How to Play Europa Universalis: The Price of Power

[@craftsmenMC]

Fun fact: EU was actually a board game first. The makers of the video game were playing it and went “this is really complicated, it would be much simpler to do this as a video game”. Thus Europa Universalis (and I think paradox interactive as a whole) was born. So this isn’t JUST a reimplementation of the video games: it’s a remake of the original board game. At least that’s how I remember it. Might be getting stuff wrong.

[@TKaz84]

Europa Universalis: The Board Game: The Video Game: The Board Game took too much space on the cover 😅

[@RTFM]

Neat! I didn't know that!

[@craftsmenMC]

@@RTFM well now you know! ☺️ happy to be of service!

[@jtfike]

If I hadn’t been playing EU since the first EU video game, I confess this would be a beast to learn. And even the board game has so many elements that video game familiarity makes it easier.

[@theinnerparty5295]

Heavy board gaming at its absolute finest. A triumph.

[@jasono.6168]

Complicated? Yes. Absolutely awesome? Also, yes!

[@Abahrelgazalia]

Great video! This is a game where you really have to play a bit to start to understand how all of the rules and systems fit together. Generally, though, they fit together pretty well and it's an epic experience worth the time. One mistake I saw: If another player takes your realm's event, you may choose to take the monarch on that event for free. You only pay two admin power for the ruler if the event remains unpicked at the end of the round.

[@RTFM]

Ah, quite right. The publishers didn't even spot that one. I've added a note. Thanks!

[@Sumosh27]

I had more than 5k hours at EU4. I can say that this version is worth to learn and play. Guide is crystal clear. Appriciated sir ❤

[@RTFM]

Thanks! That's an impressive record btw!

[@Malakai705]

5k wow nice! I have 1.5k and thought that was much...

[@Unfawkable]

Never thought I'd see the day when I would play a board game more complicated than Twilight Imperium. Hope it grows on me, looks magnificent.

[@andersolin3084]

Your Twilight Imperium video saved me many hours, and this will do that as well! Thank you sir!

[@RTFM]

Happy to help!

[@jomarba2]

I've been waiting for this video for a long time. Thank you for taking the massive amount of time just to make it and learn the rules. Your videos are a breath of fresh air, simple and straight forward. Im sure I will learn this game in no time.

[@RTFM]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

[@heinhtetoo-h2o559]

yes! This is the video I’ve been waiting for. Thx for the detail explanation. This helps a lot. Now I can ease my group into the game with this video.

[@RTFM]

Glad you like it! Happy to help!

[@Sajatzsiraf]

Well, let's say it like this, if this was the first time I would have ever seen any content about this game, I would buy it immediately. As it stands, it should arrive within a couple weeks already. :)

[@bardospace]

I'm so glad I found this video! I backed this game as my teenage son LOVES the computer game (but like you at the beginning, i have never quite been able to bring myself to hit that start game button on the video game). I know I could figure it out on my own, but this video is really going to help speed up the process of learning this beast. Thank you!

[@RTFM]

Thanks! Glad I could help!

[@bigzhopel1608]

Necroposting for sure but god how good the editing is. Thank you for the video, man. Appreciated!

[@RTFM]

Thanks! Glad you like it!

[@timberthus2562]

No such thing as necroposting on KZbin.

[@vanslade2977]

This is awesome. One of the most difficult boardgame to learn, explained by one of the Best! This is perfect thanks for the work.

[@RTFM]

Thank you so much!

[@the80thdoctor78]

Truely excellent! Thank you so much sir. I played the game a couple of times but I never really understood what I really did often times. This helped me a lot declattering my brain.

[@RTFM]

Happy to help!

[@drhartsig]

Excellent video, thank you! There were two errors I noticed so far. One in the section regarding rulers changing due to events (no admin cost if another player took your event, yes admin if no one took it), and one in marriage to another player (the deck to draw from is chosen by the active player)

[@RTFM]

Thanks! I had already added a note about the ruler cost, but I'll add another for the marriage card draw.

[@peterixon8708]

Excellent video. Thanks so much for simplifying what can initially appear an intimidating game.

[@RTFM]

Thanks! Happy to help!

[@adryxele9080]

absolute master piece of an explanatory video, thank you sir.

[@RTFM]

Thank you so much! Glad you like it!

[@carrickrichards2457]

Useful, well organised and thorough. Thank you, your help was very neccessary. FYI 'Lets get started' @ 2:15

[@Shoknar]

Thank you for this video. It was extremely clear and precise. I was able to understand many obscure points even if I still have some left^^. Your examples are perfect and you showed a nice set of the game. Thanks to you, once again.

[@RTFM]

Glad I was able to help!

[@karstenengelmann925]

Lol! I did not notice the ..i.. on London during the declare war segment until the second time around! 😂😂😂

[@benjaminlewis4667]

Amazing introduction video! Masterpiece of a game.

[@RTFM]

Thanks!

[@ibrahimerol5639]

Tomorrow (Saturday) we are going to play our first game with 6 players. I'm very excited and here to learn some stuff. Looking at rule book, have some knowledge from PC game (100+ hours and still noob). Still feelling I don't know anything, a bit nervous :)

[@RTFM]

Hope it goes well for you!

[@dawafflesupreme]

The opening was very funny, made me say "ahaha".

[@ImperatorZed]

Great introduction to an amazing game.

[@RTFM]

Thanks!

[@Kim_Jong-un1356]

...just like my parents wanted for me. LOL =D

[@clearyourthirdeye]

Thanks, this is very helpful!

[@RTFM]

Glad I could help!

[@mordenthral8624]

Looks like the expanded gameplay example isn't up at Aegir Games yet. Great job on this, I was just reading through the rules myself.

[@RTFM]

Yeah, I was told it would be up pretty soon after I posted this but oh well.

[@Torkeep]

You should definitely try the video game. Start on the learners Island (Ireland) and go from there. That said, now I want to see a playthrough of the board game! ;)

[@RTFM]

One of these days I'll get to it. It's just such a big hurtle to get started. Once I do I'm sure I'll get sucked in. As for playthroughs, this is a tough one because of how long and complicated it is, otherwise I would've done a runthrough of it over on Rahdo's channel. That being said, I am considering doing full game playthroughs on RTFM at some point, but that'll probably be a little while.

[@Torkeep]

@@RTFM yes, I figured it might be on Rahdo's channel, but if you do it on your channel, even better. I agree that it is a big beast though, and no playthrough is going to be short. As for the video game, I would almost suggest starting with no expansions enabled, just clean vanilla, though I admit that with all the patches, it may still be intimidating, and I am not entirely sure how much added complexity the patches would add.

[@ottobenthaus3349]

@@RTFM and once you ate accustomed to The game Switch to The anbennar mod

[@joetheeskimo8885]

Ireland is only learners island in Crusader Kings. With EU4 you'll want something like Portugal or the Ottomans.

[@3MBG]

Excellent work on this video. Very well done. I love the wee asides as well about colonialism and crusades.

[@RTFM]

Hey thanks! I really appreciate that!

[@BrandonCollins907]

very thorough. Thanks dude.

[@vincentlemmens3206]

Great video ! It has been very helpful. Was wondering if Aegir Games was considering having subtitles for this video in other languages than Klingon 😉

[@nikolaus.kopernikus]

Errata: You only have to pay 2 admin. power for a new purple ruler, when it is the remaining event in the game with a historical leader on it. Otherwise, if another player picks an event with an opponent‘s realm ruler, you don‘t have to pay for it.

[@RTFM]

Yep, there's already a note added about that.

[@WiseWombat]

Just letting you know that there is a mistake when discussing Reatreat from battle at kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5K9qIuBaKyoeKc the defender cannot retreat across a sea zone. They can only retreat to a province adjancent by land.

[@RTFM]

So I'm looking at the rulebook and it doesn't specify that they must retreat by land, just that it must be an adjacent area. Coastal areas with ports are considered adjacent if they face the same sea zone, which is why it seems like this would be ok. That being said, I've sent a message to the designer and will add a note if my interpretation is incorrect.

[@JohnSmith-nh2te]

This is awesome

[@bergstro]

Thank you so much for this.

[@RTFM]

You're welcome! Happy to do it!

[@ThoriberoCaroli]

Thanks! I am thoroughly in love with this game, but I do amdit I need some dating advice to make it work. X)

[@Faither011]

thank god they made it into a good game

[@Squatch_needs_no_heroes]

Shea is the king.

[@Moffattt]

random question from a guy who just found out about this game. does advisors and leaders/generals clear their injury at the end of the turn? or are they permanent until they die?

[@eivindvetlesen856]

They are permanent. These represent general health, both aging and wounds. There's a card that'll let you heal one wound immediately following a Battle however.

[@obiezeoputa7748]

Thank you. Great video

[@timoseppa9124]

Enjoying the video. Note to your future self: You will need a haircut.

[@JesperHasteen]

I think this game might be more difficult than EU4 :P

[@후회-y3l]

When trading Provinces between players, only the active player pays 1 Administrative Power? or the other player pay for it too?

[@robertomendeztorres]

Both pay the Administrative Power.

[@sylvander4972]

whyyyy did I buy this game XDDD It will take more effort to learn this then making a spacerocket

[@Twotailedkit]

i roflmao i have the same phone wallpaper on my work phone :)

[@RTFM]

Haha nice! I find it very helpful.

[@jessel3621]

The trigger warning about colonialism is pretty laughable. This is a historical game with assassinations and wars.

[@charles8601]

Trust me, EU4 is super easy, all you have to do is select the Ottomans on the start screen and you win!

[@deathstar9297]

i live in turkey how can i buy this board game

[@RTFM]

I don't know if they have worldwide shipping, but you can buy it at their website aegirgames.com

[@Jezza_One]

Any thoughts on the giant play mat. Do you find the game board isnt big enough?

[@RTFM]

I occasionally found the board to be a little busy when there's a lot of pieces on them. Made it kinda difficult to find certain regions with my kindergarten level geography skills. So for that I might recommend it, but the game does already take up a ton of space, so you better have a big enough table if you want the board to be even bigger.

[@Jezza_One]

@@RTFM I have a massive gaming table 10 foot by 4 foot. 👍

[@RTFM]

@@Jezza_One oh well then yeah, go nuts

[@E_Poltz]

Where can I buy this outside the US it Europe?

[@RTFM]

You can buy it at the publisher's website aegirgames.com

[@konradb.5305]

why... why i bought this game... it's massiiiiiveeeeee....

[@Anomaliateam]

How cut draw with other players? i didn't see any rules about it

[@RTFM]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Can you rephrase that?

[@Anomaliateam]

@@RTFM how cut ties between player (for every time a tie happen during the game,not only for the resolve of tier of the trade cards)

[@RTFM]

@@Anomaliateam Unfortunately there are different tiebreakers for different effects in the game. If you give a specific trigger I could tell you, but there's no one standard method.

[@Anomaliateam]

@@RTFM So you could tell me all kind of tiebreakers? (it should not exist so many i think )

[@RTFM]

@@Anomaliateam Well...no. I mean I could, but the rulebook is huge and I don't want to go through the entire thing finding every possible tiebreaker. What I recommend is not worrying about it until you come across an issue where you would be tied. Then just look up the rules for that specific thing.

[@Ar_bgg]

Nice and useful video, talking too fast though

[@ronaldg7522]

Holy sh..

[@harrowedone974]

the board game is definitely harder than the pc game.

[@RTFM]

Well then maybe I'll finally have to give the video game a try

[@caladanbruth9549]

After watching this video I am a little worried about how colonization is handled in this game. Is there any historical reference in the rule book about this period of time? Is it possible to play without colonization?

[@robertomendeztorres]

The Rulebook contains the following text about colonization: “While some states will flourish in this environment, and even grow into positions of global dominance, other civilizations will suffer and disappear almost completely A lot of what the colonial and imperialist powers of that era did in their struggle for power and riches is of course highly problematic when viewed through modern eyes. Knowledge of the many key events and developments of that time period is nonetheless crucial to understanding how we have come to be where we are in the world of today. The game views the world through the eyes of the European powers of that day and age, not because we endorse what they did, but because it is a way to help us understand some of the choices they made. Perhaps we can then see more clearly how or why parts of history unfolded in the way they did, while also giving players the freedom to explore somewhat realistic “what if” scenarios in the setting of this time period.” You can play some Scenarios in which the colonization aspect of the game is not in play. Also you can create your own Scenarios that would do exactly that.

[@Mr_J1984]

Love the video, don't love the compulsive need to apologize for history you had zero part in. It's cringey and awkward. Please stop. It's a board game, not a philosophical treatise.

[@chadmrrsn]

It made it hard to follow too

[@Malakai705]

I kind of like it. But I understand that it can feel weird being interrupted when trying to understand complex rules.

[@Breakingbad_habits]

@@Malakai705I agree, I think its good to acknowledge the very real and often horrible history of what we are simulating when playing this game

[@radamescorujo5578]

It's history. instead of feeling grossed by IT and afraid to talk about it, Learn from it. THOSE THAT Don't KNOW THEIR HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT.

[@bojohannesen4352]

​@@radamescorujo5578no one mentioned being grossed out by or afraid of history. Don't build strawmen.

[@dawafflesupreme]

This game solidifies my belief that video games should not be DIRECTLY adapted to board game versions. XCOM's board game only worked because it was a fresh angle and not at all like the game.

[@chepachii]

This game is freaking awesome bro. Several plays and its a straight 10/10

[@Sajatzsiraf]

I would strongly disagree with this. Many forms of entertainment have made the crossing successfully. And, this is not a direct adaptation, there are several adjustments, a lot of streamlining, and exploration of alternate ways to give the same 'feel' as the pc version did. I would venture to guess that if you have invested time and energy into the Paradox grand strategy games, with enjoyment, then this will be great for you. Otherwise, what would have been needed is a completely different sort of game, which is entirely against what the designers, the IP owner, and ultimately the players were looking for.

[@taxag1134]

After playing both a solo campaign and a couple multiplayer campaigns with earlier versions of the rules of this board game, I disagree. I feel like the developers have done a great job of translating EU4 into a board game that has the feel of the PC game and actually plays well. A lot of EU4's mechanics actually translate quite well, in my opinion. Most importantly, though, I have enjoyed every minute playing this board game. Its a LONG game, though, and Shea wasn't kidding when he said to expect to dedicate a weekend to playing it with a group (at least any of the longer scenarios), but I have definitely come away each time feeling like it was worth my time to spend doing so.

[@mzy115]

what man? you think xcom board game is ok? and you think EUPOP is not? I dont know how wrong you are.

[@ImperatorZed]

The video game of Europa Universalis is an overcomplicated unplayable mess. The board game is awesome and playable. I'd say the board game fixed the video game.

[@bigbigtimeboy]

Dude...thanks a bunch... I was planning on setting up the Deluxe full mat to start and just slug through it....BUT after watching I think I'll start basic for the first game. Thx bro!

[@RTFM]

Haha, yeah definitely go for a smaller one your first time out. Once players have experience it goes a lot faster, but the sheer number of options really slows things down when you're learning.

[@WinnieTehPoop]

Ritalin

[@jomarba2]

I've been waiting for this video for a long time. Thank you for taking the massive amount of time just to make it and learn the rules. Your videos are a breath of fresh air, simple and stright forward. Im sure I will learn this game in no time.