As of latest update, what's a good start for a newbie (me)?

[Sand]

I've so far played up until about 1500 as both Ottomans and Castile. That Ottoman game was before the 1.35 update, to clarify.

I first tried Castile 1.35, because I hadn't learned that they were no longer considered a good start for new players. I followed a guide and had some success, but there was no way I would've worked out any of that strategy on my own.

I'm trying a game now as Muscovy, not because they're easy but because I simply want to play as them. I'm following a guide because I've already seen it said in several places that their early wars might not be easy for new players. So that's another one that's not good for new players.

So I'm curious: as of 1.35, which country IS a good start for new players? One that's less punishing but also lets people try out everything (or nearly everything) the game has to offer.

[Rialm]

Castille is a really good start for newbies, you can colonize, you have an easy war at the beginning, you even can have a personal union, you are in a easy place, you easily get the institution. I don't know how difficult might be with Domination.

Portugal is the easiest one, but it can be a bit boring because you have to colonize first to get stronger, but hey it can be useful to

edit: if not you could just play 1.34, and then jump to 1.35. they introduce just a couple of QOL, like giving favor simultaneously in 1.35 but, it's not like that the gameplay changed a lot, just some countries. But to understand the basics 1.34 it's a good start.

[sirsven79]

Fellow newbie here. I started playing Castile just after 1.35 released (but not playing with the Domination DLC), and it's been very approachable.

Hasn't gone perfectly, but my goal was to try to form Spain and I've accomplished that (got the PU over Aragon). After that I've just been working through the mission tree to see what else I can do. Managed to get the reunifications over Naples, Austria, and Great Britain, but missed the CB window for Portugal.

Have some of the mechanics worked out at this point, but I'm sure my economy is weaker than it otherwise should be, and my absolutism might be negative (can't even find it across the various menus...maybe I'm missing some of that in DLC?). But for a first run, Castile has been very doable. But maybe something in the Domination DLC itself might alter that.

[Marquoz]

I used to recommend multiple nations for beginners, and Castile and Portugal were two of them. Not any more. Castile has a horrible monarch and a couple early disasters. Portugal is now targeted by Castile a large percentage of the time because of an early mission Castile unlocks. An experienced player can handle these problems, but they're tough for new ones.

I strongly recommend you play the Ottomans again, but go way past 1500. They aren’t the game’s most powerful nation, but they are the easiest of the great powers to learn with. They have a simple start and are most forgiving of the mistakes a new player is going to make. They have no dangerous immediate neighbors, the ability to almost ignore religion, a strong ruler, a solid economy and military, and many options.

[venular27114]

france has a few early challenges but after you beat them you can blob out

[SeraphLance]

Honestly there aren't any great starters as mission trees have made nations that were conventionally simple like portugal and castile into really ambitious starts that often have to attack people stronger than them. Then you have stuff like the ottomans, who are usually fighting weaker foes but have tons of specialized mechanics.

My advice: just play a major power and roll with it. Probably don't play to the end. When you decide to roll a new game, choose a different major power.

[bri]

The truth on this is the same as it's been since the release of the game: the Ottomans are far and away the most noob-friendly nation in the game.

[SuperCrumpets]

England is always good, being on an island makes it very easy to defend and you start rich with every playstyle being very viable. the only downside is you have to deal with war of the roses and the french early on.

[Kapika96]

Originally posted by SuperCrumpets:

England is always good, being on an island makes it very easy to defend and you start rich with every playstyle being very viable. the only downside is you have to deal with war of the roses and the french early on.

Yep, England is definitely a good beginner nation, particularly if you just give up on your continental possessions. Let France have them and focus on conquering Scotland, Ireland, the Americas, Africa and Asia instead.

[bri]

Originally posted by Kapika96:

Originally posted by SuperCrumpets:

England is always good, being on an island makes it very easy to defend and you start rich with every playstyle being very viable. the only downside is you have to deal with war of the roses and the french early on.

Yep, England is definitely a good beginner nation, particularly if you just give up on your continental possessions. Let France have them and focus on conquering Scotland, Ireland, the Americas, Africa and Asia instead.

Sell them and use the money to kick start your snowball...