Should I not care about it, buy Hearts of Iron 2 now, and/or wait to get HoI3?

It looks painfully complicated, though I do love this time period and I think spending enough time to get the hang of it might pay off. Thoughts?

Reading the AARs and many threads on HoI2 helped me, it don't like alt-tabbing (and have no printer or second screen) to use any of the walkthroguhs on the Hearts of Iron wiki but they are supposed to be really helpful. Mostly you learn by playing and clicknig everything. Actually that's how I learn a lot of stuff in most games, just by trying everything I can.

It's an excellent game, and I recommend getting the Hearts of Iron Anthology (or HoI2 complete) off of Steam, Gamersgate or if you can find it, a hard copy. HoI3 will likely need a couple of patches to balance things out, and none of us will be able to help you learn it as well as we can with 2.

The learning curve is steep and time consuming, but it's worth it.

Wait for HOI3.

HOI2 is awesome. But HOI3 looks awesomly awesome. And it's out next month:D:D:D

What about other games in the series -- Europa Universalis and Victoria? Are they worth getting into?

Definately, EUIII (Complete, with both expansions) is an awesome game, I havn't played Victoria but from what I've read it is the most complciated and deep game in the series, and really good.

I would go for Europa Univeralis first. It's a little bit more forgiving in alternate strategies and a lot larger in its scope while at the same time giving the general idea of how to play a Paradox game. Heart's of Iron is very focused on one aspect of history.

That said, when I purchased the first EU game I saw a 'coming soon' for Hearts of Iron and, given my interest in the Second World War, knew I simply had to buy that game and that it would be my favourite of the Paradox series.

:)

You can actually buy HoI and HoI 2 DD +ARM for $38 on Amazon... just not from Amazon itself =P

It's how I got my copy, paid less for it though...

Victoria's the most complicated, eh? That makes me sad; the 19th century is my favorite era.

Victoria's not that hard really. It has some annoying gameplay mechanics, but is overall a cool game. I figured most gameplay mechanics rather quickly, and figured out general strategy after a half game as Brazil to figure out things. Playing the DD demo and looking at the DD for HoI3, it looks a lot more complicated, but I'm still looking forward to it.

Victoria's not that hard really. It has some annoying gameplay mechanics, but is overall a cool game. I figured most gameplay mechanics rather quickly, and figured out general strategy after a half game as Brazil to figure out things.

In that case, I may pick up Victoria then. Any thoughts on that, everybody else? I haven't played any of Paradox's games but I am in love with historical accuracy in video games.

I see Victoria on Amazon, but not the expansion pack. Is that necessary to pick up, or is it not worth the money?

It's absolutely worth the money. Most everyone who likes the game says it's only complete with the expansion. Just buy it from gamersgate, you could get it for $30 for game plus expansion.

I like Victoria's timeline better as well, but I find EU3 is a funner game

I like Victoria alot.

I do play EU3 but it gets annoying playing as any European country other than France as they always turn uber and slaughter everyone.

HOI Armageddon is the most complicated game I have ever played. It is also the most fun Game I have ever played.

If you are interested in the game, get HOI2 and if you like the series, get HOI3 (http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=415) (check out the Development Diary Archive).. It is going to be epic!!

So I bought Victoria & Revolutions. Just a quick question: do people typically regulate every single part of their country while they're playing, or do they usually play unpaused and fiddle as they go along?

I set my budget paused, check certain things paused, then let things run on full speed. Also, set your education rate to full, at all times, it speeds up research.

I haven't had much chance to play any games recently but I bought the full complement of HoI2 stuff and it's at least pretty good. There are quite a few confusing things though and sometimes I find myself having to click many times to perform a relatively simple action. Still, it's fun, and playing it with the Tiberian Sun soundtrack playing in the background feels good in my brain.

So I bought Victoria & Revolutions. Just a quick question: do people typically regulate every single part of their country while they're playing, or do they usually play unpaused and fiddle as they go along?

Vicky is the best Paradox game. tip: Learn the ropes on Brazil. Sell loads of coffee, use the money you get form that to build factories and educated laboureres up to craftsmen, thus industrlaising

To the OP: I think HOI is fun for a while but playing the same war gets really old. It's inferior to the EU and the Victoria games, but yet it is getting ANOTHER overhaul...which, in Paradox fashion, probably won't be playable until half a year in when the patches fix some of the bigger problems.

EUIII was just compelted as the overhaul for the EU series. I'm sure Victoria is next, then hopefully Crusader Kings can finally be updated :p

They'll have to re-link them all together then...