Colonies, eh?

[Megas Methuselah]

Will any of you guys bother yourselves with colonies? For some land-locked nations, you'll start a few steps behind other nations in establishing colonies. Will it even be worth the effort? Or will your main focus be on mainland Europe/other homeland?

[batemonkey]

I will be busy painting the map red from the get go

i'll start off by capturing areas near naval coke points, and once i dominte the oceans, well, see my sig

[Greyblades]

I think it will depend on which country I will be; As Britain I would have little real need for lands in europe and the chances of my homeland being attacked are low (being and island and all) so I will have less concerns about being backstabbed while concentrating on colonies.
This is in contrast to playing as france or spain where I have about 3 or more direct neigbours all waiting for your defences to become neglected and weak enough to grab easily. If I was playing as them I would spend the first few turns being more interested in making sure my borders are secure before I can start taking over colonies.
And of corse there are the land locked and mediteranian factions that will not provide incentive to get myself in on the colony scene, therefore I would end up beating my neigbours over the head with a blunt stick, as per total war tradition. :viking:

[Monk]

It will be determined hugely by who you pick at the start. Britain and Spain, for example, will likely be huge colonial powers and you'll need to really balance your strengths in each theater of operations. Someone like Prussia however will be much more focused on mainland Europe.

It's sorta like picking what type of game you'd like to play, do you wanna focus solely on europe, or do you wanna manage and establish lots of colonies?

[Sir Beane]

The real fun is in picking a faction well known for one thing and then taking them in a completely different direction.

Why not Play as Austria and become the foremost colonial power, or take Britian for a spin and try and dominate Europe.

Or, once mods are out, play as Hannover or Savoy or the Khanate of the Crime and go and take America :2thumbsup:.

[Mailman653]

I think France starts out with Louisana in the Americas, as long as I keep the Lion happy, I can harrass the Spanish in the Carribean.

[Fisherking]

I would like nothing better than taking a country and making it a colonial power. Particularly after we get all the factions opened up.

Austria should have at least one seaport at start. They held Trieste from 1300 something… It is time they get around to building a navy.

Bavarian India would be a nice change, don’t you think?

Loads of possibilities! All we need is the game…

[ArtillerySmoke]

I'll definitely establish colonial holdings early on in the game, especially if expansion is unviable without drawing me into a major war.

I'm playing as France first so - expansion overseas is probably a fast track to security and prosperity at home. It should allow me to tech up a couple of times before I start painting Europe blue :whip:

[Megas Methuselah]

It would kind of be fun playing a game as a small German state, but establishing a bunch of colonies abroad. I really neeeeed this game...

[Sir Beane]

It would kind of be fun playing a game as a small German state, but establishing a bunch of colonies abroad. I really neeeeed this game...

So do we all... :laugh4:

[ArtillerySmoke]

So do we all... :laugh4:

QFT.

March 4th can NOT come soon enough.

edit: Proof? My birthday is Sunday and I couldn't care less. It's Wednesday I care about. Every time I pass my local Gamestop I see the huge Empire banner and think about how long it's going to be. Not too long at this point. Knowing my luck my PC will explode during installation.

[Monk]

Another good way to play might also be to establish colonies across the map, but then sell them off to the highest bidder/best tech advanced nation. Sort of like a 18th century real-estate tycoon, only with lots of war and killing. :laugh4:

You could easily amass technologies or even political alliances by subjugating vast tracks of land and then selling them off for some really stuff, then when you're strong enough from your dealings and have enough strong allies start to bully your neighbors a bit for some permanent acquisitions ~D

[ratbarf]

So do we all...

Some of us need new computers too.

[ArtillerySmoke]

Another good way to play might also be to establish colonies across the map, but then sell them off to the highest bidder/best tech advanced nation. Sort of like a 18th century real-estate tycoon, only with lots of war and killing. :laugh4:

You could easily amass technologies or even political alliances by subjugating vast tracks of land and then selling them off for some really stuff, then when you're strong enough from your dealings and have enough strong allies start to bully your neighbors a bit for some permanent acquisitions ~D

See, when running campaigns with naval powers, I'll probably employ a similar strategy. Imagine as the Spanish, repeatedly sacking colonies and selling them back to the British while building an economic and technological powerbase at home. After a while your small, teched up nation could build an unstoppable army and explode upon it's neighbors.

[Sir Beane]

Another good way to play might also be to establish colonies across the map, but then sell them off to the highest bidder/best tech advanced nation. Sort of like a 18th century real-estate tycoon, only with lots of war and killing. :laugh4:

You could easily amass technologies or even political alliances by subjugating vast tracks of land and then selling them off for some really stuff, then when you're strong enough from your dealings and have enough strong allies start to bully your neighbors a bit for some permanent acquisitions ~D

Messing around with the 'balance of power' by selling tiny nations huge numbers of provinces would be fun. In one turn Hannover could go from minor power to world leader :laugh4:.

Sitting in a secure position and messing with the fates of other nations can be a lot of fun.

[Dramicus]

If playing a landlocked power (or nearly) such as Prussia, I would adopt a "Europe First" policy. However, once my position is relatively secure, I would not be opposed to reaching out and conquering the colonies established by other nations. An early, reverse D-Day in the 18th or 19th century would be interesting indeed.

[A Very Super Market]

Whats a reverse D-day?

And Hannover did become a major power. English monarchs are still Hanoverians.

[Polemists]

I plan my first game to be Austria, but as mentioned else where I plan to conquer the Carribean, and let militia hold/try to secure Europe. My main army though will be conquering the carribean.


Everyone does it different but I always like to change history slighty :)

I am expecting a long drawn out war between Austria and Prussia tho, just given Jack's swedish report. Mainly because it seems you can't wipe out a nation in five turns anymore :P

[Sheogorath]

My first action in my Marathas campaign will be to invade England :P

I think that answers your question nicely.

Possibly, I will force the English to grow tea, despite England being more or less totally unsuitable. They'll grow it anyway, by Vishnu!

That whole 'God, King, and Country!' thing will need revising too. From now on, it will be "Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Gautama, Kalki, King and Country!'

(The Marathas were Hindu, right? I can never keep which Indian states were Hindu and which were Muslim straight.)

[A Very Super Market]

Though you probably have already searched up the answer on wikipedia, I shall answer your question anyways!

Uh... yes

[peacemaker]

ive never liked overseas or far-away places. Too annoying to keep remembering to manage them, plus they'll likely be under attack. I figure I'll just build up my own empire where I am at home or if I have to move to another part of hte world

[PanzerJaeger]

As Prussia, I will eliminate Poland as soon as possible. Then I'll hit Sweden and secure Scandinavia, which will provide some relatively secure and easily defendable profit centers. During this time if funds allow my Western borders will be reinforced and a fleet will be built to ensure localized superiority in the Baltic Sea. From there... a slow and steady expansion into Russia...

[A Very Super Market]

Hmm... I wonder if the game will model Russian winters...

[Polemists]

I think part of it will be how colonies work.

I know you will have a govenor and obviously do buildings and units like usual, but I'm curious to see how they play out. Once I see how much I like or dislike them will probably weight heavily on if I use them in my other campaigns or not.

If they just become a outrageous amount of unrest similar to eastern provinces in RTW then I'll probably just ignore them later on.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

I wonder, as Russia, is it possible to go south, destroy Persia and then conquer India? It should be possible to enter India that way?
Or is it really the only way you can go to India by sailing around Africa?

[Sir Beane]

I wonder, as Russia, is it possible to go south, destroy Persia and then conquer India? It should be possible to enter India that way?
Or is it really the only way you can go to India by sailing around Africa?

You can also get to India by walking there across the Middle East :2thumbsup:.

[batemonkey]

I wonder, as Russia, is it possible to go south, destroy Persia and then conquer India? It should be possible to enter India that way?
Or is it really the only way you can go to India by sailing around Africa?

This my friend was the essence of 'The Great Game (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Game)'

With many of it's consequnces still playing out today in places like Afganistan and Iran

[Sheogorath]

This my friend was the essence of 'The Great Game (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Game)'

With many of it's consequnces still playing out today in places like Afganistan and Iran

I think this is a convenient place to provide a Shameless plug for my mod idea. (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=113257)

Yo :loveg:

[Rhyfelwyr]

I'm going to sit safely on the British Isles, forging a mighty trading empire and taking nothing to do with Europe until I own the rest of the world! Although I might crush a Jacobite rebellion or two... :smash:

[ULC]

I will be playing as Russia - first order of business will be to make sure Sweden knows it's place in the world. Follow that up with a landing in Quebec and circumventing the Cold War ~;p

[Dramicus]

Whats a reverse D-day?

Oh, its just Germany launching an amphibious invasion of North America, which would be the reverse of what happened in reality.

[A Very Super Market]

But... D-day was launched from England... with a majority of commonwealth troops...

Eh, the analogy doesn't quite work, but I will be using Prussia first. And I won't have time for colonies, not with the Poles, Russians, Swedes and other Germans on my back

[Dramicus]

But... D-day was launched from England... with a majority of commonwealth troops...

Eh, the analogy doesn't quite work, but I will be using Prussia first. And I won't have time for colonies, not with the Poles, Russians, Swedes and other Germans on my back

Bah, you get the gist of what I meant, there is little to be gained by arguing over semantics. About Prussia not having the time for colonies due to all the reasons you mentioned, that is exactly why I intend to let the other nations go through the trouble of establishing colonies.

Once you are secure in Europe, you can then expand your reach by taking through military means what everyone else worked so hard to create at relatively little cost to yourself, provided you plan accordingly and don't botch the invasion.

But of course, that is the tricky part, isn't it?

[Freedom Onanist]

Bah, you get the gist of what I meant, there is little to be gained by arguing over semantics. About Prussia not having the time for colonies due to all the reasons you mentioned, that is exactly why I intend to let the other nations go through the trouble of establishing colonies.

Once you are secure in Europe, you can then expand your reach by taking through military means what everyone else worked so hard to create at relatively little cost to yourself, provided you plan accordingly and don't botch the invasion.

But of course, that is the tricky part, isn't it?Hmmmm.... That didn't work for old Kaiser Billy though did it? He threw his dummy out of his pram about wanting a piece of "empire" as well. He wanted an empire like granny Victoria as well. Not fair!!!!

Anyway, it all went a bit wrong and he ended up with alittle retirement home in Holland a few years later. Just goes to show, one minute, German Emperor and Prussian King, the next, pensioner in Holland :laugh4:

You'd be best off getting stuck in straight away.

[Dramicus]

Hmmmm.... That didn't work for old Kaiser Billy though did it? He threw his dummy out of his pram about wanting a piece of "empire" as well. He wanted an empire like granny Victoria as well. Not fair!!!!

Anyway, it all went a bit wrong and he ended up with alittle retirement home in Holland a few years later. Just goes to show, one minute, German Emperor and Prussian King, the next, pensioner in Holland :laugh4:

You'd be best off getting stuck in straight away.

Ah but the problem with that was he attempted to scratch up some colonies from whatever was left over. I'm not talking about establishing colonies in the last few territories that no one wanted late game, I'm suggesting a full-scale invasion of already established colonies.

[Hax]

I'll hang around a bit in my Seven Provinces and try to cling on to my colonies at Indonesia Netherlands-Indies. Also, I want Nieuw Amsterdam back. Or I'll play as the Ottomans and kick those damn Austrians from the walls of Vienna!

[Polemists]

Just because your a landlocked faction dosn't mean you can't take part in Colonlization if want you to.

I will be playing Austria and go off conquering.

The key is if you are willing to make friends with those who would be historically your rivals. As clearly I can't be historic austria and fight Ottomans, Poland, Prussia, German states, and Spain and still hope for colonies.

It's all about making choices :)

[Sir Beane]

If you happen to be landlocked at the start just keep taking territory until you aren't :2thumbsup:. It's both simple and profitable.

[Polemists]

actually if you look at the map no nation I can see is landlocked at the start. I think every nation has a port province.

Which makes sense as this is a naval game after all.

[Sir Beane]

actually if you look at the map no nation I can see is landlocked at the start. I think every nation has a port province.

Which makes sense as this is a naval game after all.

I don't think any of the major nations are landlocked, but some of the minor ones are.

[ArtillerySmoke]

actually if you look at the map no nation I can see is landlocked at the start. I think every nation has a port province.

Which makes sense as this is a naval game after all.

What's going to be really deep strategy is balancing expansion and peace within your empire.

It's going to be really tempting to start expanding on another continent, but this will definitely leave us vulnerable at home for at least a period of time. That is, unless you build a significant continental army and keep it at home just in case first.

[Polemists]

Well as I want to conquer the carribean (Trade theatre) I guess I get to find out just how useful the militia is.

You know since they probably have to hold off the entire Ottoman empire with 500 guys and two cannons....yay.....

Here's hoping some other nation that is not Austria will occupy thier attention....pirates?

[Greyblades]

Well the barnaby states (I think thats what they are called) are in it, but they seem very buddy-buddy with the ottomans from what I saw in the screenshots.

[Sir Beane]

Well the barnaby states (I think thats what they are called) are in it, but they seem very buddy-buddy with the ottomans from what I saw in the screenshots.

At the time they were an Ottoman protectorate. The Ottomans probably appreciated the fact that they took christians as slaves and disturbed christian shipping, but generally left Muslims alone.

They are, however, hated by just about everyone else. Apparently they raided for slaves as far North as Iceland. Over the years they wiped out entire villages and took thousands of Europeans hostage. Apparently people stopped living near the coast in many areas of Italy, for fear of being attacked.

They'll be one of the first Nations to go if I have my way. And the rest of Europe will probably thank me for it :2thumbsup:.

[Polemists]

At the time they were an Ottoman protectorate. The Ottomans probably appreciated the fact that they took christians as slaves and disturbed christian shipping, but generally left Muslims alone.

Common Knights of Malta....save me :)

[SirGrotius]

I'm hoping they'll at least be profitable from a trade prespective. I wish the game kept track of PRESTIGE.

[GMaximus]

Common Knights of Malta....save me :)
What about the Sefevids? From what I recall, they're not very buddy-buddy with the Ottomans...

[Sir Beane]

What about the Sefevids? From what I recall, they're not very buddy-buddy with the Ottomans...

They seem to like he Barbary states though, if the screenshots are accurate. Probably because they are both Muslim.

[Polemists]

Supposedly the Knights of Malta are quite the powerhouse early on, and if you read the Campaign report from Ottomans they do attack them early on.

Ottomans are so big i'm sure they'll have lots of hate, if you look at the one diplomatic screen the whole map is red for them lol. Plus they get revolts like everyone else. Though i'm curious what emergent factions they can get.

[A Very Super Market]

I wonder if you can install client states, like the mamelukes.

[quadalpha]

(Where is this Ottoman report I keep hearing about?)

[Polemists]

It's over at the total war forum center. Title Ottoman Campaign report.

It is actually from a turkish website but it was loosely translated on other forums


http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=227782&highlight=Ottoman