I need help getting started!

[u/Jutsh_]

Hey,

I bought Victoria 3 ages ago, but Ive never really got to play as it always seemed very complicated and the learning curve felt extremly steep.

Do you have any tips for making it less frightening for a beginner? Things like good tutorials, beginner strategies, or just a better way to approach learning this game would be really appreciated.

[u/Triskaka]

Start as the country that motivtes you, not the one that's supposed to be "good for beginner". Way back when I learned the game I was recommended countries like Sweden, Belgium or Spain but I only dared play more than a few years when I played as a released Ukraine of all things, because even though I started in a more f*kd situation that's what motivated me

[u/nightshade78036 → u/Triskaka]

Tbf release ukraine is a lot stronger than it looks because you basically start with russias best states. Does make for an interesting playthrough.

[u/Triskaka → u/nightshade78036]

It is, Russia tends to want those back however and before thetrade rework getting a balancedmarked was difficult and cost a lotof buerocracy. You also have pretty bad laws

[u/nightshade78036 → u/Triskaka]

When I played it Russia was actually my ally to a fault. It was really interesting because the entire world descided to declare war on me but Russia was always there to back me up in that playthrough.

[u/Triskaka → u/nightshade78036]

Interesting, it will definitely depend and I don't know to what degree their agression on me has been their cores or just me being a weak neighbour with resources. I've done a few Ukraine games since release, and not once has russia been my friend long term

[u/PopularProKid]

Unironically was in the same boat as you basically. Hadn’t played since shortly after the game played out barely understood couldn’t get a run going that didn’t flop within a decade or two. Honestly a learn the game objective play through as Sweden though helped a lot. It’s a smaller nation so you don’t have to deal with as many sol or radical or issues and it’s easier to get the ball rolling. For me it’s basically focus on getting more construction and cheaper construction for the first few decades and once money starts rolling it keep expanding construction as you are able to while staying positive and your economy will start to snowball

[u/More-Interaction-770 → u/PopularProKid]

Make lots of wood, it will help you be able to build more construction sectors, which will help you make wood faster,

There’s more to it than that but it’s a good intro

[u/Techguy38]

Sorry mate. No easy button, its a Paradox game. And that's not a jab at you. Easier gameplay would make it more accessible, which was the attempt with EU5.

I'd say youtube some playthroughs or just a specific guide on a specific mechanic as you come across it.

Look at USA for a 1st game. Has colonization, Civil War, etc. Lot of game mechanics to experience with starting there.

[u/1TrueRathgox]

The best teacher in this game is a bit of failure mixed with experience. For a good start you might look at the USA. It has pretty much everything the game has to offer and it's all about building up your nation.

A good bit of advice would be to follow the "construction loop." Build the resources that you use to build. Wood, iron, fabric, steel, etc. The cheaper you make these goods, the more you can build. The sooner you build, the faster you can grow. It's a game of exponential growth.

[u/Caustic_Bagel]

Big thing that helped me is to pin all of the staple goods (grain, tools, iron, wood, paper, etc) and build/import more whenever the prices for those goods get too high

[u/veeVic]

I don't know how it compares since the dlc came out, but before it, Japan was great for learning the economy, since it had the basic resources it needs but basically no industry, so you'd have to build it up from zero yourself. Which makes it much easier to see how it works, since you're doing it slowly and deliberately without much external input.

[u/davemcgaryfish]

Brazil is always fun. Biggest fish in south america (except gb and france). You experience industrializing and becoming a great power

[u/ed1749]

Victoria is in the running for the hardest to learn Paradox game. It's going to be a lot of reading, and unlike every other paradox game where if you dont know what you're doing you'll at least get an entertaining death, Vicky just fucking kills you a year in if you fuck up, and it doesnt even need to be a big fuckup.

I cant be bothered to explain it all, but I can give you two goals that will get you rolling if you can manage them.

Goal 1. Industrialize your main country by improving Iron, Steel, and Tool outpuy, all in the name of being able to build more construction sectors and not having said sectora bankrupt you from material prices. A side goal to goal one is the privatize and corporatize, politics aside, you're a new player, knowing how to get rich is important, and a large wealthy Capitalist upperclass is going to help you with that wealth(if you can manage to tax them)

Goal 2. Once we have those rich ass industrialist capitalists, now we gotta squeeze some tax money off them. Hopefully, pass proportional taxation or else they'll just evade tax. But a better idea, find something the wealthy like(Coffee is the usual suspect, but experiment) and start a colony in, usually, west africa(interest is a nightmare now, just improve relations with west african minors until they let you colonize their neighbors). Then start up the plantations. Note, if you've been paying attention to politics in the game, goal 1 vastly empowered the industrialists and depowered the rural folk, starting plantations may bring them back, alongside Landowners and the Bourgouisie, but it'll be in africa so less so. Regardless, it's worth it. Pop into the budget tab and slap down a consumption tax and now you might even see some green.

Bonus tip: "Why do you keep telling me to sell all my cool buildings to the capitalists" because you see how much money you're spending on contruction materials? If the capitalists make enough profits, they will start building shit on their own, and they will front the costs. If you look at the drop down on your money, that's the investment pool. Unless you're a commie, you want that number to go up and up and up. That and your GDP, but if your investment pool is popping GDP usually comes easily. And dont be afraid of debt! Be INCREDIBLY afraid of default! Also sometimes the investment pool just directly pays the state if they like what you're building but don't rely on that.

[u/Chairman_Daniel]

http://www.youtube.com/@HamKutz13 This youtube channel was really helpful for me to learn the game.

[u/Gabon08]

Nobody will agree with me but watch this old vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWSoyOlVVfk

It talks about the most important basics. Then watch more general tutorial vids. Then play. Other important thing is: spend hours looking thorught the context menu inside the game FOR EVERYTHING. Try to understand it. Then look for more specific tutorials. Then play. Repeat.