post patch econ/cost system: it's fine!

[Eusebius86]

well, that's how it went for my Brits as well. i was ablet to generate only about 5-7 K gold per turn well into 1720-ies. it did go up very fast from there on.

and, no, the game does not favor blitzers now. the more provinces one has the lower is the tax %: this can be countered by wealth increasing techs and building developments, but those do not become available until quite late in the game. if one blitzes and conquers undeveloped/undevelopable provinces fast, one runs the risk of going into bankruptcy because tax income shrinks...

Um, the mechanics DO favor blitzing. The ai refuses to make peace for more than 2 turns, which means that you are forced to exterminate your enemies. I reduced Prussia to one territory, and still they would not keep peace. Besides, what would you rather do as Austria, take over East Prussia and rake in 2400 gold a turn, or try to develop trade fleets and pray that no one with a navy blockades you?

Central Europe doesn't have too many undeveloped towns/cities, so blitzing is a favored strategy... I prefer to turtle, but the AI just doesn't know when to call it quits.

[Slaists]

Central Europe doesn't have too many undeveloped towns/cities, so blitzing is a favored strategy... I prefer to turtle, but the AI just doesn't know when to call it quits.

True about Central Europe: and I do not think, any of the Central European powers are meant to be trading powerhouses; I don't think, those factions are meant to be 'turtled' either: just too many enemies around.

As to the AI: true,it does not know when to call quits unless... you turn them into your protectorate ;)