Total War vs. Paradox Games - Why I Prefer the Former 

Paradox Campaign and Total War Combat are sitting at a bar, chatting. Players walk in. Players: "Hey! You two make a cute couple!" Paradox and Total War: "Oh, we're just friends." Players: *Sorrow

While I appreciate the depth that paradox games offer, like you, I prefer turn based strategy games. To me, they feel like playing more complicated board games. Also, I find them to have better pacing, unlike time based games where I am often overwhelmed or underwhelmed with things to do.

One thing I would've appreciated in games like hearts of iron, is when it comes into checking in on an operation is going or how your industry is going, little movies would play in a window next to your information, ww2 films and such, just for a bit more flavor and immersion

I prefer Total War because of the battles. The combination of campaign map strategizing and battles that are given context through the campaign is just the best. In Paradox games battles just consist of moving an army into the same province as an enemy's army, and then there's rather simplistic auto-combat calculations and that's that. A game with Paradox's campaign map complexity and Total War's battles would be perfect to me.

Wow man, You've literally mentioned every point why I enjoy Total War games more than paradox as I would have done! And honestly, you've been brave for giving this opinion. Personally, I think many users from paradox community tend to respond to this opinions like if we TW players were dumb because we play real-time battles instead of spending time staring a map and opening menus. I also enjoy a lot some paradox games, specially those which are character-driven like CK2 or Imperator Rome. However, while I enjoy SOME Paradox games, I've enjoyed ALL Total War titles and not only due to their battles. Incredible video! :D

Do you enjoy Paradox games? Civilization?

Do you like Mount & Blade? I feel like M&B is another interesting hybrid where you play an action game, but with tactical and strategic management elements incorporated.

Nice channel, subed after watching a few videos :)

Great points and I agree with you but for me there's one exception: Stellaris. It's on par with TW games for me. Then again it's not historical so it might not be your cup of tea since you didn't mention it. But still, it's an amazing and "believable" universe with incredible atmosphere and probably the only paradox game where the battles feel like real battles. In case you haven't tried it I can highly recommend it(and I'm a big history fan aswell).

Good points! Personally, I play both and often switch between them when I feel tired of it, they offer something different and are a welcome change and breath of fresh air, if you will. Not sure which one I'd prefer as they're both different enough to properly compare them, they rather complement each other in my opinion.

Interesting video. I have been playing Total War games since Medieval II, and it's one of my favourite franchises. However, I've become a little bit jaded over time with some of the TW mechanics, which hadn't been changed over all those years, to the point that I almost don't play it anymore. I'm not interested in Warhammer and Three Kingdoms (althought good in some apsects - like diplomacy) didn't convince me. I'm going back to some of the mods (EB, DeI) from time to time but never finish any campaign. Paradox games are very good, but you made a good point that they feel somewhat "flat", and of course, lack of control over the battles is a big downside. Civilization is to much abstracted for my taste. So overall, there are not to many games these days for historical warfare fan to play :) You might want to check Field of Glory Empires. especially combined with Field of Glory II for tactical battles. Also, there are some really interesting changes to warfare in the upcoming update for Imperator Rome (2.0 patch), which might be worth checking out.

I get into different moods where I prefer one or the other. I'd really like if Total War added things like formable nations and more features for governance. I'm wanting to work on an alternate history mod where the domain of soissons defeat the franks in 486 and I decided Crusader Kings 3 with its decisions and events would be best for it even though it would have been fun in something like Barbarian Invasion. I dunno I may change my mind. It doesn't help that Rome and Medieval 2 have faction limits and the new total war games you can't change the grand map. I haven't really enjoyed Civ since I discovered Total War and Paradox as well.

Have you played Mount and Blade/do you plan on sharing your opinion of it?

I completely agree with you. Just out of curiosity - what did historical Japanese armies look like in the Shogun period? Most other TWs, I try to create reasonably historical army compositions (2:2:1 hastati:principes: triari etc.) but I don't know what one would look like for Shogun 2.

My big turn-off for games like Civ and Total War is the turn based aspect. I don’t know why I dislike turn based aspects but I think it’s that I like being able to out-maneuver the enemy. A good example is getting an encirclement in Hoi4, or racing to cut off an enemy in EU4. There really isn’t that in turn based games. But this is all personal preference, so I’m glad there are different types of games for different play styles.

If Im not too much impolite. Can I ask how old are you. Iove your way to speak. It's on pair with a Europa barbarorum music ambient. Like the classic history teachers I had in my career.

What do you think of Field of Glory: Empire ? It's a bit like Total War and Civ

After watching a few of your videos, I have to ask: 1. Are you Armenian? 2. As a historian, do you work at a university, museum, or some kind of other business? What is it like? What is your area of expertise? 3. What would be your preferred setting for the next historical Total War title?

Is that mod at the beginning Laganjes? I can't tell because there are like a billion campaigns in Laganjes.

I play both. However, I like how one gets to control their army and win through real life tactics and shenanigans. I say shenanigans because sometimes the AI makes a mistake or I do. The leading to a miraculous victory or a truly disgusting defeat. Example playing empire total war I had a pyrhric victory against the English. Their pikemen in darth mod which were the last units on the map walked up a hill and had their pikes facing the red line and not me. I'm like I can win right? We're supposed to win. Having no ammunition I figure if they're facing away and I charge, I'll win. I charge and start loosing men. It's terrifying. I think I have cavalry left which I do. I charge in from the flank not thinking anything of it. I notice some of the cav have run down my own men from the side. They waver and break. They route. The pikes are still wavering. I am praying they break and run past the red line so I win....it happens but I loose 75 percent of my cav and my infantry doesn't stop routing. One of those scenarios where you have a few units to one thinking you'll just crush them into oblivion...but they almost pull out the win.

Man, you're really underrated.

i'm the kind of guy that doesn't appreciate total war battles post medieval 2, still tw are my favorite type of games. But if paradox added a visual representation like stellaris in all of their games, that would be a game changer for me.

What mod plays on the background ? Thanks

I just discovered this mod the other day, but haven’t played it yet, but you may want to look at Total Fots mod for Shogun 2

Interesting video

May I ask the RTW mod at the beginning?

I really love map-painting in video games, and based on that I thought I would love paradox or civ games and gave both a try, but they didn't do it for me, TW games are much more fun for me. It's like comparing movies and books, or apples or oranges.

I know this was probably not intended, but if there is anyone wondering why the war system in Victoria 3 has changed, go to 2:45

Total war its my childhood, I played EU4 since 2015, and it was good, after paradox decides to put a lot of dlcs, come on, playing EU4 without dlcs sucks, meanwhile you can buy some total war and have good experience without the dlcs, rome total war forever!!

I've played Europa and enjoyed it. Lost my hard disc copy, thinking of trying total war. I think I like the turn based strategy element and strategy itself the most, but rome total war 2 looks fun. Also interested in Shogun 2, wondering where to start.

I do like all different aspects of TWS AND PARA... also AGEODgames, plus their Fields of Glory Empires

I wish I could have the depth of the campaign that paradox provides with the real time battles of total war. Divide et impera is the best historical total war experience for me

You could try field of glory empieces, is a mix between Paradox and total war ganes ir you own field of glory 2 too

I still cant figure out how to play Paradox Games:(

If only Paradox hadn't realized how to rip off their customers ad aeternum. I love their games (well, I love Crusader Kings at least), but damn if it doesn't feel gross as hell to support them at this point. I find it really hard to divorce the quality of their games from their appaling corporate policy.

You like Civ, have you checked out Humankind? It may interest you!

Any single game I have far more hours in warhammer total war, but collectively between Stellaris, AoW: Planetfall and AoW4 I have more hours in paradox games

I like the real time feature

Imagine they Collab

I love both equally, but I like a lot of total war games bur only love CK3 and HOI4

for me, its just the combat. combat in paradox games have nothing on total war. But a combination of both would be complex but also perfect

I enjoy all series that you mentioned. Personally i dislike how the war is handled in paradox. It feels like result of battles is dependent only on technology level and numbers of troops. You can rarely witness situations when something happens against all ods. Besides, in paradox games you always have extensive knowledge about forces of your enemies (how much money they have, what kind of troops they have and how many) which really takes away from strategy. Although there is so many mechanics, you need a lot of DLCs and i still feel that some areas needs more depth for a grand strategy game. Nonentheless i really enjoyed them, but i feel that TW games allow me to engage more personally in the process of building a kingdom. Even when its not so in-depth i still find it easier to care about pixels on the screen. I think that TW and Civilization formula are more consistent in its desgin, while Paradox games can be shallow beacuse of the strange combinations of some mechanics having more depth, while others being very surface level and kind of grindy.

You want realism, but do not play mods in Paradox map? Man I love playing CK2 with HIP mod, I love playing EU4 with MEIOU&Taxes mod and so on.

One thing I disagree with is that Total War is supposed to feel more alive. I played lots of strategy games and the only one where the world is "alive" is Victoria 2. All other games including other Paradox games generate their armies out of thin air and sometimes millions of people die in wars to an extent that so many people historically never existed in said area. Wars have no consequence on manpower if you don´t annex land and just wait a few years or turns and attack again. That´s not realistic. In an average eu4 or total war game more men die than it was realistically possible in those regions during history. Victoria 2 on the other hand has a real population system where soldiers get recruited out of that population and if 1 soldier dies your total population shrinks by 1. Depopulation can happen and it is almost impossble to recover in the short time period where the game takes place. Same goes for rebels. Rebels are the point where it´s the most obvious that they are created out of thin air in almost all games. In Attila Total War sometimes there were so many rebels just from one province where I have to assume they were 10x the size of my whole realm but invisible before the revolt happened. In Victoria 2 rebels are real pops who disagree with the government based on their own opinion("Issues") and if you anger them too much they will try to revolt, take over the capital and topple the government or gain independence according to their ideology/nationality.

I want total war empire 2 on a hoi4 map

AGREE TOTALLY! Have you tried HOI3/Black Ice ... first 3.5 years is building up the wehrmacht/economy ... BEFORE starting a war.

Great video,In my opinion even just the first Rome or the first Medieval can easily overclass any Paradox production just because of the way how you can fight the battles on the battle map and the turn system.

I'm someone who enjoys RP( aka not painting the map randomly) and I tend to prefer Total War if I feel like recreating history or creating "alternate empires". On the other hand I don't enjoy most Paradox games, but Victoria 2 and CK2 are my choice when I want to expand more indirectly (by political hegemonies or with the formation of trade empires) or RP as a vassal

I have troubles staying in a Paradox game. Stellaris is probably my favorite, but HOI 4 feels like a giant mess for me (still don't understand the new supply mechanics).

Total war is fun. Paradox games need mods to be fun.

I also prefer Total War (Rome 2 and now trying Warhammer 2) over Paradox because playing total isn't tiresome you can see your units and suffer toy soldier effect and most importantly not much multitasking. Just go and forge the empire.

I think you have the best reviews of this things.Here is my opinion also. First . i think a strategy game become very quickly boring.Every strategy game is repetitive and from that it will become boring.A tactical game is better because is not so repetitive and also is spectacular.You have a big feeling when you beat an enemy with 10 % chance of win. Paradox and civ games are only strategy games.Once you learn how to play you will do the same things again and again. Second.From the point of view on what a game computer should be these games are not games.You suppose lo loose big time in your life to learn how to play (i mean months) reading forums and looking to tutorial or gameplay sessions. They have tons of rules and gameplay mecanics, bad interface (dont tell you all the thinks which are needed to play) so you must memorize. Ok and after you loose so much time learning how to play you must play day and night in order to not forget those rules.If you take a break for 1 year you forget how to play (what are the rules) and you will take from beginning with the learning process. A game must have few rules and those must be presented in the interface. Total War is a game because is much simpler, can be learned quickly, is spectacular, less boring and you can play it any time without fearing that you need weeks in order to remember how to play.

You mod reviews are always about how historical it is and how giant the map is. But it is never mentioned how ai can handle those features in each mod.

Completely agree, i love stellaris and other paradox games, but you cant beat the total war battles to change up the pace

Well, the biggest problem with Paradox is that no fully fleshed out game is under the 150$ threshold. Paradox's dlc policy is why made me abandon EUIV and CK2 despite me loving these games, because they are NOT bad games per se (unlike Imperator Rome). I just can't afford to pour hundreds of dollars into things that should have been in the game at launch.

honestly i just play the total war campaign maps and always just autoresolve battles, yet i still prefer total war to paradox

It's simple, total war has player led battles, paradox games doesn't, on the other hand literally everything else like economy, diplomacy, nation development, politics, interacting with your nation's population, etc, is better in paradox games

I used to play a lot of TW, then I discovered EU2, and that started me down a road to the point where I haven't bought any TW game since Rome 2. EU 4 is hands down the greatest game I have ever played, and IMHO paradox games absolutely wipe the floor with TW games.

Lmao same

I just hate the gaminess and arbitrariness of Paradox games. Want to play as a Muslim leader in CKII? The game pushes you towards choosing elderly wives to avoid heir conflicts and killing all of your relatives. The thing I hate the most is the lack of management. In Eu3 forming a giant Spanish Empire meant garrisoning far flung colonies that barely paid for themselves. In Eu4 that is all handled by puppets and all you do is blob forever and allocate mana points. The games also made attrition meaningless so its just death stacks everywhere. Carefully managing armies is just a waste of time even on Very Hard/Very Hard. Doesn't matter if its Stellaris, Eu4 or Hoi4.

Let me tell you why your wrong. Mods. Without them, total war is a very basic strategy/campaign game, with some pretty cool battles. You have, repeate, have to mod Total war games to get any kind of depth to the campaign, and even with the best total war mods, say ancient empires, divide et empera, Medieval Kingdoms 1212, even back to stainless steel and total realism, without mods, total war games suck. Paradox, on the other hand, I barely mod their games. They have that much depth to them already. And if I do mod, it's not the need for massive total overhauls of the game like total war always requires for any enjoyment. Now, don't get me wrong. I love both Paradox and total war. Total war has produced some of the best mods ever. I've listed several top mods already in this thread. Paradox games you don't have to mod to get a good time from, however, be prepared to buy a shit ton of dlc. But you'll never find that much depth and massiveness in any other game out of the box so we pay. So I guess it depends on how you look at it. I love both. Hell I'm in a divide et impera campaign on Rome right now, but my heart is that imperator 2.0 and hearts of alexander dlc coming out it 1 more day!

Why i prefer TW Chad over Paradox virging = epick fuckin battles ? boom end the video :D

Paradox Games are not even games