Since the patch I have seen many posts ranting that post-game-play patch has rendered the game unplayable due to unreasonable costs, etc.
Post-patch, I started a game as Britain on H campaign difficulty. As of now it's 1740, I have 100K+ in my treasury (all provinces developed to the max of my tech ability), I have +17K profit per turn and I have 2.5 stacks in the Americas (not counting garrisons here and there in the provinces with colleges) and the original armies in Britain; I have 2 military fleets (one in the Carribean: has defeated the French and the pirates many times; one near the channel: has defeated the French a few times); I trade all over the place; and... I have 16 provinces, so hardly anyone can blame me for blitzing.
As a matter of fact, at one point, I thought I had lost the 13 provinces to the combined force of Iroquois, Cherokee and the French (only 2 out of original provinces were standing). But I managed a reversal in that department, retaking all lost provinces and granding them back to my protectorate (I wanted to finish the mission rather than just grab the land). So, as of 1740, the 13 provinces are back as they were and I am one province away from completing the mission (for the 13 provinces to join me).
It all took some thought and management (for example, protecting the trade routes of my trade partners; or letting the enemies tear apart the 13 colonies, while I was dealing with more urgent matters at hand [the pirates and the Huron]): yes. But isn't that kind of challenge what we want from the game? + it's 1740 and there's is still plenty of 'things to do' and Britain is only the 4th/5th faction in the prestige ratings...
So, my 2 cents: CA has done a great job improving the gameplay (it's way more engaging and rewarding than before) and I like the new cost/economy system. The complaints are just that: b-ocks!... Pardon my French! This kind of praise I think I have never before directed towards CA, only towards the modders...
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UPDATE: it's 1754, I have completed the 13 colony mission, and I am 'raking in' about 35,000 of PROFITS every turn. I still have my 2.5 stack armies, but one of the stacks is raiding the North African coast now, while the other one is pondering attacking the plains indians just out of nothing to do syndrome. Cherokees have agreed to be protected by me, so have Iroquois (both are at war with each other though... so it'll be fun watching them sorting things out). Mm, yes, after the "13 colonies" joined me, my province count jumped up to 26. Still not sure, it could be labeled as 'rushing'.
I have a fear though that taking those last 7 provinces (GB needs 35 provinces in total, but that total includes Gibraltar and Egypt: both easy grabs from Spain and Ottomans, doable just before the finish-line) in India will be way too easy making the end-game a bit of a boring chore that it used to be before the patch. So, all in all, if you ask me: the game is still too easy on the H campaign setting.
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