Best Starting Nation

[Sckalthor]

Hello, I am new to the game and the paradox series, first of all I want to say that is a very good game, rich in history and culture and super addictive, with a modern and simple interface very easy to learn and remember things than the other previous titles, because my problem is the mechanics of the game itself, I restarted several times the campaigns with Munster and Bohemia because I was not able to expand and my vassals went to war with me or because I did not choose the nation well, then I ask what is the best nation for beginners if you want to say some tips are free!

[an entire Roman legion]

Originally posted by Sckalthor:

What is steamrolled?

to get destroyed in little time with practically zero resistance

[Sckalthor]

omg that's me all the time everyime i tried to hold my kingdom/duchy

[Dora]

to follow up with the county idea, absolutely yes. I recommend starting in 1066 in Sardinia (the county at the very southern tip of the island). You start with a literal gold mine and have the ability to learn the ins and outs of the game from a good safety net. From there, it's easy to conquer the rest of your island (Sardinia) and form a duchy. From there I like to swear fealty to the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) so you can learn more about court politics/factions from inside the safety net of the empire. You're protected but the HRE can become so fractured that it's easy to split away or politic your way into more power from within. Either way, once a vassal of the HRE you can easily conquer Corsica and form a STRONG ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ kingdom within the empire.

[Dora]

Originally posted by Dora:

to follow up with the county idea, absolutely yes. I recommend starting in 1066 in Sardinia (the county at the very southern tip of the island). You start with a literal gold mine and have the ability to learn the ins and outs of the game from a good safety net. From there, it's easy to conquer the rest of your island (Sardinia) and form a duchy. From there I like to swear fealty to the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) so you can learn more about court politics/factions from inside the safety net of the empire. You're protected but the HRE can become so fractured that it's easy to split away or politic your way into more power from within. Either way, once a vassal of the HRE you can easily conquer Corsica and form a STRONG ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ kingdom within the empire.

I think this would be more geared towards a custom lord or lady (I honestly haven't done it with a vanilla lord). Make sure to marry into good alliances and you are set for a great run. By far my favorite start in the game.

[dwarfpcfan]

I second Sardaigna and Corsica kingdom is a great starting kingdom even if the native culture it makes huge chunks of money for it's size and you can spring board into total control of the mediterranean with a special decision

[Sckalthor]

What about Apulia?

[Zednaught]

Originally posted by Sckalthor:

What about Apulia?

I've always thought that was the best start for new players. You won't get overwhelmed at the start, and you have relatively safe opportunities to expand at the beginning.

[Trifuser]

To learn the game I ended up just starting out in Ireland and forming Ireland until I got the achievement. But England got too strong and my dynasty wasn't married into any big nations yet so I restarted and am doing Iberian struggle as galacia. Just need about 20 more counties to form Hispania, got my dynasty in control of France and the male heir of Bavaria is in a matrilineal marriage with one of my female daughters.

[CrUsHeR]

Originally posted by Sckalthor:

Hello, I am new to the game and the paradox series

That's a fair point. This game takes place around 1000 years before the idea of "Nations" were a thing.

We usually talk about rulers, realms or dynasties in CK3. Or simply "the start".




Quite frankly, the easiest start is with a young custom ruler, example as tribal norse or clan/tribal muslim in a remote area, then snowball to kingdom- and lastly empire size.

Nothing can threaten you in your remote location, like if you start in Iceland then nobody will ever siege your capital during wars. So you technically can not lose as long as you win battles and siege enemy capitals.

Or make a tribal Bedouin/Mashriqi ruler in 867 Ghat, hybridize with some of the Berbers, then you instantly got all innovations to become Clan whenever you want. Perhaps also pick a faith which is hostile to everyone and has no head of faith (Shia in this start date)



Much of the DLC content combined with custom rulers/faiths allow to cheese the mechanics pretty badly. In comparison, the "recommended starts" or any of the large established realms are a complete mess.

Just to give a quick rundown on what makes the small custom starts so easy:


1. Start with a young ruler (16-25yo) who has good genetics and personality, enough time to accumulate currencies during his lifetime, and only have unlanded kids after he is 30+ with a wife of his choosing

(most default starts are the exact opposite, starting married to a terrible wife, with a bunch of older children, possibly hunchbacked and clubfooted, some of them already landed etc)


2. Conquer land, keep as much as you want / can keep, give everything else to lowborns who will be super-happy and too weak to become a problem for decades

(opposed to starting with angry powerful vassals who hate you from day zero for no reason, then revolt at first occasion)


3. All the stuff you conquer is at your disposal, which means easy succession material. Have three sons, create two duchies, succession is safe. Have another son, create another duchy, done.

(unlike the established realms, where all vassal titles already exist and it quickly becomes near-impossible to expand at the required pace)