Victoria 3is Paradox’s latest grand strategy epic, set duringthe tumultuous Victorian Era. Players can assume the role of any nation that existed in 1836 and lead them to prosperity…or ruination.Victoria 3is a pretty complicated game, so failure will be a natural part of the learning curve for beginners.
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Fans have a lot to manage regarding their chosen nation, specifically the economy, which ties into everything else. It’s important for beginners to start slow and master one concept at a time. The following nations still have their complexities but serve as adequate starter countries for new players learning the ropes.
5Sweden
Sweden serves as one of the tutorial nations in the “How to Play” section of the game, so it’s only natural for beginners to gravitate toward this country. Sweden starts the game as a Minor Power but possesses a lot of opportunities to grow in the long run. They also begin the game in a personal union with Norway.
Externally, Sweden doesn’t have to worry too much about threats of invasion in the early game. This gives players a chance to breathe and learn the economic mechanics in peace. Sweden also lacks colonies, so beginners don’t have to worry about far-flung possessions and their implications. Like many other countries in 1836, Sweden is on the path to greater industrialization. Transforming Sweden from an agrarian-based society to a more modernized one, while doing it in a relatively safe environment, will begreat practice for beginners.
4Japanese Shogunate
The Japanese Shogunate also represents a tempting starting nation for beginners. One ofJapan’s obvious strengthsis its geography. As an island nation, Japan possesses natural defenses. The Shogunate is very isolationist, giving players a chance to build up the country without worrying about global entanglements. In addition, their starting financial situation is easy to build upon.
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The sky’s the limit for Japan. Once players get the hang of strengthening their country internally, several opportunities exist for external expansion and colonization, particularly in the islands to the south.As it was historically, building a strong navy is important for Japan. Players can take their time and learn how to build a potent military on both land and sea. Once Japan industrializes and its military is up and running, players will find themselves in a strong position to experiment with more advanced strategies.
3USA
New players who feel a bit more confident about taking the reins of a larger nation should consider the United States of America. The USA doesn’t have to concern itself with the complicated politics on the European continent. Instead, the USA is in the midst of westward expansion against various Native American tribes. Mexico and Canada also have to be taken into account.
Nevertheless, the USA finds itself in a powerful position to dominate the rest of North America. Its sizeable military conscript battalions can be put to good use in whichever direction players want to expand. Furthermore, players who enjoy completing the Journal objectives will find no shortage of things to do when it comes to the USA. Players who want to practice managing their nation’s internal politics can’t go wrong with the USA either, as America is set to deal with a lot of hard decisions and challenges, particularly when it comes to industrialization and slavery.
2Brazil
Players who want to start their game in South America may want to consider Brazil, one of the most powerful entities on the continent. Although the fact that Brazil starts the game embroiled in two separate conflicts may seem intimidating, it actually gives new players a great opportunity to learn the warfare mechanics right off the bat. Unlike other Paradox games, warfare inVictoria 3is a little more “hands-off” in the sense that players aren’t commanding individual armies across the battlefield like inHearts of Iron 4orCrusader Kings 3. It’s a new system that’s worth learning early.
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Even though Brazil starts the game with its hands full, it’s not exceedingly difficult towin its ongoing wars. After that, players can get into the swing of things by putting Brazil’s economic affairs in order. With a little patience, expanding throughout the rest of South America can be considered.
1Kingdom Of The Two Sicilies
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies is another beginner-friendly country with plenty of opportunities. Its position in southern Italy serves as fertile ground for players who want to experiment with international trade. Players can suddenly find themselves very rich if they take the time to develop their trading agreements and convoys.
The Italian peninsula also offers worthwhile opportunities for expansion. With many of the Italian states fragmented, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies occupies a strong position to unite them all under one banner. Uniting Italy is an interesting endeavor, one where players can put together all of their learned skills and graduate from a beginner to a seasonedVictoria 3veteran.
Victoria 3is currently available on PC, macOS, and Linux.
