How to Play Europa Universalis: The Price of Power

The speaker, Shay Parker, expresses enthusiasm for playing grand strategy games, launching into an explanation of the board game "Europa Universalis: The Price of Power." Shay aims to teach viewers how to play it, describing it as a board game adaptation of a complex video game, where players take on roles of Renaissance-era nations aiming for prestige.

Shay stresses the magnitude of the game's commitment, advising viewers to prioritize learning fundamentals over exhaustive rule coverage, noting the video's purpose is to familiarize players with essential mechanics for the game's basic scenario. Importantly, it’s noted that additional resources are available online for deeper guidance.

The game's objective is to amass prestige through various strategies, including warfare, alliances, and trade. Shay explains the starting scenario where players control France, England, Austria, or Castile, outlining setup specifics like controlling towns and having player boards to manage resources and strategic goals.

Players engage through phases and rounds, initially drawing cards and taking turns performing actions tied to administrative, diplomatic, or military powers. They manage actions using resources like power cubes or ducats. Once players exhaust their actions, they pass, prompting phase transitions involving income and clearing for a new round.

Shay delves deeply into the game's mechanics, particularly actionable components. The game board is segmented into provinces that players control, allocating towns to denote ownership. The complexity of realms and NPR (non-player realms) is addressed, introducing vassal relations and influence exertion as gameplay components.

Strategic actions, both major and minor, are discussed, covering aspects like loans, replenishing manpower, and deploying leaders. Diplomatic actions allow placing influence or forming alliances. Military actions such as recruitment and declaring war form another core layer of the strategy.

Administrative actions include stability management and religious conversion. Diplomatic efforts involve influencing NPR realms, forging alliances, and enhancing trade. Shay conveys the complex nature of managing resources, explaining crucial maneuvers and player interactions that define gameplay.

Military actions are expanded, emphasizing recruitment and activating units which are pivotal in engagements. There's a highlight on movement restrictions within friendly and hostile territories, underscoring strategic depth in deploying forces while considering neutral or allied realms.

The combat system is introduced, covering preparation, battling, and retreat rules. Shay thoroughly explains nuances across both land and naval battles, including role assignment and dice mechanics. Terrain and situational modifiers add layers of complexity to strategic confrontations.