

 

[Gemberkoekje]

I've played EU3, as EU4 isn't - like - released yet, but I'll try to give you an answer.

Firstly, EU and CK2 play rather differently. EU is, in my experience, much harsher on 'aggressive expansion', compared to CK2. CK2 is actually relatively easy, in that you can mostly do what you want, and most other rulers won't bother you most of the time.

CK2 is centered on rulers, on persons. You play a leader, you set up an heir, you teach the heir, or let him be teached, and you have a lot of personal flavor events (e.g. "A mysterious person puts a book in your hands")

EU is centered on countries. While the ruler brings in some expertise (or lack of it) it's more a bonus system rather than really a person to relate to. Your heir is also merely a statistic. Flavor events center around the country, rather than the leader (e.g. "There is a new heresy, will the country support it or oppose it?")

CK2 is more detailed, and centered on European events. CK2 has no exploration at all, and only a small amount of trade, but it really tries to pull you into the crusades and all the other backstabbing of the middle ages.

EU allows you to play around the world, from Japanese daimyos, Mongolian hordes, African tribes, European superpowers to Native American tribes. The tradeoff of this is that some countries will be more detailed than others, with only the more interesting countries having unique ideas and events. However, in EU, naval warfare is possible (and more interesting due to the different ship types), trade is more worked out, and there are possibilities to explore the world and send colonists to the far reaches of the earth.

Finally, CK2 runs from 900 AD to 1500 AD (give or take), while EU4 will run from 1444 AD to 1700-ish or later (i think)

 

[gibbel]

Like stilgarpl said it's a totally diffrent game. If you'll like EUIV depends upon what you liked about CKII. The roleplaying aspect is completely gone but you get colonization and trade for that. The military system is somewhat similar (at least on land). The focus of the game is an entirely diffrent one. The EU series is about empire building. CK is about dynasties. There will be little micro-management in EUIV. The only bit I can think of would be building buildings in every province (an not just in your demense like in CKII). Personally I like the EU series more than the CK series because I find it rather tedious to fight all those internal wars which inevitably happen on CKII once you control multiple king titles and your ruler dies.

 

[Swistaczek]

Should a CK2 owner buy EU 4 as well?

Yes

Europa Universalis is the best game from Paradox, you should just buy it.

I took the liberty of correcting your sentence :

Europa Universalis is the best strategy game in the universe, you must buy it.

Few reasons to buy this great Grand Strategy game :
-great sandbox, you can do whatever you want with your country.
-multiplayer : great people and tons of fun
-moddable, you can change many things and you dont need to know any hardcore programming to do that.
-you can make your inside Napoleon spirit happy and conquer whole world, doesnt matter with who : France,Poland,Ottomans or maybe Cologne.

 

[Werther]

Give a try to EU3 and you'll see . I know a lot of players on this forum who started PDS games with CK2 and who tried EU, Vic or HoI (even Eu: Rome). Now most of them completely understand the big differences between the games, and some of them became masters of these titles.
They should post here to explain their experience of CK2 -> EU3, it should be interessant for you.

 

[Zarine]

Similarity :
- Map and time system
- Basic actions
- Community

Differences :
- Ruler/family focused vs nation focus
- Combat system
- Income system
- Province elements (no more baronies)
- Levies vs standing army
- Envoys in EU4
- Naval battle in EU4
...

It is a different game. Not more polished, not better, not worse... different.
Both game is aiming at representing the system in place during their period the best it can while still being fun.


From my point of view, if what you like in CK2 is the family system, getting a correct wife to inherit something. Then you might not like EU4.
If you like the war strategy part of it, you are likely to find EU4 nice.

Maybe you'll have a change to test the demo before the pre-order is finish to benefit from all the "gifts"... if they ever put a demo out.

 

[tapewormlondon]

I have all of the current big 4 of PDoxs Titles (EU3, Vicky2, HOI3 and CK2) and the two that I feel relate to each other the most and have played beyond any others is EU and CK.

They are both wonderful games but for different reasons. I would imagine if you like CK2 then you cant go far wrong with buying EU4

 

[XRW]

Just buy it. All the cool people are buying it. You do want to be one of the cool people, don't you?

 

[RX2000]

I've played EU3 for a while now, & a WHOLE lot of CK2.

EU4 will of course be more like EU3 than CK2. If you really want to know what EU4 will be like you should try EU3. Just because you like CK2 doesnt necessarily mean you will like EU4. They are pretty different games. You can feel the similarities when you play them (EU3 vs CK2 I mean, since I havent played EU4 yet) but they are fundamentally different games, with different mechanics involved.

If your favorite parts of CK2 are the personal relationships & the intrigue then no, you probably wont like EU4 because those things dont exist there....

 

[MrCimer]

As stated before main difference is in eu you control nation in ck family... I really love eu because I don't need to worry what my family thinks of me (they love me ofc the whole time )... Even my vassals are trying to pretend they don't like me by insulting me but I know deep down in their little hearts they love me Anyway, you should wait for demo so you can see by yourself how the game is played, demo will be out soon and they you can just decide if you want to buy it or not and also get free converter so you can continue building your empire from ck2 (also another upside) and you get free copy of ck2 which you can give to your friend to play the game with you online...

 

[siis]

Yes, buy it.

 

[zlatky]

Τhanks for all your replies - they are much appreciated.

So, from your previous answers I understand that EU 4 is a - somewhat - similar game only because it shares the same engine with CK2, and some other aspects (like the ones Zarine stated previously).

Most of you asked whether I like the plotting / intrigues / etc in CK2 or the battling-stuff. Well, I liked 'em both tbh. I believe the plots, etc., give a nice RP-flavor and complement the "real deal" which are the expansion of our dynasty's territories through warfare.

So, from that perspective I understand that I'll most probably like EU 4. And that I won't be having any serious problems in "getting the hang" of it in general.




Yet some other questions pop in mind now:


Paradox's "policy" concerning CK2 (so far) is that it sticks with the title, but adds frequent DLCs that alter (usually dramatically) the overall game-experience.

What's the deal with EU 4? The company launches a new "EU" every year or so, or what? Do they create DLCs in the meantime (between the launch of the next series) or not?

Finally - and assuming that the modding community is, more or less, the same - is it also "safe" to assume that there is a plethora of good mods "out there" for the EU-series?



P.S.

Just buy it. All the cool people are buying it. You do want to be one of the cool people, don't you?

I'm cooler than winter-time on B-15 iceberg, no worries!

 

[Werther]

The last EU was released 6 years ago, so it's not each year. For EU3 there were no DLC, but it will have DLC for EU4 (like CK2). Before we had a "expansion policy": 4 expansions for EU3 with a lot of new stuff (more than a CK2 DLC).

For the mods you can go to the EU3 section of this forum and you will have some answers.

 

[vodos]

Yet some other questions pop in mind now:


Paradox's "policy" concerning CK2 (so far) is that it sticks with the title, but adds frequent DLCs that alter (usually dramatically) the overall game-experience.

What's the deal with EU 4? The company launches a new "EU" every year or so, or what? Do they create DLCs in the meantime (between the launch of the next series) or not?

Finally - and assuming that the modding community is, more or less, the same - is it also "safe" to assume that there is a plethora of good mods "out there" for the EU-series?

They'll use the same modular DLC system that they pioneered in CK2. EU3 was launched in 2007 so uuh that questions answers itself. Yes to the mods question.

 

[Fishman786]

Paradox's "policy" concerning CK2 (so far) is that it sticks with the title, but adds frequent DLCs that alter (usually dramatically) the overall game-experience.

What's the deal with EU 4? The company launches a new "EU" every year or so, or what? Do they create DLCs in the meantime (between the launch of the next series) or not?

Finally - and assuming that the modding community is, more or less, the same - is it also "safe" to assume that there is a plethora of good mods "out there" for the EU-series?

EU is not relaunched every year, it's quite a long-running franchise. EUIII was released in 2007 I believe? Anyway, the big change is that whilst the previous games used the traditional expansion pack system for additional content, EUIV will use DLC much like the system in CK2.

As for modding, yes you can be certain that there will be tons of great mods (unless it turns out that EUIV really sucks or something and everyone goes back to EUIII), many people actually find developing mods more fun than the game itself.