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 ;)

[Wausser]

Can't vote in the poll yet


I'll grab the Dutch East-Indies (if they are in the game) and try to expand it

[Martok]

There; I added in a "Gah!" option. Much better.

For me, it really will depend on who I'm playing -- obviously factions like the Dutch and British better lend themselves to a naval/trade empire stratagem, while nations like Austria and Russia will more heavily favor large land empires. (I can't wait to colonize Florida as the Ottomans, though. ) I'll also be keeping an eye on what everyone else is doing, and plan accordingly.

I'll grab the Dutch East-Indies (if they are in the game) and try to expand it

CA has said the East Indies are in as a "trade theater", but you can't actually colonize/conquer them. I'm afraid you'll have to plant your flag somewhere else.

[GMaximus]

I'll probably go for ye olde 'attack my neighbour'. At could actually be more fun in ETW if diplomacy is improved, then it'll finally be possible to be the one gang-beating on a faction instead of being on the recieving end of (usually poor attempt at) a gang-beating.

[Fisherking]

This is something to ask me on about the 10th of Feb…

I’ll need to get a feel for the possibilities first…but as India, North America, and the Caribbean Islands can have land units, and as I understand it , Africa is a trade theater I will likely want to play with sending troops and worry about Africa when I have spare ships.

[Incongruous]

India! most definatley, that tasty bit will be a nice attachment to the Republic of Great Britain.

[atheotes]

Gah! i will decide while i am installing the game...

[Wausser]

There; I added in a "Gah!" option. Much better.

CA has said the East Indies are in as a "trade theater", but you can't actually colonize/conquer them. I'm afraid you'll have to plant your flag somewhere else.

Then the West Indies


And yeah I'm gonna grab Nieuw Amsterdam(New York) back from the Red Coats

[Megas Methuselah]

I’ll need to get a feel for the possibilities first…but as India, North America, and the Caribbean Islands can have land units, and as I understand it , Africa is a trade theater I will likely want to play with sending troops and worry about Africa when I have spare ships.

Why would Africa be a trade theatre? Only the southern portion is cut off, you get the whole northern half...

Anyways, for myself, I'll insignificantly plant my little flag here and there. My main concern will be playing around with European politics and allying with various native nations to keep the European scourge off their lands(exception made for myself, of course).

Also, once I get down to playing as a Native American faction, I'll be colonizing Scotland!

[Sir Beane]

Why would Africa be a trade theatre? Only the southern portion is cut off, you get the whole northern half...

Anyways, for myself, I'll insignificantly plant my little flag here and there. My main concern will be playing around with European politics and allying with various native nations to keep the European scourge off their lands(exception made for myself, of course).

Also, once I get down to playing as a Native American faction, I'll be colonizing Scotland!

From what we have seen of the map so far I don't think half of Africa is in the game. It seems to be the very Northenmost areas, those North of the Sahara. CA themselves have stated Africa will mainly appear as a naval only trade theatre. It sucks, but that seems to be the truth.

[Megas Methuselah]

Well, that's too bad. Nonetheless, those Scots will be beaten like beetles beneat the NA boots... er... moccasins, I suppose?

[ULC]

Russia in North America, ruling over the Americans...hows that for counter-factual history!

[Polemists]

hmm, I guess I don't understand.

What exactly is a "Trade theatre"? I mean obviously you can't set up colonies but if I can't see it on the map, how is it a trade theatre?

[Martok]

To be honest, I'm not really clear on this myself. Other than that we'll need to devote naval resources to securing its riches, CA hasn't released many details on this aspect of the game yet.

[Polemists]

devote naval resources to securing its riches

Ugh, I hope this isn't like other games where I have to send my ships off the map for a odd number of turns to return with money. Aka: Tropico 2: Pirate Cove. Ship leaves, when it gets back you get certain amount of money.

"Oh hey, this admiral just got awesome wonderful, oh now you and your fleet have to vanish for the next 30 turns"

That would upset me, hopefully it's just tradeships or something.

[Pinxit]

Since I am playing as Sweden I will simply defend myself against the aggressive neighboring countries. Maybe expand a little. I will do so by building the largest naval fleet the Baltic Sea has ever seen and smash all resistance consequently not allowing anyone else in the Baltics having more than en arme av typ barkbåtar

[batemonkey]

I am going to take control of key navel chokepoints such as the Leeward Islands (let the enmey come to me) and slowly and surley dominate world trade(as my sig would suggest).

nb: i hope that you can't just sail your ship over the atlantic like a motor boat with out taking into account the trade winds, otherwise this won't work

[SwordsMaster]

Why bother choosing? Everyone!

[Pantsalot]

Well, that's too bad. Nonetheless, those Scots will be beaten like beetles beneat the NA boots... er... moccasins, I suppose?

Is this an insult!? (look at my location)

Well I have chosen Africa as my spot, I h8 Indian & Indies locations as I h8 jungle warfare &
I just personally h8 America. To answer a question b4, they said they'd be including the Ivory
coast, which was known to have supplies of slaves & of course, Ivory among other goods. I
would have preferred it though if they had included South Africa. I noticed on the campaign
trailer that when they were looking at the Indies, the map was still looking at Europe. This
is quite puzzling, there is a possibility that they hadn't made the map yet for the Indies yet
for some strange reason.

It would be nice to know if you could take control of the Suez & Panama canal in Egypt &
prevent other countries getting through without military access, going to war or they have
to pay a toll to pass through, I believe the latter was what the British control when they
were in puppet rule over Egypt, though my mind is always quite flimsy..

EDIT:
I found this picture on another forum, the map has North America but I also read an interesting
thing that some1 there has been told by CA that it is going to be a completely seperate
campaign from the rest that you have to unlock. That would be pretty but I find it
unlikely.

[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?

[Martok]

Well I have chosen Africa as my spot, I h8 Indian & Indies locations as I h8 jungle warfare & I just personally h8 America. To answer a question b4, they said they'd be including the Ivory coast, which was known to have supplies of slaves & of course, Ivory among other goods.

I believe the Ivory Coast is simply another "trade theater" (like the East Indies) and cannot be conquered or colonized. I'll see if I can find the actual quote from CA, but I'm reasonably certain that's the case.

It would be nice to know if you could take control of the Suez & Panama canal in Egypt &
prevent other countries getting through without military access, going to war or they have
to pay a toll to pass through, I believe the latter was what the British control when they
were in puppet rule over Egypt, though my mind is always quite flimsy..

Actually, neither canal existed at any point during the time period covered by Empire. The Suez didn't open until the late 1850's, and the Panama wasn't finished until 1914 or 1915 (I forget which). So unfortunately that will not be a factor in ETW.

I found this picture on another forum, the map has North America but I also read an interesting
thing that some1 there has been told by CA that it is going to be a completely seperate
campaign from the rest that you have to unlock. That would be pretty but I find it
unlikely.

There's going to be a separate "Road to Independence" campaign (starting with the English founding colonies in North America and eventually leading to America's rebellion against Britain), but you don't have to unlock it. It will be playable from the beginning.

[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.