Forming a Empire, where to start

[Polemists]

So obviously several nations will have a few provinces here or there starting out,that's not what this poll is about.

At the start lots of territory is up for grabs. From maps I have seen in videos and screens it seems that Africa, America, Carribean and India seem the major areas to set up colonies. Obviously colonization is a big part, and as resources are not infinite you will probably have to focus in one theatre starting off.

So this poll is to discuss those options. Where would you start your imperial colonization and why?

Again no right or wrong, just a poll to kill some boredom.


As Austria I plan to try for North Africa starting off, then work my way over and hopefully get in some conflicts and form some alliances. I think it's good cause it's close and has useful trades.

[PBI]

Why put all your eggs in one basket? I intend to simply cherrypick the best provinces wherever they are found and not waste resources on the unproductive ones until later.

My thus well-funded navy's total dominance of the seas will ensure no rival can threaten my trade empire whilst I can prevent them doing the same, keeping them away from the lucrative regions and forcing them to scrabble among themselves over the barren territories remaining.

I will build the British Empire the way it was originally envisaged: A loose trade empire, rather than a vast land empire. The mucky business of actually ruling can be left to the natives, I'm just here to sell guns.

[Alerion]

To go to Africa with Austria seems logical, although the historical answer for us Austrians would be "I'll attack my next door neighbor" ;)

I dont know... I guess I'll try colonizing in different spots...

[Sol Invictus]

Depends on which Faction I am playing of course, but if I am not Britain, I will probably go after any low hanging fruit in the Carribean. Those Sugar islands are prime real estate. Spain will simply need to hold on to what they start with. If Britain, I will concentrate on the riches of India with some small forays into the Carribean. Prussia, Austria, Sweden, Russia, and The Ottomans will mean making life difficult for my continental neighbors for the most part. Not sure what the Dutch will be able to accomplish.

[anders]

I will be establishing some kind of trading and naval presence in every lucrative little spot in every trade theatre.

[Sheogorath]

Southward ho!
India's my target ;)

[darrin42]

I am going to focus on a world scale really. Hold smal colonys here and there. Though my main stage if you like, for Major land Conquest inevitably....will probs be North America. And then India. I'v little interest in Africa, and the Spanish can keep the carribbean! As long as they are decent neighbours that is...

[seireikhaan]

Bah. Why go out of my way all the waaaaaaaaaaay over the Ocean there's a massacre to be had when everyone else sends their forces across the sea?

[LadyAnn]

Gah! Trade everywhere, landgrab in Africa and simultaneously invade two of my neighbors! And I don't autoresolve my battles...

Annie

[Martok]

So I take it you're going to be playing as Prussia first, then?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Polemists]

well. It is starting to sound like almost everything is a "trade theatre"

Obviously America, Carribean and India can be conquered as I have seen screens...tho don't remeber where.

Other then that I guess africa is up in the air, but I would assume they would include the north african strip they included in RTW, and MTW2, of course I could be wrong.

[Rhyfelwyr]

I'll be sending small forces all over the map right from the start. There are so many areas in the world never covered in the TW series before.. I am desperate to try them out!

[ULC]

Actually, I think trades theaters will be normal expanses of the map that will be unconquerable but will have things like ports which require a naval battle to take, so therefore it will only take a bit of modding to throw a few settlements in there.

[The Blind Samurai]

i will go for north America and the Caribbean and maybe south africa with tid bit of India and most of france as Spain

[Majd il-Romani]

I'd go for the Caribbean, it would give the Ottomans an easily defensible foothold in America, from which we can launch attacks on New Spain and North America

[Pontius Pilate]

Originally Posted by Pantsalot
But the thing is that if Africa is going to be another trade theatre
than that is really dull the fact that all you can do with it is have trade rights..
It's included in the map of Europe without them slicing off the bottom so I hope you're
wrong [snip]

What?!?! How can you have a game set in the 18th and early 19th centuries and not include Africa!! That was like thee place to conquer and colonize in that time period! I really wanted to raise that American flag in Tripoli if you know what I mean. Oh well, I guess I just have to plant the flag in the heart of the British Empire and squash the Brits, who doesn't like that?

[Martok]

What?!?! How can you have a game set in the 18th and early 19th centuries and not include Africa!! That was like thee place to conquer and colonize in that time period! I really wanted to raise that American flag in Tripoli if you know what I mean. Oh well, I guess I just have to plant the flag in the heart of the British Empire and squash the Brits, who doesn't like that?

It does appear that most of the continent won't be in the game. However, the northern coast of Africa is in (just like in the past three Total War titles) -- you'll still be able to take Tripoli, never fear.

[Yoyoma1910]

Caribbean.






Everyone loves sugar.

[Haxorsist]

It depends on what faction I'm playing. I'm planning to start as Sweden and will kick some Russian and Dano-Norwegian ass. I'll probably go for North America after that just cuz. I might go for a huge navy and try to gain control of the Mediterranean.

[LadyAnn]

So I take it you're going to be playing as Prussia first, then?

As England, I could go to war with Holland and Spain simultaneously. As Russia: war with Sweden and Ottoman at the same time and still could grab Africa, trade in America and India. As French, have war with England in America, grab Africa and attack the rest of Europe.

Everything I said happened in history, just not at the same time :)

Annie