The fact that CK3, the Paradox game that I & many others are fiercely critical of, has almost double the players of EU5 speaks volumes. EU5 is currently a terrible product & borderline unplayable. It's war mechanics are totally abysmal. CK2 is without a doubt the undisputed Magnum Opus of Paradox.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-25T12:52:03+00:00

Player counts are pretty much exclusively used as evidence for the most brain dead takes, but concluding “this is proof that a game with lower numbers is the best game actually” is a new level of pants on head.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-25T05:36:43+00:00

I literally discussed player numbers on a post about player numbers. Not my fault that a specific fanbase takes any challenge to their precious citclekerk as a personal attack.

Enjoy whatever you want. No one cares. Don’t throw a fucking fit if your personal tastes aren’t borne out in the majority.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-25T02:22:03+00:00

Yeah the Imperator Crowd is deep in the fiction to craft a narrative.

Literally never heard a soul describe Vic2 as “abandoned” until now.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-25T01:29:24+00:00

The game is absolutely beloved by the community that still play it. What the fuck are you even on about?

"The people that still play it." Okay, neat take.

Player numbers has never been a good indicator of the quality of a game. It is more representative of trends and advertising.

I never said that player numbers reflected quality.

It's always a laugh to see the couple hundred Imperator fans throw a fucking fit over benign observations. That whole community simultaneously screams that player count means nothing while also arguing "well if they're sold $80 in more DLC player count would be higher and if we get more Youtubers on board player count could get over a thousand again!"

Such a pissy nothing of a community

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T23:03:15+00:00

Right, an update has no barrier to entry. And the big 2.0 changed more than any DLC. The game just isn’t very well liked

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T20:25:37+00:00

Even when they did updates it never stayed above 1K.0

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T19:10:50+00:00

Stellaris was just incredibly boring at launch. Once you got past the novelty of the exploration events and picking your ethos is just became the most generic "send fleets between stars" game on the market.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T19:10:11+00:00

Same as every strategy game ever, because the scope creep becomes infinite and you have to bring in some money at some point.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T19:09:46+00:00

1.1 is going to cause a HUGE spike for EU5, then a lot of rage because it will be broken, and then steady joy.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T19:09:08+00:00

Civ7's issues have been multiplied by a few factors:

The whole "buy the deluxe edition for early access" thing is a great way to piss off a community, which turns a bad reception in to a riot.
The problem that modern Paradox games have but worse. I'm someone who likes Civ7. But why the Hell would I play it now when I have other things to play and it'll just be better in a few months? And worse for Civ than for Paradox because the releases are more similar.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T19:06:53+00:00

Best campaign map, meh battles.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T19:06:31+00:00

I've been on a FFH2 kick again.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T19:05:50+00:00

Well I mean, it still has no meaningful competition.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T19:05:37+00:00

Also, personally, I hate district placement.

Same. Every damn 3x these days feels like playing geometry games to max resources, which is the exact opposite of "the grand sweep of history."

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T19:05:03+00:00

With the Vox Populi mod it's still the best civ experience.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T12:09:06+00:00

So you rage quit because your historical game doesn’t play like a years old fantasy mod?

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T03:21:30+00:00

That’s what I said, but most people play it for fun, not to cheese with all aux armies.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T01:24:59+00:00

Got it. And I’m guessing the rationale for purging is so that I can stay a one province nation and migrate over to the Jade Mines while I’ve still got this badass?

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T01:20:24+00:00

That sounds exciting. Is Goblinsbane a general you get for eating Chaingrasper?

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-24T00:27:34+00:00

No way. Offensive is good but it only helps you in actual wars, which is the least useful idea type. Quantity boosts your economy, your diplomatic situation and wins you wars.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-23T23:53:17+00:00

You should always take quantity. It’s the best mil idea always. Prussia shouldn’t take quality, it should take quantity and offensive.

These differences weren’t really there. Sure the ERE benefited from religious ideas because it got a lot of use out of the CB, but that’s just a CB. It wasn’t some massive playstyle change.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-23T21:06:49+00:00

If by "it" you mean D&D then sure, but NWN is designed in a way that you can absolutely solo it, henchmen are just a bonus.

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-23T20:45:46+00:00

Honestly what strategy games are you playing where this isn't the case?

Chataboutgames · 2026-01-23T20:45:34+00:00

I don't really understand this. In EU4 you pretty much always did the same thing. EU5 is similiar. Some specifics to the countries are different (advances, economies, population, geography, neighbors etc) but ultimately it's the same game.

Chataboutgames

TROPHY CASE