I couldn't resist the bright silver box in the toy store. I have perused the Original Europa 1-2 (same), & Hearts of Iron 1-2 (same with different design flaws), & am dinking around with E3.

The following is, or course, my own opinion. The only opinion that counts - is yours. I critiqued HOI 1-2 on the Paradox forum; It was not well received by the knee jerk Fanbois (understandably, as it is their own forum).

E3

I'll get to the point/s.

1. There are almost no Historical events. E3 is played on a map of the world (an ugly dark green & brown map); it is played with the various nations at various starting dates. You choose a nation, & you're off!!!

2. The powers that be at Paradox insist the no Historical events included in E3 is a WAD (working as designed). Translated: "There were weapons of mass destruction there, only none have been found yet." Paradox insists, that they are not - lazy, saving $money by not hiring programmers, or stupid.

The WAD is to enable a free flowing what/ifff type game, where Lichenstein can conquer the world - saays they.

OK! what do I know? I'll give it a try.

Playing on Normal difficulty:

3. I begin as Sweden in 1718. After some years I look up & see that England has inherited Denmark & Norway. Game over! I try again, & France inherits Denmark & Norway. Game over! I dink around with Venice. Bored, I change nations & dink around as Portugal - 1492. After I colonize most of North & South America, South Africa, & some of Asia. Do I need a verb? Bored, I go back to Sweden 1718.

I have some fun. Sweden begins with almost no army, but with many enemies. I get out of trouble with Russia by ceding a couple of provinces. I smash Denmark-Norway, take a province or 2, get peace, begin to develop, have good income, colonize the Mosquito Coast, & & & & - I fooled you; England inherited the Netherlands, not Norway.

4. Big nations form blobs by taking over tiny nations, but they do not war on each other.

5. E3 appears to have been released - only partially programmed. Countries have few historical events after the original scenario setup (where they begin with some historical advisers & Generals/leaders). After 50 years of game time ( & no historical events/parameters/few leaders) the nations lose their individuality & E3 becomes the biggest bore of all the Paradox efforts.

The nations, depending on size, field the same armies, the same navies, weak brand name leaders; They all blend into one another.

OK! I am not complaining about E3, or the $$$ I spent on it. I am independently wealthy. I get some fun examining different PC games. Sometimes there is fun to be had in dinking around. I don't deny it. To those who enjoy E3 as is, dog bless you!

Here goes!

To fashion alternate historical results that mean something in game terms, one needs clear parameters. A quick glance at a previous Paradox effort is in order. In HOI2, WW2 Italy could easily produce Panzer divisions & Jet planes. Italy could easily kick England's butt - because the research was the same for all nations. The US could produce a tank as good as the Panther. Germany could produce fleets of aircraft carriers. Read my lips! Alternate history means one takes a HISTORICALLY RECOGNIZABLE Italy & thru creative use if its Light tanks, strong Geographical position, large, if somewhat obsolete navy, & fairly strong & numerous infantry, & & & hang on, & hold England up in Africa, while Germany defeats Russia. The human leader can lead Italy to an alternate history victory if he uses his smarts - in a finely crafted game. Germany might defeat the allies, or pull a draw. France might hold out in 1940, with good human leadership (but Paradox did not program ANY British expedition force to help France). The US never invaded/liberated Europe. But I digress. Back to E3. Alternate history is where the Japan occupies Hawaii, rather that just bombing Pearl harbor. Japan then can stall the US indefinitely in the pacific.

In E3, with a strongly programmed series of historic events, if the Netherlands can outcompete England by utilizing better leadership to overcome England's superior geographical position, you have alternate history. If Sweden can develope its economy, fight defensively, & not waste its resources by attempting to conquer Russia, & create a unified Scandinavian empire.you have alternate history. Can Sweden unify Scandinavia? Can Scotland maintain its independence?

Without historical events, Paradox has produced a bland & blobby E3.

They might have tried Random Maps while they were at it. It works for AE1,2, &, 3, & Galactive Civs, & the Civs. These games are fun FANTASY games. E3 could be a fantasy game with a few tweaks (to make it a playable game).

E3 is not officially fantasy. It utilizes a recognizable map of the Earth & recognizable nations. But without programming they waste our planet & a fine opportunity to complete their first GAME.


Sorry for the length. This was not a flame; this was not a flame; this was....

"A single dream is worth a thousand realities." Tolkien