# The Europa Universalis series vs. the Civilization series?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-europa-universalis-series-vs-the-civilization-series/589997>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [July 22, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-europa-universalis-series-vs-the-civilization-series/589997 "2011-07-22T16:40:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Buddinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce7236/32.png) [@Buddinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buddinge)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-europa-universalis-series-vs-the-civilization-series/589997/1 "2011-07-22T16:40:14Z")

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Discuss.

Go!

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**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-europa-universalis-series-vs-the-civilization-series/589997/2 "2011-07-22T18:03:23Z")

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I like both.

Civ 4 is less detailed, easier to intuit. Full game playable in a (longish) day.

EU III has lots of micro management options for when I’m in the mood, the different nations somehow _feel_ different, but it’s sometimes frustrating when I can’t figure out why I’m not winning any battles. Also, not generally playable in one sitting.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-europa-universalis-series-vs-the-civilization-series/589997/3 "2011-07-22T19:03:25Z")

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Does EU encompass any non-European civilizations?

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**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-europa-universalis-series-vs-the-civilization-series/589997/4 "2011-07-22T19:11:58Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> Does EU encompass any non-European civilizations?

Yes, you can play as China (whatever dynasty that’s called), Japan, the Inca’s, and so on.

The non-Christian and non-Muslim nations have some type of penalty or other to various tasks, like colonizing unclaimed territories, or incorporating populations of conquered provinces (more unrest, I think). I can’t remember what else, but it can push some players into playing a European power more often than not. (Religion was a powerful cultural identifier, and this is reflected in parts of the game.)

There is also an overall game difficulty setting in the options, so setting that to easy-peasy mode can help mitigate the negative effects of trying to run a pagan country.

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**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-europa-universalis-series-vs-the-civilization-series/589997/5 "2011-07-22T19:41:05Z")

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I prefer Paradox strategy games to Civ games, but they’re both a lot of fun.

The Civ games are more “gamey”–fast-paced and well-balanced. Like a glorified chess game. The variety is in the randomness of the maps.

Paradox games are better for “counterfactuals”–can I unify Germany, or Scandanavia, or India? Can I prepare the Incans for the inevitable invasion of Europeans? Can I make Korea a regional power? Games are like warfare: long stretches of boredom punctuated by briefs moments of intensity.