Strategy guide for EU3

[Gaute65]

More info about the strategy guide for EU3:

For the first time ever, Paradox Interactive in conjunction with Auran Games is releasing a strategy guide to one of their games, complete with inside tips and tricks that will help players elevate their single and multiplayer games to an entirely new level.

The game in question is Europa Universalis III, a grand strategy PC game that spans over centuries and invites players to test their skills in the areas of diplomacy, trade, exploration and warfare.

The Strategy guide will appeal to many different types of player. History buffs will enjoy the references to actual historical events, strategists will enjoy the graphs and charts outlining the consequences of different decisions and true armchair generals will fare even better on the battlefields using this guide as a base when planning their next moves.

The 100-page Strategy guide touches on all aspects of the game. Here is an excerpt from the Exploration chapter:

Conquistadors are not famous for respecting the territorial integrity of other empires. If they are sent to explore a province, and find it occupied (owned) by another country, the Conquistador will sneak scouts across the border long enough to map the territory, but won’t stay long enough to cause a war! This will map the province for you, but the Conquistador will stay in the province where he started. That’s fine, because it allows him to move to the next spot and try the same thing again!

You’re in a race. If you’re at all free to do so, you will find it beneficial to go look for these far away lands and scout them for sites for colonies. As a European empire, you’ll likely find any native cultures or countries you run into of little opposition, but don’t completely count on this. If you’re from a non-European culture, this may be harder because of the technology penalties imposed upon your culture.

Authored by Ed Hanks, the strategy guide is exclusively included in the Collectors Edition of Europa Universalis III.


Link

 

[Brownbeard]

Its a talent. Turning one sentence of generally known mech into a whole paragraph of semi-cryptic bs. Seriously, has there been a single Paradox game where equal, or at least similar tactics worked for version 1.00 and later versions. I rest my case with Victoria.

 

[BlkbrryTheGreat]

Its a talent. Turning one sentence of generally known mech into a whole paragraph of semi-cryptic bs. Seriously, has there been a single Paradox game where equal, or at least similar tactics worked for version 1.00 and later versions. I rest my case with Victoria.

Hearts of Iron 2.
Doomsday.

At any rate, my prediction is that the strategy guide will be eclipsed by online sources within 2-3 months after the game is released. However I think it will probably be quite useful as a source of information when it is first released, espically for those who are entirely new to the paradox "genre" of strategy gaming; which is hardly suprising- since this is the group of people who are the most likely to buy the strategy guide in the first place.

 

[Xoxxon]

In 50 years it'll be worth mega bucks if it's kept in the original packaging.

 

[Brownbeard]

In 50 years I'll quite likely be dead, considering average male life expectancy and that I dont really lead a very healthy life. I think I'll skip this premium offer.

Anyway, I bet I'll know more about EU3 after 15 minutes of playing than all the 'wisdom' in this manual put together.

 

[Tai-Pan]

In 50 years I'll quite likely be dead, considering average male life expectancy and that I dont really lead a very healthy life. I think I'll skip this premium offer.

Anyway, I bet I'll know more about EU3 after 15 minutes of playing than all the 'wisdom' in this manual put together.

You probably know more than it does already. Nonetheless possibly a interesting read, they always put somecool trick in those manuals.

 

[unmerged(33565)]

"Authored by Ed Hanks, the strategy guide is exclusively included in the Collectors Edition of Europa Universalis III."

Just another reason why I will not be spending the extra money on the "collectors Edition". Some how I feel like I will be getting something for nothing...

 

[unmerged(49083)]

True, but it would be better to get the player to do so, otherwise it destroys the gameplay when you exploit it into oblivion. Anyway, shouldn't paradox just remove an exploit rather than putting it in a manual?!

 

[unmerged(11600)]

True, but it would be better to get the player to do so, otherwise it destroys the gameplay when you exploit it into oblivion. Anyway, shouldn't paradox just remove an exploit rather than putting it in a manual?!

What exploit? Exploration has worked as described in that blurb since the early versions of EU1. The AI is as likely to use it as the player.

-Pat

 

[Brownbeard]

Indeed, thats how game mech worked since EU1, its just generic mumbo jumbo over well known facts. The same stuff that will be written in manual but instead of one sentence describing a feature you get a few paragraphs of semi-cryptic mumbo jumbo trying to convince you that they are diseminating Gods truth about that game.

On the record, I'm neither picking on this specific strategy guide or the author, but strategy guides in general. They are written before the game has even been beta tested fully, may even be somewhat obsolete by the time game goes gold, will definitively become even more obsolete with every game tweak that future patches might provide. Plus I completely fail to understand who they are aimed at. People who might find them useful are the ones dont want to read the manual or dont have experience with the game. If they did not read the manual or have the time/will to play the game I doubt they'll waste too much time on the strategy guide either.

Overall, strategy guides are just another clutter material to try to differentiate collectors edition from regular edition. I personally prefer pocket fluff, brochures and a towel. Since I have absolutely no insight in costs per unit and how much they boost sales, its difficult to say how successful these are. Perhaps I'm too old, perhaps I'm too cheap, but CE release with all the junk they ship with are simply not my thing. The less room it takes, the better.

 

[Johan]

I dunno why you don't have faith in this guide... Its written by one of the most respected writers on this forum, with support from some eu2 strategics legends..

 

[unmerged(49083)]

Johan, just look at the EUII manual! That died before it was relesed ...

i've heard

 

[King of Men]

I'm inclined to agree with Brownbeard. Why waste a whole paragraph explaining bumph about scouts and whatnot, when the sentence "A conquistador can map a province owned by another empire, but will remain in his starting province instead of moving into it" would have done just fine?

 

[General di tuti]

not long till release

 

[unmerged(12367)]

I actually think a well written guide can be nice to read by itself, simply to add more "story" to the game. Writing in "game-mechanicese" takes out too much of the wonder of immersion for my taste. If there is also a new angle or two about playing the game in the guide, I will be quite happy.

 

[unmerged(7537)]

I dunno why you don't have faith in this guide... Its written by one of the most respected writers on this forum, with support from some eu2 strategics legends..

I don't think that's it, honestly.

I just have the feeling that strategy guides are an echo from the past, from a time where patches had to be sent per mail, and people couldn't look up every tiny bit of information on the internet.

 

[unmerged(2456)]

I don't think that's it, honestly.

I just have the feeling that strategy guides are an echo from the past, from a time where patches had to be sent per mail, and people couldn't look up every tiny bit of information on the internet.

Well...not when they have full color maps and detailed statistics, like RPG strategy guides.

Looking at an ASCII rendered text file and a full colored image just isn't the same.

 

[unmerged(2934)]

I have found guides useful on earlier games. I must admit I haven't used one recently, as the growth of the internet community meant sites such as these were more interesting and useful.

I still find them useful when I get out an old game. I've fired up Imperialism II recently while waiting for EU III, and referring back to the guide has been very useful. Today would I spend £20 (or whatever) on a manual rather than just play the game and read the forums. Probably not, but I wouldn't rule it out.

 

[Erispoe]

I dunno why you don't have faith in this guide... Its written by one of the most respected writers on this forum, with support from some eu2 strategics legends..

Will we find a chapter "How to conquer the world with X" ?

 

[ComradeOm]

Looking at an ASCII rendered text file and a full colored image just isn't the same.

It is when you're paying for the difference

I find it ironic that Paradox is pushing this guide. After all, its their forums that have taken player support to a whole new level.