Should I get EUIV or Victoria 2?

[just_a_beaver]

I've asked this in the other forum section here: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/euiv-or-vicky-ii.880064/ but sadly, it hasn't gotten toomany replies so I switched to a "more busy" forum for more suggestions.
I really want to get a game for the sale that ends tomorrow, so does anybody have very good reasons as to why I should choose one of these two games?

Firstly:
-The game should have a less steep learning curve
-Gfx isn't too much of an issue.
-I like both time periods, but prefer colonial times more (17-19th century)
- I'd prefer a lot of ideas and such to support your suggestion
-Feel free to suggest other games.

Sorry devs, if this is against the rules! I don't intend to break any, please inform me if not.

Thanks in advance,

Caudillo Franco

 

[loup99]

I would suggest EU4 considering your preferences, even though I personally prefer Victoria 2. Also, there is a CK2 -> EU4 converter.

 

[megaspider01]

Victoria 2 is ALOT cheaper since it's older and only has 2 DLCs.

 

[gnome109]

EU4 to start, more UI friendly and has a more active forum community.

 

[just_a_beaver]

Thank you so much, you guys! I will take these all into consideration.

 

[Oliver Twopence]

So which one did you end up buying?

Victoria II is my personal favourite, but Europa Universalis IV is the game I would recommend.

- EU4 is a living game that receives new content on a regular basis - for better and for worse, it would seem, as I have understood from the rumblings within the community as of late. V2, while great and unique, has quite a few rough edges that will not be ironed out. The economy is flawed, migration is rudimentary, diplomacy is lacking, warfare is uninspiring, etc. - if I allow myself to be a bit harsh, that is.

- EU4 offers more variety. It is not just that the the national ideas system makes countries feel more unique, but the game world is less dominated by the European great powers. While technologically backward, the non-westernized countries in EU4 are all very playable. They have their own quirks and strengths, usually, and you do not even have to westernize to do well as a regional power. Not so much in V2, where westernizing means everything, and where little flavour is given to countries outside of Europe; with some exceptions, of course.

In addition to this, the great power system in V2 means that most things revolve around the 8 leading countries at any point in time, the top spots of which pretty much always include the UK, France, Russia, Austria, Prussia, the Ottoman Empire and the US. These are the countries that matter, and every playthrough is the same in this regard. You do not have situations like in EU4, where in, say, a game as Oman, a relatively obscure empire like the Timurids is very important to you, and what happens in Europe (apart from Ottoman expansion) carries little or no importance. And you do not get into interesting new situations where you have to confront a bloated Korean empire which has eaten its way through most of China.

EU4 is simply money better spent when considering the different experiences you can squeeze out of it. I love V2, and I have played a lot more of it, but as a game it falls short of EU4 - despite the issues I have with the latter.

 

[just_a_beaver]

So which one did you end up buying?

Victoria II is my personal favourite, but Europa Universalis IV is the game I would recommend.

- EU4 is a living game that receives new content on a regular basis - for better and for worse, it would seem, as I have understood from the rumblings within the community as of late. V2, while great and unique, has quite a few rough edges that will not be ironed out. The economy is flawed, migration is rudimentary, diplomacy is lacking, warfare is uninspiring, etc. - if I allow myself to be a bit harsh, that is.

- EU4 offers more variety. It is not just that the the national ideas system makes countries feel more unique, but the game world is less dominated by the European great powers. While technologically backward, the non-westernized countries in EU4 are all very playable. They have their own quirks and strengths, usually, and you do not even have to westernize to do well as a regional power. Not so much in V2, where westernizing means everything, and where little flavour is given to countries outside of Europe; with some exceptions, of course.

In addition to this, the great power system in V2 means that most things revolve around the 8 leading countries at any point in time, the top spots of which pretty much always include the UK, France, Russia, Austria, Prussia, the Ottoman Empire and the US. These are the countries that matter, and every playthrough is the same in this regard. You do not have situations like in EU4, where in, say, a game as Oman, a relatively obscure empire like the Timurids is very important to you, and what happens in Europe (apart from Ottoman expansion) carries little or no importance. And you do not get into interesting new situations where you have to confront a bloated Korean empire which has eaten its way through most of China.

EU4 is simply money better spent when considering the different experiences you can squeeze out of it. I love V2, and I have played a lot more of it, but as a game it falls short of EU4 - despite the issues I have with the latter.

Unfortunately I seemed to have waited too long and a Paypal error messed things up quite a bit, but I think I might get Vicky II (less expensive) for now and then get EUIV when a sale is down the road. Thanks as well for this valuable information of both games, I love the community support of this forum, so nice unlike other games.

EDIT: Might still get EUIV, UI on Vicky is godawful, is that even a reason to complain?

 

[just_a_beaver]

IT'S OFFICIAL:

Europa Universalis 4 has been purchased in mine own flesh! I do thank everyone who took some time from their day to help me with this big decision. Hooray for the Canadian economy tanking!

 

[I Have Low Eyes]

If you like it give Victoria 2 a go, it's similar and set at the height of colonialism. I prefer it personally. It feels like earth not videogameland.

 

[Thrake]

Europa Universalis 4 has been purchased in mine own flesh! I do thank everyone who took some time from their day to help me with this big decision. Hooray for the Canadian economy tanking!

That one is easier to get into IMO, the economic part of vicky is obscure at first.

 

[Melian Erios]

I've asked this in the other forum section here: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/euiv-or-vicky-ii.880064/ but sadly, it hasn't gotten toomany replies so I switched to a "more busy" forum for more suggestions.
I really want to get a game for the sale that ends tomorrow, so does anybody have very good reasons as to why I should choose one of these two games?

Firstly:
-The game should have a less steep learning curve
-Gfx isn't too much of an issue.
-I like both time periods, but prefer colonial times more (17-19th century)
- I'd prefer a lot of ideas and such to support your suggestion
-Feel free to suggest other games.

Sorry devs, if this is against the rules! I don't intend to break any, please inform me if not.

Thanks in advance,

Caudillo Franco

You kind of described by yourself that you want EU4, time period is right, less steep learning curve, if you're coming from CK2 it's probably better to take a smaller step up than a jump across a chasm.

 

[just_a_beaver]

You kind of described by yourself that you want EU4, time period is right, less steep learning curve, if you're coming from CK2 it's probably better to take a smaller step up than a jump across a chasm.

I guess you're right, now that I think of it. But I also like colonial ages as in the Scramble for Africa and I like the Civil war scenario, but ultimately, that's all I would do, whilst I do like the positions of most EUIV countries and how I can ddo some extravagant alt-history with them. I don't think it was too obvious, but I should have made myself a bit more clear.

 

[wolfing]

EU4 is the easiest by far, and there is a sale in wingamestore.com right now that has a 75% discount on the game and lots of the expansions FYI.

 

[delra]

But Vicky is a better game.

 

[Melian Erios]

I guess you're right, now that I think of it. But I also like colonial ages as in the Scramble for Africa and I like the Civil war scenario, but ultimately, that's all I would do, whilst I do like the positions of most EUIV countries and how I can ddo some extravagant alt-history with them. I don't think it was too obvious, but I should have made myself a bit more clear.

A big thing with EU4 is that there are so many more possibilities for what can happen too, there is an extended timeline mod which, whilst not entirely accurate, allows you to play from the height of the Roman Empire to 9999AD and allows Africa to be colonised so you could play in those two periods too!

 

[just_a_beaver]

A big thing with EU4 is that there are so many more possibilities for what can happen too, there is an extended timeline mod which, whilst not entirely accurate, allows you to play from the height of the Roman Empire to 9999AD and allows Africa to be colonised so you could play in those two periods too!

Awesome! Thanks for letting me know. I started a game as Portugal and my economy is slightly in deficit, and my character is under a regency so I can't do much but pray for the best. Do you, or anybody else have any ideas as to how I can progress my tech level to 5 so I can choose an Idea?

 

[wolfing]

Awesome! Thanks for letting me know. I started a game as Portugal and my economy is slightly in deficit, and my character is under a regency so I can't do much but pray for the best. Do you, or anybody else have any ideas as to how I can progress my tech level to 5 so I can choose an Idea?

You may need a specific DLC, but you can focus your points in one of the 3 areas (you can only do it like every 30 years). Basically it adds +2 to what you pick and -1 to the other two, so you can focus on ADM at the beginning of the game.
Also, you may get some missions to conquer territories in North Africa... be careful. If you check the provinces in North Africa, you'll notice they may have a modifier that makes coring them more expensive in ADM points.

 

[GeneralPetrov]

Just a note if you do eventually get Vic 2, the 2 main DLC's are basically mandatory, since the game is so many magnitudes times better with them and pretty much all mods require you to own them. If you do plan on getting EU4 DLC's, I'd recommend Art of War and Common Sense as they generally add the most content. Happy conquering!

 

[just_a_beaver]

Just a note if you do eventually get Vic 2, the 2 main DLC's are basically mandatory, since the game is so many magnitudes times better with them and pretty much all mods require you to own them. If you do plan on getting EU4 DLC's, I'd recommend Art of War and Common Sense as they generally add the most content. Happy conquering!

You may need a specific DLC, but you can focus your points in one of the 3 areas (you can only do it like every 30 years). Basically it adds +2 to what you pick and -1 to the other two, so you can focus on ADM at the beginning of the game.
Also, you may get some missions to conquer territories in North Africa... be careful. If you check the provinces in North Africa, you'll notice they may have a modifier that makes coring them more expensive in ADM points.

Thanks both of you! I didn't have much money so I chose El Dorado DLC, which seems a bit obvious for colonization, imo. I got an event which not only gave me a claim on Tangiers (less coring costs?) but a "Insult" CB as well, I rivaled both Tlemcen and Morocco and Allied with Castille. When I get around to it, I'll send a merchant to the Sevilla trade node and focus on whatever gives me the exploration ideas. Is that a good plan?

 

[GeneralPetrov]

Thanks both of you! I didn't have much money so I chose El Dorado DLC, which seems a bit obvious for colonization, imo. I got an event which not only gave me a claim on Tangiers (less coring costs?) but a "Insult" CB as well, I rivaled both Tlemcen and Morocco and Allied with Castille. When I get around to it, I'll send a merchant to the Sevilla trade node and focus on whatever gives me the exploration ideas. Is that a good plan?

Only thing I might suggest is to instead send that merchant to a node that has arrows pointing to Sevilla (preferably one where you have a decent amount of trade power and the node is fairly rich) and get him to "Transfer trade power". This will make the trade/money flow from that node to Sevilla.

The reason I suggest this as opposed to collecting from your home trade node (Sevilla), is because it's your home trade node and you will always automatically collect trade from there anyway and it's not necessary to have a merchant there at all. The only difference getting him to collect there is that it provides a small bonus to your trade power in Sevilla and subsequently means you'll get a slightly bigger share of trade/gold. Generally however, it's better to get merchants to transfer trade to your node however since that generally tends to be more profitable. Happy trading!