Tips/Starting nation for Ironman mode

[Bakhan]

Hi Everyone!

I recently hit 100 hours playing EU4, and I feel that I have gotten the hang for the general feel for how the game works, and I have been thinking about moving into Ironman mode to get some achievements, does anyone have any tips for starting your first Ironman mode playthrough, like game tips, or good starting nations? any help would be appreciated!

[Trackstar]

Monarch Points are king. Don't over-expand and don't waste them on cultures and +2 or +3 stability. Wait until -%5 or -10% to tech up, unless you're going to war and need a leg up. Advisors cost money but are worth it. Mothball forts, bring army maintenance to 0 while in peace, as it only takes 3-4 months to get back to 100%. Those extra ducets can buy well needed buildings and advisors. If you are going to develop provinces, specialize them. Cloth, Iron, etc. expenive goods are production and Grain & such are tax/manpower. Only develop if you're near max Monarch Points. Economic/Innovative ideas are great as a 1st idea, unless your a colonizer like Portugal or Castile. Plutocratic ideas are a must if you have a Republic.

[691neil]

Good starting nations (which are straightforward and rich in achievements) are Castile, Portugal and Poland. If you have the common sense dlc then England is a good choice as well.

[BiteNibbleChomp]

My personal favourite nation to play is the Ottomans (kebab!), but Muscowy and the Jurchid nations have both been interesting experiences as well.

[Vetgirig on Linux]

Playing in ironman mode don't make the game harder. So play any nation you like.
There are guides for how to do some achievements both in forums and on youtube if you wanna have hints how to do them. Some achiements you will get playing any nation and others are specific for a nation. So try them out. Most aint too hard to get.

[Von Kronenbourg]

Originally posted by Death Becomes Me:

Playing in ironman mode don't make the game harder. So play any nation you like.
There are guides for how to do some achievements both in forums and on youtube if you wanna have hints how to do them. Some achiements you will get playing any nation and others are specific for a nation. So try them out. Most aint too hard to get.

Since the AI gets a bonus and the player is not allowed to load any savegame while ingame, Yeah sure.... Do you really own EU4 ?

[Bakhan]

Originally posted by Kro:

Originally posted by Death Becomes Me:

Playing in ironman mode don't make the game harder. So play any nation you like.
There are guides for how to do some achievements both in forums and on youtube if you wanna have hints how to do them. Some achiements you will get playing any nation and others are specific for a nation. So try them out. Most aint too hard to get.

Since the AI gets a bonus and the player is not allowed to load any savegame while ingame, Yeah sure.... Do you really own EU4 ?

Actually looking it up, you dont have to allow the AI to get a bonus, but you cant have player bonuses enabled. Only AI or no bonuses allowed in Ironman Mode

[Vetgirig on Linux]

I only play ironman mode.

Not being able to use savegames is not making the game harder by itself. It just means you have to own up to your mistakes and recover or restart from scratch. So don't make mistakes or get very unlucky. But its like in real life - whats done is done - you cant undo and restart.

[uɐɐılʎʇs]

Originally posted by Kro:

Originally posted by Death Becomes Me:

Playing in ironman mode don't make the game harder. So play any nation you like.
There are guides for how to do some achievements both in forums and on youtube if you wanna have hints how to do them. Some achiements you will get playing any nation and others are specific for a nation. So try them out. Most aint too hard to get.

Since the AI gets a bonus and the player is not allowed to load any savegame while ingame, Yeah sure.... Do you really own EU4 ?

They AI dont get any additional bonus in Ironman, unless you turned them off manually yourself in regular mode.
Thats not them getting anything they shouldnt of had before you disabled it.