Basic Questions

[CatKnight]

Hey folks

Today I took advantage of the gamersgate special and (re)bought EU1. The game play's really similar to EU2, which certainly made relearning the game easier.

Some basic questions as I get started:


1. Default setting is normal/weakling. I've noticed at weaklilng the AI seems to keep up in the tech and fortify race alright, but so far there haven't been many wars - certainly nothing earth shattering. Should this be normal for balanced play?

2. Is there any way in EU1 to check your BB level?

3. Is there an army support limit?

4. Other than continually threatening war and looking at how much stability it'll cost, is there any indicator of when a truce will expire?

5. So far I'm 30 years in and haven't seen many (if any) historical events. I know the option's turned on - I checked. Did EU1 vanilla just not have that many? I'm getting fantasy events fine.

6. Can you forcevassalize?

 

[Nikolai II]

Nice to see people walking down the ladder as well. In some few ways EU1 is actually a superior game to EU2.

And now on to your questions:

1. Weakling is just a name for the AI aggression level. Low levels of aggression will make the AI less inclined to start wars it is not sure it can win, and thus mean more time spent at peace teching up, or in victorious wars reaping the spoils that come with such. Therefore high ratings of aggression will make the AI less likely to keep up, while low levels will generally make for a more challenging game, both in EU1 and EU2.

2. Only in the Save Game file, not in the game interface. Badboy was added during the post-release development process of EU1 as a means to make a check against inhumanly growing human-led empires.

3. Yes, but it matters much less than in EU2, because I seem to recall the penalties being considerably less stiff for overshooting. (At least I think there were.. maybe I should make that purchase now and get rolling again )

4. You can use the diplomatic screen and look for the cute little "truce" icon, you can check your diplomatic standing with the nation and see if you are still listed as having truce, or you could write down the date you make the peace treaty and then remember that a truce always lasts for exactly five years.

5. EU1 had no historical events at all, only random events. (And then a means to sometimes fire off random events at historical moments in time, but you wouldn't really notice the difference)

6. No.

 

[unmerged(11600)]

4. You can use the diplomatic screen and look for the cute little "truce" icon, you can check your diplomatic standing with the nation and see if you are still listed as having truce, or you could write down the date you make the peace treaty and then remember that a truce always lasts for exactly five years.

5. EU1 had no historical events at all, only random events. (And then a means to sometimes fire off random events at historical moments in time, but you wouldn't really notice the difference).

4. Hm, never noticed a "truce" icon; must check next time. But, if you're Trade tech is high enough, look to see if you can impose an embargo (unless you already have one with them). If the five years aren't up yet, it will be greyed out.

5. Yes it does: Treaty of Tordiselis, Reformation, Jean Calvin, Council of Trent, Edicts of Tolerance, and Closure of Japan. But that's it.

-Pat

 

[Nikolai II]

5. Ah, yeah forgot about those. (And didn't know about closure of Japan)

 

[wryun]

Hmm... any way to split small navies? I accidentally merged two explorers, and then couldn't separate the leaders.

 

[jonti-h]

Hmm... any way to split small navies? I accidentally merged two explorers, and then couldn't separate the leaders.

I haven't tested it, but what if you made the fleet a bit bigger, then split it? The leader might reappear then?

 

[Nikolai II]

Splitting navies used to work, so it should work that way, then you can select both and reorganize them to the preferred size once more.

 

[jonti-h]

Splitting navies used to work, so it should work that way, then you can select both and reorganize them to the preferred size once more.

Is there a minimum size of a navy before you can split it maybe?
I am sure I have split larger navies in EU1.

 

[wryun]

I managed to split larger navies later, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't split the size 6 navy. Since I'm now playing Hungary, mildly annoying to test this at the moment.

Actually, how exactly does the war system work? Is it _only_ based on occupying provinces? It seems to be, since I got no willingness to deal for destroying small Ottoman armies... but this is a very good thing, since in EU2 this is a nasty gamey tactic where players can run rings around the AI.

 

[jonti-h]

Actually, how exactly does the war system work? Is it _only_ based on occupying provinces? It seems to be, since I got no willingness to deal for destroying small Ottoman armies... but this is a very good thing, since in EU2 this is a nasty gamey tactic where players can run rings around the AI.

I believe so - I won loads of battles against the AI in my current England game and I don't think I got any stars for it.

I do think it is a good thing though, much less gamey.

 

[wryun]

Just finished my first game of EU (Hungary - gave up on Spain, colonising hell). It seems you can't split a navy of less than 10; a bit annoying, that.

Anyway, flushed with enthusiasm at finishing the game, I then decided to convert it to Victoria: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?t=221539

 

[Languish]

Just finished my first game of EU (Hungary - gave up on Spain, colonising hell). It seems you can't split a navy of less than 10; a bit annoying, that.

Anyway, flushed with enthusiasm at finishing the game, I then decided to convert it to Victoria: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?t=221539

Always nice to see EU1 being played, i'm biased, but i think it's the better game personally. Can't split a navy of less than 10... seems bizarre, can't say i have tried it - but i thought you could.

It's awesome you are able to convert to vicky... but where is the AAR (for both)?

 

[wryun]

but where is the AAR (for both)?

Ha... you get the short version (VH/Normal):

In an alternate reality far far away, Hungary decided she didn't want to be swallowed by Austria:

So, she aggressively expanded her power against Venice when they (the meanies!) annexed her vassal Ragusa, to prepare for the inevitable wars against the Ottomans. Which weren't long in coming. But, after many years, the upper hand was gained (sort of), and Hungary elected to turn away from her traditional ally Austria to France (who were walking all over people as usual).

This proved an astute move. France kept getting into wars with Austria, Austria was paranoid about France and sent all its armies to fight them (sometimes winning), but meanwhile Hungary was able to nab the territories Austria held outside the HRE. And following more wars against the Ottomans and dramatic industrial expansion, a neat little empire was obtained:

(+ a few colonial holdings, since 2 shipyards finally allowed some colonists)

Meanwhile, in the West, they were really taking this alternate history thing to heart:

(so, that's Scotland whomping England, except for the bit of England in Germany, Navarra in Flanders/Zeeland, and France everywhere)

And then...

 

[unmerged(9599)]

Always nice to see EU1 being played, i'm biased, but i think it's the better game personally. Can't split a navy of less than 10... seems bizarre, can't say i have tried it - but i thought you could.

Never played EU1 myself but I've played EU2 a lot and I think I know why. Its to prevent the AI splitting their fleets to small. In EU2 we are faced with massive naval nations keeping hundreds of tiny 1-2 ship fleets. back then we humans couldn't rely on a small stack of ships meeting and beating all opposition.

What you think? Am I right

 

[wryun]

Nah, I don't think you're right It would be easy to prevent only the AI splitting fleets, and note that you can still reorganise to obtain almost the same effect (just can't separate the leaders).