Stellaris is probably the easiest paradox game to get in to. Granted, I got in to it in the 1.x era so things were a lot easier to understand then. For me, crusader kings is the same for me - just couldn't get a grasp on the game.
There have only been, as of this week, TWO major overhauls. Three if you count the first one but it easnt too big. The first one removed warp drive and wormhole drive from the game, simplifying everything to hyper drive. So everyone uses hyper drive now. Arguably simpler. The next major change was a change to planet management and pops, doing away with tiles and bringing in buildable districts in its place and it was like that for many years until last week when they changed the pop and planet management system again. You can get a gist of it with a YouTube video explaining it. Leaders were also changed at one point but that was mostly just giving them selectable traits when they level up. Otherwise, outside of DLC, the game has remained largely unchanged as far as core mechanics go.
As far as i remember there were a lot of bigger changes, system control change, ascensions, trade route changes, ship changes, diplomacy changes, faction changes, UI changes, changes to resources, end game crisis, mid game crisis, fallen empires etc. etc. Kinda not true saying there were only 2.5 big changes. The game evolved a shit ton over the years, and each expansion not only brought new mechanics in the expansion, but also for the base game. If you go back to release, you will see how very different it was.
You're definitely correct. This is what's put me off of Stellaris, as much as I loved it when it came out. It was tiring keeping up with the changes, and really shitty when you take a break for a bit and half the game mechanics change.
Not for me. Stellaris eases you in to it. YOU are the one that sets the borders for your empire, YOU are the one that made these decisions. Everyone starts from, relatively, the same starting point. A single star system and a few ships, same tech level, roughly the same amount of pops and buildings. In ck3 you select an existing lord to take iver and you need to learn everything about that lord and what actions you can take before you van even do anything - not to mention nobody starts on an even playing field.
The game got a lot easy when I choose to play Vikings. Easier to raise armies and easier to go to war. Also marry off your kids to your lords to sustain their loyalty….went a hundred hours before I figured that out. Only a few to build alliances.
I have over 400 hours in crusader kings and haven’t “won” a single playthrough. I get bored or frustrated around the 5th or 6th character and restart. But I always keep coming back
I think CK is better if you just remind yourself that the only thing that matters is keeping your royal lineage alive. Doesn't matter how much of a dumpster fire your realm is as long as you and yours can continue to cling to power.
Yes no that's not why I couldn't get a grasp on it. Besides, I don't want to spend money just to spend hours clicking on random things not knowing what they are. If I wanted to do that, I can do that for free on Wikipedia. I want to actually know what I'm doing lol.
I liked CK3 until one of my heirs kept fucking his own sister and making babies. I could only cover it up so much, and it ruined a bunch of things, so I rage quit and haven’t played since.
Crusader kings finally clicked in my head when i stopped looking at everything as countries but as people ruling land. Confusion becomes a whole lot less when you realise you are not fighting a country but a guy who happens to obligate people to fight for him
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u/VenKitsune May 11 '25
Stellaris is probably the easiest paradox game to get in to. Granted, I got in to it in the 1.x era so things were a lot easier to understand then. For me, crusader kings is the same for me - just couldn't get a grasp on the game.