Imperator as a prequel to CK3 and EU4. Yes, no, wait for a sale?

[Rabblevox]

So, I'm a happy camper with Crusader Kings 3 and Europa Universalis 4. While I'm not a big fan of the Roman Empire, I just learned that I can chain all three games together.

Is it worth it? Specifically is Imperator worth a few hundred hours of my time for essentially a prequel? (I figure Paradox games take 100-200 hours before you even start to "git gud").

And if you DO think it's worth it, which (if any) DLC's are must haves? (Both CK and EU have a few essential DLC's, and a bunch of cosmetic or fluff packs. I want the former, not the latter.

Cheers!

[Cap'n Morgan]

I think it mostly depends on what you want out of the game. If saying "I'm not a big fan of the Roman Empire" translates to not enjoying antiquity, then probably not. If it's specifically a Roman thing, then there are other nations to play.

The game is ultimately a bit of a hybrid of EU4, Vicky 2 and CK2 with a different setting to all of them. If you like the idea of the mechanics of those games each being simplified in various ways, with Imperator having its own unique depth, then you'd probably enjoy playing it enough to make it worthwhile to "chain" into CK3. If you're just concerned with "chaining" though, you've got to remember there's a big gap between I:R and CK3 , so it really makes more sense to do a CK3->EU4->Vicky3->HoI4 chain.

In terms of is it worth it to get the DLC, I bought them all in the bundle when there was an 80% discount on it or something like that (the bundle price point was higher then than it is now). The content is mostly useful for playing specific nations, so if you aren't keen then you may just want to save the cash. If you're buying on sale though, the savings won't be that big by skipping it. I'm happy with my purchase.

[Jean-Maurice Nya]

None of Paradox games are a sequel/prequel of any other.
Each of their historical game is designed separately from others, hence the differences in their game mechanics.
No DLC is a "must have" with Paradox. All their games work fine without DLCs.

The game is as easy as any other Paradox game. You don't need to put hundreds of hours in it to be good. A few dozens are enough if you're carefully reading while playing. None of their game requires any kind of optimization to beat it. So, IR can be worth of your time. Essentially, it's faster paced so there's always things to do without needing to speed up the game. Compared to CK or EU that's a huge improvement, and the pop management offers a lot more strategies to build up your empire socio-economically while it's almost unexistant in other titles. It's not crazy, but no Paradox game competes with city builders on the economic part or traditional RTS on the strategic part, so it's within Paradox's standards. It's more flavory chilling grand strategy games with historical settings. So my guess is you won't enjoy it much if Antic times are not your thing.

[Iskander]

I would first start with trying out 'The Fallen Eagle' mod of CK3, which lets you start in 361 AD. I think that is long enough for a "mega campaign". And if you still want a longer campaign: go for Imperator.

[Rabblevox]

Originally posted by Iskander:

I would first start with trying out 'The Fallen Eagle' mod of CK3, which lets you start in 361 AD. I think that is long enough for a "mega campaign". And if you still want a longer campaign: go for Imperator.

\Thanks! I had not been aware of the "Fallen Eagle" mod. That sounds like a great place to start a possibly year-long marathon. 4th century is a great start point, not post-Roman, but the empire is failing. Sound familiar?

[bigkrazykag]

The game itself is great. I've had problems launching it many times but as long as the game is actually working then there is no problem. lol

[Ax4711]

Imperator complete pack when on sale is a no-brainer to snatch up.

[Preacher]

ck3 yuck

[Rabblevox]

Originally posted by Preacher:

ck3 yuck

Why?

[Clan Bruce-Stewart]

Do not buy this piece of ♥♥♥♥ or Crusader Kings III, both are broken pieces of crap

[SpacePoon]

Originally posted by Rabblevox:

Originally posted by Preacher:

ck3 yuck

Why?

Imperator-boos spend more time white knighting the game on the forums than actually playing it. Hence the low player count.

[Preacher]

Originally posted by SpacePoon:

Originally posted by Rabblevox:

Why?

Imperator-boos spend more time white knighting the game on the forums than actually playing it. Hence the low player count.

I don't even play IR lol, strawman

Originally posted by Rabblevox:

Originally posted by Preacher:

ck3 yuck

Why?

It's such a silly and un-medieval game. From the UI to the gameplay, it's just silly. It feels like it's built for redditors to talk about their 6th nudist cult run and get that precious reddit karma for it. It does not take itself seriously. CK2, with later DLCs fell into this same fate but luckily all the redditor options can be turned off.

[SpacePoon]

Originally posted by Preacher:

I don't even play IR lol

Case in point

[TheGovernator]

Did you ever get it? It's on sale right now for a fair price. If you get the Timeline Extender and Invictus mods you can play to about 476AD, then convert the game to an instance of the CK3 Fallen Eagle mod for uninterrupted mega-campaigns. Super fun. Oh and if you don't like Rome then don't play as Rome, like other PDX games there is content for most nations now with invictus. I'd pay full price for this game tbh it's quite good IF you go in with the understanding that it's a different time period, different mechanics, and it's not supposed to be exactly "EU4 or CK3 but Roman"

[Rabblevox]

Originally posted by TheGovernator:

Did you ever get it? It's on sale right now for a fair price. If you get the Timeline Extender and Invictus mods you can play to about 476AD, then convert the game to an instance of the CK3 Fallen Eagle mod for uninterrupted mega-campaigns. Super fun. Oh and if you don't like Rome then don't play as Rome, like other PDX games there is content for most nations now with invictus. I'd pay full price for this game tbh it's quite good IF you go in with the understanding that it's a different time period, different mechanics, and it's not supposed to be exactly "EU4 or CK3 but Roman"

Yes, I did grab it, just the base game so far. It looks fun. But I'm so far down the rabbit hole of CK3's "strategic soap opera", that my plan for a gaming history tour is paused for a few years. Real years? Game years? IDK. Life is short, even for a strategy gamer.
;)

[SaD-82]

Originally posted by Rabblevox:

Originally posted by Preacher:

ck3 yuck

Why?

Because it's a downgrade to CK2 in nearly every aspect. Leading to a dull, bland and boring husk of a game - in which you can't even start as a crusader king...