Good Nation for First GC Game?

[HidekiTojo]

I have just really figured out aacw, I've been playing it on and off since it came out. Basically I have a pretty good idea how the military part works so I don't think that the scenarios are going to be very helpful since it is the economic development/colonial/political/everything other than military part of the game.

I am a little reticent about starting with colonies in place because I want to experience what it is like to create them from nothing.

So which country should I start out as?

I am not averse to starting out as a country like France that has colonies if it is a good beginner country.

I do not want to play as Japan because I dont want to start out as a feudal nation.


Thanks for the suggestions and advice in advance guys!

[HidekiTojo]

also I am very new to this game but I think I have managed to at least figure out the basics

[Gen. Monkey-Bear]

The best nation in my opinion is Belgium. Other forum members recommended it to me when I started and I think it is great. You won't need to worry about colonies for a long time in that case, which should considerably ease it. i hear Sardinia-Piedmont is fun, but I haven't tried it.

[HidekiTojo]

would you recommend keeping the historical SOI option on or off?

I think it feels a bit restrictive myself but what kind of affect does turning it off tend to have on the game?