new to the game. best starting era and nation for a new player? + general tips

[Beerbaronkw]

bought the game awhile ago after completing AU: age of sail but didn't get past ship design. like i said in the title i'd like to know if there is a best era and nation combination for a new player, some tips for the campaign would be nice too.

[cyan027]

1890 USA is a good and easy start so you can get familiar with politic/research/fleet management and some economic concepts without too many people bothering you -- or you have more than enough power to beat them back.

[vanDyck]

USA has the best economic, no colonies to watch over, but you need to live having to divided fleets (atlatic and pacific) and the panama channel comes 1914. But their early hulls arent the best i think.
I would recommend to start in 1890 as the tech base is limited and the pre dreadnought hulls arent so flexible and open to desin.

[jfoytek]

1890 is the best starting date if your new...

And I would also say that the USA is the best nation for a new player to start as because its relatively safe, has a strong economy etc....

[jfoytek]

Originally posted by dmansail:

Originally posted by jfoytek:

1890 is the best starting date if your new...

And I would also say that the USA is the best nation for a new player to start as because its relatively safe, has a strong economy etc....

Yes , but the iniatial fleet you get are just fishing boats !!!

Just design your initial fleet their is no issue here...

[Mobzonk]

1890 USA is a good start. You do not face any threat on land. Fleets are small which means it is unlikely that you will be invaded by sea. USA economy will grow strongly too.

Letting the AI build a fleet will give you more ships than creating your own. I suggest doing this, then refitting the AI designed ships to fix their problems.

[caillou_furtif]

I recommand austria, as you have only one sea to defend and a good starting technology.

For more challenge, you can choose China.

[vanDyck]

Never ever let the AI design your ships (or take command in battle). You are not gonna learn anything, and its not good at it.
Mostly you will get better hulls or bigger size limits for you ships some months after start (and yes 275ts vs 300ts TBs is a bigger difference as you would think), and you are not gonna need a big fleet in the first 5 years of the game mostly if you try to keep your relations to the other nations halfway good...

[hurepoix]

Anyway, no bad choice can make you to loose, so play what you wish.

hints to win at Dreadnought:

1) start the game.

2) play the game.

3) there is no 3.

[phantombandit]

I think the best nation to start off is germany. they have no colonies and all their ports are in one place meaning you only have one front to fight on. You can just doom stack your fleet and away you go.

Also tip, the second you start your game go into finance and max out transport budget. Not only does this improve your economy, but if ever your transport capacity gets below 100%, you are so done.

[hurepoix]

?
No colonies ? Except togo, cameroun, Namibia, Tanganyka, a part of New guinea papua, the Solomons and may beSamoa ? ha And a territory in China also, And I can have forgot some.

[Akrux]

USA or Great Britain in 1890. You don't actually need to start with a navy at all. Save your money and your manpower. Let your max tech research (don't use priorities) get some serious upgrades to the crap tech you start with and then build a navy. Use your political skill to keep the wolves at bay until you have a decent navy. You will have to build your navy slowly because of dockyard constraints which you should be boosting every 24 months. Don't forget to boost cargo transport by the max until you hit 200%.

By 1898 or so you can finally build decent ships that out match the enemy navies that were built with crappy 1890 tech. Pick your opponents carefully and long in advance. It will take multiple wars to eradicate an enemy nation like Spain. One or two wars to crush their navy and take their foreign lands in reparations. Then another war to invade their homelands. If you take every last coastal province they own then the nation is dissolved. When peace is declared between those multiple wars be ready to go to war with another target. Keep your navy busy and your veterans will stomp the enemy.

Good luck have fun.