[EU4] War Academy III: Military Idea Groups

In this episode of the War Academy I go over the second largest source of army quality: idea groups. I cover which ones you should use and when you should use them.
Note that I don't cover event sets for idea groups. They have a small enough impact that they can be ignored for the most part.
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Follow me on Twitter: / remansparadox

[@TheRealPhilippePetain]

Man, I miss this dude. He worked so hard on his videos and was so smart.

[@tetragrade]

Reman please come back we love you.

[@tughluq8324]

he is back

[@sr.s6852]

He is BACK!!!

[@TheRealPhilippePetain]

@some boby For real?!

[@sanskaarkulkarni1036]

He bacc

[@Dsingis]

Are you okay Reman? Still alive? You are direly needed to explain to us plebs how the new HoI4 naval stuff works x'D

[@SkuLLetjaH]

Hope you're well Reman, we miss you.

[@khankhomrad8855]

He is still very much active on the forums. Recently he made his first Imperator WC.

[@AlanMakbeth]

@@khankhomrad8855 Whats his nick?

[@khankhomrad8855]

@@AlanMakbeth Used to go by the name of "remanemperor" now he's just "reman". His avatar is an American flag. He also did the first I:R WC so you shouldn't have trouble tracking him down on reddit or the PDX forums.

[@Mark-xq7lh]

His ghost just uploaded a new video

[@RoverStorm]

"If you enjoy blitzkrieging and don't like sitting around, you should take defensive ideas" .....OK.

[@brothir]

WAD

[@psychofury6485]

Well it is nice having 1.5 or 2 morale more than everyone else lol. You can just thrash their armies and keep goin.

[@ZanathKariashi]

As they say, the best defense is a good offense. And defensive gives you that. (and makes you pretty tanky too).

[@DeanRasmussen]

The joke is that the blitzkrieg was a super offensive strategy in real life, so that doesn't make sense that in eu4, defensive is actually the better offensive idea group, I wish I didn't have to explain the irony

[@spencer871]

TO BLITZKRIEG ONE MUST MAGINOT

[@andrewhunt9808]

Arumba uploads: I sleep. Valefisk uploads: REAL SH*T Reman uploads: ASCENDED

[@shoobydoobydoooo]

Florry uploads >Florry uploads monkaS

[@jeltje50]

Subarno Hossain using monkaS on KZbin...

[@andrewhunt9808]

Time for Basileus of Byzantium 9999

[@darklorty]

Wiley Hunt episode 9999: year 1750

[@t_y8274]

Subarno Hossain florry doesn't upload :(

[@AlphaSections]

I have one rule in my army. If the baby can walk on it's legs, it goes to the front lines. If not then it must do so crawling.

[@0bradymadness0]

AlphaSections Damn dude

[@robertharris6092]

Are your EU4 battles just a horde of babys swarming an army of grown men like zombies?

[@josephstalin7458]

Same lol

[@AlanMakbeth]

DUDE, where have you being!? The last update was 4 months... =/

[@Jannik69420]

5 >:X

[@ardaylmaz1899]

:(

[@aghs12]

Please come back :(

[@jackhickman1217]

Let me tell you something man I really need a Reman Paradox video man. Like right now the Videos were really good man. Reman get back here.

[@MetralleroRCS]

You know, Reeman is one of those guys who don't take youtube seriously. He just did it for fun and to give a somewhat easy approach to the complexity of paradox games so the community can enjoy them to their full extend. Maybe he just quitted because he wasn't having fun while doing videos, maybe he got some personal affairs that involved not being able to upload for a while, etc...

[@Dsingis]

1:32 Tier list: Mainline, Situational and.... naval. I love how you used the name of this idea group as something degrading xD

[@SkyForceOne2]

Naval would not be that bad... if it wouldnt be a militay idea group, that is. And if Navy would be useful.

[@MaximusLight]

Or if it gave some Navel related economic advantage rather than just combat power, like Maritime or Quality ideas.

[@jax4141]

naval should be just moved to diplo group, thats the only way to make it good

[@Booth-]

You cant just move Naval to diplomatic, if anything they should move naval ideas into maritime (but dont make it too much stronger) and give naval ideas a real military benefiit, like naval battles provide more warscore, or blockading add more warscore, maybe the ability to recruit marines.

[@shadowduke1535]

They could have naval able to bombard distal forts or add a modifier to battles along the coast

[@NauseousIsland3]

We miss you. I hope everything is still good with you, and that you may soon come back. Thanks for all the videos so far!

[@punishedwhirligig3353]

1 year anniversary of this channel suddenly dying....

[@druncle1977]

:(

[@Poffean]

He's still alive and on the pdx forum

[@chupetaparamahboy]

2 years now

[@sr.s6852]

He is back!!!

[@rosaparks6479]

@@sr.s6852 now hes gone again

[@bimbocrammmm]

So if someone knows what happened to Reman please let us know, I find it hard to believe that someone who obviously put a lot of thought and effort in to making the absolutely best eu4 content out there would just cease everything without any explanation, other than some seriously bad shit happening... Reman if u're out there I hope all is well, and I want you to know your absence is noticed and has left a void that will be hard to fill, so far nobody comes close!

[@szymonwojcik659]

i think he just lost interest. i saw him comment on one of siu kings videos like a month ago

[@ozisponas1593]

maybe he died

[@tacoblude8208]

@@ozisponas1593 He didn't die dumbass

[@qtarokujod3401]

His twitter is still active, so... yeah

[@charow2638]

GOOD NEWS!

[@lockretvids]

B... But... Mah space marines...

[@ayskaaetheri3991]

I'm going Prussia in a campaign right now, I can't in my right conscience NOT make space marines

[@lockretvids]

Hear hear!

[@draconicepic4124]

You don't go Prussia unless you go Space Marines. It's the unspoken golden rule.

[@SekretZdzicha]

Its hard to keep the space marines with huge prussia. The militarization keeps ticking very fast.

[@frederickpasco7607]

Prussia is a boring meme

[@RoverStorm]

Nothing gets me more pumped to play EU4 than this. And Long Game Short's summary of the dev clashes.

[@gogytsat97]

Man, where are you? You have been gone for two months. Your videos are the best videos which explain everything regarding EU4. I hope everything is going great for you and you come back soon. Peace!

[@justvlaxx1260]

I see him on Paradox Forums only.

[@gogytsat97]

Vladimir That's sad

[@RuslanMathers]

@Alexandre Burko THIS.

[@brandylark420]

I pretty much agree with everything here, BUT for any newcomers don't try this in multiplayer you will get your butt handed to you by everyone else who is out there having an arms race of discipline and stacking every modifier to have anti-space marine space marines.

[@randomusername.5605]

7 morale in 1630 no problem

[@Madhattersinjeans]

Most newcomers to games like this won't touch multiplayer at all. At least I hope not, it just doesn't make sense for them to learn to run before they can walk. Multiplayer always follows different rules and player meta in comparison to the standard single player experience.

[@the_wallaby]

I feel like they should rename offensive and defensive to tactical and strategic respectively

[@Nognamogo]

The Wallaby I like that idea.

[@gregmccauley1687]

or late game and early game respectively

[@cr0n0slxiii54]

I would like more defensive as logistical

[@JCarter3000]

Having watched TONS of EU4 videos on youtube I say this is the Paradox Professor. The videos are packed with content describing HOW the game(s) work and giving viewers a uniquely intuitive understanding rather than vague advice or half-explanations still allowing us to discover the game for ourselves. Professor Reman also uses a ton of math and graphs which is the cherry on top. Subscribed.

[@cameronarmstorng7666]

Jonathan Carter he no longer uploads

[@jek_si2251]

@@cameronarmstorng7666 Sadly

[@TempestasAurum]

Poland and Aristocratic Ideas makes it godmode. Calvary combat bonus just makes winged hussars even better.

[@TheLoveMuffins]

Love the vids mate. Ever consider doing an in depth guide on all idea groups similar to this? As a newer player, only about 600 hours in, I "believe" I can tell the best, say, Admin groups. But a guide stating something like "on this situation maybe this idea group is better". Just a thought, keep up the good work bud!

[@montivdg]

I love how with EU4 it's acceptable to call yourself a newer player with "only" 600 hours!

[@samotten9874]

Despite also being a "new player" with ~600 hours, I would say that the admin and diplo groups are far more dependent on what you're specifically trying to achieve, i.e. if you want to blob, take administrative, if you want to colonise, take exploration (and possibly expansion as well), if you're having trouble with money or rebels, take economic or humanist respectively. The point is that it doesn't make sense to tier them like this (except for the fact that espionage and maritime are trash).

[@Amoncaco]

Other idea groups are generally more self explanatory too imo. They say what they do right on the tin, while all the army modifiers are a lot less obvious to new players.

[@Dubster9990]

Echoing Sam Otten here, as almost each idea set has a particular focus. Admin ideas are particularly easy and actually carry what could've been mutually exclusive had PDX liked that policy - Religious for converting, Humanist if you don't want to convert. Administrative if you want to blob, Economic if you (instead) want to play tall. Expansion's for more colonies or Africa/Asian expansion and innovative is if you want the 20% inf combat ability policy (And ticking war exhaustion reduction) mentioned by Reman above. Similarly, diplomatic is basically a must-have if you do not plan on expansion through vassals and influence if you do. I tend to pick both as my dip idea groups as each have their own way of dealing with AE. Trade is if you wish to get more merchants and can't be bothered with trade companies/colonies. Exploration if you intend on colonizing. Then you have espionage and maritime, both which are quite bad, with the former not even having a clear focus except maybe general annoyance. Maritime is at least focused on naval trade, but unless you are heavily dependent on light ships protecting trade and does not have any intentions on blobbing (I.e merchant republic or roleplay reasons), it's almost never worth it.

[@Jupiter__001_]

Sam Otten Espionage ideas aren't _that_ bad, in fact they have rather good policies (e.g. -1% military trad. decay, or +20% cav combat ability) Also, maritime beats naval by a million miles because it gives you better bonuses (i.e. to light ships and trade, which is all anyone cares about the navy for anyway) and, more importantly, it isn't a military idea group. It is quite powerful for nations like England or, rather situationally, Japan.

[@Leufinngamer]

As prussia just take all dem military ideas

[@kurniaerfan7307]

Leufinngamer stack with innovative for total 50% inf combat ability. AI will cry

[@Indipuk]

As a prussia you don't need to take any mil ideas cuz your troops are already best in the game

[@sneak1008]

yes you do its fun to stackwipe units larger than you

[@molexi6537]

stackwiping 100k ottomans with your 35k prussian army is the best thing you can do with clothes on.

[@Indipuk]

Why stackwipe with 35k when you can stack wipe with 100k if you have normal ideas.

[@ugurturuslar8753]

Reman we still waiting for u

[@Poffean]

Just go on the pdx forum

[@serhansahin2155]

HE CAME BACK

[@Datroflshopper]

If you take offensive ideas as Scotland the +1 leader shocks stack which can be useful in the early game when you're at your weakest and when the shock phase is king. Besides that I'm team defensive all the way

[@sethyboy0]

If you want a really nice meme, take offensive as Machu. They get 2 shock pips from ideas, making their early game generals rather nuts. Combine that with high tradition from all the raping and pillaging and 100% cav armies and you've got a fucking disgusting deathstack on your hands.

[@Tavoshel]

Well.. because of diminishing returns on pips, I'd rather go aristocratic first as Manchu, but I'd take offensive anyways. About Scotland, I agree, for a very early game against England

[@Creanyoful]

I just watched your other War Academy videos and they helped me understand combat so much more. Thanks so much

[@Dayvit78]

Why don't people just do a role-playing style, instead of what is mathematically the best? If I'm the Dutch, I want to go Naval and Plutocratic if I follow history, and maybe choose a different two if I want alternative history. You don't always have to be optimal - be fun instead.

[@ropstensvaktare170]

you could do that but when you are aiming for one of the hardest acheivements in game it would make it much harder

[@awkwardcultism]

If you're planning on choosing weak options that you like, it is often effective to balance that out by taking some strong options as well. Sleecting only options that you prefer, neglecting strategy, stunts your agency and can render you wholly ineffectual. By instead using strong options to support your favorite options you can create opportunities for them to shine. It's both more interesting (because you aren't anchoring yourself solely to a small subset of options) and more fun (because you get to see your favorite options at their full potential).

[@kebabremoveth5257]

Bookkeeper has three double letters in a row

[@montivdg]

Laughoutloud Studios Dutch has voorraaddoos meaning storage box, there was an attempt

[@Navak_]

ookkee

[@iii8410]

no

[@josephstalin7458]

Hey

[@Razorcarl]

true

[@melfice999]

One thing you forgot to mention about Quantity ideas is the bonus you get with economic. while nothing major it gives you -10% Development cost. and if you can stack development cost reductions enough you can really go nice and tall real fast with your provinces. Or if you play in a poor region of the world where even with quantity you feel like you are still lacking. or simply do not have the economy to handle the increased force limit and need to burn some diplo and admin points for some extra income.

[@SebHaarfagre]

I'm playing the Mamluks right now (cause why not, and I'm testing out force conversions and forming multiple nations ^^) and it might be interesting to know they get a *CRAZY TON* of development boosts through events and government forms etc. I just wish it wasn't the _Mamluks_ that got development cost boosts :p Cause they start with 370+ development...

[@billmarquardt3743]

We miss you Reman... Your content was always amazingly informative and easy to consume.

[@bigetokgaming9812]

It’s been 7 months without a reman video... the world has become a land of savages, without anyone there to lead us. If only He, the Chosen One, would come back to us, maybe we could finally have some peace. But I fear the worst is yet to come.

[@lelgie601]

Only he can defeat the Ottoblob

[@Madhattersinjeans]

Thanks for going over the tech/ideas choices. Knowing which will help larger and smaller nations is really useful.

[@Shoggunik]

Those episodes are absolutely amazing, thanks a lot for doing this and please keep up great work.

[@maxbreiling4929]

Thanks for great content as usual. You are so much smoother than other paradox gamers who attempt to explain their idea group picks, and you provide so much more evidence and numbers while being even in your presentation. I also like how you slip in God-tier runs in the background

[@Zygmunt-Zen]

Reman, love your videos! Not only do you make solid suggestions... you explain WHY with sheer hard numbers. It helps you have a buttery voice that melts my mind and allows the information to be absorbed organically.

[@cryocynical7371]

Goodbye, Reman...

[@ctonellopedro]

I really like the attrition modifier. It's amazing to be able to walk around with your 80k stack!

[@Treymen1023]

Loving the War Adademy series! I would love to know your strategies on province development and building construction to fit different situations. Like an overall “Building/Improvement” guide!

[@griffonos0987]

I love your videos, they're the best guides for Paradox games out there!

[@dub4sam95]

Great to see another video from you!

[@medici5409]

We need you back chief....

[@silentone911]

Dude we must go DEEPER haha. I absolutely love the scientific process you go about testing ideas for a video game to let us geek out at min/maxing for dat sweet optimization. Quality stuff as always!

[@karlwittenburg5868]

About Aristocratic Ideas: “You can go full Winged Hussar mode with Poland and stack every combat modifier available, which isn’t efficient, but is always entertaining.” *It’s not always about efficiency, it’s about sending a message*

[@xvrhumournoir7144]

Once again, thank you Reman. Your videos are great and you manage to clarify and teach me stuff on a game i thought i completely knew. But what I find most interesting is your discussion about Military Score. I had never considered the fact that the idea group one pick may affect AI diplomacy, or at least not to that extent. From my perspective, it makes quantity a must have as first or second idea group, for two reasons. First, military points are quite cheap compared to admin and dips, if you plan on conquering. Second, it prevents coalitions from firing and helps you call friends in war, and that is HUGE.

[@jayk3548]

haven't played eu4 in months but I find your videos enamoring and can't stop watching them

[@wouterm8145]

This is a sublime guide for reference. Even though I knew a lot of this, it really clears the debate.

[@edim108]

There is also one feature of Quantity that makes it so great... the ideas descriptions :D

[@martinolsson858]

6 months since my last fix! Come on Reman, best guides ever!!

[@fullrefund8812]

As always a great and informative video. Aristocratic is still my favouite military idea group though.

[@hornysanders6244]

Love your videos man. Can you do a video on quickest way of uniting japan?

[@garth7825]

Where you at reman?

[@MrDanish6066]

I'm a quantity man myself - however, I'd like to point out a subtle "hidden" bonus to defensive ideas. The +1 attrition for enemies helps you in the background when the AI does that sneaky backdoor sieging of your lands. They'll usually leave just enough men for the siege to tick, and the +1 attrition will constantly halt their progress (especially late in the war when they're tapped on manpower). It's subtle, it's negligible, but it's there. You probably wont notice it much when you're curb stomping someone but when you're involved in multiple difficult wars the extra exhaustion from being carpet sieged by a dozen troops doing that annoying backdoor thing can mean a lot. It also helps ending wars faster since they don't get easy warscore that way.

[@dnjj1845]

I found naval ideas in the older games to be useful playing as a lower tech groups in Indonesia, fighting off Castile, Portugal, GB, France trying to to take me over. Sinking a 30 stack transport from getting on your shore being 5 techs below in diplo and military is invaluable, but it's a huge investment - but you eventually get white peace and save your autonomy.

[@drachenfels6782]

As always, video is on the point. Keep it up and a Patreon or some way to support your effort, every video you make, one can see is hours of hard work.

[@Voigt151]

In our Multiplayer Game we used some restrictions on Idea Groups, which make the choices more dynamic. No Policies which affect Discipline, Morale oder Combat Abiity, since they dictate which other Ideagroups are must pics (Economy for another 5% Dis, Innovative for 20% Inf CA, Religious for more Morale) Only two of your named Mainline Ideagroups, now you really have to decide. Only one of the Situational ones, so no shenanigans with taking Plutocratic, then becoming a Monarchy and also taking Aristocratic. Anyone can take Naval if they want to, since at most only 3 of 4 Military Idea Groups are locked in. What you didn't talk about is the order of ideas you get in ideagroups. Defensive is really frontloaded with +1AT and 20% Morale in the first two Ideas, which make in excellent as a first ideagroup for the really early wars. Quality is only really that good if you got all of the ideas for the 5% Disclipine, which make it worse as an early idea. Offenisve has +1Leader Shock early on, which is really nice, sadly 20% FL and 5% Discipline are the finisher. Finally Quantity your favourite. The two strong Manpower Buffs are the first two Ideas, which is nice, but this doesn't help in fights at all. You need to finish the Idea to get the very nice 50% FL, only then it is really usefull, which can be rather late for some game starts. Personally I'll take Quantity later one for fun in SP, or also later in MP for several reasons. Usualy in our MP Player Wars are only later one, and in the start you defeat the AI around you, and the game is more cooperative, and chilled. Only later on they get intensive, and then stacking the 50% more Forcelimit with lots of Force Limit Buildings can suddenly increase your FL alot which can surprise your enemy. Only then you can really the economy to sustain Wars with so many soldiers. In midegame, having more soldiers makes it more difficult to move in bad terrain without loosing horrible in Manpower trough attrition. Having less but better troops in provinces helps with that. Also Naval Transporting, e.g. as Great Britain. With more Soldiers you have to have more Transport Ships or have them sail more often, and until all of your army is where it needs to be, that are really bad. In my current MP Game I play an High American in a Random New World, and with the above written restrictions I would never take Quantity idea in this situation. I want my Troops in Europe fast, if I want to fight there, and I need good troops but also ships. So I picked Offensive and Quality Ideas, to stack Discipline.

[@m_uz1244]

What happened man? Hope everything is alright, stay safe. It's been a bummer with all these new updates and no Exploit videos, or just you in general.

[@kundrad8398]

Sorry for changing subject, idk where else can I ask about this advice. I'm playing Taungu campaign and I'm not sure, which first 3 ideas would be correct for me to pick. My first one is Influence and I'm about to pick second one, but I'm not sure what to pick. Any suggestions? If it helps, my intention is to focus on expanding my border as much as possible.

[@RaikreN_]

Please come back Reman, your vids really helped me understand and enjoy this game, would love more

[@lord6617]

18:00 aristocratic is probably the best group to pair with an already strong military nation, especially if operating in and around the HRE. 1 extra diplomat is like getting to choose extra siege ability, reduced aggressive expansion, cheaper claims, or a multitude of other diplomatic options. If you want pure military power, no its not the best, but it is a hugely powerful complementary military group. Also, as has been noted elsewhere, the gauranteed siege pip is actually hugely useful. it guarantees a general which will always be useful. I have never in thousands of hours playing considered a general with a siege pip to be completely useless. I have found innumerable other pip combinations to be more a liability than a benefit, but I can always find a way to use a general with a pip of siege.

[@SnickeringBadger]

The extra general is also pretty damned useful when you're absolutely massive and have wars going on in South America at the same time as Central Asia and East Africa. Likewise the general is useful for such cases as they tend to travel rather slowly.

[@MrSherhi]

I would put it in the first group, its usually a safe bet, -1% army/navy tradition decay is something like +1 yearly army tradition, also lower mil tech cost pays off in the long run, war taxes more often, can strenghten government more often, can develop more province (dont know how many mil points you save over the course of the game but one extra manpower in a province adds 330 total manpower with +33% increased manpower from serfdom idea)

[@AlexanderCCXXII]

Thanks for confirming my believe in quantity making alliances more likely and enemy attacks less likely. As a paranoid tall player i mostly use my army to deter enemys declarations

[@sirteddyIII]

I have a question in regards to the Quantity idea group, As a country like russia where manpower and force limit are already massively abundant would taking quantity ideas still be worth it, or at that point is it better to focus on getting better quality troops through the other military idea groups? This has always been a dilemma for me in my russia runs since quantity is such a strong idea group with the little added bonus of bigger streltsy armies from the force limit increase. Is it excessive to get quantity or is it still a good idea group to get?

[@Zman44444]

I’m completely new to this channel.. but like.. dude. What solid talent. I hope you’re safe and okay. Too many good youtubers loosing their lives or falling off the platform..

[@CountArtha]

Don't forget that Quantity can be paired with Trade to give you one of the best economic policies in the game (Production Quotas) which boosts production AND trade income to help pay for your giant army.

[@DangerDucking]

Do you ever leave ideas uncompleted to focus on tech first, particularly in Asia? For Japan, for instance, I left admin at 2 for a while just for the coring in order to unlock exploration and aristocratic ideas. Aristocratic was just again left at 2 when I got far enough ahead of neighbors so I would have the long term farther ahead.

[@therealoldnosey8689]

Omfg i love in depth discussions about eu4 mechanics

[@reillymercer5949]

Overall this video still holds true, (for 1.31), keep in mind defensive was nerfed from +1 army tradition to +100% army tradition from battles, meaning always fighting is a must now early game with it. Additionally, quality was nerfed going from +1 army tradition to +0.5 army tradition and the infantry combat ability from Innovative was cut in half from +20% to +10%. I would say this buffed both Quantity and Offensive since Quantity now has +33% supply limit instead, and Offensive remained the same. Keep in mind that Reman actually underestimates Innovative ideas. It's a great idea group to take early since the reduced power cost and Army/Naval tradition decay will save you more monarch power than the hold group costs and then some. Check out Radio Res's video where he does the calculations on Innovative ideas. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4LEpqCBprJ2pLM I haven't checked all the other policy combinations so check these out as well.

[@jonw7214]

I doubt I'll get a response here but I'll ask. Do you think national ideas that help reduce monarch point investments outweigh military bonuses such as Date vs Oda/Shimazu in Japan? I understand the space marine meme but couldn't a better developed country still pound them down?

[@ThePeacemaker848]

I was about to call nonsense on taking quantity as a great idea group until you starting talking about the AI perspective. I did not know that. Sounds very useful.

[@enesulker6944]

You doing a great job man , keep it up

[@fuzzygenius]

We miss you, man. I hope life is going well for you! If you return, you'll have a waiting audience :)

[@Onebadterran]

Don't scoff too much on innovative ideas. If they are taken as the first idea group and you get the tech bonus by tech level seven, assuming you get each Tech at around 600 Monarch points, you will save 1500 Monarch points for each category by the end of the game. This means faster technology, more ideas, and more development. It really helps you build tall instead of wide

[@Pattarek]

Still waiting for the next Reman's Paradox video. They are awesome, no matter what game.

[@Fort_Master]

I really love your video's they really help, Would you ever think of doing a strategy guild for Lithuania?

[@RolandTschiah]

Hey Reman :) I just played as Holland and since I'm quite a new player with only 50 hrs played, I dont know if my colonization game was at a level it should be. Could you do a video about colonization tipps and/or guides? Love your videos!

[@xeagaort]

And then he was never seen again....

[@habb420]

i miss you reman you make so amazing videos

[@DummyUrD]

Hey, I am unsure if I understand the extra pips from offensive correctly. AFAIK they get added to the general when you hire him, wouldn't this mean that with a high army tradition the bonus would regularly not apply because of the 6 pip max?

[@samotten9874]

I think the calculation works by giving pips from ideas first before generating a number (with bounds depending on tradition), and distributing that many pips between the four categories (with siege pips being less common).

[@derphurr8814]

DummyUrD When the game generates generals, 6 is the upper limit of a stat. However, if you roll above 6 in any stat those left over points get carried over and added to another stat chosen at random.. So even with defensives 1+ maneuver, it very slightly makes your generals better at shock, fire and siege.

[@vetgirig4209]

100 army tradition only gives an average of 3.6 pips in each category To get 6 you need to get the extra some other way.

[@willkuklinski9932]

He's alive! reddit says he's on paradox plaza forum, I confirmed. I was worried. No way am I watching siu-king.

[@jacobbrubaker9525]

William Kuklinski Why not watch Siu-King?

[@cs0345]

@@jacobbrubaker9525 I watch him sometimes, but he could be incredibly toxic at times.

[@jacobbrubaker9525]

tree fiddy can I get an example. Not like I disagree with you just that I have no knowledge of him being toxic.

[@willkuklinski9932]

@@jacobbrubaker9525 can't stand the sound of his voice

[@feanorn8409]

@@jacobbrubaker9525 The issue with Siu for me isnt that he is toxic sometimes, i find him funny when he is toxic. Its because he doesnt make proper EU4 guides. His vids are just reactions to the shenanigans he does.

[@fifthofascalante7311]

Reman, which is better: the first Offensive or the first Aristocratic idea? I’m talking about the +1 shock pip versus +10% cav ca, and I’m not sure how to calculate the reduced cav cost into this, if at all. Which does more damage, which saves more manpower, and which one is more reliable?

[@TjenStylez]

Reman, I have watched your Absolutism and Military Idea Groups video, and I have a question regarding the combination of those. It will most likely have something to do with preference, but quite regularly I like to pick Innovative & Quality Ideas quite early. I do this for several reasons, depending on certain situations. The situations where I might pick this combination is one or both of the following: - when I know I will be set on monarch points (very good leader/heir, Ming, etc) - when I know I will be set on early institutions (start around Europe or when I know I will spawn Colonialism) The reasons are as follows: - the combination of ideas provides good firepower (+30% infantry*, +10% cavalry/artillery combat ability) & +5 discipline *policy included - it creates monarch points by: 1. being able to afford more expensive advisors, 2. cheaper/sooner tech increase, 3. quick access to 100 innovativeness - it grants overall modifiers which are great for late game: 1. -0.05 war exhaustion, 2. -1% prestige decay, 3. 1 more leader without upkeep, 4. the option to add offensive ideas for extra siege power - possibility of achieving 90+ Absolutism really cheaply: 100 innovativeness and -50% Harsh treatment cost (age of absolutism ability) and spam harsh treatment on newly gained, low cost provinces. You could even go as far as combining 100 innovativeness,-50% cost from absolutism ability, -33% cost from generic mission tree, -10% golden age. It would cost less than 500 military points to gain 100 absolutism this way. I prefer this combination for the assurance of high innovativeness, passive war exhaustion reduction and a generally good base of bonuses to ducats, monarch points and combat ability. Since you left this out of your Absolutism as well as your Military Ideas video, I would like to have your take on my thoughts. Thank you for your time! :)

[@ssejr01]

Love these vids.

[@jackal327]

The buffed aristocratic idea groups is very good IMO, the extra siege pip really helps in the late game bottleneck - sieging. In the early game also helps in taking forts easier, for quicker wars. If you add the offensive policy that also gives a pip, you'll always have two siege pips generals, sometimes you can roll a godly 6 pip general.

[@edvard8449]

Speaking of morale, in my game with Milan I'm second only to Muscovy and the Ottomans, thanks to the Defensive Ideas group, and I'm also planning to take Plutocratic ideas, to have an overall bonus of 25% morale for my army, and while yes, the other modifiers aren't really important, they still give me something alongside the main +10%, and it's better than just taking both defensive and quantity.

[@dontpanic9772]

I think I always convinced myself Quality is better then it realy is. Great Video =)

[@SebHaarfagre]

Aristocratic mil tech reduction is _awesome_ coupled with Sikh religion! ;) Also, like you mentioned... tech > all But yeah I agree it's quite situational (I like all the bonuses, it just doesn't help much with army _combat quality_ except indirectly via good generals/tradition) Loved the video btw! And Really liked the end :) Great work :) (you're much better than me at not trying to preach "your way" lol)

[@GenoAtkins]

I take aristocratic ideas early for the 10% reduction on mil tech since it’s most important for army performance and I’m just wondering what Reman or you other guys think of that? I’ve only 500 hours so I’m still feeling my way about the game.

[@Uebeltank]

Ah so all idea groups are correct. But some are more correct than others.

[@planetcx5316]

Uebeltank you know too much

[@pigio9033]

2 anniversary of the death of this channel

[@Riotdrone]

we need reman to come back, possibly the best eu4 videos. also innovative is actually decent now!

[@connoratkinson9034]

Did you quit or are you making the best paradox video this site has ever seen?

[@tobynelson2729]

Hello Reman, have you considered doing a comparison video for naval doctrines in HoI? I have tried a strategy involving battlecruisers with Germany that focuses on using blockade runner commander, raider design company, engine upgrades for battlecruiser, and raiding naval doctrine. Ideally the battlecruisers get in, wreck enemy screens and convoys, and chip away at capitals as they approach, retreating on low health to repair and fight again. I am curious if this strategy can stack up to fleet in being battleship spam in a 'fair fight,' and whether the bonuses from the carrier doctrine are more powerful or less powerful than fleet in being considering equal carriers and optimal number of aircraft (taking into account -50% overcrowding penalty from base strike.)

[@mwolsen96]

Could we get a video about those "underwhelming innovative ideas?" I feel like it's a group I always juuuuuust maybe want to pick.

[@Tavoshel]

and Innovative-Offensive

[@krblack4009]

I almost always pick innovative first. The -10% tech cost nets you a lot of points if taken early. Base tech cost 600 x 10% = 60 To keep up you should tech up every 13 years. 60/13=4.61 MP per year 4.61/12= 0.38 ADM, DIP and MIL per month for the rest of the game. -25% advisor cost means you can afford the level 5 advisors very soon -1% prestige decay isnt noticeable, but definetly helps -0.05 monthly war exhaustion reduction basically means you can ignore WE for the rest of the game (unless you are constantly being siege 100%)

[@TainakaRicchan]

When playing muslim countries it is even better due to the Ibadat Khana decision.

[@shadowduke1535]

You also get and event that gives you 100 of each monarch point when you pick it

[@Alex-0597]

It's problem is that it's a decent/good idea group in a category with amazing/god-tier idea groups. It also takes admin points, which are widely considered to be the best type of points to have because of the number of things you can spend them on. As for a breakdown of the ideas, there's a few standouts. -10% tech cost and Institution cost is massive early on, and the main reason I like it. -25% adviser cost really helps to get higher level advisers earlier while still maintaining a surplus. -.05 war exhaustion per month is fantastic if you don't have any other sources for that, because it allows you to remain at war pretty much constantly. Every other idea is either useless or minor. The events are very random. Some of them are fantastically beneficial (-10% tech cost to a tech of your choice), while others are really bad (-1 stab, +5% tech cost). If you want to save scum, then Innovative has much better events for that. Policies are what most people pick this group for. The infamous +20% infantry combat ability comes to mind, as well as it's lesser known cousin +10% siege ability and +1 leader siege. The rest of them are okay, but not worth turning on frequently, IMO. In conclusion, I wouldn't call Innovative a "must have" idea group unless you're going for some non-optimal playstyle. Like focusing on making spees mahreens who slaughter three times their number in battle, or making an enlightened trading utopia. If you want to be somewhat "optimal" and "meta", pick it at the beginning if you want to take full advantage of the monarch point gain it provides, or pick it at the end for those two amazing army policies. I can't really recommend taking it in the middle.

[@tjaenig]

Very good guide, its smilar to what i think is the best strategy so far (after 1,4k hours). I think many peaple will argue with quantity cause evryone want elite regiments^^

[@136iti]

Ouch, the hate for innovative is pretty painful. I like innovative a lot the -.05 war exhaustion is very good with the introduction of absolutism, -10% tech cost for each category is amazing if taken early (-10% embracement cost is ok lets you take institution a little faster/cheaper), -25% of adviser cost is nice for getting level 3 advisers or higher now that they can go above level 3, -25% merc cost makes merc way cheaper, and 1 more general is helpful late game when your fighting in multiple wars or have lot's of sieges going on at once.

[@NADster36]

-10% tech cost looks better than it is. It's about 1 monarch point a month combined (1/3, 1/3, 1/3) if you take it asap. Don't get me wrong, its nice and such, but "amazing"? I don't think so. ;)

[@136iti]

it's 1 monarch point per month if taken as the first idea group means 369 years until tech 32 at 1 per month or 4,428 points (1,476 in each cat). It's half an idea group for each category or 1,476 admin points for coring. If you factor in the decimal points then it's 5109 points over the game or 1,703 points per category. Also only said the -10% was only good in the early game the later you take it the worse it is I would never say take it as a 3rd or 4th idea group.

[@kosake5493]

NADster36 Since the introduction of institutions those -10% actually are amazing. They save you so much points when you cant embrace an institution right away.

[@136iti]

Kosake that true I didn’t even think of that when I said why I liked innovation.

[@kurniaerfan7307]

if you can not embrace institution early, economic would help better than innovative, because dev push is the most viable way to deal with institution :) and early game boost to economy is really nice

[@niluscvp]

Agreed with quantity it makes conquering neighbours a lot easier if you're playing a weak nation with low trade income or manpower. I remember falling in love with this idea group while playing Ethiopia back when Art of War was a new dlc and used it to defeat Mamluks and Ottomans relatively early. And since they never really changed the military groups it was always my go to pick for most non-european nations.

[@Adam-xy4ny]

I play a lot of multiplayer and i would say for a Spain or Portugal it could be game changing. This is because GB and the netherlands will pose huge threats to your navies and you cant beat them without a naval idea group to help level the playing field or say goodbye to that colonial empire.

[@Bauschi666]

I hardly ever pick Quantity. I know theyre better now but still, that bonus attrition on enemies from defensive gives you a huge bonus if you just have a few nice positioned castles.

[@guitarsrcool17]

how do I wait till the 4th/5th set to take mil ideas? Isn't the rule no idea type (admin/dip/mil) is more than 50% of your ideas? 2/3 is more than 50%. What am I missing here?

[@Berethgor]

you can take 2 admin and 2 dip ideas and then take a mil idea as the 5th

[@brothir]

That's a rule you can turn off in the options, and I advise you do.

[@guitarsrcool17]

It's ironman compatible? Yea I'll totally do that

[@brothir]

It is. No idea why the restriction is there and on by default.

[@idsbraam]

Seems you are not making vids anymore, but still, thanks for all you did, it was a great help!

[@TheAndrew1987]

i almost always pick influence first then quantity followed by an adm idea like economic, the first 2-3 ideas of admin or expansion and then offensive. i'll pick quality as my 5th or 6th idea if i have a navy whatsoever at that point

[@shingacook2542]

(sorry for my bad eng) I don't realy understand when people talk in english so pls can you tell me, in your opinion, what are the best ideas groups combo for multiplayers games in général. And the ideas for a Multiplayer game (30 players) that i will play Kazan ? I was thinking about Economic>defensive>Quality>espionage>aristo ? i will play around Lithuania, Moscovia, Tchagatai, Khorrasan and shirvan as humans players (ottomans removed) Thx mate for all your videos, i'm watching them from france ;) Thx for the help !

[@brothir]

That seems like a completely reasonable idea set, but I'd switch the order of economic and defensive if you're going to be in wars against other players early. Replacing espionage with religious/humanist also seems advisable.

[@shingacook2542]

i need economic for the reform... can't wait and stay as horde or i will die! i need it before military tech 9

[@geraldtodd8169]

Plutocratic is an extremely undervalued ideal set paying military points for extra merchant and goods produced is a no brainer

[@victorvazquez9913]

Gerald Todd I think it's more of a economic idea group that nice to take if your playing a tall game with little to no warfare.

[@draconicepic4124]

For me Plutocratic is one of those ideas you get if you have the chance early game. It looses value towards the mid to late game.

[@LilacVeritas]

its more about the opportunity cost with a lot of these groups, sure the bonuses are alright but compared to x, y, z you'd want them instead

[@szymonwojcik659]

question: what nations do you recommend to play to 'get good' at the game? if you go on the forums everyone will say large nations like France or the Ottomans but i feel like those nations, although challenging at the beginning, they just get really easy the further you go, i want a nation that can teach me a lot about the game. I am on about 45 hours into the game so i have the grasps on the fundamental knowledge. new subscriber over here by the way :p

[@ankhi3585]

My personal favourite place to play is SE Asia. It has access to a bit of everything: relatively equally powered neighbours to improve your diplomacy and war management game, a big menacing blob not too far away that you can try and handle, good trade nodes to work on, colonisation opportunities. Only real downside might be the relative small amount of nations. On a similar note the Horn of Africa or a mid-size nation in the HRE are quite interesting too.

[@szymonwojcik659]

ankhi3 sounds interesting thanks for the tips!