The Channel Islands?

[Polemists]

Slightly true but we don't know that.

This map is going to be almost geographically speaking quite a bit larger then mideval so they will have to less clutter areas somehow.

For Nations who plan to not build up legions but use economics and blockades to crush people, colonization of islands should be a viable means.

[PBI]

That's a good point, the new landmasses on the campaign map mean that there's likely to be fewer provinces to spend on Europe anyway, meaning we likely will see the Netherlands or Portugal being a single province. They were in M2TW anyway, so unless we are going to see a huge increase in the number of provinces it's likely they will be again.

[macsen rufus]

Those islands were never important

Hmmm, you can make a lot of people feel very slighted about their national heritage with sweeping statements like that.

Let's see, in the time frame of Empires, I can instantly think of: General Isaac Brock, Admiral de Saumarez, "Blue Beard" the privateer (or was it Black Beard, I can never remember which), not to mention their role as an entrepot/smuggling route between Britain, Europe and the New World, and being a constant cause of tension between Britain and France throughout the era. Beside the esteemed Admiral de Saumarez (still a national hero in Sweden, btw) a lot of Channel Islanders served in the navies of the day, earning themselves the nickname of "Chickadees" (non-English speakers, "Ch'i qui dit?" being the Guernesiaise for "What did he say?" )

[Zaleukos]

Beside the esteemed Admiral de Saumarez (still a national hero in Sweden, btw) a lot of Channel Islanders served in the navies of the day, earning themselves the nickname of "Chickadees" (non-English speakers, "Ch'i qui dit?" being the Guernesiaise for "What did he say?" )

Who is this guy? I'm Swedish, a bit of a history buff, and I've never heard the name:) Wikipedia doesnt tell anything either.

While a place like the channel islands might have been important in real life it is uncertain whether they fit with the scale or level of abstraction of a game such as total war, especially as there are other very populous provinces nearby. Islands like the Azores or Bermuda that would be more important for gameplay.

EDIT: I think I found him (I assume he is the James Saumarez who commanded the Baltic navy during Napoleonic times). Not quite a Swedish national hero even if he was appreciated by the king (we've mostly tried to forget the war of 1808-09 as it was a huge disaster that cost us a third of the country).

[PBI]

Islands like the Azores or Bermuda that would be more important for gameplay.

Nice idea, it occurs to me that neither chain is present in M2TW. Didn't Columbus actually sail from the Canaries?

Definitely need lots of islands in the New World and SE Asia, I'm pretty sure some empires such as the Dutch consisted of mostly islands rather than huge landmasses. In Europe they don't need too many, though it might be nice if the Knights of St John on Malta could just about squeeze in (as a rebel settlement with some unique units, I suspect, not important enough for a full faction). Plus obviously Rockall, which you can clearly see must have been of vital strategic importance due to its key central location, large population and abundant natural resources.

[Colonel Flambard]

Plus obviously Rockall, which you can clearly see must have been of vital strategic importance due to its key central location, large population and abundant natural resources.

Yes, with mercenary Periwinkle Musketeers and recruitable Explorers.

[Zaleukos]

Nice idea, it occurs to me that neither chain is present in M2TW. Didn't Columbus actually sail from the Canaries?

He did. Such islands would also be a lot more important if there was a limit to how far ships could go without resupplying (either from a friendly port or by simply stopping to chop down a few trees and refill sweet water supplies).

Other priority islands would be the Carribean sugar colonies, they were immensely valuable and it is rather telling that France rather gave up Canada after the seven years war than lose Martinique and Guadeloupe... The Indonesian islands (which are a good deal bigger than anything mentioned in the thread, and extremely populous) should also be in as they constituted most of the Dutch empire (provided the map covers that area, does it?).

Rockall could be supplemented with Hans Island, a gem that still stirs up emotions between the commonwealth and the foul Danes;)

[PBI]

Such islands would also be a lot more important if there was a limit to how far ships could go without resupplying (either from a friendly port or by simply stopping to chop down a few trees and refill sweet water supplies).

Would become a big consideration if steam ships make it into the game (a bit early I know, but could sneak in as a high end tech), since I believe this was essentially the reason Britain held the Falklands, and various other small islands, so that ships could refuel every few thousand miles rather than carrying enough coal to make the whole trip.

They were not populous, they were not strategically placed, they had no relevant resource, etc, etc, etc.

Unlike Rockall.

[Jolt]

Hmmm, you can make a lot of people feel very slighted about their national heritage with sweeping statements like that.

Let's see, in the time frame of Empires, I can instantly think of: General Isaac Brock, Admiral de Saumarez, "Blue Beard" the privateer (or was it Black Beard, I can never remember which), not to mention their role as an entrepot/smuggling route between Britain, Europe and the New World, and being a constant cause of tension between Britain and France throughout the era. Beside the esteemed Admiral de Saumarez (still a national hero in Sweden, btw) a lot of Channel Islanders served in the navies of the day, earning themselves the nickname of "Chickadees" (non-English speakers, "Ch'i qui dit?" being the Guernesiaise for "What did he say?" )

I'm certain Channel Islands are important to its nationals

As you history within the timeframe of Empire is little, and non-significant. I wouldn't mind having Channel Islands if 80% other more strategic archipelagoes appeared. I'll clarify this later

[Jolt]

I'm certain Channel Islands are important to its nationals

As you history within the timeframe of Empire is little, and non-significant. I wouldn't mind having Channel Islands if 80% other more strategic archipelagoes appeared. I'll clarify this later

Bleh, this needs not clarifying as other people have already said it for me. For the Channel Archipelago, to be in, we'd have to see basically every archipelago from England to India. Azores, Madeira, Canaries, Gorée, Cape Verde, Asunción Island, São Tomé, Mauritius, Zanzibar, Seychelles, Reunión, Maldives, Laccadives and Nicobar Islands. And I'm saying those that actually make sense (and those which I instantly remember as important) entering the game. Every single island of those deserves to be in way, way before Channel islands can even be considered.
They were simply historically non-important, and noone cared about them, except those who exerted control over it. They were not populous, they were not strategically placed, they had no relevant resource, etc, etc, etc.