GWJ Plays (Teaches) Europa Universalis IV

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I've had the idea for this Let's Play in my head for awhile, a series to teach the basics on how to play Europa Universalis IV. I even recorded some 4 hours of video which I then deleted because it just didn't feel unique enough. There are no shortage of tutorials and let's play out there, so if I was going to add then I wanted to add something extra to the conversation.

These videos are the result. In them I do go over how to play EUIV as a beginner, but I also try to cover the actual history of the time period the game takes place in to give the game some context.

I'm finding it challenging but rewarding. I'm in no way a historian, and so the vast majority of historical information in these videos is stuff I didn't know last Friday, myself.

Episode 1 -- The Hundred Years War

Episode 2 -- Expelling the English

These videos represent a pretty big undertaking, so please do let me know if this is interesting and if you'd like to see more.

Comments

Woo!

Wow. Way to go sir.

These are awesome!

This is LITERALLY what I've been looking for. Listening to Dan Carlin's Hardcore History has made me want to tackle this game but it's always been pretty daunting. Thanks for this!

Benticore wrote:

This is LITERALLY what I've been looking for. Listening to Dan Carlin's Hardcore History has made me want to tackle this game but it's always been pretty daunting. Thanks for this!

I have also been LITERALLY looking/waiting for just such a video series! (Also, very funny that I just came across the Hardcore History and downloaded a few episodes a week ago).

Thanks, Sean, for taking the time to do this! I've taken a stab at EUIII and just could not get the hang of it no matter how many tutorials I tried watching. They just seemed to take too much for granted and didn't help a person learn anything. Let's hope EUIV takes hold in my brain...(well, once I purchase it anyway)

Right on, Sean. Keep these coming.

Just watched the first episode - this is a fantastic idea, Sean. EU4 does a great job of provoking interest in the history behind the game, and you're hitting that angle perfectly.

Having just started up EU4, I'm definitely interested in more of these. In fact, I will never again watch a Let's Play unless it is accompanied by a history lesson.

I actually played along to these (well, the second one) with a new EUIV game. Very useful, and it does a really nice job of illustrating what everything does in manageable chunks.

Looking forward to seeing more, likely playing some of CK2 after this because I prefer the idea of a family through the ages to a state through the ages but I'm tempted to try EU4 again now.

I like the drip feed of gameplay information. It's just enough to make me want to go play around with the political physics engine both those games seem to be without making me want to understand it all before starting AKA. never play.

Loved the previous two as well.

I also like that they're fairly brief. I can watch the whole thing and interpret it as a chunk.

Elysium wrote:

These videos represent a pretty big undertaking, so please do let me know if this is interesting and if you'd like to see more.

What I think you're saying is that you're not really enjoying EU4 and you need an excuse to play some more. Have I interpreted this correctly?

In all seriousness, loved them. Well done.

Planning to work up the next 2 in a couple of days. Upcoming topics either in this next batch or shortly after --

EUIV --
Diplomacy -- how to win friends and invade people
Curia -- Playing the Papal game
Sieges and Winning Wars

History --
Two John's II (Laying the foundation for Iberean unification)
The Dauphin Louis (eventually Louis XI) rises up against his father -- The Praguerie
The Medieval Period comes to a slow end

I really enjoyed this "GWJ plays" video, and with only 24hrs played(most of that with the game paused)....still learned a lot with the "little" experience Sean has with this game..... THANKS!!!!

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/1kjmqfj.png)

This is the thing that might finally get me to play EUIV - a game which, let's be clear, I picked up on a sale because of you.

So, thank you twice? I guess?

I'm not sure, but it's probably awesome of you to do this.

Elysium wrote:

Planning to work up the next 2 in a couple of days. Upcoming topics either in this next batch or shortly after --

EUIV --
Diplomacy -- how to win friends and invade people
Curia -- Playing the Papal game
Sieges and Winning Wars

History --
Two John's II (Laying the foundation for Iberean unification)
The Dauphin Louis (eventually Louis XI) rises up against his father -- The Praguerie
The Medieval Period comes to a slow end

Boo! Get out of Western Europe! I want to hear more about the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth!

I mean, I am playing as France. Besides it's not like there's a shortage of things in the 15th century alone to talk about in Western Europe -- War of the Roses, Spanish Inquisition, Age of Exploration, the Birth of the Renaissance, Ferdinand & Isabella.

And I'll give you credit for playing as the French rather than as a more Saxon band, but the reason I tend to use the excuse of my ethnic heritage to play as Sweden and Poland is that I'm uncomfortable with just how much more I know about Spain, France and England during this period than I know about anywhere else between 400CE and 1750CE.

You're not wrong, I'm just having one of those "Ariel in her room, dreaming of the unknown" moments.

Some feedback unless I'm going to get lynched.

10% more GWJ plays (kicking English ass) and 10% less history lesson and I think its perfect.

The history and background is good but more help with the tricky game mechanics would really help people pick this game up because otherwise its pretty daunting.

Consider myself a moderate player. Have a campaign at around 1750 as Portugal but got bored trying to quell all my rebellions because I colonized pretty much everything in South America, the Caribbean, Africa and South East Asia.

Certain nuances of the game can be pretty difficult. Signing the wrong alliance that either drags you into a massive 10 country war or not honoring that alliance and pissing off a natural ally can be a simple mistake with huge repercussions.

The trade route system alone I still haven't fully wrapped my head around.

cool

Giving the game another shot due to your videos! Thanks!