Europa Universalis V confirmed

[Sheilbh]

Agreed that the 1337 start date never made much sense to me. Europa Universalis the board game and the original computer conversion was about the emergence of large centralizing states and Europe and the impact of overseas exploration and trade.  But starting from 1337 and going a hundred years out, neither of those trends look like they are in play. If you had to bet on the future in Europe during that period, one would not bet on the large monarchical states.  France was dysfunctional and disintegrating and England would shortly follow.  The Spanish monarchies experienced their own serious problems.  The HRE appeared in slow decline to terminal status.  The state models that looked the most promising were strong city states like Venice or city leagues like the Hanse. 

Yeah - which as you say is also a mode that works in Europe. If you look at Asia during this period there are still Central Asian conquerors and - again actually that looks like an effective social model until the very end of the period with the Qianlong Emperor and Russia. But I think it struggles with the forces that create the Mughals, the Qing, Nader Shah.

[The Brain]

...Chaka Khan.

[Zanza]

Preload finished. On my old machine, let's see if it works.

[Josephus]

I'm also a text guy. I have little patience for You Tube reviews and tutorials. I hate watching others play. In the past I would read manuals or strategy guides as I lay in bed or sat on the throne. Plus it was always a handy reference. I certainly can't do gardening and listen to a game review at the same time.

To each their own, but [again cue Grandpa Simpson] in my time there was nothing like digging out a fresh 200 page manual from the box and reading it ... it's just not the same anymore.

Anyways, I'm gonna spend my evening now watching Quill play as Strasbourg.

[Valmy]

I never did any of those things 

I just played the game. Trial by fire.

[viper37]

Sorry for lobbing one more at you. 

There is no way of avoiding them.

What makes them worse, I guess, is that I do now usually lack the patience to read text reviews. I can listen to a Youtuber's opinion while, say, working in the garden, or, heck, playing a game. I can't read a text review while doing either of those things. So it's much more efficient time-wise (a resource most, most precious), to listen to one of these thumbnail people. Because many of them are actually decent, it's just that they feel obliged to join the thumbnail race.

I can't listen to a video without seeing the image.  I can't remember anything that was said unless I see the people speaking to me.  

Radio and other podcasts are okay, but video content just doesn't work for me.

[The Minsky Moment]

...Chaka Khan.

The forces that created Chaka Khan?  The Queen of Soul, the Prince of Darkness, the Duke of Ellington.

[Syt]

I miss big thick manuals, too, but within a year they'll be woefully put of date.

Imagine trying to keep a manual for Vic3 up to date. (Though I guess that's wikis are for now.)