Help:Gameplay Guides/Opening Strategies Comparison

Opening National Strategies in Terra Invicta

Thanks to Graveless Gaming for this summary of his related video.

This article compares the three main starting nations in Terra Invicta and provides recommendations for new and experienced players.

Overview of Starting Nations

United States

The United States offers the strongest early-game advantages, primarily due to its exceptional Research output.

Advantages:

• Highest Research output of all starting nations
• Excellent research-to-CP ratio due to wealth and education
• Strong starting Military capable of defending interests until approximately 2030
• High initial Boost capacity

Disadvantages:

• Requires significant internal fixing:
  • High Inequality requiring extensive Welfare investment
  • Relies on declaring/undeclaring wars for temporary Cohesion boosts
• Poor scaling into mid and late game
• Limited population (339 million) compared to other starting options
• Maximum MC capacity of only 99 for extended period
• Expansion includes Mexico, which has severe problems (high inequality, Anocracy, poor economy)

Advanced Strategy Note:

• For Jupiter Rush strategies, focus exclusively on Knowledge to reach Education 12 faster
• This approach worsens inequality-related problems but accelerates research gains

European Union

The European Union excels in the mid-game phase with balanced capabilities.

Advantages:

• Superior mid-game scaling
• High potential Mission Control (approximately 130 with average starting stats)
• Combined population of approximately 550 million
• Better starting government than US
• Eventually gains claims on Russia, Turkey, and more of Europe

Disadvantages:

• Worst initial Research output (50-75% lower than US)
• Slower early-game development
• Boost resources are geographically scattered

China

China offers unmatched late-game potential with some early-game challenges.

Advantages:

• Massive starting population (1.4 billion)
• Unrivaled late-game scaling potential
• GDP of 27 trillion (compared to US at 22 trillion)
• Can expand to include high-quality nations like Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia
• Additional claims on Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Taiwan, and others
• Most expansion targets are in better condition than the US's Mexico

Disadvantages:

• Requires time and Persuasion investment to capture (around 13 Basic Persuasion)
• Slower access to research benefits
• Takes longer to reach peak potential

Strategic Recommendations

For New Players

Recommended Start: China

• Takes longer to secure but acquisition is almost guaranteed
• Massive mid and late-game scaling potential
• Better suited for longer games (2060-2080 timeframe)
• Expansion targets are generally in better condition

For Experienced Players

US Opening:

• Use for early research advantage
• Pivot to EU or China as soon as possible for mid/late-game scaling
• Consider researching "Fall of America" to accelerate Mission Control development

EU Opening:

• Focus on Mission Control development
• Transition to China for late-game dominance
• Let the US decline after extracting value

China Opening:

• Focus on securing high-value adjacent regions (South Korea, Japan, Malaysia)
• Consider having Malaysia expand to Indonesia and Philippines
• With sufficient Control Point capacity (~800), consider claiming EU for its accumulated MC

Other Regional Options

• Africa and Caliphate: Highest late-game potential but extremely difficult to develop
• Eurasian Union: Suboptimal due to Russia's limitations and poor research potential
• South American Union: Considered the weakest mega-state option