Europe In Ruins Beginner's Guide

This guide introduces new players to Europe In Ruins and walks them through the basic path from installation to their first match: installing through Steam, joining Discord, logging into the Launcher, creating a Company, choosing a Doctrine, building and saving units, and joining or hosting a battle. It explains core EIR concepts like persistent Companies, veterancy, permanent losses, resources, call-ins, starter templates, and post-battle review, with the goal of helping new players get into the game without needing to understand every system immediately.

EIR Beginner's Guide

Welcome to Europe In Ruins! Thanks for checking us out, we're glad to have you.

Europe In Ruins is a persistent warfare mod for Company of Heroes where every battle matters. You build and command your own company across an ongoing campaign. Surviving units gain veterancy, losses are permanent, and every battle leaves its mark.

This guide is meant to help new players install EIR, create their first Company, and get into their first battle.

1. Install Europe In Ruins

Europe In Ruins is available free on Steam.

Steam page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/664260/Company_of_Heroes_Europe_in_Ruins/

Important: Europe In Ruins is a game modification for Company of Heroes. A copy of Company of Heroes must be installed on Steam for Europe In Ruins to function.

After installing, launch Europe In Ruins from Steam.

2. Join the Discord

The official Discord is the fastest way to find games, ask questions, get technical support, and connect with the community.

Official EIR Discord server:
https://discord.com/invite/J96DekM

Most games are organized through Discord and the Launcher. If you are new, join the Discord and say that you are new. Players are usually happy to help you get started.

Activity is usually strongest during US and EU hours.

3. Log in through the Launcher

When you open Europe In Ruins, the Launcher will ask you to log in through Steam.

Once logged in, you can create and manage your Companies, choose doctrines, build your army, join battles, and view other EIR systems.

The Launcher is the main hub for Europe In Ruins.

4. Create your first Company

In EIR, you do not play with a generic army. You build your own persistent Company.

A Company is made up of:

• units
  
• upgrades
  
• off-map abilities
  
• doctrine choices
  
• veteran units that survive from battle to battle

When creating your first Company, we strongly recommend using a starter template if one is available.

A starter template gives you a functional Company so you can start learning the game without needing to understand every system immediately.

Do not worry about building a perfect Company right away. Your first goal is to get into a battle, learn the basic flow, and then adjust your Company afterward.

5. Choose a Doctrine

Each Company has a Doctrine. Your Doctrine determines what special units, upgrades, abilities, and bonuses your Company can unlock.

Doctrine choices help shape how your Company plays. Some unlocks are passive bonuses, while others unlock units, equipment, or off-map abilities that can later be purchased on the Company page.

You can experiment with doctrine unlocks before saving them. If you are unsure what to pick, ask in Discord or use a starter template.

6. Build and save your Company

The Company page is where you buy units, upgrades, and off-map abilities using your available resources:

• Manpower
  
• Munitions
  
• Fuel

Units are organized into platoon call-ins. These are the groups of units you can deploy during a battle.

Your first call-in is usually your most important one. It is commonly built around 25 Population, giving you a strong opening force at the start of a battle.

After that, later call-ins are usually smaller and more specialized.

When you are finished editing your Company, make sure to click Save Company before leaving the page or joining a battle.

7. Join or create a battle

Use the Battle page to find games, host games, chat with players, and see who is online.

To join a battle:

1. Select a battle from the Battle Browser
2. Click Join Battle
3. Wait for teams to be ready
4. Click Ready for Supplies
5. Click Ready To Launch
6. Launch into Company of Heroes when the battle is ready
7. Host or join the corresponding battle from the in-game Multiplayer tab, just like in Company of Heroes

If no suitable battle is available, you can create one yourself.

If you are new, it is usually easiest to join an existing game or host a co-op/AI battle to learn the ropes.

8. Start with co-op/AI or a beginner-friendly match

Europe In Ruins supports both PvP multiplayer and PvE co-op/AI battles.

For many new players, co-op/AI is the easiest way to learn:

• the Launcher flow
  
• Company building
  
• call-ins
  
• unit preservation
  
• permanent losses
  
• veterancy
  
• post-battle recovery

You can also ask in Discord for a beginner-friendly PvP game or for a veteran player to help guide your first match.

Your first battle does not need to be perfect. The goal is to understand how EIR works.

9. Preserve your units

One of the most important parts of EIR is unit persistence.

Units that survive battles can gain veterancy and become stronger over time. Units that are destroyed may be permanently lost.

This does not mean you should be afraid to fight. Losses are part of the game. But preserving important units, retreating when needed, and learning when to commit or pull back are key parts of EIR.

Every battle matters because your Company carries the consequences forward.

10. After your first battle

After your first battle, return to the Launcher and review your Company.

Check:

• which units survived
  
• which units gained veterancy
  
• which units were lost
  
• whether your call-ins worked well
  
• whether you need more infantry, anti-tank, support, or vehicles

If you are unsure what to change, ask in Discord. Posting your Company or describing what happened in the match can help other players give useful advice.

The first match teaches the basics. The second match is where EIR usually starts to click.

11. Useful resources

Official website:
https://www.europeinruins.com/

Official Discord:
https://discord.com/invite/J96DekM

Twitch:
https://www.twitch.tv/EuropeInRuinsCOH

Steam page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/664260/Company_of_Heroes_Europe_in_Ruins/

Video tutorials on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTMwLnSohLQ&list=PLwWL1aczBCPkY10r-uDbQd-AJnSiljBoN&pp=iAQB

Quick Start Summary

• Install Europe In Ruins through Steam
  
• Join the official Discord
  
• Create a Company using a starter template
  
• Save your Company
  
• Join or host a battle
  
• Start with co-op/AI or a beginner-friendly match
  
• Review your Company after the battle
  
• Play again and keep improving your Company

Europe In Ruins is deep, persistent, and different from standard Company of Heroes. You do not need to master everything before your first battle.

Start with a functional Company, ask questions, preserve your units when you can, and keep playing.
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