Major problem with timing in EU!

[unmerged(4891)]

I am a newbie, i just got the game a few days ago. I have played the tutorial, and I have tried the grand campaign. I have a major problem though. I can never plan out my actions. Usually, by 1495 i have declared war with three different nations and ruined my economy. How can i plan out a successful 300 years of government, so i dont burn out my country, but still get plenty of VPs
Thank you for your time

 

[unmerged(1764)]

B.,

You could try a few years of peace? While it may look like it, EU is not really a *war* game. You can certainly play aggressively militaristic, but you have to understand the historical limits of the Balance of Power Age that the game covers and simulates. Diplomacy, colonization, trade and internal improvements are critical aspects of the game.

Play as Russia or Pol-Lith or Spain or Turkey, all of whom have reason and resources to fight plenty. Of course, you need to have peace *sometime*, if only to plan your next war.

Can I suggest a perusal of the historical parts of the game manual, or any good general history of the time? EU has a steep learning curve, so be patient. You will be rewarded with a great game of subtlety and depth.

 

[unmerged(3627)]

Trying to do too much too soon is the trap most new players fall into (I did.)

You can reasonably expect to earn more than half of your total VPs for the campaign, in the last 100 years - so don't worry about a slow start. Avoiding war for at least the first decade is nearly always a good idea, since you can build up your infrastructure and stability. Of course, if you're playing Turkey or Russia, war is more important. Look for nations you have a legitimate cause to go to war against - they're listed on your diplomatic screen. Get into a strategic alliance with nearby friendly nations - they might declare war on somebody, and you can join in for a piece of the action. And so on, and so on.

Generally, don't worry if after 50 years you still don't seem to have achieved much - as long as you haven't actually gone backwards, you'll be okay

 

[unmerged(4629)]

The first Grand Campaign for me was much the same, war with whoever looked at me sideways and hardly anytime of peace as Russia. Now I plan out my wars pretty carefully and have long periods of peace when everyone will leave me alone.

Just as Jl said I was making the same mistake in the begginning and thinking EU was basically a war game. But once you get past that the game has an amazing amount of depth and offers limitless variety.

Don't worry to much as I never finished the first GC I started But it is probably the best way to learn how to play the game, jumping into a GC and playing for a 100 years or so. Good Luck!