EUIII - The Naxos Campaign - COMPLETE!!!!

[Abe Sargent]

Hello all and welcome to a new EU dynasty by yours truly! This is my first time through the new game, so I may make some early blunders. I don't know how long my interest will last. The entire game? Only a few days? Who knows?

EU3 is an epic strategy simulation game where you can run any significant country in the world from any start date beginning at 1453 and going through 1780. I will be starting May 30, 1453, the first possible start date.

For my first game, I would like to take some country I have not experienced yet and play around with it. In EU2, I began by trying Wallachia several times, dying each time in around an hour to the Turks. Then I took Trebizond, an Orthodox state in the south east coast of the Black Sea, and made it through an entire Grand Campaign (400 years). My next trick was to play as a one province Holy Roman Empire province - Oldenberg. I took stauchly Catholic Oldenberg through a Grand Campaign as well.

After that I began my favorite campaign, the Mataram campaign, which is hear on the forum in a dynasty. The Hindu country in the Indies was a lot of fun to play. After that, I ran around with Granada for a while, including another dynasty here.

Once I left EU2 and moved into CK, I played heavily as Halsingland, a Swedish province and became the King of Sweden. In a later game, I began as Salerno, in Southern Italy, and became King of Italy and Naples.

Italian, Iberian, Scananavian, Middle Eastern, The Indies, and German have all been mine to explore. Where to start this time?

I want a one province country. Many nations now have two or three provinces where they had just one in EU2 (see: Wallachia). There are five seperate one province nations in Ireland, and I could try my hand at one of those. I could also try one of the Russian minors - there are several one province nations there, like Pskov. I could try a Muslim ME power, instead of an Orthodox one. There are several one province Muslim nations, but they are usually surrounded by major aggressive players in teh Muslim world. I could go back to SE Asia and try a main-land one province nation. I could also try that African campaign I always wanted.

There are a lot of choices, but at the end, I decide to make this one: Naxos.

The Duchy of Naxos is located in the Aegean Sea. It consists of many of the smaller islands in the Archipelago plus a few major islands there as well. Here are a few thigns to note about Naxos:

1). Naxos has no Casus Belli against any province out side of Naxos proper. I cannot reclaim land in the name of my ancestors or anything.

2). Naxos is a Catholic country with an Orthodox majority. This is very bad. My people will never be as happy or as productive as they would be under an Orthodox master. Conversion is very expensive.

3). Naxos Province has a straight to the province of Athens, which means that my army can cross to Athens without need of a navy.

4). Naxos is a wine province, which is fairly wealthy in the world, and very wealthy in Europe. (There are African, Asian and New World trade goods that kick the ass of wine, but for Europe, wine is almost as good as it gets. I mean, its not Spice or Ivory or Coffee or Chinaware or Sugar or Tobacco but it is good alright).

5). Naxos is right alongside the mighty Ottoman Empire. They could eat my nation as an appetizer along the way to a real war at any time.

6). There are several one province nations nearby that I may want to attack and expand into. Athens is poor, just a fish province, but is a fellow Catholic. Could be an ally or a victim. Morea, which is South Greece is another Wine province and Orthodox. The Knights are set up on Rhodes. Cyprus is not that far away. And Corfu is a vassal of Venice, but if that changes, I'd look its way. I could also opportunity attack up the Adriatic Coast and hit some one province states like Ragusa or swing by Turkey and hit up Kalamar or grab a farflung Italian province like Mantua.


With a little luck, I hope to make this an interesting campaign.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Interested in a little info about Naxos? Here is a map:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/ShepherdByzempire1265.jpg/762px-ShepherdByzempire1265.jpg


As you can see, the Duchy of Naxos is north of Crete.

[Abe Sargent]

Strategy:

Normally, there are two strategies for a small dinky little one province nation like mine to survive the early game. One is proven and safe and the other is bolder and not so safe.

The first strategy is to ally yourself to some major power as soon as possible. By being in an alliance with, say, the Ottomans, you get several benefits. First of all, you aren't going to be attacked by your allies, so that removes one heavy from your worry list. Secondly, major powers may leave you alone because they don't want to risk a major war while minor powers don;t want to risk being annexed by your sugar daddy.

Additionally, you can go to war when your big brother goes to war, and you hope that you can nip a province behind the backs of your big brother's foes.

There are problems with this strategy. First of all, you never plan for war. The worst thing is to prepare for and declare war only to find that sugar daddy is laughing at you and leaving your alliance. So you have to fight only in reaction to events.

Secondly, if big brother gets into a fight with another major power, and you jump in, you could get annexed by said big power easily. If you are allied with the Ottomans, and Aragon comes calling, they aren;t going to be able to same me in time.

The other strategy is to ally yourself with smaller, one province powers. The goal here is to try to gang beat another one province nation with yoru ally and claim that nation as your own. This strategy should keep you safe from the small one province nations that may eye your territory because there;s a big difference in Athens decalaring war on me and Athens declaring war on both me and Corfu. We have double the provinces (or just one more, however you want to look at it).

The benefit to this is that you can act when you want to act. If I DOW on some one province nation, and my ally leaves me in a lurch, its not that bad. I may not win, but I'm not going to get chopped off at the knees in seconds. This allows you to expand at your pace, as you have need.

Disadvanatges are many. You have no protection should some nasty decide that your country's banner would look nice in their royal throneroom. There's no out, you are dying. This route is the fastest way to die in the game.

Now, my problem is this. All of the local major powers are natural enemies. Mamelukes and the Ottomans are natural enemies with their Islamic powers. I doubt I could get an alliance with them. I'm right next door to a whole mess of Ottomans.

The major Catholic Powers that are somewhat close are Venice (at Crete) and Aragon (at, um...Naples). Venice's power isn;t nearby though and Aragon is really far away.

There are some relatively close Orthodox mainland powers that might be of some use, but their lack of naval power means they couldn;t break a siege, for example. No sense allying with Hungary, for example, for just that reason.

As a result, I am not really close enough to Catholic Europe to rely on her for protection should things go poorly with the Muslims or the Orthodoxy. As a result, I can rely on alliances with Islamic powers, unlikely thing, or I can try strategy number two. Neither is appealing at the moment.

[Abe Sargent]

With the hit that my nation takes for having the religious disconnection, I am going to focus on research and trade, not the military - at least not right now.

I move my slider one step towards innovation. This gives us better chance at researching techs with obvious disadvanatges.

One thing I saw when I looked it up. My CATHOLIC nation is in the ORTHODOX tech group. In this game, some tech groups advance faster than others, with Catholocism as the fastest of those. Orthodox is 90% as fast as Catholics, so we'll be behind our Catholic brothers. Sad.

This is in addition to the religious disconnect hit.

I send out my five diplomats to get royal marriages with Athens, Cyprus, Morea, and two Italian powers I can't remember. Athens accepts and one of the Italian states accepts. Other Italian provinces send some marriage proposals over, and I accept.

I am now in the hurry up and wait stage of the game.

[Abe Sargent]

Here are some of my early actions. Sorry that I don't have dates. I'll have them for later things. I just played a few years, and since virtually nothing happened, I didn't log it.

I played up until I had my first national idea, so that's at the end of this post.

In the meantime, I have been laying the groundwork for an economy. I have been negotiating with every diplomat I get trade agreements with every country I can. The game tells me that I'll lose a bit of trade efficieny each time I sign a pact, but then those people won't take my merchants out of the posts. I'd rather have security so that when I want to turn my eye to another venture later - like war - I don't have to keep playing with traders. Plus, sending traders costs money, so who knows if they balance out or not, but in the early game, trader sending money is expensive. I definitely want the security early I suspect.

So I've been doing these trade agreements, and for the most part, people agree with me. I have a stockpile of 5 merchants, colonists, missionaries and spies. I have no need for them right now, so I am just sitting at my max.

Buying an advisor is to expensive right now. I am putting all of my monthly taxes back into investment, so I lose about 0.16 ducats monthly and gain around 3 ducats annually. As a result, I'm not making money quickly. I certainly don't have the cash to splash on an advisor.

In a few years of this, I get my first tech advance. Our Government goes up by one, which allows us our first national idea. National Ideas are a form of specializtion that your government takes. After reviewing all of the options, I take Age of Discovery, which increases our tech research by 2.5% in every category. I figure that with the Orthodoxy tech group and the religion disconnect, that I'll need any research I can get.

That it where I'm at now! Nothing major has happened, so let's keep going. I still have no alliances, since no one offered me one and no one has looked at me oddly. I've been saving my own diplomats for free trade agreements.

Simple, eh?

[Peregrine]

Nice idea, Anxiety, I'll be reading. Naxos sounds like it's an interesting country to start with.

[Abe Sargent]

Nice idea, Anxiety, I'll be reading. Naxos sounds like it's an interesting country to start with.

Thanks!

[Abe Sargent]

It's December 10, 1457. We just chose our national idea a month ago. I get my first alliance proposal. Is it from the Ottomans? Maybe Aragon or Venice has taken a notice of us? Since we were a Crusader State created by Venetians during the Fourth Crusade, maybe they want to revisit our relationship and strengthen it?

Of course, it's more likely that its a local nation trying to find friends during the Long Dark. Maybe Athens or The Knights of St. John over at Rhodes is calling.

I open up the button and its none of those. It's...an odd choice. I decide to take it for now.

The Duchy of Naxos is now in an alliance with The Papal States.

[Abe Sargent]

Gathering Greeks


The past several years have been ones of quiet foundational building - gathering many trade agreements together.

17 October 1460 - We have a fully maxed stability and a realm of happy people.

6 March, 1462 - Our old King dies and Francesco II takes his place. I forgot to tell you about the old guy, but he was pretty poor. Francesco II looks pretty solid, with high marks in administration. I look forward to his reign.

13 January, 1463 - The Papal States are attacked by France! France and her vassals declare war upon the Papal States. Within moments, I am informed that Scotland and severeal other states have joined the war. The Papal States want me to support them.

I'm not that silly. I choose to not support them. As a result, we are now alliance-less. I decide to strike now and offer an alliance with Athens. I must choose the bolder and riskier of the strategies for survival and Athens is our friend.

January 7, 1465 - I decide that the time to begin our trade investment has begun. I send out all five merchants to Venice, where we will ply our trade at the markets here. We drive away competition and set up shop with two merchants. It took about half of the ducats that I had, and now we are beginning to get a small trickle of cash flow from the trade markets. It;s not much, I'll grant you, but its a start.

April 6, 1465 - I send out another merchant since it seems that someone left or died there. He appears to have set up shop as well, increasing our trade in Venice.


April 8, 1465 - I decide to send out a diplomat to Athens to offer them vassalization. We have perfect relations, a royal marriage, an alliance, and a trade agreement. Why not draw our realms closer together?

Athens accepts and they become our vassals.

This is good on some fronts. We get half of their income - which isn't much. Athens is a small province of fishers. Hardly worth notice normally, but we need to expand, so that when war comes, we won't be as easy to capture and take. Additionally, Athens is our land base for Naxos, and having the ability to send soldiers to and from Naxos without using ships allows us to send armies outw while also giving our capital a point of defense against ground armies that may have an interest.

In other words, despite its low economic value, it has tremendous strategic value to us. Gaining Athens is the most important step is waging war, and now she is our vassal, just a few years shy a possible annexation.




In other news, Aragon has been spreading up the Italian Peninsula, and now has over half of it under their control. It should be interesting to see if that spreads.

[Abe Sargent]

Naxos Stretches its Muscles for the First Time


February 27, 1466 - Muscowy wrestled away one of my merchants. I send in another to take its place. It has set up. We still have three there.

June 4, 1466 - Modena offers us an alliance. Modena is a three province Italian power in the northern peninsula. If Aragon were to attack them, they'd likely attack Tuscany or the Papal States first, then Modena would be next up the peninsula. Earlier, Modena was attacked by Milan but they fought Milan back and even took Parma from them. That shows some spirit.

We currently have a royal marraige and a great relationship with Modena, and she is also allied with Tuscany, meaning we could get pulled into an Italian Peninsula war against Aragon eventually.

Just the sort of situation we want in order to cherry-pick something like, say, Malta? Maybe one of the Sicily provinces?

Let's do it.

2 September, 1466 - We expand again in Venice to four merchants when I see a spot open up.

6 Spetember, 1466 - Grrr. The Qasim Khanate forced out one of our merchants, dropping us back to three.

November 30, 1466 - We expand again in Venice when another spot open up. All of this merchant spending, however, is reducing our treasury.

January 1, 1467 - Our trade technology increased and as such, we make more money from our merchants in Centers of Trade. We now make roughly half a ducat a year from our trade in Venice.

January 4, 1467 - I have an extra diplomat sitting around, so I send him to Cyrpus to hammer out a royal marriage. We are now closer to our brethren in Cyrpus.

March 29, 1467 - We expand in Venice again, taking us to the maximum of five merchants in that Center of Trade.

6 September, 1467 - Morea has joined war against Hungary, Lithuania and Poland with their allies Wallachia and Bosnia.

What this means is that Morea may not be long for this world if any of those major powers bothers to march or sail an army down to take out Morea. It also means that if Morea moves their army out, they may be vulnerable to a strike from a certain Naxos.


Does this change things?

[Abe Sargent]

Quiet in Naxos, Busy in Europe


15 September, 1467 - I'm watching the Morea situation closlely, and there's a naval battle between Hungary and Morea going on. Their army has not marched.

29 September, 1467 - Morea lost the naval battle. Is an invasion to follow?

December 1, 1467 - It doesn;t look like Hungary was interested in invasion, just blockading Morea.

January 17, 1468 - Bourbonnais blasted one of our merchants. In other news, Denmark has lost its entire peninsula to Austria, but it keeps its holdings in the sea and in Sweden, plus a few mainland provinces it captured earlier. Brittany was invaded hard by France and Provance and it down to one province.

February 14, 1468 - Our new merchant sets up shop. We are back to 5. There's still no move on Morea by anyone, nor has Morea moved to attack anyone.

July 2, 1468 – Another naval battle begins between Morea and Hungary.

July 16, 1468 – Bohemia and Hungary form a Personal Union, with Bohemia as the leader. I don’t know what that means. Let me look it up… Can’t find much. It’s obviously a really close dynastic tie, maybe its like a dynastic vassalization?

July 27, 1468 – Lithuania has inherited the crown of Hungary. Wow. That’s a super power now. Morea’s naval combat is over.

13 August, 1468 – Transylvania declared war on Wallachia. Morea joined war on behalf of her ally but Bosnia said no thanks.

26 August, 1468 – Muscowy and the Qasim Khanate have declared war upon Lithuania. Poland is aiding her ally, Lithunia. Eastern Europe is going to be in flames.

24 September, 1468 – Candar declared war upon Trebizond. The Ottomans join Candar. Georgia joins Trebizond. Seems like a lot of locals are beginning to fight this year.

6 November, 1468 – A new monarch rises to the throne of Athens. Antonio III. He’s really, really good. Great in fact. Amazing – on the level of the best monarchs of the major powers. A good ally.

2 December, 1468 – Wallachia accepted peace with Lithuania and Poland but lost half of its territory. That caused a truce between Morea and Lithuania/Poland. Now they are just at war with Transylvania.


Well, that was the most detailed year so far. Lots of things happening, just near us, not involving us. Now it may be time for a bit of creating our own luck, eh?

[SFL Cat]

That's the one thing that has always bugged me about EU...land and/or naval battles that last half a month to a month?

Whenever battles are fought they should be almost instantaneous (2-3 days max).

[WSUCougar]

That's the one thing that has always bugged me about EU...land and/or naval battles that last half a month to a month?

Whenever battles are fought they should be almost instantaneous (2-3 days max).
One could make the argument that they represent campaigns...:cool:

[Blade6119]

That's the one thing that has always bugged me about EU...land and/or naval battles that last half a month to a month?

Whenever battles are fought they should be almost instantaneous (2-3 days max).

I view it this way...your fighting for whole provinces...multiple battles will often occur in areas to decide the outcome of a region. While individual battles may take 2-3 days, regions take longer to conquer. I just treat it as the entire campaign in the region, not one battle.

[SFL Cat]

WSU and Blade, I could probably go along with that concept for the land battles, especially those involving sieges and/or stalemates...but I have a much harder time of it with the naval battles. Just my personal nit.

Great dynasty BTW (hoping Anxiety doesn't notice the mini-threadjack).

[Abe Sargent]

Failures and Successes


Glad to see each and every one of you reading my dynasty! Now, if we can get back on topic, please?


I’m considering building another 1k troops to prepare for war. I can either do that or keep focusing on the trading thing. I only have around 10 ducats, and each trader costs 1.8 to send out, so I only have so many more shots. If build another 1k troops, then maybe I’ll have the manpower to take out a nearby country. I doubt I can build an army, get its morale up, and more once I’m in a position to DOW on someone.

Let’s do it.

March 2, 1469 – Our 1000 troops are fully equipped and armed, doubling our land power.

April 1, 1469 – We are now losing 0.22 ducats monthly. That translates to almost the full 3 ducats we make annually going to our army’s upkeep. Time for us to use those men.

I decide to make a bold move. I am going to try and bring in Dulkadir’s only province, Adana.

Where and who? Adana is situated in the armpit between the Turkish landmass and the Levant. It’s adjacent to the water and is currently at war with Trebizond and Georgia, so it might be a little busy at the moment. Bad thing, I can only cart my men over 1k at a time with my navy. Even worse thing, Dulkadir is allied with the Ottomans.

My hope is that the Ottomans will be busy with their several current wars and I’ll just slip behind Dulkadir, siege their capital, annex them, and then get peace with the Ottomans before much damage is done. That’s the plan anyways

BTW – Dulkadir is a Sunni state with a Sunni populace – so no hope for Christianity or Catholicism here. It’s merely an attack of opportunity.

May 4, 1469 – My navy is in the Gulf of Cyprus and there does not appear to be any visible troops in Adana. I declare war and launch my troops. We get a stability drop for not having a Casus Belli but it’s not as bad a drop as it would be if we had DOW’d a Catholic. We are still positive in stability, just barely so.

Modena has refused to honor our alliance but Athens has joined the cause. The Ottomans and Candar join the fight against us. Now, quick like a fox, quick like a fox, quick like a fox.

May 23, 1469 – Our 1st 1k in troops arrive to no resistance and begin the siege. I send my navy back for the other 1k.

June 24, 1469 – My other 1k in troops arrive and join the siege. In the meantime, there’s been a lot of cancelled trade agreements and embargoes placed. No battles except that Dulkadir sent my navy out of the Gulf of Cyprus once in a one day battle.

22 July 1469 – Finally some resistance as a large but demoralled Ottoman army engages us. Also today, Georgia was annexed into the Ottoman Empire. That’s bad. Also today, the Turks arrive in Athens and lay siege. I need to win in Adana, then sue for peace relatively quickly.

30 July, 1469 - We win the battle but lost 200 men. With this turn of events, and their attention that was turned elsewhere not resting fully on us, its time for peace. I offer a White Peace and it is accepted. Athens and us are now at peace with Dulkadir, the Ottomans and Candar. It was the right idea, but the wrong place and/or time.

I order my troops returned. This ain’t over yet. Time to push elsewhere.

It’s time to take Morea.

August 15, 1469 – Our stability increases, which is good. We need it to.

September 25, 1469 – My troops are back and I’ve moved them to Athens. I’m about to assault Morea. I declare war on them. Athens joins us. I march my men to battle. Wallachia joined battle against us.

October 12, 1469 – After a seven day battle, we win the Battle of Morea and our men begin the siege.

October 15, 1469 – Wallachia has accepted peace with Transylvania – full annexation. We are now no longer at war with the non-existent Wallachia and Morea stands or falls on her own! More to the point, an annexation by a power we were at war with previously led to us leaving that battle, but this time, it may aid us.

I move my slider towards innovative again. I can do this every sixteen years. I take another stability hit, but it’s easiest to restore stability when you are a one province country.

January 15, 1470 – We win the Siege of Morea. I annex Morea!

I drop my troop maintenance down to the minimum allowable again.

We now have a tarnished reputation. With the stability drop, we now break about even monthly, so we no longer have any monthly maintenance drops. This should improve our investment as our stability rises.

Let’s take a look at both of my provinces:

Naxos – 3434 people work the wineries here in the Duchy. The people here are Greek with Orthodox religion. It makes 2.1 ducats in taxes and produces a little over 10 per year at Thrace – the local center of trade where the wine is valued decently.

Morea – Also a Greek province, which is probably why it is not experiencing any rebel risk right now. We kept it all in the family, so to speak. They are also Orthodox as well. The people here also work the wine trade, making 1.14 ducats in taxes annually and sending around the same in trade to Thrace. There are 5726 people living here. This is a core province of the Ottomans. Ick.

Well, this should certainly change things a bit. I intend to stay clear of wars for a while, annex Athens diplomatically, until I get my reputation back up. We can’t DOW and annex in an aggressive war like this very often – it makes a lot of waves. But we needed the extra province, and I had to strike while the iron was hot after my failed war with Dulkadir and the investment in the military. Luckily, it paid off.

[Izulde]

Nice movement!

So Lithuania-Hungary is turning into a blob I imagine? :D

[Abe Sargent]

Nice movement!

So Lithuania-Hungary is turning into a blob I imagine? :D

Sorta like two blobs with Poland in the middle. Like a donut blob.

[st.cronin]

Can you post an updated map?

[Abe Sargent]

Let me see if I can figure that one out. Updated map. Hmm.

[st.cronin]

Also, I think I need to get this game. What is it, exactly? EUIII? Sounds really immersive.

[Abe Sargent]

Also, I think I need to get this game. What is it, exactly? EUIII? Sounds really immersive.

Very much so. Here's a link to a thread here if you are interested. You can hear the good and bad.

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=55998&highlight=Europa

Wroking on that map. I have a print screen and I added the country names in paint. Now I'm looking for a way to get it here.

[Abe Sargent]

I hope that this works. Here we go.


http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/7914/1472fv5.jpg




THIS WAS MY 4000TH POST!!! Again, since my WW posts were taken from me.

[st.cronin]

Very cool. I bet you're scared of the Ottomans - I would be.

[Izulde]

What's the dark blue province south of Bosnia and west of Ottomans?

[Abe Sargent]

Montenegro - hard to write that in Paint :)

[Abe Sargent]

Years of Silence


After the war, I discover that I still have all 5 of my merchants in Venice! That’s pretty good. I only get 2.2 ducats annually now, though, so that dropped.

January 21, 1470 – Corfu is annexed by Venice. Ick.

February 19, 1470 – Trebizond is annexed by the Golden Horde. That’s two one province minors near me that are gone just like that.

May 4, 1470 – I get my first event! Peasants Getting Uppity. As a result, I have to choose either to give them a few freedoms or enforce serfdom. The result moves my slider either one towards serfdom or one towards free subjects.

What difference does this make? Serfdom makes it easier to recruit infantry, cheaper to buy stability, but the army morale, spy weakness, and production hits balance that out. Free subjects has the opposite strengths and weaknesses.

Which is better? I choose better morale for my army, and that’s free subjects. Choosing to side with the Peasants here will move my slider to the exact middle, so there will be no benefits or disadvantages.

There is no stability hit for making this choice as an event, so it’s essentially a free move, albeit not on a scale that I care much about. Now, if it had given me a chance on the quality/quantity scale or the land/naval scale or the innovative/narrowminded scale – that would have been really useful.

June 1, 1470 – Our stability increased

15 February, 1471 – Muscowy has offered us a Royal Marriage. I see no reason not to accept.

20 February, 1471 – Wanting a faster way out of my stability issues, I hire Bariq Abbinen as a court advisor. He costs me 1.2 ducats and 0.1 per month while helping out my investment in stability.

I check Venice and it appears that at some point in time recently I lost a merchant, but I don’t remember when. My purchase of Bariq means that I cannot send a merchant this year. Ah well.

March 1, 1471 – Modena offers us another alliance and I decide to take it again.

24 September, 1471 – Cesare I has taken over in Modena. He an amazing diplomat, and acceptable administrator and a weak war king.

8 October, 1471 – Modena wants to enter into a new royal marriage. I decide to accept.

12 November, 1471 – Milan offers us a royal marriage as well. What’s with all of the marriages all of the sudden this year? After review, I accept.

7 January, 1472 – Now Savoy wants a royal marriage. Again I agree, because it’s another small Italian nation, like Milan and Modena. Still, I have to wonder if something is up.

30 January 1472 – We expand our trade in Venice again. I hire a naval advisor to assist in our researches. His name is Linas Denhoff.

3 June, 1472 – I offer Lithuania a royal marriage and they accept.

1 February, 1473 – Bariq dies.

I don’t know when it happened, but I noticed that our reputation has increased to “slightly tarnished” from tarnished.

Also, Lithuania is experiencing a lot of rebellion in its southern-most provinces. Will this monster last or will it lose provinces as they revolt and defect? Who knows.

30 May, 1473 – Its now officially 20 years into the game.

31 May, 1473 – We sent up a merchant in Ile-de-France

August 1, 1473 – Stability increase

January 20, 1474 – I set up a merchant in Thrace. I figure that each January I’ll spend my money earned by setting up a merchant or two in the COTs that have space. I won’t bother telling you about the failures.

March 2, 1474 – We set up shop in Novgorod.

13 April, 1474 – Some country that’s not on the map and I;ve never even heard of (Funj) wrestled away our merchant in Thrace. Looks like we need to stick to COTs that are further in Europe.

17 July, 1474 – France declared war upon Lorraine. All of her vassals joined her. So did her ally Norway. Lorraine’s all, Cyprus, joined on her side. Now Cyprus is at war with France’s crew.

October 1, 1474 – I have a full slate of diplomats, so let’s send a few out. An alliance with Lithuania, who apparently cleaned up must of her rebel problem? In a war against the Turks, she’d be my best hope. They rejected our proposal.

Aragon and a royal marriage? Get us closer together? Accepted, so we are closer to Aragon.

November 13, 1474 – The Ottomans have finished their last war, this time defeating the Golden Horde. Will they turn their eyes towards Greece now?

10 October, 1475 – I have a diplomat and he is ready to go to Athens. I am going to offer them annexation. What happens now could be a major change in our destiny, or a major stumbling block.

[Alan T]

Anxiety, I'm catching up on this thread while stuck in the hospital all week. So post frequent updates for me!

[Abe Sargent]

No promises sir :)

[Abe Sargent]

Harvesting Grain Before a Storm


Athens rejects our proposal of annexation. Ah well. I think I can identify several reasons:

1). We are just a two province country, nothing really large and major. It’s not like we can guarantee a really, really large empire or anything

2). Their leader is better than our leader.

3). We still have a slightly tarnished rep.


The combination of these three things leads me to conclude that now may not be the time for us to unite.

30th of November, 1475 – We ask Portugal for their hand in marriage and they agree.

February 14, 1476 – We set up in Thrace again. It’s one of the few places I can compete away a person as opposed to finding that open spot.

February 20, 1476 - Sitting on some extra diplomats, I decide to send them out for marriages, most turn me down but Bohemia agrees.

July 23, 1476 – More diplomats, royal marriage with France.

December 7, 1476 – The Ottomans are running at -3 stability with revolt risk up all over their country. They may need to play “we must protect this house” for a while instead of “mean land gobbler.”

17 January 1477 – We establish a second merchant in Thrace.

April 2, 1477 – Funj again drives one of our merchants out of business.

15 January, 1478 – We once again put a merchant in Thrace

[Abe Sargent]

Gathering Greeks II


I am considering another war. It’s been a while since our last war, and I think we need to expand if we are to get Athens to join us. Plus, we are still a bit poorer than many other nations, both is research and money. Let’s take a look at some targets:

Montenegro – Currently without any allies, Montenegro is an Orthodox nation also squeezed up against the Turks. It would be hard to defend if someone (read: The Ottoman Turks) wanted to attack. It had around 5000 people in the fish trade – not very wealthy.

The Knights – Attacking The Knights of St. John at Rhodes would give us another province close to ours, and it is also a Greek culture state. The people there are Orthodox. The Knights are allied with Transylvania and the Teutonic Order. They have 18000 people working the fishing trade. Poor in terms of production and trade wealth, but that’s a much better tax base than what I currently have.

Cyprus – 11250 people work the wine trade here, making Cyprus a solidly valuable province in terms both of size and industry. I’d be a leader in wine production with three wine provinces, that’d be neat. The people here are also Greek. They are father away than The Knights, and in the heart of Islam land, with the Mameluks or the Turks or Turk allies all around. Cyprus is allied with Lorraine.

I sent my boat to Cyprus and there are 1000 solders sitting here. I’d have a standing army too being this close to the enemy. Next I sail over to Montenegro.

Rhodes has no army currently. Neither does Montenegro.


These are really the only options. I mean, I could try Dulkadir or Karamon, the Ottoman allies. I could also try Siena, on the west coast of Italy just above Rome, but that’s really far away.

Montenegro is easy to take off the list, leaving The Knights and Cyprus. I could attack The Knights, take the badboy hit for attacking and annexing – major hits, and then chill out again for a while. On the other hand, I could try to Claim Cyrpus’s throne. We are married, and that would give me a casus belli – a reason to attack them without pissing other countries off or losing stability. I’d still take a hit for annexing them. And other countries with whom I have a royal marriage would be very cross with me, and that’s not what I want to do right now.

So, although Cyprus is the better prize, The Knights appear to be the better target.


March 14, 1778 – We declare war on The Knights. Our stability drops. Modena does not support us but Athens does. Transylvania and The Teutonic Order join The Knights.

March 26, 1778 – The Siege of Rhodes begins.

June 1, 1778 – Our production tech increases, we can now build a workshop in our provinces.

19 October, 1778 – After 211 days, Rhodes falls.

21 October, 1778 – The Knights accept our peace terms and we annex Rhodes. We lost some rep with all Catholics around the world, including Athens.

Oh, and I also gained a ship too.

1 January 1779 – I hire Zygfried Denhoff, a court advisor who will help increase our prestige in the eyes of the world.

27, February 1779 – Transylvania accepts our white peace offer.

24 April, 1779 – The Teutonic Order rejects our white peace offer. Makes sense that they’d get upset at us offing a fellow Order.

I just noticed that Rhodes has a workshop.

4 August, 1779 – They again reject my offer.

1 September, 1779 – Our stability increased

12 October, 1779 – The Teutonic Order accepted our peace offer. That ties up the last end from the war that gave us Rhodes.

18 October, 1779 – The Teutonic Order lifts their embargo of us.

[nilodor]

Really enjoying your dynasty I was wondering what are your goals for your little country?

[Abe Sargent]

Well, early on, just to survive! The Turks WILL attack eventually. They currently have four countries they have a Casus Belli on because we have provinces that they have a historical claim to - Us (Morea Province), Athens, Venice (Corfu) and Transylvania (Wallachia).

That means I need land, money, and tech. I need to spread, build my military, have the money to hire a decent army, etc.

Later I may have more goals, but for now, it's get better in every way as fast as possible.

[Abe Sargent]

Flocking to the Shepherd


13 May, 1780 – I have the first event in a while. Our Merchants have apparently been getting Harassed. The Ottomans have apparently been harassing my peops. I can press the claim and get a Casus Belli, probably temporarily, against them, or I can solve it diplomatically and have our relations increase significantly.

Well, I’m not going to attack the Ottomans. Might as well get the relation gain. Our relations are bad, but not that bad these days.

4 June, 1780 – Lorraine is annexed by France after a short war. There goes Cyprus’s ally.

29 August 1781 – A BEAUTIFUL thing happened today. Today, Cyprus offered us an alliance. Amazing! I’ll take it in seconds. This is great. We need to get our mutual relations up, but we now have all of the requirements to offer them vassalization, barring the relations.

February 2, 1782 - I want to start making money again. I fire my advisors. Well, I wanted to, until someone dropped a nice stability advisor for one of the naval advisors I dropped. I grab Revaz Asrendiz.

9 April, 1782 – Francesco II died and we have a new ruler. Francesco III has taken the throne. He’s adequate in diplomacy and administration, but solid at things marshal. (4 Admin, 4 diplomacy and 6 military in case you care)

20 May, 1782 – Sweden sends us a royal marriage proposal and I accept.

1 June, 1782 – Our stability increased Revaz is already working!

1 August, 1782 – Our naval technology increased. This is largely the work of those naval advisors I had.

8 May, 1783 – Montenegro joined Wallachia in a war against Poland, Transylvania and Mazovia.

13 November, 1783 – Lithuania just took a massive five provinces in a peace accord with the Teutonic Order. Geez.

10 December, 1783 – The new Wallachia that was formed by a rebellious state has been annexed by Transylvania.

7 March, 1784 – Lithuania offers me a royal marriage. I obviously agree.

16 September, 1784 – Montenegro and Poland are at peace.

23 September 1784 – A royal marriage offer from Savoy is met with happiness!

Several of our royal marriages have expired, including the one we had with Cyprus. I send them an offer to renew our vows.

I musta missed an Aragon – Venice war, because one broke out and they are fighting now. Wanted to get ya caught up on current events.

24 September, 1784 – We enter into a royal marriage with Cyprus!

25 September, 1784 – We enter into a royal marriage with Aragon!

12 February, 1785 – I fire my newest advisor, as we are getting close to the next upgrade and I don’t want to keep this additional cost.

8 March, 1785 – There’s a new king in Cyprus. Jacques II is great at diplomacy, decent at admin and very, very poor at the fighting.

9 July, 1785 – I can change another slider, which I forgot I needed to do, which lowers my stability, which I need my guy for, and I dumped him like an idiot. Tsk tsk, teaches me for not looking ahead. That was a rookie mistake.

I decide to take another step towards begin Innovative.

1 August, 1785 – Our stability increases. At first you might think that a good thing that it raised back so quickly. It’s not. We wasted some serious over-production. Each level of stability increase takes more than the previous one, and we had yet to reach the top level, and needed some more before hitting that top level, but the drop knocked us below what was needed to raise while what we had actually raised was well over. My advisors anticipate that at my current rate of investment and funding it will not be until March, 1491. Six more years! I may alter the funding, but you get the idea.

15 November, 1786 – We get another Merchants Harassed event, and again I choose to settle it diplomatically with the Turks. Our relationship again jumps. Is this what has been keeping us out of war with the Ottomans?

1 February, 1787 – The first nations are adopting a second national idea (needs several more government techs than we do.) Despite our innovativeness and our getting the Scientific Advancement national idea – we are still far behind. It’s because our people are Orthodox and we are Catholic and because we are in the Orthodox group – both. This is the result.

21 July, 1787 – A royal marriage from Milan is accepted.

3 February, 1788 – I decide to offer Athens annexation on a flyer. Maybe this time they’ll accept.

They do.


This is a good time to look at our nation, in alpha order:

Athens – 22513 people fish here in Athens. They create several ducats in taxes each year, but few in production as fish is not a major trade good. The people here are Greek and Orthodox. This province does not have the normal -30% taxes normally associated with not being connected to the capital by land.

Morea – 6625 Orthodox Greeks work the winefields and wineries here in south Greece. The taxes here are few, but the production value is pretty solid. This province does have the normal 30% for not being land connected, despite being adjacent to Athens.

Naxos – Our capital is also our smallest province by people. Just 3974 people here also work the grape and wine business. Like Morea, the people here are both Orthodox and Greek.

Rhodes – Our most recent military acquisition is the small island of Rhodes. 19541 people work the fish trade here, and like Athens, the Greek Orthodox people here give us a solid tax base but little production value.

[SFL Cat]

Are you seeing major improvements in EU3 as compared to EU2?

This dynasty is making me want to fire up CK and start a game, and play it through EU2, Victoria and HoI2:D

[Abe Sargent]

Are you seeing major improvements in EU3 as compared to EU2?

This dynasty is making me want to fire up CK and start a game, and play it through EU2, Victoria and HoI2:D

I'm not sold on it yet. The same COT system is in here. Does it have the same four game changing events? We'll find out soon, because the first (The Treaty of Tordesillas) is around the corner. The game covers less time than the previous one - is it shorter to play? The tech difference between me and Italian minors is lready significant - are Catholics too strong in this area?

Those are the types of questions I have and I think of more all of the time. I guess we'll see.


EDIT: One issue I do have is with court advisors. There are a lot of court adivsors in the game, and hte unhired ones are in a pool. An advisor can be created at any time or released from another country. You have no way of knowing when the good advisors are available for pickup. The AI, on the other hand, knows exactly when it happens - so they get all of the good advisors in the best areas and all that are left are chumps that advise in poor areas - like extra spies or extra missionaries or somesuch. That's a real flaw, as countries not you have great advisors and you have dull ones.

[Abe Sargent]

Calm Times Come in Years of Three


28 June, 1488 – Another royal marriage offer from Lithuania and again accepted. My guess is that a new king took over and the old marriage was null and void.

5 July, 1488 – Hesse offers us an alliance. I am mulling it over. I do want an alliance outside of Cyprus now that Athens is no longer an ally nor a vassal but part of our state. However, Hesse is far removed and only a three province nation. As a result, I’d prefer someone closer or someone more powerful. I say no.

10 August, 1488 – An alliance offer from Pommerania has arrived. I refuse to ally myself with a country that is almost as far north as Scandinavia.

8 December, 1488 – An alliance offer from Austria has arrived. Now this is more interesting. Let me check out a few things.

Austria is a ten province power but she’s all spread out, from as west as eastern France to up against Lithuania. Some of her provinces aren’t even connected. She’s at least five provinces from the Turks at her closest. Her one ally is single province Baden.

The good here is that she would be a powerful ally compared to the chumps I normally align myself with. It’d give potential attackers of a smaller size something to question. But I don’t think it would stop the Turks. The good relationship I’m building with the Turks, on the other hand, may be working.

The bad here is that I might get pulled into wars in Germany and central eastern Europe. Frankly, I don’t care about these areas in the least. I’m trying to rebuild the Greek empire here, and I don’t care about Austria having hissy fits with Bavaria.

In summation, they may not be the best ally for me. (Where art thou Lithuania, Venice or Aragon?) But they are better than I’ve ever had, so I accept.

9 April, 1489 – The War of Bohemian Succession has begun. The Bohemian king died and left the throne to Transylvania. Mazovia claims that the king was not of sound mind on his deathbed. Poland joins their allies, Transylvania.

Lithuania is having serious rebel problems.

15 May, 1489 – Austria has declared war against Bavaria. I called that! Baden has joined Austria and this is great, ready? Bavaria’s ally – MODENA – chooses to leave the alliance. That’s right, Modena is still not honoring her alliances, eh?

Unfortunately, this is exactly the problem I foresaw in allying with Austria. Best to get out of this alliance now. I dishonor our pact.

3 March, 1490 – Denmark offers us an alliance. I again shirk off a northern European nation’s overtures.

20 April, 1490 – The Ottomans declare war against Bosnia. Their three allies (Candar, Karaman, and Dulkadir) join them. Montengro joins Bosnia against the Ottomans (are they crazy?)

19 July, 1490 – Montenegro has been annexed by the Turks. That was fast. And so goes another nation falling before the Ottomans.

19 February, 1491 – Poland dishonors their alliance with Lithuania, leaving them ally-less. I feel this is the perfect opportunity to offer my services as the new ally of Lithuania.

They reject my offer

20 March, 1491 – I send a new offer to Lithuania. This time, after considering my proposal, they accept!

[Izulde]

and the Lithuanian blob grows. :D

I'm tempted to start an EU3 dynasty myself now, though I should probably get around to installing and just messing around with the game itself before writing a dynasty that'd probably get aborted :D

[Alan T]

I'm not sold on it yet. The same COT system is in here. Does it have the same four game changing events? We'll find out soon, because the first (The Treaty of Tordesillas) is around the corner. The game covers less time than the previous one - is it shorter to play? The tech difference between me and Italian minors is lready significant - are Catholics too strong in this area?

Those are the types of questions I have and I think of more all of the time. I guess we'll see.


EDIT: One issue I do have is with court advisors. There are a lot of court adivsors in the game, and hte unhired ones are in a pool. An advisor can be created at any time or released from another country. You have no way of knowing when the good advisors are available for pickup. The AI, on the other hand, knows exactly when it happens - so they get all of the good advisors in the best areas and all that are left are chumps that advise in poor areas - like extra spies or extra missionaries or somesuch. That's a real flaw, as countries not you have great advisors and you have dull ones.

You don't have date based pre-determined events in Eu3 like Eu2. The events in Eu3 are based on what else has happened in Eu3. SO I don't believe you will be seeing The Treaty of Tordesillas show up. Eu3 is more of a start in a certain scenerio and then see how history plays out this time type of thing instead. Its not predeterministic.

[Abe Sargent]

You don't have date based pre-determined events in Eu3 like Eu2. The events in Eu3 are based on what else has happened in Eu3. SO I don't believe you will be seeing The Treaty of Tordesillas show up. Eu3 is more of a start in a certain scenerio and then see how history plays out this time type of thing instead. Its not predeterministic.

Some things should be. The Catholic Church is on a crash course and the splinters will be Protestantism. There will be protestants. That's one of the game changing events, and it seems like it should happen - no matter what, you know?

[Abe Sargent]

Ending a Mistake


Lithuania apparently has around 5 provinces in rebellion and around 5000 rebels attacking another province, while a few Lithuanian troops are laying siege to one of the rebel provinces. They may be a bit too big.

28 April, 1491 – Burgundy wants a Royal Marriage and that’s fine by me.

23 May, 1491 – Moscowy wants a Royal Marriage and again I agree.

30 May, 1491 – Austria inherited Mecklenberg

1 July, 1491 – Land Tech increased

15 September, 1491 – Someone chose to give us 50 ducats. I’m choosing to put it into the treasury!

What to do with my windfall? I could build a workshop in a province, like Athens. That’d be a nice bonus.

I could use the money to make nice with Cyprus and then try to get them to accept vassalization. If it worked, that’d pay off more in the end than the workshop would.

I’m going to take the “make nice” path.

1 August, 1492 – I have spent all of my money and diplomats getting our relationship with Cyprus up almost to the max. Now, when I get my next diplomat, we’ll see if it pays off or not.

1 October, 1492 – It’s time for me to send a vassalization offer, but I’m told that it is very unlikely to fail. As a result, I decide to sit on the reputation increase for a while, and try later. Hopefully this will all pay off.

11 November, 1492 – Moscowy has declared war upon Lithuania and the Qasim Khanate has joined their ally. I have agreed to help our ally, but I’ll obviously just let them fight it out and officially remain neutral. It the meantime, I get a lowered maintenance on my troops because we are at war, so it’s not all bad. I also get an extra diplomat a year while in war to help me replace the ones just used on Cyprus.

1 January, 1493 – Our stability is raised and we are at the max again!

8 February, 1493 – A new kings sits on the Lithuanian throne

Recently our reputation climbed back up to slightly tarnished.

17 August, 1493 – An unexpected ally has joined our cause. The Ottomans and their allies have declared war upon the Qasim Khanate, and Muscowy joined the Khanate. As a result, the Ottomans are on our side in this war!

14 December, 1493 – Muscowy has sent a peace offer to us. I refuse because they want money.

1 January, 1494 – Hungary declared war on Lithuania. That’s right – Hungary. Hungary declared independence from Lithuania – she let the rebels go on too long.

Without her southern provinces, Lithuania no longer intrigues me as an ally. I use the rebellion as an excuse to break our alliance and do not join her in a war with a power that’s not that far away from me.

[Alan T]

Some things should be. The Catholic Church is on a crash course and the splinters will be Protestantism. There will be protestants. That's one of the game changing events, and it seems like it should happen - no matter what, you know?

Yeah, some stuff still occurs such as kingdoms inheriting other kingdoms, the spread of reformism, etc.. Just that you don't have preset dates where X-event happens to join country Y and Z anymore. You may play one game where Aragon gets inherited by Castille, and the next they don't.

[Abe Sargent]

The Greeks Continue to be Sheep


10 February, 1494 – I offered the new Hungarian state a royal marriage and they agree.

4 April, 1494 – The Crimea has annexed the Qasim Khanate. In other news, Venice is still at war with Aragon, and they are started to have rebellions. The highly unlikely best case scenario is for revolters to capture Crete, and then for it to defect to us.

5 May, 1494 – I reject another peace offer from Muscowy due to them demanding ducats.

The Ottoman Empire has some issues with rebels as well with its mighty -3 stability. (The worst it gets)

22 August, 1494 – Damn Muscovites again rejected a white peace proposal.

1 September, 1494 – An AMAZING thing happened today! Morea became one of our core provinces! Morea is now considered part of our patrimony, and has fully accepted our rule! As a result, the taxes in Morea have gone up slightly.

17 October, 1494 – I decline another Muscowy demand for peace and money.

18 December, 1494 – They finally accept our white peace offer. We are now at total peace.

23 December, 1494 – Hungary guarantees their future existence by winning the war against Lithuania.

1 January, 1495 – After Morea became a core providence, we now get around 6 ducats annually instead of a little over 3.

9 July, 1495 – Venice annexed Milan through war. There is now no more Milan.

22 September, 1495 – Poland offers us a royal marriage and I gladly accept.

28, October, 1495 – After being under rebellion for a while, Dalmatia, formerly a province of Venice, has declared independence as Croatia.

6 November, 1495 – Our King has died. Francesco IV has taken the throne. He’s good with administration (a 6 outta 10), a great military mind (8 outta 10) and a solid diplomacy (5 outta 10).

Immediately, Cyprus offers us a new royal marriage to celebrate Francesco IV’s rise to the throne. I agree. I check to see if Cyprus would be more interested in vassalization now, and our court advisors say that it would be unlikely for Cyprus to say yes. That’s up from very unlikely. I decide to take a shot before I officially agree to the royal marriage. That way, if they reject the offer, I then accept the royal marriage, and our relations will increase.

Cyprus accepts our offer, and are now officially our vassals. Looks like the money spent to curry favor was well earned!

[Abe Sargent]

Yeah, some stuff still occurs such as kingdoms inheriting other kingdoms, the spread of reformism, etc.. Just that you don't have preset dates where X-event happens to join country Y and Z anymore. You may play one game where Aragon gets inherited by Castille, and the next they don't.

I was only interesting in the game changing events - The Treaty, Protestantism, Reformation, the Counter-Reform Movement, and then Tolerance.

[Abe Sargent]

Illusions of Grandeur


1 June, 1496 – Ragusa declares independence from Venice.

16 July, 1496 – Pommerania offers us a Royal marriage. I accept.

18 July, 1496 – Aragon rejects our royal marriage proposal. Bastards.

2 August, 1496 – The Irish dukes go to war after one dies and will’s his throne to another.

23 August, 1496 – We enter into a royal marriage with Hungary after I send an envoy.

1 September, 1496 – Our Trade Tech increased.

24 October, 1496 – Mazovia offers us a Royal Marriage and I agree, of course.

13 November, 1496 – Mazovia follow up with an alliance offer, but its too far north. No sense allying with a Russian power.

22 March, 1497 – Tripoli has ceded two of their provinces to the Mameluks. They are left with just their capital – a nice, wealthy, Ivory state. This would be a perfect opportunity to cherry pick a plumb reward here in the Mediterranean. I send my fleet over to investigate after loading it with all of my troops.

Outside of Egypt, Tripolitania, Tlemcen and Oran are the only North African provinces worth having. Seeing one available right now makes my mouth water.

I really wasn’t expecting to go to war anytime soon. I was expecting to wait until I had Cyprus fully annexed before moving militarily to expand, but I can’t quabble over opportunity.

25 April, 1497 – Sweden offers us an alliance, and I turn them down.

26 April, 1497 – My fleet arrives off the shores of Tripoli and I am happy to discover that there are no defensive troops there at all. How can I not pick this plum?

[Abe Sargent]

Stealing Candy


26 April, 1497 – I declare war on alliance-less, army-less Tripoli. My stability drops twice for declaring war without a Casus Belli. I order my 1850 troops to disembark and begin the siege of Tripoli.

27 April, 1497 – Cyprus joined us.

4 May, 1497- The Siege of Tripoli has begun.

27 July, 1497 – Saxony wants an alliance. I thank them, but no.

1 September, 1497 – Our government tech has increased

30 September, 1497 – Venice has requested military access, and I don’t mind, so I agree.

30 October, 1497 – After 181 days, Tripolitania is ours.

31 October, 1497 – Tripoli has agreed to be annexed by us.

8 Nivember, 1497 – The North African states protest our rule. Tunisia declares war upon us. Algiers and The Mamluks join them. We are now at war with North Africa. Cyprus joins us.

[Abe Sargent]

Thought you might want a new map before I begin this war:

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/2290/africawarjp2.jpg

[st.cronin]

Why did you attack Tripoli? Easy pickings?

[Abe Sargent]

Why did you attack Tripoli? Easy pickings?

A province generates two major forms of wealth - taxes and production. Many things affect taxes - the population, are they the same religion or not, are they the same culture or not, are they land connected to your capital or not, your internal policies and those sliders, etc. Take muslim provinces would not nomrally pan out, because of the tax hit that woudl accompany it - there are several penalties in play.

The other form of wealth is production, which remains relatively stable and is based around the good. In this case, Tripolitania Province's good is Ivory a very, very wealthy good - probably the best you'll find in this area of Europe/Asia/Middle East. There might be sugar or spices or coffee somewhere in the ME that I haven't seen or something, but Ivory is just about the best you are going to do here. Taking this province will get me a major production income, despite the lack of tax income.

So, here is this ripened fruit with no army, no ally just sitting there and waiting to be taken. Why wouldn't I want to grab that? I need to get land away from the Turks, and this is really far away from them. It's nearby - just two sea spaces away, and valuable.

I just didn;t expect the eh, warm greeting by my fellow North African Neighbors

[Abe Sargent]

Lamentations


I need to create a strategy for victory. Here are the things I need to do.

1). Up the maintenance on my navies and armies.

2). Order more troops over in the main areas of Naxos. I order 2000k Azab Infantry built in Athens and Morea (my best infantry, but can only be built in Athens and Morea)

3). I turn my really good military leader into a general for my armies. Francesco IV makes a great general!

4). I change my production income to cover the increased price of my army.

The strategy:

I have a fleet with two ships and around 1850 men that have just finished boarding in the Malta Channel. I can slide my fleet to the Gulf of Gabes and strike at Tunisia. I am not looking for land in this war, but I’d be happy with some ducats and having Tunis give up their claim to Tripolitania.

Then I send my fleet back to my shores and wait for the new armies to be built, and then curry both them and my newly minted general back to the shores of Tripoli or Tunisia. These troops, plus my first attack, knock Tunis down. Tunis declared war. Get peace with them quickly, and I may get peace with them all quickly.

Problems: My army doesn’t have a lot of financial support and needs a few months to get back up to speed. In the meantime, if Tunis has any defensive troops, or if Algiers can mobilize what they have quickly, they could really ruin what I have. Part of this will be seen as soon as my fleet arrives in the Gulf of Gabes. I’ll have a better idea then.

18 November, 1497 – Okay, my fleet has arrived in the Gulf. Tunisia has no troops in either Gabes (which is next to Tripolitania) or in Tunis itself, the capital. Now I have a choice to make. Send my troops to the capital and try to besiege it, or do the same for Gabes. If Algiers has troops, then they’ll arrive more quickly in Tunis than Gabes, but capturing Tunis will end the war with them, doing so with Gabes may not.

Unfortunately, Tunis has a bunch of boats in harbor, and they are about to pop out. My fleet cannot win with its lowered maintenance. I need to run now.

29 November, 1497 – My troops arrive back in Tripolitania after my fleet returned. Now I’m popping my fleet back to Morea to pick up the new soldiers when they are built.

6 December, 1497 – Our fleet is docked in Morea.

21 December, 1497 – My troops arrive in Gabes. Stay here or move on to Tunis? Well, since Gabes has no fort, we just captured it! I move my troops on to Tunis.

12 January, 1498 – My new troops are built. I’m grab my new leader, load them, and them send them off.

14 January, 1498 – My old troops arrive in Tunis and begin the siege.

16 January, 1498 – An Algiers Fleet arrives in the Aegean Sea.

6 February, 1498 – My new troops are loaded and ready to go. New decision. Go after Algiers? Support the Tunis troops? Harass the Mamluks?

Mamluks, I Choose You!

14 February, 1498 – I send my troops to Beirut. Why Beirut? It’s near Cyprus, so I can support my ally if Mamluks try to attack them. Beirut also doesn’t have walls, so it’s an easy capture. Plus there are no troops nearby, so I can be here for a while.

Around 1000 rebels in Sirt (the Mamluks province adjacent to Tripolitania) are rebelling. Might slow down the Mamluks!

24 February, 1498 – We capture Beirut when our troops unload.

26 March, 1498 – Mamluks reject our offer of white peace.

23 April, 1498 – Algiers has sent an army to challenge our siege of Tunis.

25 April, 1498 – My troops are caught in Damascus by Mamluks Calvary.

28 April, 1498 – Mamluks have arrived to besiege us in Tripolitania.

4 May, 1498 – After losing the battle of Damascus greatly, I choose to retreat to Beirut.

3 June, 1498 – My newer army arrives back in Tripolitania only to fight the Mamluks here.

7 June, 1498 – We drive the Mamluks out of Tripolitania. I order my men to follow.

23 June, 1498 – We won the Battle of Tunis after a great battle.

13 July, 1498 – Tunis falls!

15 July, 1498 – My army defeated the Mamluks in Sirt but it was close. I order them back to Tripolitania.

2 October, 1498 – The Mamluks offer to pay us 6 ducats if our entire alliance agrees to peace with their entire alliance. I take the deal.

4 November, 1498 – Anathos D’Anoe has arrive din Rhodes and is an advisor available exclusively to me for a year, after that, if I don’t hire him, he goes into the general pool. He’s a natural scientist, which mean that he’ll help our tech investment in production. He costs 3.1 ducats to hire and 0.1 monthly. I hire him without hesitation.

One thing about the war that surprised me was that when I sacked Tunis, I did not get her maps. I should know what she knows, but I do not. That was very disappointing. They removed the trade maps ability from diplomacy, and now you don’t get them when you sack a capital? How are you supposed to get new maps, then?

[Izulde]

Can the capital ever move?

It almost sounds like you'd be better advised to move to Tripoli when it becomes a core.

[Abe Sargent]

Can the capital ever move?

It almost sounds like you'd be better advised to move to Tripoli when it becomes a core.

Some updates:

Looks like you can only change a capital as an edit of the files. Maybe some events will help here.

On maps. In EU2, you get expand your map by the following:

1). Getting an explorer or conquistador and sending them into Terra Incognita (either sea or land, respectively.)

2). Capturing the capital of a nation that had maps

3). Annexing a nation that had maps (after all, you get their entire military, you should get their charts as well, right?)

4). If you were at war with a country, you could march an army into enemy TI but it was very slow. This prevented hit and fade tactics by the AI jumping into TI, and it allowed you to continue to wage war.

5). Capturing the rudders of ships. If you won a naval battle, there was a slight chance that you would get that nation's maps as part of your capture. Since in this game, you can actually capture ships at sea, this would make even more sense in EU3.

6). One diplomatic activity was the trading of maps. Sometimes this worked out a bit cheap, so I'd understand why they puilled it out. (In fifty years, I could have a map of the known world if I cared to by continuing to trade maps with countries. )


In EU3, there are two ways:

1). Way the first. Explore with conquistadors and explorers. In order to get them, you need to get the Quest for the New World national idea.

2). A new way. After 50 years of a nation in a tech group knowing about a place on its map, everybody in that tech group gets that place. As orthodox, I will never get Catholic tech maps. Feh.

And that's it.



6).

[Abe Sargent]

Brother Against Brother


12 January, 1499 – We get an event. Regulation of the Medical Profession. States began to expand the number of doctors and midwives. I get two choices.

Choice the First, “Let’s Use This Knowledge”: Morea gets Medical Evolution for 500 days: Population Growth Rate increases by 10%. I’d get another 2k per year or so, so maybe another 3.2-3.5 k overall. That’s not bad.

Choice the Second, “Let’s Keep Studying”: Get a free move towards Innovate on the policy sliders – no stability hit or anything. I’ll take the permanent policy slider move.

6 March, 1500 – We get another event. Military Reform. Francesco IV has begun a wide sweeping reform of the military. I have three choices this time.

1: Only Reform the Army – Innovate and quality increase by 1, 1000 ducats invested in land tech, Naxos gets Land Reform for 200 days which increases morale, reduces maintenance costs, etc.
2: Only Reform the Navy – Innovate and quality still increase by 1, investment is in naval reform, ability goes to Naxos and has the same effects for 200 days.
3: Reform Both – Innovate and quality each gain 1 again. 400 ducats invested in each. Military reform in Naxos for 200 days.

Since I’m getting innovative and quality for sure, I decide on Army Reform.

I’m actually now one step more innovative than I wanted to be. Ah well.

24 August, 1500 – Austria offers us an alliance. I thank them but decline.

8 February, 1501 – I now have a full slate of merchants in Liguria, which is Genoa’s center of trade in northwest Italy.

15 February, 1501 – Like it was a prize, Genoa just offered me an alliance. I decline.

17 March, 1501 – I send a royal marriage proposal to Croatia, and they agree.

15 July, 1501 – I can move my sliders again. There are several things I am looking at:

Quality over Quantity – My military machine will not be able to produce mad amounts of troops – so let’s focus on making them better, not bulkier. This helps troop morale and increase my leader’s fire characteristic, but makes troops more expensive to purchase while decreasing our manpower.

Offensive over Defensive – Our troops benefit from higher morale and higher leader shock value in exchange for an increased artillery cost.

Free Trade over Mercantilism – We are very Mercantilistic, and I’d like to eventually change all of that. Moving towards free trade would increase my cost to send merchants, increase the number of merchants I have, and decrease my spies while increasing my colonist production.


We are maxed at Innovative – here is what its like: Land Tech, Naval Tech, Production Tech, Trade Tech and Government Tech research are all at +10%! On the other hand, my stability rise cost has also risen by 25%! And I can’t make any missionaries nor colonists and I’m losing the ones I did have.


I decide to take Offensive move. I need to up my armies. The morale bonus is fine but the disadvantage can’t be felt yet, so for now, it’s a free move.


1 August, 1501 – Our stability increases.

5 September, 1501 – I again decline Pommeranian offers of an alliance.

12 October, 1501 – Genoa just got in a major war. Glad I wasn’t part of that.

15 October, 1501 – Aragon and Venice have finally declared peace. No land changed hands. Venice is still at war with another nation and has a huge revolt risk because of war exhaustion. Still hoping for Crete to rebel, or maybe Corfu.

7 November, 1501 – Tuscany offers us an alliance. Another declination.

1 February, 1502 – Our land tech increases.

6 April, 1502 – Mamluks declared war upon Candar. The Ottomans joined Candar. Dulkadir dishonored their alliance with Candar. Tunisia joined the Mamluks. Note that Karamon and Algiers are not involved – but since the Ottomans are now at war with Mamluks – the sand will be awash with Muslim blood.

[Abe Sargent]

An Unlikely Inheritance


20 April, 1502 – I send a royal marriage offer to Austria and they accept.

13 May, 1502 – We enter into a royal marriage with Aragon.

I get a missive from the Ottomans. They request military access. I’m inclined to grant it. We’ve yet to go to war, it’d give them another reason not to kill us, and they’d have to cancel military access before attacking, so we’d have a warning. My guess is that they want to use Tripolitania as a staging ground.

15 May, 1502 – Crimea entered into an alliance with Dulkadir.

7 June, 1502 – I accept a royal marriage offer from Bavaria.

28 August, 1502 – I don’t know when it started, but while I was sailing my fleet past Crete while observing the unfolding Ottoman-Mamluk war, I saw that rebels were besieging Crete!

10 September, 1502 – I decline an alliance offer from Austria.

9 October, 1502 – We have inherited the throne of Modena upon the death of the last Scion of the line in battle! I have instantly and dynastically added four provinces to our nation!

4 November, 1502 – Venice is being besieged by 4000 rebels.

29 November, 1502 – Venezia falls to rebels.

Venetian rebels are all over the place. I decide to load up my armies and send them to my new provinces to protect them from over-zealous revolutionaries.

3 December, 1502 – I decline an offer of alliance from Sweden.

20 December, 1502 – Venice finally declares peace with their last enemy – Savoy. Now they have much to repair.

5 January, 1503 – Venice is offering us an alliance.

Venice.

There was a time when I would have died for an alliance offer from Venice. As one of the Mediteranean powers (After Aragon, Mamluks then comes Venice), I would have died for an alliance.

Now I’m a power with nine provinces and a vassal. Not a major power, I’ll grant you, but a solid enough one. I’d rather tie myself to a smaller nation like Croatia or Ragusa and then offer them vassalization than ally myself with a weaker medium level power. I’d still jump at the opportunity to ally myself with Aragon. But Venice?

Not any more. I reject their proposal.

I release Bern as the new Switzerland, and our vassal. I have no desire to keep it. It also lowers our badboy image in the eyes of other countries when we voluntarily surrender land.

10 January, 1503 – The Papal States and their allies (Siena and Wurtemberg) declare war against Venice. They are pounding Venice in Europe, geez!

3 March, 1503 – I get an alliance offer from Genoa. This time, I consider it more. Could I get Genoa to the point where her three provinces would join us as vassals? All three suit my long term Mediterranean goals (Liguria is a COT and Italian/French province, Corsica is an island, and that province in the Black Sea is nice too.)

However, I realize that someday I may want to attack Genoa to grab her lands, so I need to be non-allied.

March 10, 1503 - I get an event:

Revolt in Tripolotania. Differences in culture and religion have created an environment of rebellion in Tripolitania. How do I handle it?

1 – Ignore Them. Two rebel regiments rise up against us in Tripolitania.

2 – Lower Taxes. 730 days the taxes in Tripolitania are reduced by 10%. Our prestige ranking lowered by 1.

I choose option number two – the peaceful one.

30 April, 1503 – Crete falls to rebels.

30 May, 1503 – Our 50 years anniversary arrives. Time for a look back.

[Abe Sargent]

The 50 year retrospective:


Naxos: We began the era with only the Duchy of Naxos at our hand. In the past 50 years, we’ve grown to 4489 people working the wine trade. We only make around 5.5 ducats annually in taxes and production combined – hardly a plum province, yet the wine trade gives us what wealth we do get. Nobody, other than us of course, has this province as a core province.


Morea: We set our sights on adding the fellow Greek state, Morea, to our nation. As a Catholic in charge of Orthodox Christians, we have problems collecting taxes and inspiring work. Many of our fellow Catholic nations were in the same boat, but Morea was an Orthodox nation, and thus returning her to the glory that is the Catholic Church was worth attacking her first. Morea has 7485 people working the wine trade. We get almost 6 ducats from Morea. She has since became a core and vital part of our nation. The Ottomans have Morea as a core province.

Rhodes: After a peaceful period, we then set our sights on The Knights of St. John, currently in administration over the island of Rhodes. We decided to bring our fellow Greeks into our fold. A quick and decisive campaign brought Rhodes to us as our third state. Rhodes has 22075 people working the fish trade here. Because of the disconnect form our capital and the religious difference, we only make a little over 2 ducats annually from Rhodes, combined production and taxes. Nobody has this province as a core province.


Athens: After conquering Rhodes, there was another decade of quiet, until we annexed peacefully the state of Athens. The 25433 people here also work the fish trade, with around 4.7 ducats annually being yielded. The Ottomans has Athens as a core province.

All four of these provinces are Orthodox.

Tripolitania – After another period of calm and quiet, we began a war against the beleaguered nation of Tripoli. A fast victory against the Islamic nation brought the North African province of Tripolitania into our nation. We get 12.95 ducats here annually, although 12.56 of it comes from the ivory trade here. The 29881 people here work the ivory trade but only send us a little in taxes each year. This is largely because of cultural, religious and distance that create a void between us. The people here are Sunni. Tunisia has Tripolitania as a core province.

Ferarra – 57741 people work the salt trade in this province located just south of Venice proper. Ferarra was one of four provinces brought into our fold when Modena ceased to be a country and we inherited her provinces. 15.79 ducats are made here annually for us. The people here are Catholic and Lombard. The province came with a University, Workshop, Marketplace and Temple. Nobody has this province as a core province.

Modena – Modena proper has 42437 people working the wine trade making 14 ducats for us annually. Modena is located southwest of Ferarra and on the west coast of the Italian Peninsula. The people here are also Lombard and Catholic. His province came with a temple and a university. Nobody has this province as a core province.

Parma – The province of Parma is north of Modena and is the uppermost province still on the west coast of the Italian peninsula, snuggled up against the European mainland. Like the other provinces from the Modenan Succession, Parma is Lombard and Catholic with a temple and university. The wine trade is also popular here, with 61999 people creating 14.45 ducats annually for us in combined tax and production. Nobody has this province as a core province.


Vassals:


Cyprus: Gained eight years ago, the province of Cyprus is wine province with 13671 people and is also Greek Orthodox like so many of our provinces. It is hoped that Cyrpus will join our fold one day voluntarily.

Switzerland: The former province of Bern was captured by Modena in war and then passed on to us one of her provinces. We had no desire for a province up on the Alps. It is currently under assault by Venetian rebels who made their way there after capturing a Venetian province. 4381 people work the iron mines here in Bern.


Military:

We have four regiments, three of which are currently stationed in Ferrara to handle any rebels that come our way. The remaining 1000 are stationed in Tripolitania as a garrison force and front line defense.

We have two cog ships that are currently sailing the Gulf of Taranto and observing a rebel siege of Corfu.

[st.cronin]

What exactly is a "vassal" in this game?

[MrBug708]

Basically someone who gives you money

[Abe Sargent]

What exactly is a "vassal" in this game?

It's an independant country that is a part of your umbrella, sphere of influence so to speak. They pay you have of their monthly income, but none of their annual income. You can ask a country with who is your vassal to be annexed by your country and it requires a virtually maximized relationship and ten years as your vassal.

There are three ways you can have a vassal.

1) Release a part of your country which has an independant streak. This is determined by what the developers consider an independant streak to be, but virtually every European province counts. You release them as a vassal with the same religion as you and maxed relations. In my case, Switzerland has been annexed by Venice and thus I was able to relese Bern, one half of Switzerland, as a new Switzerland as my vassal

2) Get a vassalization diplomatically. This requires a royal marriage (which means they have to be able to do royal marriages. Some European countries are not monarchies - like Venice, Ragusa, Genoa, Tuscany, etc. Also, while Christians can always intermarry, as can muslims from Sunni to Shiite, there's no intermarrying across religions - I'd have to check to see what Hindu, Confuciousism, and Buddhism rules are.) and an alliance and virtually maxed relations. You also typically need to be bigger and better than that country.

3). Vassalize in war. You can vassalize anybody in war, regardless of religion or government type. This was the most common form in the Middle Ages. Many countries were vassals of other countires (Granada of Castille, Wallachia of the Ottomans, etc)


Hope that helps!

[Abe Sargent]

Another example of real life vassalizaiotn would be mnay of the Crusader States that popped up during the Crusades as European powers took land so far away that they didn;t want to bother ruling it. The Duchy of Naxos was a Crusader State (sometimes referred to as The Duchy of the Archipelago)

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Entangling Alliances



20 August, 1503 – I reject an alliance offer from Wurttemberg.

1 September, 1503 – The Venice government is broken by rebels, and they take over. The new Venice government has arrived. That means no more rebellions in Corfu or Crete, and no more need to worry about Venetian rebels exporting to my provinces.

1 November, 1503 – Rhodes is now officially part of our patrimony, and we get a core province bonus from it!

1 December, 1503 – The rebels captured Bern, and Switzerland is broken. They are still our vassal, just new people are in control – loss of financial stability, inflation, etc.

1 January, 1504 – AMAZING!!!!! Anakethos Getsi has arrived in Athens. He is a major advisor on a massive level. He is a six star government advisor. Unfortunately, I cannot afford him. He requires 18.7 ducats annually and 0.6 monthly. However, I only have 13 ducats right now. I have a year to figure out what to do with him. Otherwise, he goes to the general pool and any state can hire him.

10 January, 1504 – A major problem has occurred. Cyprus has converted to Protestant. That means our relationship drops to neutral and she is no longer in an alliance with us. Ick. She’s still our vassal, but now looks unlikely to be our annexation target next year.

I jack up my minting for a few months, taking the inflation hit, so I can hire Anakethos Getsi.

18 January, 1504 – Poland wants military access and I grant it.

1 February, 1504 – After one month, I have minted enough money to hire Anakethos. I also decline an alliance offer from Denmark.

4 February, 1504 – I accept alliance offers from Croatia and Castille.

Why?

Croatia is a one province minor on the Adriatic Sea that if I can buddy up to might agree to be a vassal someday. Easy decision.

Castille is more difficult, yet there are several reasons why –

1). We are brothers on North Africa. After the Ottomans and the Mamluks finish up their war, one or both could legitimately look my way. Since I’ve never been able to get Ottoman assistance with a legit power in the area, we might as well take assistance against the Mamluks.

2). And even if we didn’t fight the Mamluks, can you imagine the land we’d gobble up between us against Tunisia and Algiers if they get antsy? It’d be very useful to expand our holdings.

3). Eventually, and it’s not going to be for a while, but eventually, as we continue to grow into a serious Meditteranean power, we’re going to have to tussle with Aragon for the title of greatest power in the region. Castille would be the single best ally for such a battle.

Okay, now I have serious issue with maps. You can see everything that happens in an ally’s provinces and adjacent sea zones – the fog of war is lifted there. But I can’t see Castille’s provinces that I havne’t discovered. Now, I could understand Castille being dodgey with the New World info, but certainly they’d want us to have all of their North Africa info, right? Or else, how could we lift a siege in our ally’s territory or use it as a base camp or anything?

It’s still a stupid, stupid decision by the coders, and it appears to be getting stupider the more I play.

18 February, 1504 – I accept a military alliance from Tuscany, now that they are a neighbor. See: Croatia, except with two provinces.

25 February, 1504 – I decline a military alliance from Pommerania.

9 March, 1504 – I accept an alliance offer from Ragusa: also see Croatia.

11 May, 1504 – Venice and Genoa have reached peace. Liguria was about to fall, so Genoa was wise to seek peace.

20 January, 1505 – Crimea declared war upon Candar. The Ottomans dishonored their alliance. Dulkadir has joined the war. Dulkadir is no longer an Ottoman ally, although it can’t be long before they grab them back. Cracks in the Ottoman armor? One of their perma-allies is gone, at least for now, the other looks to be gone for a while, and two of their perma-allies are at war. If I had the stability, I’d attack Dulkadir again, only this time I’d win.

3 February, 1505 – In a move that may portent war, Hungary laid claim to the throne of Croatia (by having a royal marriage with them). That gives them a casus belli on Croatia, our erstwhile ally.

[Abe Sargent]

Just added a bunch of titles to the individual game posts. Hope you like them. My favorite is "Harvesting Grain Before a Storm," which I thought was much better than "Gathering Resources Before a War."

[Abe Sargent]

Angering the Dragon



13 September, 1505 – Aragon declares war upon Tuscany. Portugal and Burgundy join forces with their ally Aragon against poor Tuscany.

What do I do? Aragon had the lower half of the Italian Peninsula for ages and hadn’t made a move to grab more land. However, I’m not ready to take on Aragon on a long campaign right now, and if Portugal and Burgundy should actually send forces over?

On the other hand, if I go to war with Tuscany and manage to grab a province or two, like, say, Napoli? That’d be a huge swing for us.

Best case scenario if I go to war:

Portugal and Burgundy ignore the war. Aragon concentrates too much of her forces on Tuscany, I sneak around back and hit her Hard ™ and force peace after a province or two falls into my hand. This is a defensive war, so less badboy if I take land here.

Worst case scenario:

Portugal and Burgundy get involved and kick my ass. I lose land, likely either Tripolitania and/or one or more of my Lombard provinces.


I risk it. We are now at war with Aragon.

I jack up the maintenance on our troops and order my fleet to head to Ferrara and pick up some troops.

1 November, 1505 – We win a battle with Aragon in the Straits of Messina. We also capture one of their ships.

20 January, 1506 – 2000 of our troops are kicked out of Ancona because the Tuscany leader chose to assault the city and we lost troops.

21 January, 1506 – We won a land battle against Aragon in Malta where our leader led 2000 of our infantry in a successful campaign against Aragon. The Siege of Malta has begun.

I order 1000 Condotta Infantry, which are great at defense, built in Ferrara.

I order war taxes to begin being collected.

25 January, 1506 – My fleet arrives off the coast of Napoli and I see way too many Aragonese troops on the Italian shore to make a serious attempt – however the two Sicilian provinces are open.

5 March, 1506 – My fleet bearing my Italian forces dodges the Aragonese fleet and arrives by Malta. I order my men to disembark into Sicily.

16 March, 1506 – The Siege of Palermo has begun. I expect the Aragonese to backtrack and head here with troops, thus pulling them away from Tuscany.

19 April, 1506 – I march my new troops in Ferrara to Modena. There they will be a reserve if needed by Tuscany or to defend my own territory if a backside attack is called for by Aragon. My fleet in between Malta and Sicilly is watching the sealanes to see if any Aragonese try to break into my backside and hit me in Naxos, Morea, Rhodes or Athens.

7 May, 1506 – After pushing Aragon back out, Tuscany takes Ancona.

8 July, 1506 – We accept a royal marriage from Lithuania.

10 July, 1506 – Malta falls. I order the troops here into Palermo to assist in the taking of that province.

13 August, 1506 – Palermo falls just before my troops were set to land!

18 August, 1506 – I send Aragon a peace offer for them to give us Malta, they refuse. I order my 4000 troops into Messina the other Sicilian province where 1000 Aragon troops await.

2 September, 1506 – We win the battle of Messina and begin besieging the capital.

27 September, 1506 – The Ottomans have inherited Dulkadir so they have them now dynastically.

30 September, 1506 – We get a peace offer from Aragon. They will give us peace and Malta. We would be at peace with their entire alliance. Malta is poor land, but gaining it is more than we would have done, otherwise.

Smart money says to take the deal and move on. Of course, I could capture Messina and then push for either Messina or Palermo as my prize. Those are much better provinces.

What ultimately sells me is the relative cheapness of Malta in terms of value. 7k people working the fish trade? Get real. I decline.

1 November, 1506 – Our production tech increased.

5 December, 1506 – The Aragon push has defeated Tuscany at Ancona and is now besieging their on province.

15 January, 1507 – We defeat another Aragon advance at Messina.

29 March, 1507 – We defeat an Aragon scouting navy in the Straits of Messina.

15 May, 1507 – I turn down another Malta offer from Aragon.

30 July, 1507 – We capture Messina. I order my men to the mainland of Italy in the province of Calabria where 2000 Aragonese await.

23 September 1507 – We lost 627 men but won the Battle of Calabria. In the meantime, Aragon has moved some her front line troops back to Napoli. An army I’d lost to. 5000 calvary.

20 October, 1507 – Now the peace offer is Messina and Malta. That’s much better. I accept.

[Abe Sargent]

Thought some of you might want to see an updated map:

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2447/italianlovefw4.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Look at how natural Messina and Malta look next to Tripolitania. It looks much less isolated now, eh?

Let's take a look at my new land:

Malta: 7528 people work the fishing trade here. They are Catholic and Maltese. We are currently only getting 3.25 ducats from her annually in combined tax and production - like I said, hardly worth the bother. Aragon has Malta as a core province. A Workshop has been built here.

Messina - The 69949 Catholic people are Sicillian, which is fine. See, when I inherited the Lombard provinces three, my main culture became Lombard. Lombard is related to Sicilian. Thus, my country tolerates the culture here. Therefore, the cultural hit to taxes is only 10% instead of 30% for not being a culture that we tolerate but being related to one. We make 6.5 ducats annually here from the taxes and produciton from the oh so mighty fish trade. Aragon also has this as a core province. Messina also has a Workshop built here.


In other news, that alliance with Castille looks amazingly smart in hindsight. With a pair of Aragon cores, they could declare war against us at any time, and now I have an ally to call on that's much more powerful than I, and could really take it to Aragon.

[SFL Cat]

Your provinces are spread a little thin. You should go ahead and overrun Aragon in Italy to consolidate your territory a little better! ;)

[Abe Sargent]

Your provinces are spread a little thin. You should go ahead and overrun Aragon in Italy to consolidate your territory a little better! ;)

The Aragonian army was waaaaaaay too powerful for me, I merely avoided it by going around their backside while they tussled with Tuscany. I beleive that when I got peace, they forced Tuscany back out of Ancona and then the peace forced Tuscany to pay some gold.

[Kobeck]

dang I was hoping for an update today.

Enjoying this muchly.

Although there is a copy of EUIII comming to my house as I type. I will not be able to play for a couple of weeks as my 6 year old PC would require a new video card. Instead of that I am just gonna build a new PC and hope to get 6 years out of it. TMI I know


Anyhow I am following along daily

[Abe Sargent]

The Rewards of Patience


25 October, 1507 – Burgundy is wanting military access. I grant it.

18 December, 1507 – I accept a royal marriage offer from Poland.

3 March, 1508 – We get five merchants in Lubeck, a Center of Trade near Denmark on the north German coast.

1 June, 1508 – Our stability increased.

6 June, 1508 – The Papal States and their ally, Siena, declared war upon Venice.

10 June, 1508 – Tuscany and Aragon come to peace terms.

7 November, 1508 – I get an event. Boundary Dispute. The lack of good maps created a lot of wars and conflicts. Clever rules used vague boundaries to gain an advantage.I have two options:

1) Press Issue: I get cores on Pisa, Firenze, Romagna, and Mantua. My relations with those owners (Tuscany, Venice, Papal States, and Tuscany again) are decreased by 30 per core (so 60 for Tuscany, 30 each for the Papal States and Venice.)

2) Settle Issue: I lose one prestige.


After quick consideration, I decide to press the issue. You never know when those cores could become useful. Especially for declaring war against, say, Venice in the future.

12 January, 1509 – Genoa declared war upon Savoy.

26 March, 1509 – Francesco IV has been elected the Holy Roman Emperor!

The following countries are electors:

Provence
Hamburg
Hesse
Wurzberg
Genoa
Siena
Liege

We received votes from five of the seven states! We did not get votes from Hamburg and Hesse. Obviously my royal marriages and good relationships has taken us far. This was never my intent, but it’s a nice bonus!

What benefit do we get from being Holy Roman Emperor?

+1 diplomats annually
+5% spy success
+1 prestige annually

The number of countries in the HRE (currently 18) give us:

+18 monthly stability investment (massive amount)
+9 manpower increase
+36 land forcelimits

The monthly stability investment is amazingly good for us. It accelerates the anticipated date for our stability to increase from 1521 to 1513!

[Abe Sargent]

The Penance of Patience


9 April, 1509 – I accept a royal marriage proposal from Pommerania.

10 April, 1509 – I decide to send my troops to Ragusa to put down a 1000 group of rebels from the Ottomans. I ask for and receive the right to move through Ragusa with my troops.

26 April, 1509 – I accept a royal marriage offer from Mazovia.

16 May, 1509 – Our troops arrive in Ragusa.

5 June, 1509 – We crush the rebels in Ragusa. I send them back to Messina.

16 June, 1509 – Venice and Savoy are now at peace.

26 September, 1509 – A new king rises to the head of Cyprus. He great at diplomacy and military and pitiful at administration.

18 December, 1509 – We get another Boundary Dispute action. This time, the following provinces are available to be added as cores: Verona and Venezia itself (Venice). I’ll take Venezia for sure. Relations with Venice drop by 60.

1 February, 1510 – I hire Hasan Hirsekli, an army reformer, as an advisor for my nation. He was generally available I just got lucky to find him here.

1 March, 1510 – Siena has adopted their third national idea and we aren’t even close to our second.

9 March, 1510 – Wurtemburg captured Lombardia of Venice. Venice needs to pick up the pace.

1 May, 1510 – Our government tech increases.

1 August, 1510 – Our naval tech increases.

30 August, 1510 – Rebels capture Janina, an Ottoman province northwest of Athens.

13 September, 1510 – I accept a royal marriage from Sweden. I also ask for and receive Military Access from Tuscany.

1 December, 1510 – The Ottomans have recaptured Janina.

2 March, 1511 – Bosnia declared war upon Ragusa. None of their allies accepted the call, but Ragusa asks us to join their efforts. I agree.

11 April, 1511 – Castille declared war upon Algiers. Morocco and Tunis join Algiers. I join Castille. We are now at war on two fronts.

[Abe Sargent]

War Against Everybody


I jacked up my troop maintenance and move 3000 of my troops to Ragusa. Two thousand more are sent to Tripolitania, including my leader. I order another 1000 in Ferrara.

No, nevermind. I intend to win this war one front at a time. I send all 5000 troops to Ragusa. Let’s win this against Bosnia, and then win it against North Africa. I will leave Tripolitania defenseless for the moment.

18 April, 1511 – Hungary declares war against Croatia. I’m at war with everyone else, might as well support Croatia as well, plus my army in Ragusa can do double duty. Hungary’s two allies, Bohemai anad Denmark join.

22 June, 1511 – My troops are all in Ragusa.

25 June, 1511 – 1000 calvary from Tunis arrive in Tripolitania to besiege the city.

5 July, 1511 – We won the Battle of Hum and begun besieging the city.

8 September, 1511 – 2000 Bohemiam troops arrive in Ferrara to being a siege.

30 September, 1511 – My fresh 1000 troops from Ferrara arrive in Croatia to aid in their defense.

15 December, 1511 – I offer Bosnia a white peace and they decline.

23 December, 1511 – Hungary wins a battle in Dalmatia against Croatia.

1 January, 1512 – We have captured Hum. I order my troops into Dalmatia. I order 1000 more troops built in Modena.

3 January, 1512 – Tunisia captured Tripolitania.

13 January, 1512 – Bosnia offers us peace for the entire alliance and they pay us six ducats. I accept. I order more troops built in Parma. One war down.

27 January, 1512 - Our army arrives in Dalmatia and begins to fight Hungary for the province.

31 January, 1512 – We force the Hungarians out of Dalmatia and have broken their siege!

1 February, 1512 – I order my leader at the head of my 3000 best infantry to head over to Ferrara and break the siege.

5 February, 1512 – More Hungarians arrive in Dalmatia to fight my remaining troops here.

10 February, 1512 – My troops arrive in Ferrara to fight the Bohemians.

22 February, 1512 – Algiers sends us a peace offer and we pay them 4 ducats to be at peace with their entire alliance including Tunis. I agree. Two wars down.

23 February, 1512 – My troops have lost the Battle of Dalmatia and are retreating to Ragusa to regroup.

6 March, 1512 – We drive the Bohemians out of Ferrara.

16 March, 1512 – Some Hungarian troops arrived in Ferrara only be to savaged and sent back in three days.

31 March, 1512 – Our 1000 new troops building in Modena have joined our army.

10 June, 1512 – Ragusa declared war against the Ottomans. They have asked me to join them. Nope, if they have gotten delusions of grandeur, I’ll not support that.

11 July, 1512 – I have an almost 3k army arrive from Ferrar at Ragusa, join them up with the remnants left over from the previous battle, and order them into Dalmatia.

26 July, 1512 – We defeated Hungary in the Adriatic Sea.

3 September, 1512 – We force the Hungarians out of Dalmatia again

There have been a large number of skirmishes in Northern Italy with my troops and opposing forces.

It’s becoming obvious that I am going to lose this war with Hungary. I cannot stab them in the back because they are landlocked. They keep my main force pinned down and are harassing my Northern Italian provinces and forces at will. I need to find an exit strategy.

4 October, 1512 – I lost a ship running the Hungarian boat gauntlet in the Adriatic but brought my beleaguered Italian forces to Dalmatia. All of my forces are here.

4000 opposing troops are besieging Parma. I need to similarly hit my opponent in the mouth in order to get neutral in this war.

5 January, 1513 – We lost 1200 troops but defeated Hungary at the province of Croatia. We begin a siege.

1 March, 1513 – Athens is now part of our Patrimony and is a core province.

21 March, 1513 – Parma falls.

9 May, 1513 – We breach the walls of Croatia province and I order a full scale assault.

11 May, 1513 – As we assault the walls of Croatia, Hungary offers us a white peace on behalf of their entire alliance for our entire alliance. I accept. The third war ends.

[st.cronin]

All heck breaks loose!

[nilodor]

Holy crap!

[st.cronin]

We're gonna need a new map after all that, I think.

[Groundhog]

Yeah wow, busy year...

[Abe Sargent]

To be fair, in no cases did land change. I'll get you that map though

[Abe Sargent]

Here's teh new map. A few things. Genoa has expanded, and Savoy is down to that one pink province to my north east. The French minors have come in and taken over. Also, Ragusa is now Ottoman. The Bohemian provinces in former Transylvania are just a satellite of the full country to the north.

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/8687/newestwd2.jpg

[Kobeck]

how did Naxos avoid losing territory when Tunisia captured Tripolitania?

also nobody thought twice about attacking the leader of the HRE? Isn't there some sort of penalty for doing that?

And thanks for the info about Bohemia, I am no early European scholar, but even I know Bohemia was near modern Germany

[Abe Sargent]

Just because you capture a province doesn't mean you get it in peace negotiations. I captured both Scilian provinces when fihgting Aragon, but only was able to take one. I captured Hum, the southern Bosnia province, but only accepted gold for peace, the same is true of Algiers/Tunisia/Morocco. They captured Tripolitania, but only demanded gold for peace, which I readily accepted.

I don;t think there is a penalty for attacking the HRE, especially by these guys. They didn;t attack me, but my allies.

[Abe Sargent]

Progress Goes Before A Fall


24 May, 1513 – Ragusa falls and they are annexed by the Ottomans.

15 July, 1513 – A new Galley that I ordered built has been constructed in Naxos.

9 September, 1513 – Castille accepted a white peace with Algiers.

9 October, 1513 – The Mamluks and the Ottomans are finally at peace after years of fighting. The final exchange? The Mamluks ship 83 ducats to the Ottomans, and both countries are riled with rebellions with the war exhaustion.

1 November, 1513 – Our stability increased to max.

3 March, 1514 – I accept a royal marriage from Bavaria

25 May, 1514 – I accept a royal marriage from Saxony.

11 June, 1514 – I accept a royal marriage from Mazovia.

16 June, 1514 – We get an event:

One of our Advisors Publishes a Great Work:

Aniketos Ghisi publishes a major work, The Spirit of Laws, that could get great renown. I have two options:

His Efforts will be Admired Throughout the Nation: +3 stability (wow) and a major tech gain for government tech over the next few years.

His Efforts Will Bring Glory to the World: +5 prestige, same tech gain bonus.

I choose number two, since we are already stable.

18 July, 1514 – France and her vassals declare war on Portugal. Aragon joins the war.

1 August, 1514 – I offer Royal Marriage to Castille and they accept.

1 July, 1515 – Our government tech increased again. One more increase and we hit our next national idea.

21 September, 1515 – We enter into a royal marriage with Lithuania.

22 September, 1515 – A white peace between France and Aragon has been reached.

1 March, 1516 – Our government tech increased to five! We can now get our second national idea. Here are my serious options:

1) Quest for the New World – Get explorers and Conquistadors and explore the world, followed by colonizations!
2) Military Drill – 50% morale to all of our armies permanently. Many land based European countries have this already. It’s pretty good in land war.
3) National Trade Policy – Trade efficiency increases by 10%. This would give us some extra money each year.
4) Deus Vult – We no longer require a Casus Belli to declare war against a country with a different religion.


I toss out Deus Vult and Quest quickly. They are nice, but not needed, certainly not now. Getting extra dough and getting extra morale are both useful. After consideration, I take the Military Drill. It helps a lot against countries with out, and brings us back to the table against those with it.

24 July, 1516 – Savoy was annexed by Genoa.

1 August, 1516 – Our government tech increased.

1 July, 1517 – I fire our advisor Athananasios D’Anoe, a philosopher who helps our Production Tech. He’s 17 years into his job. I hire Omar Beli. He’s twice as good and just seven years into his career.

22 July, 1517 – Time to change one of our sliders. It’ll drop our stability but help us in the long run. I move us one more towards Offensive. Now our leaders will always get one extra shock value in combat. Our stability drops, but the HRE investment will hopefully curtail that.

17 December, 1517 – We enter a royal marriage with Burgundy.

15 January, 1518 – Venice declared war upon Genoa.

14 March, 1518 – We enter into a royal marriage with Wurttemberg

1 April, 1518 – Our government tech increases.

[Abe Sargent]

Experiences Repeated


11 December, 1518 – Castille declared war upon Algiers. Tunisa and Morocco joined Algiers. I join Castille again.

19 January, 1519 – Venice defeated Genoa and won two provinces.

10 March, 1519 – We defeated Tunisia in Gabes.

17 March, 1519 – I lose my Galley in a quick exchange with Tunisian fleets. I now have around 5500 troops in Gabes including my leader. I march to Tunis itself.

19 April, 1519 – We defeat a Tunisian army in Tunis. Around 1000 opposing troops have slipped behind our line and are besieging Tripolitania. They came from the province(s) I can’t see.

13 June, 1519 – Portugal declares war upon Morocco. Algiers joins Morocco. Aragon and England join Portugal. I won’t have to worry about help from Tunisia’s allies on m front of the war now.

9 July, 1519 – 2000 troops I detatch from Tunis arrived in Tripolitania and broke the siege.

30 August, 1519 – We capture Tunis.

11 October, 1519 – We again defeat Tunisian troops in Gabes and recapture the province.

15 October, 1519 – We get another Press Boundary Dispute issue. This time we gain core provinces on two Turkish Greek provinces, Janina and Salonica, and our relations with the Ottomans thus drop 60.

1 November, 1519 – Venice declared war on Austria. Their ally Burgundy joins against Venice.

1 January, 1520 – I order a workshop built in Athens.

3 January, 1520 – I send a peace offer to Algiers demanding 50 ducats for peace. They accept and send us the money.

[nilodor]

So the only way you can see the dark countries would be to get either conquistidors or an explorer? In the future will new tech's open up that will allow you to see more of the map?

What areas are available for you to start a game with? Is it just Europe, Africa and Asia?

[Abe Sargent]

Victory and Victory


With my war victory money, I order another Workshop built in Modena.

6 March, 1520 – I accept a royal marriage offer from Wurttemberg

11 March, 1520 – I accept a royal marriage from France.

15 June, 1520 – The event that gave us additional government tech bonus from our advisor’s seminal work has ended.

1 July, 1520 – Our land tech increased.

1 October, 1520 – Our government tech increased.

7 December, 1520 – Siena declared war against Venice and the Papal States left their alliance with Siena.

31 December, 1520 – Tunisia accepted peace terms with Castille and gave up Gabes and some province inland I can’t see, so Castille are now our neighbors. I think I misplayed it by accepting peace so soon. Had we held onto the Tunisian, land, Castille would not have been able to have gotten it for themselves. We probably will never take that land from Castille, but we can cherry pick Tunisia.

Now, Tunis province is, I believe, the final province of Tunisia. It’s a cheap grain province but the taxbase is nice with over 125000 people there. I’ll look at taking it down later.

14 January, 1521 – Castille got five provinces from Morocco in a peace accord. Castille is now a North African power of significance.

27 February, 1521 – Venice gave up two provinces to Austria for peace.

1 September, 1521 – My reputation has decreased from tarnished to slightly tarnished.

Since I am currently able to be a but more aggressive in getting land, I take a look around. I have a Casus Belli on

The Papal States (I have Romagna as a core province)
Venice (I have four provinces as cores, including Venice itself)
Tuscany (I have cores on both of her provinces)
Ottomans (I have cores on two upper Greece provinces)
Denmark – Don’t know why
Bohemia – Don’t know why

Well, I’m not starting a war with the Ottomans. That’s just stupid. I’m allied with Tuscany, so that’s a no go. Denmark and Bohemia I don’t have any core provinces on, and they are too far away.

That leavesVenice and the Papal States. Romagna is a solid province, adjacent to the south of Ferrara. The Papal States just have two provinces – it’d be an easy war geographically, and they currently have no allies. I just did a float by with my navy. They only have 1000 infantry in Romagna – an easy capture. But they have 3000 calvary and 2000 infantry in Roma.

Venice is tempting. They have far flung provinces like Crete and Corfu that I could hit easily. They are already at war with Siena, although its not much of one. They have no allies either. Lombardia, a province on which I have a core, is a great province from a financial perspective, with over 200000 people as well as cloth as its main export. Plus, the culture Lombard is my main these days, with Greek as second, accepted culture. Lombardia is Lombard (Romagna, the Papal province, on the other hand is Umbrian, which, like Sicilian, is related to Lombard, so just a -10% drop, but still worse that Lombard).

Venice has 4400 troops, 2400 of which are infantry, sitting in Mantua, just north of my provinces. They also have a higher land tech than the Papal States. There are a few provinces I can’t see that could be hiding troops. Venice would be a tougher fight.

With a greater prize.

Slowly, for the future, I’ll move all of my troops to Northern Italy over the next month or two.

13 December, 1521 – There are no Venetian troops in either Crete or Corfu.

1 January, 1522 – I’ve found 3000 more Venetians, 2000 of which are calvary. They are marching back from their Savoy provinces. I order some troops built.

7 February, 1522 – I now have two regiments of troops stationed in my fleet off the coast of Crete, ready to land.

The Venice Strategy:

1). Take Crete relatively unopposed. Then move this army to Corfu. Taking these provinces jacks up my warscore – how well I’ve done. The higher the score, the more I can get in peace negotiations.

2). Smash my main forces into Lombardia, besiege and take it.

3). Then play defense on those armies that penetrated my Italian provinces and are besieging me.

4). After that, take Venezia proper.

5). Hope that Croatia and Tuscany attack it, and that Castille joins in order to scare them and maybe win a naval battle or two.

With four provinces under my control, including Lombardia, it should be easy for me to get Lombardia, and maybe another province of my cores or captured groups.


That’s the battle plan. Now I just wait a time to operate it.


15 May, 1522 – I jack up my ground military funding.

1 July, 1522 – My troops are in position. The funding has increased. I am ready.

However, after seeing even more troops, I do not believe I can defeat Venice. I currently see a total of 12000 people in the Italian provinces, much more than I have.

So the Papacy it is.


28 July, 1522 – I declare war upon the Papal States.

Tuscany joins us, as does Castille, but not Croatia. I thought Castille might sit this one out, so I’m pleasantly surprised, but I was hoping Croatia would join us and that was not to be the case.

I order my large army to Roma and the small one to hold ground in Modena.

1 August, 1522 – Our stability goes back up from the hit it just took.

15 September, 1522 – Algiers gave up five provinces to Castille.

1 October, 1522 – After a very costly battle, we defeat the Papal troops in Roma.

1 November, 1522 – Tripolitania is not a part of our patrimony and we will defend it completely. It is now a core province.

12 December, 1522 – After an assault, we have captured Roma.

1 January, 1523 – Our production tech increased.

26 February, 1523 – I accept a royal marriage from Sweden

1 March, 1523 – After rallying my troops in Tuscany, I order them to march to Romagna.

5 May, 1523 – After a mammoth battle during which each side lost over 4000 troops, we finally defeat the Papal troops and begin the Siege of Romagna.

2 June, 1523 – The Papal States accept our offer of peace for Romagna!


Romagna:

93483 people work the salt trade here in this Umbrian Catholic province south of Ferrara and south east of Modena. They make around 21 ducats annually for us in taxes and production, although that includes that +50 from War taxes currently in effect. There is no nationalism here, because they are a core province. This province has a temple, workshop and university.

The workshop and temple are of small value, but I want to impress how valuable a University is. It costs around 1500 ducats to build one. I now have three, all captured. It gives an annually income bonus, a significant monthly increase to my governmental tech advancement, and a minor population growth increase as well for the province. All in all, it’s very valuable to capture one.

Because it was a core province, and because we didn;t annex our foe, our reputation did not that that major of a hit, and we can still play the mad land taker later.

[Abe Sargent]

So the only way you can see the dark countries would be to get either conquistidors or an explorer? In the future will new tech's open up that will allow you to see more of the map?

What areas are available for you to start a game with? Is it just Europe, Africa and Asia?

All of Europe, coastal North Africa but not inland, the near Middle East, Russia and the steppes, Mecca, that's it. Other European countries, like the Iberians, probably have different lands available to see.

[Abe Sargent]

Catching One's Breath


22 July, 1523 – Venice and Siena are now at peace.

29 October, 1523 – I accept a royal marriage from Poland.

1 January, 1524 – I order 1000 calvary built in Romagna. These are Stradioti Calvary, a special unit available to me as a Greek that are light and have great morale and shock value.

11 April, 1524 – We enter into a royal marriage with Burgundy. To make this post earlier, from now on, I’ll do it like this “RM: Burgundy.” Fair enough?

15, April, 1524 – Venice and Genoa are at war. Again.

11 June, 1524 – Aragon declared war against us.

[SFL Cat]

Time to overrun Italy!

[Abe Sargent]

Wrestling 24 Hours with an Angel

Both Castille and Tuscany honor our alliance. Excellent. With Iberian power Castille attacking Aragon, we should have some breathing room in the Mediterranean. My years of planning may be coming to fruition.

Portugal and Burgundy joined Aragon.

The good: I haven’t jacked down my maintenance since my last war. I was rebuilding my devastated armies, so morale is up and I just built 1000 calvary. I have three regiments in Messina ready to move into Palermo.

The bad: Aragon is still a better country than us militarily.

I order my armies into Ancona and Palermo.

4 July, 1524 – We win in Palermo.

30 July, 1524 – After a long struggle, we win in Ancona.

1 September, 1524 – A large Burgundian force arrives in parma and begins a siege of us.

2 September, 1524 – We drive away an assault force from Palermo, but I don’t think we can keep winning down there without reinforcements.

I order another 1000 troops built in Modena.

20 September, 1524 – I win a naval battle in the Straits of Messina.

1 December, 1524 – Our trade tech increased.

6 December, 1524 – We defeat the Aragonese navy in the Sea of Liguria. I’m sending two regiments around the back to assist in Palermo. Messina is about to fall from the remnants of several Aragon assaults, but the combined forces from that assault are fairly strong.

25 December, 1524 – My troops arrive in Palermo.

1 January, 1525 – I order another 1000 calvary built and I send 1000 troops from the siege in Ancona to ships off the coast of Tuscany, to head to Sardinia and do a behind the scene siege there.

12 January, 1525 – Messina falls to the Aragonese.

14 January, 1525 – Palermo falls to us.

10 February, 1525 – Portugal offers us peace for us paying 24 ducats. Nothing doing.


26 February, 1525 – We capture Ancona. We are now in a pretty dominate position, since Burgundy has yet to take Parma, although it is about to fall. If I can drive peace through Aragon, I might have a chance at getting a good peace settlement early.

I send a peace for Palermo, and they reject it.

28 February, 1525 – My regiment lands in Sardinia and begin a siege here.

12 March, 1525 – I get a peace offer from Aragon. The entire war stops, they renounce their claims on Messina and Malta, and we get 2 ducats.

Let’s stop and assess:

I’ve captured Palermo and Ancona.

I’ve lost Messina. I’m about to lose Parma.

My main army is headed to another Aragonese province in Italy, and thence to Napoli or stay there and besiege the place.

No, I’m going to stay firm. I think I am going to win this war. I set up my allies just to win this war. This is one I’m going to see through.

29 March, 1525 – We drive the Aragon forces out of Abbruzzi and begin a siege? Or head to Napoli? I order my troops on to Napoli. That’s where my opposing forces are headed, and I want to hit them while they are demoralized.

14 April, 1525 – We drive them out of Napoli. Keep following or begin a siege? I decide to follow them back to Abbruzzi. Hit them again.

29 April, 1525 – We defeated them in Abbruzzi again.

8 May, 1525 – I get a new peace offer from Aragon identical to the last. I reject it.

11 May, 1525 – My new calvary are built. I order them to my lines.

14 May, 1525 – I decline another Portugese offer of peace for my ducats.

28 May, 1525 – Sardinia falls before us!

1 June, 1525 – Parma falls to Burgundy. Before the forces there can get out. A force of Rebels attack them. They’ll win, but it slows them down.

3 June, 1525 – Francisco IV dies. Francisco V secedes him. Our stability drips with the changeover in leader. Francisco V is elected Holy Roman Emperor, he has a 6 in admin, 8 in diplomacy, and 8 in military. Even better than his father!

20 June, 1525 – My regiment from Sardinia arrives in Palermo. I order my king as a general, and to Palermo. He’s about to lead his first battle as king. He’s a great general! I order 1000 calvary fromt eh Napoli siege to break off and join the attack on Messina.

1 July, 1525 – Our stability increases.

8 August, 1525 – We won in Messina.

8 September, 1525 – I reject another Aragonese peace offer. The Castillians were stupid enough to let Portugal capture Andalucia. That dropped the warscore tremendously.

10 September, 1525 - A few Burgundy troops arrive in Modena and begin a siege.

8 November, 1525 – I get a boundary dispute event, and I get a Core province on Ancona.

11 November, 1525 – I get a peace offer from Portugal. They will go to peace with our entire alliance and pay us 4 ducats. I accept. Now Castille can concentrate on just Aragon

6 December, 1525 – Austria declared war against the Teutonic Order. Why is this a big deal? Burgundy is Austria’s ally and joins the war.

6 January, 1526 – We recapture Messina!

8 March, 1526 – After a long siege, we assault and capture Napoli.

9 March, 1526 – Aragon accepted my peace offer for Palermo and Napoli!



Palermo – The other province in Sicily, 115040 people work the wine trade here. The Catholic and Sicilian people here make us around 14.4 ducats annually, split almost evenly between trade and tax. Palermo has a workshop.

Napoli – The prize of the war, and one of the best plums available in the area. 283548 people work the wine trade here – almost 300,000! The Catholic Sicilians make us around 17 ducats annually, again split almost evenly into tax revenue and production revenue. They have a workshop and a marketplace.

[Abe Sargent]

Time to overrun Italy!

I've realized that Italy is my ticket to greatness and wealth. It's provinces are typically much more wealthy than the relative scraps in Greece. Plus, the powers here are eligible to be taken out, as opposed to say, the Turks.


Oh, and because we took those provinces in a defensive war, our badboy is still okay.

[Izulde]

Nice work! So the Mediterranean's basically becoming a three way dance between you, Castile, and the Ottomans it looks like.

[Abe Sargent]

Nice work! So the Mediterranean's basically becoming a three way dance between you, Castile, and the Ottomans it looks like.

And Mamluks. Aragon is still a power too, it took me and Castille and Tuscany to take them out int eh last war, remember.

Ironically, I'm adjacent, land wise, to all four other major powers (Tripolitania borders the Mamluks on the east side, Castille on the West, Napoli is surrounded by Aragon, and of course, the Turks are adjacent to Athens and Morea).

There are questions though. Can I strike and take the gems provinces? Genoa's Liguria and Venice's Venezia would be among the wealthiest provinces in Europe, and both are adjacent to my territory, but both are capitals. Wars need to reduce Venice and Genoa down to one province nations before i can jump in and take them.

Targets:

Croatia - Our old ally is now just a bum on the Adriatic Sea. They are still one province, and we could swiftly take them

Tunisia - Tunisia is down to one provine, Tunis, which has over 100k people as a nice tax base.

Siena - If I want to keep expanding in Italy, one province Siena has been hanging around for a long time.

Cyprus - I could try to restore relations with our Protestant vassal,, and then try to diplo-annex them.

Tuscany - Their value as a buffer state between me and Aragon and in war with the Papacy has diminished. Beacuse of their form of government, I can't give them a royal marriage, and as such, I can never ask them to become our vassals. They came may come to attack this two province nation.

Venice - I wanted to go to war with Venice before and grab some territory. I was afraid of their military. Now, my army is built up more. If I could catch Venice in a war and stab them from behind, I think I could grab some tasty provinces. Stuff better than Crete or Corfu.


If I could change capitals, I'd consider Ferrara or Napoli.

[Abe Sargent]

A Harvest of Eternity



13 March, 1526 – I accept a royal marriage offer from ally Castille.

1 May, 1526 – Our government tech increases. We can choose a new national idea!

What idea do I want? This could be my last idea for a while, so I need to make a good choice.

Quest for the new World: It’d be useful to start surveying this world that we live in. I’ve seen Venice send out colonists, so I know that they are involved in this process. On the other hand, I could not make any conquistadors or explorers right now, because I have no colonists. I have no colonists because my sliders don’t allow me to get any. In other words, if I want to explore and colonize, I need to change my sliders around. The next time I can move a slider is in 7 years or so. However, if I want to do this later, I’ll have to wait until my next national idea. The only reason I had this massive growth in governmental tech was because of my amazing advisor and the book he published. He’s starting to get old, however, and this won’t continue for much longer. It could be 50-75 years before my next national idea. If I don’t take this now, I may not get a chance to get it before the colonization is too far along for me to have any impact.

Deus Vult: If I want to go to massive war against the infidels, this will help. To be frank, I could take it right now, and then attack Tunis. One of the things holding me back is the -2 stability I get to attack Tunis. Take this, and I’ll have Tunis in less than a year. Then I’d have it for the rest of the game. However, with the recent hits that Morocco, Algiers and Tunis too against Castille, do I want this that badly? I already have a CB on the Ottomans after I got two cores in upper Greece. Do I want it to attack the Mamluks or something? It goes well with QFNW above, allowing me to attack native nations for free, but that’s not that great.

National Trade Policy - +10% trade efficiency. It’d be great to get more money from my merchants, but I don’t have that many out there. Many trading posts have nations that trade there that I can’t see, so I can’t make trade agreements with. That includes Thrace, Andulusia, Lisboa, the Dutch one whose name I can’t recall, and Alexandra. I have merchnts in Ligurian, Venezia, Lubeck and Novgorod. With that limitation, this is much less attractive.

National Bank – Inflation reduction 0.10%. I really feel like I may have an inflation problem soon, because I have had to increase my money to pay for my military, and that brings inflation with it. My inflation is nearly 6%. On the other hand, I can probably wait on this one.

Bureaucracy – National tax modifier +5%. In all of my provinces? This seems like a serious money maker.

Engineer Corps – Leader siege value +1. If my land tech wallows too far behind, then people will build bigger and bigger forts. I’d need a way to crack these nuts. That hasn’t happened yet, however, but I want to keep an eye on this.



After consideration, I take Quest for the New World, knowing that I won’t do anything with it for maybe 20 years. But I’ll have it when I do need it.

3 August, 1526 – The Papal States, with their mighty one province, declare war on Genoa, with more than one province.

14 August, 1526 – I check and Genoa is in a seriously losing war with Venice, I think the Papacy just wanted to hop on.

18 October, 1526 – Siena declares war against Genoa. Wurzberg joins Siena. Everybody little power with delusions of grandeur is attacking Genoa right now.

18 January, 1527 – Lithuania annexed Mazovia, which was one of the countries who liked us best.

1 February, 1527 – I get another event. Again it’s the Regulation of the Medical Industry. I choose to use it now, because we can’t get more innovative. Morea, for the next 500 days, gets a +10% population growth. As of right now, the population is 9050. We’ll come back in two years and check on it.

14 February, 1527 – I get another event. Merchants Harassed. This is against Venice. I choose to settle the issue and our relations jump 50.

13 March, 1527 – I accept a royal marriage offer from Silesia.

1 April, 1527 – My armies are built back up after the Aragonian war. I drop my maintenance in half.

24 April, 1527 – I accept a royal marriage from England.

1 May, 1527 – I am still looking for ways to expand. I send out two diplomats. One to Genoa and one to Tunisia. What do they say? The one to Tunisia carries an insult. Maybe I’ll tick them off enough to attack me. The one to Genoa carries a guarantee, that anyone who attacks them I’ll get a Casus Belli for a few years.

1 June, 1527 – Well, that didn’t appear to war. Tunis didn’t flinch and no one attacked Genoa. Ah well.

13, June1527 – Someone declared war against Genoa! But it was Tuscany. I decide to take this opportunity to thank them for their time, but we need to go our separate ways now.

31 July, 1527 – RM: Poland. Sorry, forgot the abbreivaition.

25 August, 1527 – An alliance offer from Saxony arrives. They are strong, but I’m not that interested in landlocked allies from Germany.

1 November, 1527 – The Modena provinces, Parma, Modena and Ferrara are now core parts of our nation.

I just got a crazy idea, now that I’m down to one ally. My relations with the Ottomans are neutral. If I jacked up our relations, would they want to be allies with us? I’ve always feared the Ottomans, but maybe we can be friends?

29 December, 1527 – RM: Lithuania. Our relations are maxed.

1 January, 1528 - I order a workshop built in Parma.

26 May, 1528 – I decline an alliance offer from Wurzberg.

2 June, 1528 – Aragon declared war against Genoa. Burgundy and Portugal join. Aragon needs to gobble up more land after they lost some to me, I suspect.

22 August, 1528 – RM: Sweden

25 September, 1528 – I decline an alliance offer from Utrecht. They are a Netherlands power with 6 or 7 provinces in that area – very naval but too far north.

1 February, 1528 – Two years after the event that increased population growth in Morea and we are now at 9318. Not much of a growth spurt, that.

1 August, 1528 – Cyprus just had a major rebel event and are now besieged by almost 3k rebels.

16 September, 1529 – I get an alliance offer from Tuscany. I consider, and then decline.

28 December, 1529 – The rebels capture Cyprus and force them back to Catholic. Good for them! Cyprus’s relations with me jack back up.

31 December, 1529 – I have offered Cyprus annexation, and they have accepted. Cyprus is under siege by rebels, so I need to lift this, before I can tell you what they are like here.

27 January, 1530 – Genoa has given up nice. I expect Aragon will take Corsica and the Black Sea province, leaving just Liguria. In preparation for this, I will be moving some of my troops from Sicily to North Italy.

16 February, 1520 – We blast the rebels from Cyprus. Let’s take a look at our new province:


Cyprus: The Greek and Orthodox people here live in the shadow of the Turks and Mamluks. 16797 people work the wine trade here, making around 10.27 ducats annually. There is already a workshop here, or I would have ordered one built. This province came to us long ago from a gift of 50 ducats to our estate which we turned into amazing relations with Cyprus, and then vassalized them. Now, decades later, they are annexed by us peacefully.

[damnMikeBrown]

Great work!

[atatange1]

If I could change capitals, I'd consider Ferrara or Napoli.

I believe you can switch your capital in the save game file. And to make it fair you could drop your stability to -3 and take away most of your ducats. That should make it somewhat realistic and fair. Just a suggestion.

edit: forgot to say that this is a great read.

[Abe Sargent]

Harmonies Heard in Parts


13 July, 1530 – I reject an alliance from Wurzberg

23 July, 1530 - For some silly reason, Aragon accept a white peace with Genoa.

14 September, 1530 – Hungary declares war upon Bosnia. Croatia joins Bosnia.

3 October, 1530 – RM: Castille

19 July, 1531 – I decline another alliance offer from Utrecht.

6 September, 1531 – In a very foreseeable event, Croatia was annexed by Hungary.

1 December, 1531 – Our stability increased and is maxed.

11 December, 1531 – I order a workshop built in Naxos and Morea.

5 February, 1532 – I decline Denmark’s alliance offer.

14 March, 1532 – Lithuania offers us an alliance. I decline, but I thought about it for a
bit.

1 April, 1532 – Our naval tech increases.

1 May, 1532 – I decline an alliance offer from Saxony.

18 May, 1532 – Castille declared war upon Algiers. Tunisia and Morocco join. I join as well. This may be the last such war in North Africa.

I move my troops to Tunis.

29 May, 1532 – RM: Silesia

10 June, 1532 – Our first troops land in Tunis and begin the siege.

18 June, 1532 – I ask for and receive permission to move troops through Castille.

14 July, 1532 – 2000 more troops arrive in Tunis to help with the siege.

19 August, 1532 – I lose a boat in the Gulf of Gabes fighting the Tunisian navy. In other news, 2000 more troop landed in Tunis to help our cause. I order a Cog built in Naxos.

1 September, 1532 – Our government tech increases.

18 September, 1532 – After an assault, I capture Tunis.

1 November, 1532 – Messina and Malta are now core provinces of our nation.

6 December, 1532 – I reject a white peace from Algiers.

17 December, 1532 – Castille captures the Algiers capital and sole remaining province.

18 December, 1532 – A single day later, the Moroccan capital of Marrakech falls to Castillian forces. All three one province states are now in our hands.

12 January, 1533 – Algiers is annexed by Castille, and thus peace is made with Tunisia and Morocco.

18 February, 1533 – A new Cog is built in Naxos. I order another.

1 July, 1533 – I decline an alliance with Sweden.

30 July, 1533 – I can change our sliders! I move back one step away from Innovative. I moved one step too far, and now, although we still won’t get colonists, we won’t be as bad. Our stability drops.

19 August, 1533 – I again decline an alliance offer from Utrecht.

12 September, 1533 – Bohemia rejects our RM offer. Aragon accepts our offer. Austria declines us.

28 February, 1534 – I order a workshop built in Tripolitania.

14 April, 1534 – RM: Castille

[Abe Sargent]

Opportunities


4 May, 1534 – Hungary offers us an alliance. While I don’t want to get pulled into any land wars, this is also a good opportunity to step up relations with a neighbor, but I know that I ultimately will leave the alliance, and that makes them very pissed at you (-50 ) relations. If you don’t think relations will improve, look at us and Castille, up to 126. Sure, I’ll accept. Hungary and I are at -74. So its not like negative relations will hurt us that much.

1 July, 1534 – I order a 5th Cog built in Naxos.

20 August, 1534 – Hungary declares war upon Bohemia. I’m already done with this alliance and leave. It was obviously a mistake to ally with them.

23 August, 1534 – Tuscany annexed Siena.

14 November, 1534 – RM: Poland

7 December, 1534 – With their new acquisition, and the studied lack of any alternates, I accept an alliance offer from Tuscany.

13 March, 1535 – Our badboy reputation is almost completely gone. I need to find a target and acquire new territory. For now, I’ll try to remain the opportunist, but soon I may need to make my opportunities.

6 April, 1535 – Venice declared war on Genoa.

7 April, 1535 – Pskov declared war on Genoa.

15 December, 1535 – Crimea declared war on Genoa.

7 January, 1536 – Aragon declares war against the Papal States. Burgundy and Portugal join Aragon. Are they going to annex the Papacy? That’d be a ballsy move.

1 March, 1536 – Our land tech increases

15 February, 1537 – My badboy is now completely gone. I’m going to wait until the end of the Genoese wars, to see if they are eligible to be taken finally, and if not, Ill attack somewhere else.

2 March, 1537 – On a lark, I send out royal marriage proposals to all four Irish powers. Two accept, and two decline.

5 June, 1537 – Venice and Genoa are at peace. Crimea looks to be pushing in however.

3 August, 1537 – RM: France

1 October, 1537 – Our production tech increases. A level 3 merchant maker advisor arrives in Romagna and we have the exclusive rights to him for a year. I’m not impressed however, with the merchant maker.

10 December, 1537 – RM: Castille

25 December, 1537 – RM: Austria

1 January, 1538 – Western Arms Trade happened to us. Our prestige decreases -1% annually while 6 ducats are added to our land tech. I do not know for how long.

1 February, 1538 – Our government tech increases.

13 March, 1538 – RM: Poland

1 May, 1538 – A crappy level one diplomat making advisor arrives in Palermo. No Thanks.

21 June, 1538 – Aragon and the Papal States come to a white peace. No bullet was ever fired, no sword ever unsheathed.

9 July, 1538 - My opportunity may have arrived. Venice declared war upon Austria. Burgundy joined Austria. I order my African and Napoli forces to North Italy.

[Abe Sargent]

A Struggle Against History


1 November, 1538 - I sack land advisor Hasan Hersekli, who is 31 years into his job and only level one. I hire Ilhami Sokullu, a naval advisor who is twice as good and has just 21 years on him.

23 November, 1538 – I declare war on Venice. Our stability drops. Both of our allies join us.

I order my forces outside of Crete to land and begin a siege, and my main army to plunge into Lombardia.

1 December, 1538 – Our stability increases back to 2.

7 December, 1538 – We begin The Siege of Lombardia.

9 December, 1538 - Venice forces arrive in Ferrara and begin to besiege us.

19 December, 1538 – I agree to give Burgundy military access when they ask.

21 December, 1538 – The Siege of Crete begins.

1 January, 1539 – Our land tech increases. Lotsa stuff going on. Austria is besieging two Venetian provinces, Tuscany one, us one, and Venice one of ours.

5 January, 1539 – Aragon declares war against Tuscany. I agree to help them. War rages across Italy now. I’m at war with Burgundy and Portugal. Burgundy is at war with me and Venice, I’m at war with Venice and Burgundy and Venice is at war with me and Burgundy, and all of our forces are all over Venice.

I order some more troops built. I’m going to need some help.

8 February, 1539 – Crimea takes the two remaining Genoan provinces, and now Genoa is ripe for picking, and I’m in the middle of a two front war. Grrr.

21 February, 1539 – I defeat a major Burgundian army in Lombardia.

4 April, 1539 – I land some newly built troops on Corfu to beign a siege there. I need to win this war as fast as possible.

12 April, 1539 – Tuscany captures Mantua, the first enemy province to fall to us.

18 April, 1539 – Tuscany routs Venice from Ferrara breaking the siege on our North Italian “capital” so to speak.

19 April, 1539 – Crete falls to us.

I lost a ship in the Adriatic. I order another built in Naxos.

1 May, 1539 – 1000 Portugese troops land in Malta and begin a siege there.

24 May, 1539 – I hire a bunch of mercs in Napoli to hit Aragon when they aren’t looking.

13 June, 1539 – Our 4000 mercs arrive in Calabria and begin a siege.

2 August, 1539 – We capture Lombardia. I send a peace offer for Lombardia. Venice agrees and sends us Lombardia.

Now for our nemesis, Aragon.

[thealmighty]

Thought I'd let you know that I'm following and enjoying this dynasty immensely (since I know how it sucks to do one that has little feedback). Keep it up and good luck.

[st.cronin]

Thought I'd let you know that I'm following and enjoying this dynasty immensely (since I know how it sucks to do one that has little feedback). Keep it up and good luck.

ditto, I'm very interested in this

[Abe Sargent]

Glad ta hear it fellas

[Groundhog]

Put me down as another avid reader. :)

[Abe Sargent]

Well then, let me give you folks some more posts!

War Continued


I order my large troops in the north to break the small Aragonian siege in Romagna.

10 August, 1539 – RM: Saxony

19 August, 1539 – Malta falls to Portugal.

20 October, 1539 – We drive Aragon away from Romagna. I order my forces into Aragonian territory.

31 October, 1539 – Burgundian troops arrive in Lombardia to begin a siege.

8 November, 1539 – We crack the Aragon defense in Ancona.

25 November, 1539 – Bosnia was annexed by Hungary.

5 December, 1539 – I sneak three regiments to Sardinia to begin a siege there.

26 January, 1540 – Our Crete forces land in Malta and drive away the Portugese. The Re-Siege of Malta has begun.

1 March, 1540 – Two countries declare independence from Lithuania. Transylvania and Moldavia.

Also a level FOUR army reformer appeared in, of all place, Lombardia, the new province. I will hire him, but who to dump?

The naval guy is okay, but not great. He’s younger, but he’s the weakest of the lot. I fire him and hire Demosthenes Giustiniani. Very Italian that name.

10 March, 1540 – RM: Poland

30 March, 1540 – Lombardia falls to Burgundy. I order a large chunk of our forces back north while we besiege Aragon in numerous provinces.

1 April, 1540 – Our land tech increases.

19 April, 1540 – Burgundy arrives in Parma and begins a siege.

9 May, 1540 – Calabria falls to our mercs.

16 May, 1540 – The first peace offer from Aragon arrives. A white peace. I reject it.

19 May, 1540 – Our large army arrives in Parma to break the siege here by Burgundy.

5 June, 1540 – Venice declared war on Genoa. I will not let them get the prize of Liguria first.

12 June, 1540 – Our large forces drive back the Burgundians with ease at Parma.

I declare war on Genoa. Our stability drops by three to negative one. I order my force into Liguria. Tuscany and Castille join us.

[Abe Sargent]

And Continued and Continued....


23 June, 1540 – We defeat the Genoans at Liguria and begin the siege.

2 July, 1540 – We lose a ship and naval battle in the Straits of Malta.

10 July, 1540 – Austria and Venice are at peace, Austria got a couple of provinces.

14 July, 1540 – We recapture Malta!

28 September, 1540 – Tuscany captured Ancona.

17 October, 1540 – Aragon sends a peace offering with them renouncing their claim on a few of my provinces. I push on. I want land.

1 November, 1540 – Our stability increases. Our production and government techs increase.

30 November, 1540 – Both Apulia and Sardinia fall to us.

1 December, 1540 – Aragon rejected a peace offer of Apulia and Calabria.

11 December, 1540 – Aragon sent a counter offer where they denounce a bunch of claims. No thanks.

13 December, 1540 – Portugal rejected our offer of a white peace.

11 January, 1541 – We captured Abruzzi. Every Italian Aragonese province, including Sardinia, is in our hands.

14 January, 1541 – I decide to try and slip a few regiments behind enemy lands and besiege Portugal, the leader of the alliance.

17 January, 1541 – Parma falls.

31 January, 1541 – 2 regiments land in the southernmost province of Portugal, Algarve, and begin a siege. I just want to show them this is really a war for them as well as everybody else. Then maybe they’ll agree to a peace easier.

22 February, 1541 – Liguria falls to us. I do not immediately annex Genoa. If I did, then the province would be vulnerable to attack by the big Burgundian armies hearabouts.

8 March, 1541 – A combined Tuscan and Naxosian thrust drives the Aragon/Burgundy troops out of Parma. A siege begins.

27 March, 1541 – 3 more regiments land in Algarve.

10 April, 1541 – We recapture Parma after a short assault.

22 April, 1541 – RM: Castille

I detatch my 4000 mercs and 1000 cardotta infantry and send them to Palermo, where I’ll move them to Tripolitania. No sense leaving them here in N. Italy, where they’ll do little good.

3 August, 1541 – We capture Algarve.

5 August, 1541 – Portugal rejects our peace offer for two Italian provinces, despite it being well below what we could ask for.

20 November, 1541 – After rejecting a few peace offers from us, Portugal offers us peace for Algarve. I don’t want Algarve, I want Italian provinces!

10 January, 1542 – Tuscany negotiate a separate peace with Portugal, so their captured province of Aragon’s is now back to Aragon. Ancona is free of my alliance control.

23 January, 1542 – After an assault, we capture the Portugese province of Bracanaga. I don’t want it, I just want to force Portugal to accept our peace offer. Portugal is curenttly having a major uprising, which was why I was able to take out these provinces.

24 January, 1542 – They again reject my peace offer.

I send 4000 of my troops in N Italy to Ancona to bring it back into the fold.

1 June, 1542 – Our production tech increased.

8 June, 1542 – After rebels capture the Portugese province of Alentejo, I snuck in and captured it.

10 June, 1542 – Portugal rejects yet another peace offer for just two provinces.

11 July, 1542 – We capture Ancona.

4 September, 1542 - I captured Lisboa from the rebels. I bet Portugal will give me peace now that I have her capital in my hand!

1 June 1543 – Our land tech increases

10 September, 1543 – After many peace offers, and capturing Valencia and Barcelona, but losing a province in Portugal, Aragon – not the full alliance, but just Aragon, is giving us Calabria and Apulia.

7 October, 1543 – Portugal offers us peace with them and Burgundy and they’ll give us two of their provinces that I captured. I really don’t want either one. I reject it and send a peace offer for just one of the provinces, and they reject! Stupid AI.

20 October, 1543 – I go ahead and annex Genoa. This war is over.

23 October, 1543 – RM: France

25 October, 1543 – RM: Muscowy

9 November, 1543 – I offer Portugal a simple white peace. They accept.

[Abe Sargent]

A Time of Assessment


I now have Liguria, Lombardia, Calabria and Apulia.

10 December, 1543 – RM: Bohemia.

24 December, 1543 – I get an event: Excellent minister. I can choose to invest it in stability and our stability gets +1. The other adds 10 to each of our army and navy tradition. I choose the stability bonus.

1 January, 1544 – Our government tech increased. One more increase and we get our next national idea. Even with my awesome advisor lasting the entire journey, which is unlikely, it looks like it would be at least 23 yeas before that next level is reached.

I missed it, but at some pointing time, the Ottomans and the Mamluks went to war within the last year.


Let’s talk briefly about strategy. What happened in that war?

Burgundian forces much larger than any I could knock out arrived in Lombardia and captured it. The force were powerful in part because of the very large amount of calvary they had.

In the meantime, I had Cardotta infantry as the backbone of my army. They are great on defense, but are only okay in attacking. I also had 2000 calvary and 1000 artillery. When they attacked me, I always drove them back, but here was no way I was going to be able to dislodge them from Lombardia.

So, for most of the war, after sending back the Burgundy forces that sallied forth several times, our mutual armies just held their position. If I move my major force, he attacks Parma in strength. If I attack him, I lose and he follows and wipes out my forces. If he attacks me, the same occurs. If he leaves, I take Lombardia. So we just stayed there for over two years

I think the reason that Portgual and Aragon seemed so reluctant to admit loss was that one of their allies, Burgundy, was doing well against me. So it didn’t matter that I had five Aragonian provinces to the one province of mine Burgundy had. Even after I drove to the Iberian peninsula and captured Valencia, Barcelona, two Portugese provinces, and Lisboa – two capitals, I was unable to drive home any sizeable peace deal.

As a result, that war took much longer than it had any right to.



Let’s look at our new acquisitions in order of capture. A quick note, all financial information is under a stability of one, whereas most previous information as given out in a 2. Therefore, these would be a little lower than those by percentage.

Lombardia – Lombardia has the distinction of being the only province in our nation to be completely landlocked, in northern Italy, although we did have Bern for a brief moment before releasing it as our vassal. We are now adjacent to Bern, i.e. Switzerland, here in Lombardia. 239017 people work the cloth trade here in this Lombard Catholic province. They make 25.28 ducats a year for us. They have a temple, workshop, and courthouse. It is a core province of Venice.

Liguria – Liguria is a center of trade and the former capital of the state known as Genoa. 153624 people work the wool trade here. The Lombard people here celebrate Catholicism in all of its glory. We receive 21 ducats annually here, plus we get all excess trade generated in Liguria. This province grows at a quicker clip because of the CoT. It comes with a workshop, temple and courthouse as well.

Calabria – Calabria is the southern tip of the Italian peninsula – the tip of the boot so to speak. Messina, our eastern Sicily province is land connected to Calabria through a straight, so our Sicilian provinces are now connected through Calabria to Napoli. 53996 Sicilian Catholics work the fishing trade here in Southern Italy. The province makes us 9 ducats annually. It comes with a courthouse, workshop, marketplace and temple. Aragon has it as a core province.

Apulia – 59850 Sicilians work the salt trade here, celebrating their Catholicism and sending us a combined 11.73 ducats annually in taxes and production. Apulia is the eastern half of south Italy, the heel of the boot, so to speak. Like several other provinces, this comes with a temple, courthouse and workshop. Apulia is a core province of Aragon.

[Abe Sargent]

A new Maphttp://img374.imageshack.us/img374/6020/genoapr5.jpg

[SFL Cat]

Re: Aragon

[mortal combat]Finish Him[/mortal combat]

Can you tell I don't like them?! Aragon has usually been a major thorn in my side during CK and EU2 games.

[Abe Sargent]

My Rating of the Top Mediterranean Powers in 1 January, 1544:

1: The Ottomans. They have Thrace, the wealthiest province I have discovered in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. They've never lost a major province in war. They have most of Turkey, including valuable like Anatolia.

2 (sorta): Castille. They may not haev the most valuable provinces in the Mediterranean - just two good ones in North Africa, and then one great one in Iberia - Cordoba. That's it. Tangiers, Gibraltar, Grenada - these have less value. However, their military might and overall wealth is great.

3: Naxos. I honestly beleive that with the addition of Liguria and Italy in our fold that we are now the third most powerful nation in the Great Sea. With a lot of Italy now under our fold, and with a Center of Trade now ours, we are positioned to continue the ascension in the Mediterranean. Note however, that we are SOLELY a Mediterranean power. The Turks and Castilleans are more than just that, but we are not.

4: Mamluks. The Mamluks are still a power to be reckoned with. They have a Center of Trade in Alexandria, and several weatlhy provinces in Egypt and the Middle East. They also have some amazingly poor provinces, and they are spread out a bit too much.

----------------------

All powers below here are not nearly the same. These four are the major players in the region. The remainder are solid, but unspectacular. Note that all of these four powers have a center of trade. That's no mistake.


-----------------------

5. Aragon. Despite their three consecutive losses to us, make no mistake that Aragon still has some power. With two Italian provinces, Sardinia, and The Bealaeres (which I know I must've mispelled), they have some roots. And, of course, Barcelona and Valencia are major economic players over in Iberia.

6. Venice. They have several provinces that are Med. left - Nice, Venezia, Corfu and Crete. Three of those are weak, but the power of Venezia cannot be overestimated. It is, hands down, one of the three most economically powerful provinces in Europe (Thrace and Novgorod being the other two).

7 Tuscany - With three wealthy provinces in West Italy, Tuscany has carved out a decent niche in the Mediterranean.

8. Everybody else just has a handful of provinces. Hungary, France, Crimea, Tunisia, Provence, Bourbonnais, The Papa States and Austria.


That means my expansion is about to hit a major wall. I take what next? I grab Tunis, Venetian provinces, the rest of the Aragonian Italian provinces, and then what? My ally Tuscany? The relatively poor provinces of ally Castille? The handful of Med provinces of France, Hungary or Austria? One of the French minors that are allied with France? The Mamluks? The Ottomans?

Yep, expansion is about to meet a very powerful force in a bit. Not now, obviously, but soon.

[nilodor]

Do you think that once you make a move for the rest of italy that it will be time to head across the pond? Or will your sliders not moved that far? Or is that even part of the plan?

[Tellistto]

Thought I'd add my voice as one who is enjoying the read. Do you think it's been a bit easy to create your little empire, given your start point?

Tell

[Abe Sargent]

Like Sand in a Sieve

21 January, 1544 – Poland has been annexed by Austria.

15 February, 1544 – Hungary declared war upon Austria. Burgundy joined Austria.

30 April, 1544 – England is now Great Britain after taking Scotland.

Burgundy is currently experiencing some revolts in the lowlands because of converts to Reform. (This game recognizes several different groups of related Christian faiths – Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Reform, and if this game is like its predecessor, Counter-Reform Catholic.)

13 December, 1544 – Tuscany declared war against the Papal States. I’m sort of in a post-war reconstruction right now, and not interested in chasing down Roma. I inform Tuscany that this alliance has served its purpose and now it must come to an end. Again.

1 March, 1545 – Austria and Hungary come to peace terms.

3 November, 1545 – RM: Burgundy

1 December, 1545 – The island of Corsica has declared independence against Crimea and are calling themselves Genoa.

11 March, 1546 – RM: Muscowy

13 March, 1546 – RM: Denmark

1 August, 1546 – Maurice of Orange has arrived. He is a foreign drill instructor. For 50 ducats, I can pay him to increase our land investment and increase our quality slider by one. I agree. A free slider movement in a direction I already wanted to go? Excellent.

5 December, 1546 – To create the We Were Once Bitches of Naxos Club as founding members, Venice and Genoa are now in an alliance. Who will join them? Aragon? Tunisia?

4 February, 1547 – Genoa entered an alliance with Hungary. Unfortunately, Hungary beat us int eh only conflict we had with her, thus ending the club at two.

24 April, 1547 – Tuscany and the Papal States are at peace. We are somehow still allied with Tuscany despite us turning them down. That’s odd.

1 July, 1547 – Our stability rises to 2.

15 July, 1547 – Genoa, the alliance whore, entered into a pact with Saxony.

1 December, 1547 – Our production tech increased by one.

1 January, 1548 – Our land tech increases by one. We can now build Level 2 forts.

I order a large ship, a Caravel, built in Naxos. This is in anticipation of oceanic travels soon.

11 February, 1548 – Venice declared war upon us. Genoa and Novgorod joined her. Both of our allies joined us.

[Abe Sargent]

Thought I'd add my voice as one who is enjoying the read. Do you think it's been a bit easy to create your little empire, given your start point?

Tell

As a hard corps EU2 vet, I know the engine. I know where the obvious pitfalls are. I know when to avoid inflation, I know when to push my country and when to back off. I understand why I shouldn;t have a high badboy, because I've been attacked by ten countries once with it. I know how to expand, and how to build a one province into a power. I understand the need to strike when an opponent's guard is down. Sometimes it fails, like the failed war against Dulkadir or Mamluks.

I also know how to use an ally, like Castille. I won my first war agaisnt Aragon, who was mnuch more powereful than I, by sneaking around bheind them while they played with Tuscany. That was clever warfare, but Ididn;t win on the battlefield. Then I won with Castille at my side, and that's easy. I planned to take out Aragon years before our first war. I know what's coming down the pike, because I've played the previous installmnet enough.

One thing that has surprised me - I am amazed at how the Ottomans haven't attacked me yet. I know its coming, but still, it's surprising. We have a positive relation with them.


Hope that helps!


Think about it in real time. In almost 100 years, I've taken southern Greece, a few islands, and most, but not all, of Italy with an outpost in North Africa. Tons of countries in history have expanded much quicker than that.

[Abe Sargent]

Do you think that once you make a move for the rest of italy that it will be time to head across the pond? Or will your sliders not moved that far? Or is that even part of the plan?

All will be revealed :)

I want dominance in the Great Sea, but I also know that any naval trading power, no matter how big or small, needs to colonize in this era. Much like the Dutch, the Portugese, the Swedish, the Portugese, etc all expanded in this area as naval powers, so should I. In this game I know there at least was a Venetian colony somewhere, because I saw the colonists leave.

Where my colonies will be, however, has yet to be determined.

[Abe Sargent]

Campaigns At Home



I jack up maintenance and send out orders to my troops stationed at various areas around the map. I order war taxes raised, because I don’t think this will be an overly long war.

I had built 3000 calvary since the last war, to help our main troops. These are Eastern Steppe Calvary, and they look pretty good.

25 February, 1548 – I drive Venice out of Mantua and begin a siege.

12 March, 1548 – 3000 troops I had as a reserve begin a siege in Nice.

31 March, 1548 – Our 4 regiments of mercs from the last war arrive in Crete and begin a siege there.

3 May, 1548 – 1000 of our troops arrive in Corfu and begin a siege there.

29 May, 1548 – Two more regiments arrive in Corfu.

26 July, 1548 – Mantua fell before us.

6 August, 1548 –The siege of Brescia has begun.

28 August, 1548 – Crete fell.

8 September, 1548 – Nice fell before us.

25 November, 1548 – Corfu fall to us.

12 February, 1549 – RM: Sweden

13 February, 1549 – Brescia falls to us. Looks like we have a good hand at the negotiating table.

I offer peace for Brescia and Mantua. Venice disagrees. I order my main force to Venezia itself to bring the next peace offer on a pike.

4 March, 1549 – Austria and Hungary get into another hissy fight.

13 March, 1549 – I reject a Venetian offer of peace for Nice, Corfu, and they give up their claim to Lombardia. I have no desire for Nice.

19 April, 1549 – I win a battle in Liguria with my backup army after Venice tries to send it a few regiments to hit me from behind.

8 May, 1549 – Muscowy was annexed by Lithuania.

10 May, 1549 – We defeat the Venetian forces in Venezia and initiate the siege.

22 May, 1549 – RM: Lithuania.

5 June, 1549 – My backup army wins another battle in Lombardia.

7 July, 1549 – Venezia falls after a quick assault. We also win a small battle for Nice. Now, I think Venice will be more amenable to peace talks.

8 July, 1549 – Venice agrees to cede to us Mantua, Brescia and Crete for peace.

Crete –This island holds our fellow Greek brothers. I wanted to liberate at least one of the remaining Greek provinces. 17091 Catholic fishers send us 7.32 ducats annually. Crete is a core province of Venice. There is a workshop here.

Mantua – Just north of our holdings, Mantua is also a Lombard province. 52489 people grow and harvest grain, among the worst trade goods in the game. However, I needed to take Mantua because I wanted Brescia a lot, and Venice would have otherwise had a province in the middle of our Northern holdings. The Catholics here make us a little over 10 ducats annually, almost exclusively in taxes, and they already have a courthouse and a workshop. This is a core province of both us and Venice.

Brescia – The real plum of this war, Brescia is north of Mantua and east of Lombardia. Also a province of Lombard people, the approximately 102000 Catholics here work the cloth trade. Around 15 ducats are made here annually, almost split even between taxes and production. There is a temple, workshop and courthouse here. Venice claims this as a core province.

We are still at war with Genoa and Novgorod.

1 August, 1549 – I change our slider to be less innovate, so that I can finally make colonists. This will make our colonist production neutral, and I’ll need to inflate it somehow in order to actually get colonists. Our stability falls.

I fire Omar Belli, our production tech advisor and older gentlemen. I hire Murad Sukollo, an advisor who will give us 0.4 colonists a year. Thus, our artificial growth begins. See how I planned this all out long ago?

14 September, 1549 – I drive the Genoese forces away from Corsica and begin the siege.

14 April, 1550 – Corsica falls before us. Now, I could annex Genoa, again, and take Corsica. It’s a Mediterranean province, and I probably should. However, I already have some badboy from before. It’s not too bad, but I want to steer clear of harming myself by annexing this measly province.

So I order vassalization in the peace deal. I also demand 50 ducats. They give us both.

17 April, 1550 – Novgorod accepts our white peace offe

[Qwikshot]

Beautiful dynasty...

[thealmighty]

Can you give a brief overview of your current financial state, i.e., how much you make per year, how much you spend, treasury, etc.... Thanks.

[Abe Sargent]

Thanks to everybody who has chimed in so far!

let me see if I can get that info for ya

[Abe Sargent]

This is a year old, from February 1549:


In the middle of a war, so I have higher maintenance. I am losing 5.5 ducats monthly and making around 92 annually. Minting money leads to inflation. You mint money when you take your monehtly production income and use it to pay advisors and military maintenance instead of putting it into production. I'd rather lose money monthly nad make annuallyy, then have all of my monthly bills paid for. I still mint some income.

Monthly income: 32 ducats
Investments: 30.03
Maintenance and Salaries: 7.2 ducats

This is subject to change based on: stability, leader's acumen, province improvements, tech level, merchants in COTs, form of government, and I'm currently under war taxes.

[thealmighty]

Wow, that was fast.

[Izulde]

And your power grows.... :D

I can't wait until you colonize.

[Abe Sargent]

Journeys Begin


6 May, 1550 – the Papal States declared war against Tuscany. I agree to join them.

During that war, I must have missed the Ottomans and the Mamluks coming to peace terms, and Hungary and Austria doing so as well.

1 April, 1551 – Napoli and Palermo are now a part of our patrimony and are core provinces.

1 May, 1551 – Tired of this war with the Papal States, I order my troops into Roma.

1 June, 1551 – I win the battle of Roma in 5 days, and then assault the city and win it in 8.

3 June, 1551 – The Papal States accept being our vassal and give us 50 ducats.

8 July, 1551 – I order a level two fort built in Lombardia. I order constables built in Napoli and Ferrara. A constable increases revolt risk by 2 but also increases our taxes from the province.

20 October, 1551 – Kazan declares war upon Hungary.

3 December, 1551 – I initiate a RM: Great Britain.

1 January, 1552 – I order another Caravel built in Naxos.

12 January, 1552 – RM: Austria

1 January, 1553 – Our naval tech increases. I recruit an explorer. I send our new explorer, Stephanos Giustaianini, as the head of our exploratory navy with a pair of Caravels. They’ll head out and explore new sea lanes for us.

1 February, 1553 – Our government tech increases. We can now choose a new national idea. Ironically, we just now used our last idea, Quest for the New World last month. Here are some ideas:

Colonial Ventures: 1 extra colonist annually. If I am serious about colonization, this is the way to do it.

Engineer Corps: My military leaders get +1 siege. Level two forts are just now appearing, but our land tech has kept up so far, so there is no need for this yet, to my mind at least.

Deus Vult: If I am about to be forced into wars with the Mamluks or the Ottomans, better to choose them on my terms, and this would allow me to do so.

Church Attendance Duty – Stability cost modifier -33%. Getting this cost reduction is handier the bigger I get.

National Bank – Inflation reduction of 0.1. (annually I believe). Not bad at all.

Bureaucracy – National taxes by %5. A very decent increase and solid enough.


I think we can find something good here. I think I can put off Engineer Corp and National Bank for now. That leaves Colonial Ventures, Deus Vult, Bureaucracy and Church Attendance Duty. Tough.

Deus Vult allows me to take Tunisia, then plan for and execute a war against the Mamluks. No stability hits. Bureaucracy adds to my coffers, but I am doing alright there nowadays. I can cut that. Colonial Ventures allows me to get colonists without raping my sliders or hiring advisors. Church Attendance Duty slashes costs to increase my stability nicely.

Deus Vult, Colonial Ventures or Church Attendance Duty.

I decide to push it and go for Colonial Ventures.

23 February, 1553 – My exploring fleet has arrived in the Gulf of Morocco. I order them south into seas unknown.

28 February, 1553 – Starting today, I have discovered new areas. I need an abbreviation for this, so it will look like this. NSD: Sea of Canaries. NLD: Safi, Castillean. NSD stands for new sea discovery and NLD stands for new land discovery.

I’m going to head south down the African coast for now.

22 March, 1553 – NSD: Coast of Gambia, NLD: Sierra Leone. (Land is sometimes discovered when you sail an explorer along a coast, but not always). Sierra Leone is unclaimed territory. And IVORY.

30 March, 1553 – NSD: Gold Coast, NLD: Grain Coast. (Unclaimed SPICES province)

7 April, 1553 – NSD: Ivory Coast.

14 April, 1553 – NSD: Golf of Nigeria, NLD: Fernando Po, unclaimed, NLD: Bonny and Calabar, Kanem Bornu provinces. I enter into a trade agreement with Kanem Bornu.

20 April, 1553 - NSD: Coast of Cameroon, NLD Cameroon, unclaimed.

27 April, 1553 – NSD: Golf of Kongo, NLD: Kisarna, unclaimed.

6 May, 1553 – NSD: Coast of Angola, NLD: Damaraland (IVORY) and Greater Namaqualand, both unclaimed.

17 May, 1553 – NSD: Coast of Nambia.

26 May, 1553 – NSD: Cape of Good Hope. There’s four Great Britain fleets and one Castillean one here as well. Busy sea.

[Abe Sargent]

You didn't have to wait long, Izulde!

[Abe Sargent]

Time for some fun.


May 30, 1553. 100 years. Let’s take a look at our realm:

We have a fleet of two Caravels currently in the Cape of Good Hope, having sailed along and discovered the West African Coast.

We have a fleet of 5 Cogs docked in Napoli.

We have three vassals.

Switzerland, who would be willing to be annexed anytime, I asked my advisors .

Genoa, on the province of Corsica.

The Papal States and the province of Roma.

We have two allies.

Castille and Tuscany. Two long term allies, although there have been some rock roads with Tuscany.

I have 7 regiments of infantry in Lombardia. I am hanging my infantry over to Janissary infantry from Cardotta infantry, although I still have some Cardotta ones here and there.

I have 5 regiments of calvary, 6 of infantry, and one of artillery led by our ruler in Mantua.

I have eight regiments of infantry, including the mercs, in Tripolitania.

Our easternmost province in Cyrpus. Our westernmost, Liguria. Our southernmost Tripolitania, our northernmost Lombardia.

We have a respectable reputation. Our ruler’s diplomacy causes a large drop yearly in our badboy image, plus most of the land we have taken recently was defensively, which never causes as much of a problem internationally. Our next government tech increase is expected in 1653, one hundred years from now. That’s with all of our bonuses in governmental tech research.


The provinces alphabetically:

Apulia – The recently captured Apulia is a decent enough province in the greater scheme of things. With salt, its production is decent, and it has a solid number of people in the 60k+ range. Apulia’s income is 10.36 ducats.

Athens – Once the core of my nation, but now out of the way. 11314 wine growers make decent production but few taxes. We get 9.44 ducats annually from these Orthodox Greeks. Ottomans still have this as a core.

Brescia – Along with Mantuaand Crete, Brescia is our most recent acquisition. There isn’t anything I can say that I haven’t already said about Brescia just a few years ago. Cloth province, Catholic, Lombard, 14.30 dcuats annually, over 100k people.

Calabria – The weakest economically of the five southern Italian provinces (Napoli, Apulia, Calabria, Messina and Palermo). It’s an important strategic province because it is the link between Sicily and Italy. The 58000 people here are fishermen and send us a mighty 5.02 ducats annually.

Crete – Another of our most recent acquisitions, our fellow Greeks in Crete must be happy to be under Greek rule now. The 17623 Catholic fishermen give us 6.64 ducats annually.

Cyprus – 20406 Greek Orthodox winegrowers here send us 10.48 ducats annually in a province that is virtually surrounded by Muslims.

Ferrara – Our unofficial capital of Northern Italy, although Liguria, Lombardia and Brescia are more vital now, its historical value, and core province state currently, will probably keep it our unofficial northern capital. 94704 work the salt trade here in Catholic Lombard country. They send us 19.34 ducats annually.

Liguria – Our most valuable province. 173387 people work the wool trade here. They’ve already gained 20k people since we’ve controlled them. 17.9 ducats are sent to us by these Catholic Lombards.

Lombardia – Another recent acquisition, Lombardia is important both because of the number of people it has (257540), second highest in our nation, and because they have a solid resource in cloth. We get 23.04 ducats from Lombardia annually. The people here are Lombards and Catholic.

Malta – 10741 fisherman work this island south of Sicily and north of Tripolitania. We get 3.54 ducats from them annually.

Mantua – One of our many provinces that begin with M, Mantua is also the most recent M to join our nation. 54123 people work the highly lucrative grain trade (that’s a joke) giving us a mighty 8.97 ducats. The Catholics here are Maltan.

Messina – The third M, Messina is the east Sicilian province, where the people are Sicilian, Catholic and number 99291. Almost over one hundred thousand. They fish here, and send us 7.06 ducats annually.

Modena – 66237 winegrowers work the former capital of our inheritance. The Catholic Lombards send us 18.32 ducats annually. Tuscany considers this a core province.

Morea – Our first province outside of our home, the sleepy winegrowers of Southern Greece send us 9.44 ducats annually, which makes sense considering they just have 11314 people. The Orthodox Greeks are a core province of the Turks.

Napoli – Our most important province after Liguria. The 361872 people here work the wine trade and send us 18.73 ducats annually. The Sicilian Catholics make me happy. I check and count the number of European provinces with more people than Napoli. (Thrace, Venezia). That makes Napolit he third most populous state in the continent (although that will eventually change as large Centers of Trade like Ile-de-France will catch up.)

Naxos – Our capital and home state. Naxos has never been besieged, nor has one attack or defense occurred here in the 100 years we’ve controlled the nation. 6696 Greek Orthodox work the winefields here and create 9.32 ducats for us.

Palermo – Another of the Southern Italy possessions, Palermo has 142956 people working the wine trade. They give us 14.97 ducats annually. The people here are Sicilian and Catholic.

Parma – Along with Modena and Ferrara, Parma was one of our inheritance provinces. 96227 people work the wine trade here, sending us 19.10 ducats annually.

Rhodes – 32928 fisherman work this island off the shore of the Turkish peninsula. The Greek Orthodox people here create 3.18 ducats, making this the lowest, worst economically province in the entire nation. They were also our second conquest province.

Romagna – 122142 people work the salt trade send us 19.25 ducats annually. They are a core of Aragon even though we nabbed this Catholic Umbrian province from The Papal States.

Tripolitania – How ironic to end our tour with a look at the only non-Christian state. The 44438 Tuareg and Sunni people here work the very lucrative ivory trade. We get 18.91 ducats annually, although over 18 of that is from production, since we have a low tax base here. Tunisia has this a core province even though we took it from Tripoli.


I believe that we are the world’s largest exporter of wine, but this game doesn’t have the stat keeping that EU2 had, so I can’t be sure.

We are the number 2 country by prestige. Number one is Tuscany. Our inflation of 8% in the fourth highest, but we are nowhere near the worst. Mamluks with 15% is the worst. Tunisia is second at 10%.

Tuscany and us are the only countries that have discovered the fourteenth tech in government, which allows the fourth national idea. We’ve gone from very last to very frontal, due to our amazing advisor, who I likely to die soon, unfortunately.

[Izulde]

I say you should edit the savegame file to move your capital to a more central location and assign yourself a stability hit and a decrease in funds for it like was earlier suggested.

You're more Lombard than Greek by now, even if you are still by and large Catholic.

[Abe Sargent]

Discovery



June 1, 1553 – We get knowledge of 33 sea lanes and provinces. Some other eastern power must have learned it, and its fifty years was up. Let’s take a look at what we can now see.

I can now see a bunch of the North African inland provinces.

I can now see North Scandinavia and the seas up there. This includes Iceland, which is currently controlled by Portugal.

I can see the Atlantic island provinces of Madiera (Port), The Caniaras (Castille) and The Azores (Port). I can see a lot more of the eastern Atlantic.

I can now see about five more provinces in the Red Sea area. I offer a trade agreement to newly discovered Yemen.

I discover all of the north west African coast.

All in all, a powerful slate of discoveries.

5 June, 1553 – NSD: Coast of Ciskei, NLD: Transkei, unclaimed

12 June, 1553 – NSD: Coast of Transkei, NLD: Natal, unclaimed

18 June, 1553 – NSD: Coast of Natal

22 June, 1553 – NSD: Gulf of Zambeezee, I’m heading over to Madagascar.

1 July, 1553 – NSD: Taolagnaro Bay.

10 July, 1553 – NSD: Coast of Tamatave

20 July, 1553 – NSD: Diego Suarez Bay

29 July, 1553 – NSD: Zanzibar Strait, NLD: Kilwa, Mozambique, Mombasa and Malindi, four provinces of the Swahili. I offer a trade agreement. I order my fleet to return home because they are starting to show signs of wear.

4 August, 1553 – NLD: Boina and Manabe, two unclaimed provinces on Madagascar

16 August, 1553 – NLD: Sofala and Quelimane, another pair of Swahili province

4 October, 1553 – For some reason, Ak Koyunlu is asking us for military access. I agree out of a lark. Also, NLD: Benin – a province of Kanem Bornu. NLD: Whydah, an unclaimed IVORY province just west of Benin.

7 October – NLD: Gold Coast, an unclaimed IVORY province.

29 October, 1553 – NLD: Cape Verde, unclaimed islands off the coast of Africa.

15 November, 1553 – My fleet returned to dock at the Canarias. It was almost destroyed by attrition. I need to establish a post on the coast of Africa if I want to go further in that direction.

If I want to send out some troops to clean out a province and then set up home, what provinces would I be interested in:

Sierra Leone, still on the western bump of north Africa, this ivory province feature 7000 natives that are very angry. It would costs us 62 ducats to try and place a settler here, with a current 44% chance of taking before clearing out the baddies. 186 days to arrive here.

Grain Coast, next door to Sierra Leone with spices, 5000 pissed off natives. The same data otherwise as Sierra Leone.

Two provinces over and on the underside of that north western bump is the Gold Coast. This ivory province features 9000 fully pissed off Africans, with a 220 day trip.

Adjacent to Gold Coast is Whydah, which is next to Benin. This ivory province features 5000 pissed off natives.

Near the southern end of the west coast of Africa is Damaraland. This is an Ivory province with 316 day travel time for colonists. The chance to set up here is 54% because the 4000 natives, although a bit on the aggressive side, are not pissed off and looking for heads.

Cape Verde. There are no natives here. Colonists will set up with a 71% chance and in just 163 days.

If I want a post for us to explore from, Cape Verde is easy to set up, but not great for Cross Africa explorations, since it is so close to the northern part of Africa. If I want a deeper post, Damaraland is the best choice. On the other hand, Cape Verde sets up easily and I don’t have to worry about natives. Of course, it’ll never be anything more than a naval post with its grain.

On Jaunary 1, I’ll order colonists to Cape Verde if it is still unclaimed.


19 November, 1553 – RM: France

15 March, 1554 – Sweden inherited Connacht.

1 June, 1554 – Our trade tech increased.

13 June, 1554 – We establish a colony at Cape Verde.

[Abe Sargent]

I say you should edit the savegame file to move your capital to a more central location and assign yourself a stability hit and a decrease in funds for it like was earlier suggested.

You're more Lombard than Greek by now, even if you are still by and large Catholic.

Nah, I'll stay with it for now. Besides, I'm waiting on getting the best Lombard province still. (Venezia)

[Abe Sargent]

Didn't want to put these both in the same post. HEre's teh other half of what I was doing tonight.

More Discovery


7 July, 1554 – I order more exploring, this time by just one Caravel while the other rests in Cape Verde.

I order my ship into the ocean.

16 July, 1554 – NSD: Cape Verde Approach

26 July, 1554 – NSD: North Equitorial Current

6 August, 1554 – NSD: Southern Guiana Basin.

13 August, 1554 – NSD: Amazones Gulf. We’ve found land. Let’s sail north or south along it….north! Great Britain is already here, I see one of her fleets.

18 August, 1554 – NSD: Bay of Belam, NLD: Surinam, unclaimed SUGAR

23 August, 1554 – NSD: Guyana Coast, NLD: Essequibo, another unclaimed SUGAR. A Castillean navy is here.

27 August, 1554 – NSD: Winward Islands.

2 September, 1554 – NSD: Venezuelan Sea

I’m hoping to find a Castillean province here somewhere. I can use my ally as a base of operations.

5 September, 1554 – NSD: Eastern Caribbean, NLD: Les Cayes, a Castillean province, WITH a port.

11 September, 1554 – NSD: Jamaica Channel.

17 September, 1554 – NSD: Northwestern Caribbean.

21 September, 1554 – NSD: Mocitos Coast. There’s Portugese fleet here. Well, the Europeans are here, no doubt.

26 September, 1554 – NSD: Gulf of Darien. NLD: Panama, unclaimed, NLD: Magdalena and Antioquia, both Great Britain.

29 September, 1554 – NSD: Central Caribbean.

7 October, 1554 – NSD: Belize Bay, NLD: Belize, Peten, Hondorus, all three provinces of the Maya. I offer them a trade agreement.

11 October, 1554 – NSD: Yucatan Channel

16 October, 1554 – NSD: Gulf of Mexico

20 October, 1554 – NSD: Yucatan Sea

24 October, 1554 – NSD: Tampico Bay

28 October, 1554 – NSD: Galveston Bay. NLD: Atakapa, a wealthy Sugar French colony. NLD: Karankawa, an unclaimed grain province.

1 November, 1554 – Our stability increased to 2.

3 November, 1554 – NSD: Mobile Bay

7 November, 1554 – NSD: Apalachee Bay

12 November, 1554 – NSD: Florida Straits

17 November, 1554 – NSD: Coast of Cuba

23 November, 1554 – NSD: Turks & Caicos Sea

28 November, 1554 – NSD: Coast of Hispaniola, NLD: Barahonas, a Castillean province.

3 December, 1554 – NSD: Lesser Antilles, NLD: St. Kitts, St. Thomas – both unclaimed SUGAR provinces.

13 December, 1554 – NLD: Turks Island. We discovered this while sailing by. It’s a nice island, with COTTON as its resource. It also has a low native population. I think that this will be our next colony settlement in January 1. I want at least an outpost here that’s mine. This will suffice.

19 December, 1554 – NSD: Sargassos Sea

24 December, 1554 – NSD: Coast of Florida

29 December, 1554 – NSD: Coast of Carolina

1 January, 1555 – Cyprus is now one of our core provinces.

NLD: Santee, Tuscarora – two Castillean provinces. NLD: Muskogee and Alabama, two Creek provinces. I offer them a free trade agreement.

I order colonists to Turks Island. The chance of connection is 64 percent. There are 1000 natives but they are quite passive.

[Abe Sargent]

Explorations Without and Within

2 January, 1555 – Venice stupidly declared war against Austria.

9 January, 1555 – NSD: Cape Hatteras, another Castillean province, Pamlico was also discovered.

13 January, 1555 – NSD: Chesapeake Bay

17 January, 1555 – NSD: Massachusetts Bay

22 January, 1555 – NSD: Bay of Fundy, NLD: Abnaki, a Portugese colony here in the north.

30 January, 1555 – NSD: Fortune Bay

3 February, 1555 – NSD: Cabot Strait, NLD: Taqamkuk, unclaimed.

7 February, 1555 – NSD: Gulf of St Lawrence, NLD: Micmac, unclaimed

14 February, 1555 – NSD: Strait of Belle Isle, NLD: Labrador, unclaimed.

24 February, 1555 – NSD: Labrador Strait

6 March, 1555 – NSD: Hudson Straits

17 March, 1555 – NSD: Eastern Hudson Bay

24 March, 1555 – NSD: James Bay, NLD: Nunavik, unclaimed

31 March, 1555 – NSD: Western Hudson Bay

I order my fleet to return to the Castillean provinces I call home here.

10 April, 1555 – NSD: Foxe Basin

28 April, 1555 – NLD: While sailing home, we find Ungava. An unclaimed fur province.

19 May, 1555 – NLD: Innu, unclaimed

26 May, 1555 – NLD: Acadia, Epekwitk, both unclaimed

18 June, 1555 – I dock my ship at Santee and send out a ship I have docked in the Caribbean and send over my explorer. I intend to hit up South America.

8 July, 1555 – NLD: Cayenne, an unclaimed SUGAR province.

20 July, 1555 – NSD: Coast of Brazil

Austria has finally defeated the Venetian army and begun a siege of Venezia

26 July, 1555 – NSD: Coast of Recife

2 August, 1555 – NSD: Coast of Pernambuc, NLD: Pernambuco, a British colony.

8 August, 1555 – NSD: Todod Santos Bay, NLD: Rio de Janeiro, an unclaimed SUGAR province with mild natives. Need to mark this for later.

14 August, 1555 – NSD: Rio de Janeiro, NLD: Santo Amaro, an unclaimed SUGAR province and, wait for it, wait for it, wait for it, wait for it…Santana, an unclaimed ***GOLD*FREAKIN*GOLD*** province. 500 natives, fairly mild group of guys.

19 August, 1555 – NSD: Baia Parangua, NLD: Banda Oriental, unclaimed

24 August, 1555 – NSD: Rio de la Plata.

26 August, 1555 – We have set up a colony at Turks Island!

29 August, 1555 – NSD: Bahia Blanca, NLD: Tehuelmapu, unclaimed

3 September, 1555 – NSD: Coast of Patagonia, NLD: Patagonia Oriental, unclaimed

14, September, 1555 – NSD: Strait of Magellan, NLD: Patagonia Occidental, unclaimed.

23 September, 1555 – NSD: South Chile Coast

25 September, 1555 – Austria has captured Venezia.

I discovered an Aragonian colony in Unami (New Jersey).

4 October, 1555 – NSD: Coast of Chile

12 October, 1555 – NSD: Atacama Coast, NLD: Picunmapu, unclaimed, NLD: Atacama, a French colony.

19 October, 1555 – NSD: Arica Gulf, NLD: Arica, unclaimed

20 October, 1555 – I ask France for military access and they grant it. I can now use Atacoma as a base of exploration here on the west coast of the Americas.

[nilodor]

How does colonization work? Do you just move your colonists in and hope for the best? Which resources are the most valuable?

[Abe Sargent]

How does colonization work? Do you just move your colonists in and hope for the best? Which resources are the most valuable?

An excellent question:

I have merchants, diplomats, spies, missionaries and colonists that can be made at different speeds and used. I've yet to use missionaries or spies in this game. Merchants set up at a COT and diplomats begin talks between two countries.

If I decide that I like a certain province, like Cape Verde, I send a diplomat by clicking on teh province, and then hitting a send button on the province's screen. That screen gives me the lowdown - percentage, natives number, agressive, zeal, time to colinize, etc.

I choose provinces beauce of several factors. What their good is, how un-aggressive the natives are and where they are on the map.

A provinces makes two types of funds for you - tax and production. As you've seen, tax depends on the size of the province, produciton on the good of the province. Tripoli sends me almost no taxes, because of various factors, but I still get a good production from its Ivory trade.

When looking at a good in aprovince, it will tell you what the approximate worth of said good is. At the beginning of the game, all goods are given a base amount, and that amount changes as supply and demand change. For example, at the beginning of the game,slaves have a very low value, but as cotton and sugar provinces are growing, slave demands sharply grows. The ultimate good is Chinaware, since there are so few Chinaware provinces in the game, and it starts with the highest base value.

Wine starts with the highest base value as well, but there is so much of it getting made that its value drops. Goods like spices, coffee, sugar, tea, and cotton are what I'm looking for, with furs currently a solid value as well, alhtough I've seend them overused and plummet in value.

Gold does not act like a good in that it cannot be traded. Gold is gold. On the other hand, I would get an intimidating amount of produciton value from any gold province.

When a colony hits 1000, it becomes a city. Any natives alive join the city. Kill the natives, and you do not get this population bonus. However, your initial chance to grab a province increases if you kill off the natives. If you do not, then there is a chance every month, based on aggressiveness, that the natives will revolt and burn your colony down.


Hope that info helps!

[Abe Sargent]

The Continuing Saga of a Man and Two Ships

23 October, 1555 – I decline an alliance offer from Sweden.

8 November, 1555 – After restoration at Atacama, I begin a new, fresh exploration. NSD: Arequipa Bay

14 November, 1555 – NSD: Coast of Peru, NLD: Cuzco, Chanchan, Nazca, Incan territories. I offer them a free trade agreement

19 November, 1555 – NSD: Guayaguil Bay

27 November, 1555 – NSD: Coast of Equador, NLD: Cauca, unclaimed

30 November, 1555 – NSD: Gulf of Panama.

6 December, 1555 – NSD: Bay of Costa Rica, NLD: Nicaragua, COFFEE, unclaimed, Chorotega, unclaimed, NLD: Pipil, Mayan.

12 December, 1555 – NSD: Acapulco Bay, NLD: Guatemala, Mayan, Mixtec, Zapotec. I offer the Zapotec a free trade agreement.

19 December, 1555 – NSD: Manzazilla Bay. A Portugese navy is here.

25 December, 1555 – NSD: Mazatlan Bay.

1 January, 1556 – Where do I send my next colonists? I had intended on filling out Turks Island, since there are natives here, and I need to get it fully colonized. However, the gold province of Santana beckons. In this game, gold nets you a lot of ducats, but will increase your inflation (see real life example of Spain). The bigger and better your economy, the more you can handle a gold province.

On the other hand, Turks Island is a good province with a good strategic position.

After debate, I decide that if someone had found Santana, they would have colonized Santana. Let’s focus on Turks Island for now. If I lose Santana, there are still plenty of wealthy provinces with valuable resources.

With colonization, our chance of success to expand Turks Islands has risen to around 81 percent.

2 January, 1556 – NSD: Coast of Baja, NLD: Guaycura, unclaimed.

18 January, 1556 – NSD: Coast of California, NLD: Cochimo, Salinan, unclaimed

26 January, 1556 – NSD: Santa Catalina Islands

12 February, 1556 – NSD: Coast of Oregon

28, February, 1556 – NSD: Coast of Columbia

10 March, 1556 – NSD: Hecate Strait, NLD: Tlingit, an unclaimed GOLD province. Again. Well, I don’t feel so bad about focusing on Turks Islands now.

27 March, 1556 – NSD: Kodiak Island, NLD: Aleut, an unclaimed fur province

5 April, 1556 – NSD: Coast of Alaska

16 April, 1556 – NSD: Gulf of Alaska

I order my fleet to return to Atacama.

3 May, 1556 – RM: Lithuania

8 May, 1556 – NLD: Kalapuya, unclaimed fur

1 June, 1556 – Our naval tech increased

9 June, 1556 – NLD: Sinaloa, unclaimed

15 June, 1556 – NLD: Tlapanec, a Zapotec province

30 July, 1556 – Our fleet arrives back at the French colony of Atacama. Because we’ve docked it and out here, we can see some mainland provinces, but I’m not interested in those for now.

1 August, 1556 – Our land tech increased

I send my explorer to our ship berthed in Santee, on the American coast, and send it out to explore the sea lanes

12 August, 1556 – NSD: Blake Plateau

18 August, 1556 – NSD: West Bermuda Sea

26 August, 1556 – NSD: East Bermuda Sea. Also, our colony in Turks Islands expands.

10 September, 1556 – NSD: Antilles Current.

25 September, 1556 – NLD: Bermuda, unclaimed

14 October, 1556: NSD: West Gibbs Fracture

25 October, 1556: NSD: Labrador Sea

31 October, 1556 – NSD: Notre Dame Bay, NLD: Beothuk, unclaimed

3 November, 1556 – I have a high naval tradition and can recruit a good admiral.

13 December, 1556 – My fleet docks at Turks Islands. NLD: Tortuga, a Castillean province.

1 January, 1557 – I spend 50 ducats or so to recruit that good admiral I can get for right now. He is really good. Photios Della Carceri. He adds 6 to my fire, 6 to shock and 5 to maneuver. I add him to the head of my navy in Napoli.

[Abe Sargent]

Colonists to Turks Islands now have a 95% chance of taking. I send more

Now I send my explorer back to the Atacaman vessel and explore into the Pacific.

11 January, 1557 – NSD: San Felix Island. Exploring sea lanes takes out more of a toll on a ship than exploring coastal areas, so I may only get a few ocean areas at a time.

21 January, 1557 – NSD: Humboldt Current

1 February, 1557 – NSD: Eastern Island

13 February, 1557: NSD: Tiki Basin

17 February, 1557 – Venice and Austria are now at peace.

22 February, 1557 – NSD: Tuamatu Islands

7 March, 1557 – NSD: Marquises Islands

28 April, 1557 – My fleet returns to Atacama to rest up.

3 June, 1557 – RM: Great Britain

2 July, 1557 – Denmark was annexed by Hamburg

1 August, 1557 – RM: Sweden

12 August, 1557 – Autria and Hungary are at peace. Austria won a province.

26 August, 1557 – Turks Islands expands!

1 September, 1557 – Our fleet at Turks Islands is ready to head back out.

1 October, 1557 – NLD:: Narraganset, unclaimed

5 October, 1557 – NLD: Pennacook, a Portugese settlement

10 November, 1557 – NSD: Western Coast of Greenland, NLD: Vestbygden, an unclaimed fur province on Greenland.

21 November, 1557 – NSD: Baffin Bay

I have now discovered every sea region in the North Atlantic and North America.

I order my fleet back to Turks Islands by way of the American coast.

1 December, 1557 – NLD : Connecticut, unclaimed

20 December, 1557 – NLD: Powhaten, Castillean

11 January, 1558 – I send more colonists to Turks Islands

14 January, 1558 – NLD: Bahamas, unclaimed SUGAR province

19 January, 1558 – NLD: Moron, a French colony in Cuba

1 March, 1558 – Our naval tech increases

1 July, 1558 – Our production tech advances. My fleet from the Caribbean is now at Cape Verde. I order them around Africa to explore more in that direction.

28 July, 1558 – NLD: Ivory Coast, unclaimed IVORY province

25 August, 1558 – NLD: Benguela, unclaimed

4 September, 1558 – NLD: Lesser Namaqualand, unclaimed IVORY

6 September, 1558 – Our colony in Turks Islands grew.

3 October, 1558 – RM: Austria

30 October, 1558 – NSD: Coast of Pepper

6 November, 1558 – NSD: Horn of Africa

12 November, 1558 – NSD: Gulf of Aden

17 November, 1558 – NSD: Bab el Mandab

28 November, 1558 – NSD: Sea of Oman

I order our fleet back to Cape Verde

5 December, 1558 – NLD: Majerteen, unclaimed

1 January, 1559 – I send new colonist to Turk Islands.

My badboy is completely gone.

I also decide to go ahead and send colonists to Santana. I have the money and the space colonists. There’s a 75% chance of them taking

16 January, 1559 – NLD: Delagoa Bay, unclaimed IVORY

22 January, 1559 – NLD: Little Karoo, unclaimed SUGAR

17 April, 1559 – We arrive back in Cape Verde. Betcha want to see some political maps of my discoveries thus far, eh?

[Abe Sargent]

Map the First, Boring ol' North Americahttp://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3659/boringamericamq3.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Map the Second, the Busy Caribbean:

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/259/crazycaribsic1.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Simply South America:

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/4552/boringsouthnl9.jpg


More boring that North America

[Abe Sargent]

And then one part of Africa that is not boring (the rest is):

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8271/someafricasr1.jpg

[Izulde]

Three words for you:

Sugar.White Gold.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Another heads up that someone is reading this dynasty. Really good stuff. I'm interested whether you'll do much more in Europe or if colonization will be your main focus.

I have a question about the EU series of games. I had considered purchasing EU III. Since I have a new baby, my gaming is pretty much restricted to a laptop. I have a new one with a Intel 950 integrated chip, but I noticed on the EU III website that this game may not work with that chip.

With that said, are the other games (EU, EU II, CK) pretty solid as well? What would I be missing out on if I were to purchase one of the other games?

[Abe Sargent]

Another heads up that someone is reading this dynasty. Really good stuff. I'm interested whether you'll do much more in Europe or if colonization will be your main focus.

I have a question about the EU series of games. I had considered purchasing EU III. Since I have a new baby, my gaming is pretty much restricted to a laptop. I have a new one with a Intel 950 integrated chip, but I noticed on the EU III website that this game may not work with that chip.

With that said, are the other games (EU, EU II, CK) pretty solid as well? What would I be missing out on if I were to purchase one of the other games?

Heya!

I never played EU.

EU2 and EU3 are very similar, except that EU2 is a very event driven engine, and EU3 is more of the CK random event engine. I sorta miss the EU2 engine, to be honest. In EU2, China got a gauranteed early explorer (Zhang He), other nations got explorers and conquistadors at random, unless they traditionally had one, so Portugal got may, but in EU3, you can gt your own by setting the sliders, so thats beter and so forth.

CK is a different game in many respets - no COTs, very dynasty driven, etc. It's very good, but a different feel of a game. EU3 is still EU, CK has a different style and emphasis.

Hope taht helps.

[Abe Sargent]

A Temporary Diversion


I’m leaving my fleets as they are right now, I’ve pretty much explored my limits right now except for a few oceanic zones, and I’m not that interested in exploring them.

What I’d really like a good war. Get me some more land, and have some fun. Someone, declare war on me!

If I can’t have war come to me, then I’ll bring war to someone else!

I make war preparations.

I make my ruler a general.

9 June, 1559 – I declare war against Aragon. Our stability drops because they are Catholic. All four allies join the war (Portugal, Burgundy, Castille, and Tuscany).

I order my large force into Ancona to initiate a siege. I order 5000 troops into Barcelona.

26 August, 1559 – Turks Islands expands!

10 September, 1559 – I got an event I’d rather not have. Unhappiness Among the Clergy. My Catholic priests are upset we have a fairly free thinking society. I have two choices:

(Names are mine) – I’ll run whatever society I want to run: -1 stability
Please don’t hurt me, I’ll do whatever you want – 1 towards narrowminded and away from innovative.

I want neither. I don’t want the event. Ick. Stability loss during war? Feh. I’ll take the narrowminded track.

14 September, 1559 – The first battle in the war, other than sieges, was won against Burgundy in Lombardia. I remembered my achilles heel from the last war.

18 September, 1559 – And then I get driven out of Lombardia. I order more forces to the province. I cannot lose Lombardia.

2 October, 1559 – We set up a colony in Santana!

17 October, 1559 – A large contingent of our forces arrive in Lombardia.

21 October, 1559 – We drive the Burgundians back out of Lombardia.

22 October, 1559 – Switzerland agrees to give us military access, in case I want to strike Burgundy through our ally.

10 November, 1559 – France and Austria begin a hissy fight. I’m rooting for France.

1 January, 1560 – I send colonists to Turks Islands and Santana.

10 January, 1560 – We capture Valencia

13 January, 1560 – Ancona falls.

18 March, 1560 – We barely win a battle in Barcelona and limply begin a siege

1 April, 1560 – We emerge victorious in Lombardia against Burgundy.

5 May, 1560 – We barely won a battle in Barcelona again.

18 May, 1560 – I drop off 3k more troops in Barcelona

7 July, 1560 – I reject the first peace offer, this one from Aragon for no land. I want the Italian provinces, and maybe Sardinia, The Baleares or Valencia. But, minimum the two remaining Italian provinces.

20 August, 1560 - Abruzzi falls to us.

23 August, 1560 – We again defeat Burgundy at Lombardia. I was wise making this my level two fort.

26 August, 1560 – Turks Islands expands.

8 September, 1560 – After an assault, we capture Barcelona.

Aragon rejected a peace offer for Valencia, Abruzzi and Ancona

2 October, 1560 – Santana expanded.

9 October, 1560 – Burgundy accepts our offer of a white peace. That’s bad news for the Iberia boys left in the war.

17 November, 1560 – We drive the small defending force in Sardinia into the sea and begin a siege here as well.

1 January, 1561 – I send two colonists again, yadda yadda.

1 April, 1561 – Funj asks for military access. I don’t even know where they are, but I say sure.

1 May, 1561 – Our stability increases.

26 August, 1561 – Turks Island expands

11 September, 1561- Aragon accepts our offer of peace for Ancona, Abruzzi and Valencia.

I accept peace with Portugal for 8 ducats of theirs.


Ancona – A province that we gained a core on, 68494 Umbrian Catholics work the poor wool trade here. They make us 6.98 ducats annually. The province comes with a temple, workshop, marketplace and courthouse.

Abbruzzi – The other Italian province to fall into our hands, 45757 Umbrian Catholics work the ever popular wine trade here. 13.49 ducats are created here annually in taxes and production. Already built here are a workshop, temple, marketplace and courthouse.

Valencia – This Iberian province is southwest along the Spanish coastline from Barcelona. 104848 people work the, you guessed it, wine trade here. The Catalan Catholics here make an unknown amount of ducats, because the province is still blockaded from the war. They have the same four improvements mentioned above.

[nilodor]

So is Aragon pretty much only left with their north american holdings? Would it be hard to go into the colonies and take land or would you get attacked in europe because you diverted troops? Also by having control of land so far away from your capital do you have to pay added maitenance or some other penalty?

[Abe Sargent]

So is Aragon pretty much only left with their north american holdings? Would it be hard to go into the colonies and take land or would you get attacked in europe because you diverted troops? Also by having control of land so far away from your capital do you have to pay added maitenance or some other penalty?

Aragon has Barcelona, their capital, and about five or six more Iberian provinces.

[Abe Sargent]

Developments Ashore


22 September, 1561 – RM: Castille

2 October, 1561 – Santana expanded.

1 January, 1562 – I send out colonists again.

7 May, 1562 – RM: Munster

3 June, 1562 – RM: Burgundy

26 August, 1562 – Turks Islands expands

2 October, 1562 – Santana expands

14 October, 1562 – RM: Lithuania

1 January, 1563 – In an effort to finish out Turks Islands, I press onward. I intend to finish colonizing it soon.

16 March, 1563 – Kazan declared war against Crimea. The Ottomans joined Crimea. Could be a major war.

14 May, 1563 – Hungary declared war upon Austria, who is still fighting France and her minors.

23 July, 1563 – Something really, really weird just happened, something I never planned and didn’t know could happen without me planning it. We just became the Papal Controller.

As a result, we get the following:

-20% stability cost
+1 diplomat annually
Reputation (badboy) -0.25 (annually? Once?)
Prestige +1 (again, annually, once?)

We controlled two cardinals – one in Malta and one in Napoli. No one else controlled more than one. Ergo, we are the new Papal Controller.


26 August, 1563 – Expansion…..

1 January, 1564 – I double send colonists again

17 March, 1564 – France won a couple of provinces from Austria. Yay!

29 March, 1564 – RM: France

3 June, 1564 – Now Austria are the Papal Controller after a cardinal died.

26 August, 1564 – Turks Islands expands. The natives there join the colony. It is now a full city

Turks Islands – This Lombard Catholic province is a group of islands clustered in the Atlantic. The main export for the 2037 people here is cotton. They make about 19.89 ducats annually, with almost all of that coming from production. Cotton has a high trade value right now.

[Abe Sargent]

And More

1 September, 1564 – Lombardia is now part of our patrimony and is a core province.

2 October, 1564 – Santana expands.

5 October, 1564 – The Ottomans defeated Kazan and won two provinces.

1 November, 1564 – Our trade tech increases.

14 December, 1564 – Austria defeated Hungary and won Hum and Bosnia.

25 December, 1564 – Austria offers me an alliance. I accept. They are the biggest, baddest boys on the block, and Tuscany is long since outlived its usefulness as an ally.

Plus, this might get me in a war with Hungary. In said war, I’d want to take Dalmatia and Croatia. Austria might get me the hookup.

1 January, 1565 – Let’s just assume that every January for a while I’m sending colonists to Santana and every October 2 they take, unless I tell you otherwise.

28 May, 1565 – I get a Boundary Dispute and press the issue to get a Casus Belli on Roma.

1 July, 1565 – Our naval tech increases.

14 August, 1565 – I move our slider one more towards quality. All of our leaders will now get +1 fire. Our stability drops.

21 Septmeber, 1565 – RM: Pommerania

1 October, 1565 – Our government tech increased when it looked like it was going to be forever before it did so.

1 January, 1566 – I decide to try and wrest the Papacy away from Austria. After a cardinal died and came from our territory in October, we each have two cardinals. I am going to try and bribe an Austrian one. I want that -20% stability cost. That’s handy!

After paying 55 ducats, we are now the Papal Controller!

1 August, 1566 – Our stability increases.

13 November, 1566 – A cardinal has died, and the new cardinal is from Brescia, giving us four of the seven cardinals. Hopefully we’ll be the Papal Controller for a while.

22 February, 1567 – I get an event: Rush of Colonists. I take the Colonists, and we now have a full set of 5.

1 June, 1567 – Our land tech increases

4 February, 1568 – I get a event. Natives Encountering Our Colony in Santana. A group of natives are peacefully but cautiously watching our colony. I have three options:

1). Repel the Savages. Colony grows by 200, native numbers decrease by 300.

2). Present a Trade Proposal. I lose 50 ducats, but the tax base increases by one.

3). Do nothing. Lose some prestige.

Our colony is two away from expansion, and I’ve sent out one of those. I don’t want to kill off natives, or else I’d take the first option. The tax base is minor for a colony. I choose nothing initially, but as I think about it. I save a full colonist and the money to send it by choosing option number one. The colony expands to 1000, then takes the 200 natives then the 100 new colonist arrive to make it 1300. A full province. I can send another set of colonists out now. Let’s take number one after all.

Looks like the natives chose not to join, and just left or something. Let’s take a look at Santana, a new city:

1030 Lombard Catholics work the gold mines in this coastal province. We get 42 ducats annually, 40 of those being gold production.

[Abe Sargent]

Conflict Quick and Expected


Okay, time to send out more colonists. Here are some ideas:

Southern Africa. Then use that as a base for future explorations.

Near or beside Santana. There are other solid colonial areas here. This would help mutual defense.

Actually, I think that these are the best two areas. Here are some of the best choices from those two areas:

Little Karoo – Of the South African provinces, none combines a wealthy crop like Sugar with low aggressiveness natives. There are just 500 natives, but they are very peaceful. 78% of setting up a colony here. 364 days to set up a colony.

Sao Vincente – Next to Santana, 1000 natives with low aggressiveness are in this Sugar province. 75% of setting up a colony here. It would take 272 days.

Those are really my two options. Sao Vincente or Little Karoo.

I choose Little Karoo. Then I may go to Sao Vincente next. I want that outpost to use as a place to explore further outwards.

20 June, 1568 – RM: France

4 August, 1568 – Hungary has declared war against Austria. I agree to assist my fellow Austrians.

I make preparations.

9 August, 1568 – We defeat the Hungarians in the Adriatic and captured a ship.

1 October, 1568 – Apulia and Calabria are now part of our patrimony.

2 October, 1568 – Santana expanded.

13 October, 1568 – We win the Battle of Dalmatia, and begin a siege.

1 November, 1568 – Liguria is now part of our patrimony.

12 November, 1568 – I lose a battle in Croatia and retreat my forces back to Dalmatia

1 January, 1569 – I have the money, so I send a colonist to San Vicente

1 February, 1569 – Provence are the new Papal Controller.

10 February, 1569 – Our attempt to colonize Little Karoo has failed. I send in more colonists. Just a 22% chance of failure. That sucked.

12 February, 1569 – My main army arrived in Croatia, blasted the defenders, and has begun a siege of their capital.

6 April, 1569 – Croatia falls after an assault

28 May, 1569 – Dalmatia falls to us.

29 May, 1569 – Hungary accepted peace for Dalmatia.

Dalmatia: 21835 people work the relatively poor wool trade in this sleepy province along the east coast of the Adriatic. 8.03 ducats are made by the Croatian Catholics. Venice and Hungary have it as a core province. It’s not that valuable, but it increases our Mediterranean presence in a new area.

[Abe Sargent]

A Friend Found

20 September, 1569 – We set up a colony in Sao Vicente. Sorry I misspelled it earlier, that’s the correct spelling. I send in more colonists.

1 November, 1569 – Janina and Salonica are no longer cores.

9 February, 1570 – Little Karoo is set up with colonists. I send in more and my explorer.

15 March, 1570 - Crimea and The Ottomans declared war upon Hungary. That country is dead.

29 June, 1570 Sao Vicente expands. I send in more colonists.

1 August, 1570 – My explorer has reached Little Karoo and then waited a few months to get repaired. I now send it out.

3 September, 1570 – Austria defeated Hungary, but no land changed hands.

25 September, 1570 – NSD: Western Arabian Sea, NLD: Socotra, Yemen

4 October, 1570 – NSD: Mascate Coast

9 October, 1570 – NSD: Gulf of Indus, NLD: Kutch, Vijayanagar. I offer them a free trade agreement. Kutch is also a COT.

15 October, 1570 – NSD: Straits fo Hormuz. NLD: Suhar (Persia) and Hormuz (Timurid)

23 October, 1570 – NSD: Persian Gulf

31 October, 1570 – NLD: Qawasim, Persian

5 November, 1570 – NLD: Sind, Vijayanagar (Vj)

12 November, 1570 – NSD: Golf of Gujurat, NLD: Dadra, Vj

17 November, 1570 - NSD: Laquedive Islands, NLD: Raichur Doab, VJ. A Portugese vessel is in these waters.

22 November, 1570 – NSD: Coast of Malabar, NLD: Malabar, Travanacore

27 November, 1570 – NSD: Comorin Cape

2 December, 1570 – RM: France, NSD: Coast of Coromandel, NLD: Tirichirapalli, VJ

7 December, 1570 – NSD: Coast of Orissa

I order my fleet to return but to explore a few more sea lanes on the way back.

12 December, 1570 – NLD: Madras, VJ

19 December, 1570 – NSD: Ceylon Sea, NLD: Jaffna, Korlaes (Pegu)

1 January, 1571 – I got two advisors that appeared in my realm. Both are level one. One adds naval and the other adds production.

I fire Murad Sokullu, the colonist making advisor now that I have my national idea and whatnot. I hire Evangelos Zorzi, the national scientist production maker. I hope that if my very aged government advisor is to die soon, that he does it this year, so I can hire this naval advisor before he goes into the general pool.

11 January, 1571 – The Teutonic Order declared war against Austria. I join said war but have interest in actually fighting.

8 February, 1571 – Little Karoo expands. I send in more colonists

20 March, 1571 – NLD: Inhambane, unclaimed IVORY

28 March, 1571 – Sao Vicente expanded. I order in more colonists.

11 April, 1571 – While our explorer was docking at Little Karoo, we discovered Great Karoo, an inland province behind us.

29 April, 1571 – RM: Castille

20 August, 1571 – Lithuania declared war against Crimea. The Ottomans joined Crimea.

25 December, 1571 – Sao Vicente expands.

I decide to stick with my best advisor who is getting long in the tooth, 64 years. He’s dying any day now, but he’s six times better than the naval advisor, which means that for every two months he lives, I get as much production than one year of the naval guy.

1 January, 1572 – Colonists are dispatched to Sao Vicente

I order out my explorer again.

7 February, 1572 – Little Karoo expanded. I order more colonists in.

10 March, 1572 – The Teutonic Order declared war upon Austira. I join them, but expect to fire no bullets.

16 April, 1572 – NSD: Ganges Delta, NLD: Chittagong, Bengala (Orissa).

20 April, 1572 – NSD: Aykab Bay, NLD: Arakon (Pegu)

25 April, 1572 – NSD: Irrawady Delta

30 April, 1572 – NSD: Mergui Archipelago

1 May, 1572 – I found a LITHUANIAN colony here in the spice isles. I kept getting land masses shown to me, and wondering what eastern power had been here for fifty years that I should get such a bounty of sea provinces here in the spice isles. It’s Lithuania!

This is great! Lithuania, like France before her, has maxed relations with us. I ask for military access and in a day, she agrees. I can use their colony in the Spice Islands for some serious explorations.

[Abe Sargent]

An End for Now

5 May, 1572 – NSD: Straits of Malacca

12 May, 1572 – NSD: Straits of Johor

17 May, 1572 – NSD: Coast of Sarawk

20 May, 1572 – Aragon won a province from Hamberg, Bremen, in the far north of Germany.

24 May, 1572 – NSD: Coast of Brunei

30 May, 1572 – NSD: Sulu Sea

11 June, 1572 – I park my explorer at Ternate, the Lithuanian colony

11 July, 1572 – The Teutonic Order rejected our white peace offer

1 August, 1572 – I send out my ship and explorer in Ternate.

6 August, 1572 – We get an event called. Excellent Minister. I reap the administrative benefits and our stability increases, and is now maxed!

11 August 1572 – NSD: Sea of Ternate

18 August, 1572 – NSD: Sea of Bunda, NLD: Ceram, unclaimed SPICE

23 August, 1572 – NSD: Timor Sea

28 August, 1572 – NSD: King Sound

4 September, 1572 – NSD: Arafuam Sea

15 September, 1572 – NSD: Kolepaum Bay

26 September, 1572 – NSD: Palau Islands

30 September, 1572 – Sao Vicente expands

1 October, 1572 – I learn about a new Lithuanian colony on an island in the Indian Ocean.

And our explorer died  I order my ship back to Ternate to bide its time until a new explorer is hired.

1 November, 1572 – New info from, likely, Lithuania shows us Brunei. I offer them a free trade agreement.

7 December, 1572 – The Order accepts our white peace proposal.

1 January, 1573 – I order colonists to Sao Vicente

I recruit a new explorer and dispatch our fleet in the spice isles to continue to investigate the area.

I order Constables built in Lombardia and Liguria.

12 January, 1573 – NSD: Maguindanao Coast

21 January, 1573 – NSD: Philipine Sea

27 January, 1573 – NSD: Gulf of Leyte

31 January, 1573 – NSD: Coast of Luzon

1 February, 1573 – Our trade tech increases

4 February, 1573 – NSD: Luzon Strait, NLD: Samtoy, unclaimed. A Portugese fleet is here.

6 February, 1573 – Little Karoo expanded.

10 February, 1573 – NSD: Paracel Islands

15 February, 1573 – NSD: Guangzhou Bay, NLD: Jianamen, Ming – I send Ming a free trade agreement. We have discovered China!

23 February, 1573 – NSD: Taiwan Strait

27 February, 1573 – NSD: Yang Tse Delta

3 March, 1573 – NSD: Yellow Sea

7 March, 1573 – NSD: Korea Bay

19 March, 1573 – NSD: South Korea Sea, NLD: Jeolla, Korean. I send them a free trade agreement.

22 March, 1573 – NSD: North Korean Sea

28 March, 1573 – NSD: Coast of Olga

4 April, 1573 – NSD: Sea of Japan, NLD: Echizen, Japan. I offer them a free trade agreement.

17 April, 1573 – NSD: Tatar Straits, NLD: Udskoye, unclaimed fur

25 April, 1573 – NSD: Amur Estuary

30 April, 1573 – Bay of Ayan, NLD: Othotsk, unclaimed, and TAUISK, an unclaimed GOLD province.

4 May, 1573 – NSD: Bay of Komenskoyie

16 May, 1573 – NSD: Coast of Kamchatka, NLD: Kamchatka

21 May, 1573 – NSD: Okhotsk Sea

28 May, 1573 – NSD: Coast of Sakhalin

2 June, 1573 – NSD: Soya Strait, NLD: Sakhalin, unclaimed, NLD: Ezochi, Japan

I order my fleet to return.

10 June, 1573 – I decline an alliance offer from Saxony.

14 July, 1573 – NSD: Manila Bay

1 August, 1573 – Our four star land tech advisor died today. We mourn him. I hire Arnau Mutanier, a one star colonist make.

30 September, 1573 – Sao Vicente expanded

1 October, 1573 – I order my fleet back out to explore again

17 October, 1573 – NSD: Java Sea, NLD: Makassar, owned by Makassar. I send them a free trade agreement.

24 October, 1573 – NSD: Straits of Makassar, NLD: Sabah, Brunei

12 November, 1573 – NSD: Coast of Surabaya

17 November, 1573 – NSD: Coast of Java, NLD: Bantan, unclaimed SPICE

22 November, 1573 – NLD: Mataram, unclaimed SPICE

23 December, 1573 – NSD: Gulf of Carpentaria

30 December, 1573 – NSD: Torres Strait

1 January, 1574 – I only have one set of colonists right now. I send them to Sao Vicente.

7 January, 1574 – NSD: Trobian Islands, NLD: Rabaul, unclaimed

16 January, 1574 – NSD: Great Barrier Reef

24 January, 1574 – NSD: Capricorn Bay, there is a Portugese ship here.

1 February, 1574 – NSD: Cape Howe

A level two statesmen named Giovanni Ghisi has appeared in Cyprus. I fire our colonist make and hire this guy.

8 February, 1574 – NSD: Bass Strait

17 February, 1574 – NSD: Kangaroo Island, NLD: Paredarerme, unclaimed

24 February, 1574 – NSD: Great Australian Bight

I order my fleet to return to Ternate

1 April, 1574 – Our production tech increased

I order colonists to Little Karoo

1 May, 1574 – NLD: Buru, unclaimed COFFEE, Halmahera, unclaimed SPICE

8 May, 1574 – Our fleet returns to Ternate.

1 July, 1574 – Brescia and Crete are now part of our patrimony.

My badboy is completely gone. Let’s do something about that.

[Abe Sargent]

Brevity in Arms

30 September, 1574 – Sao Vicente grows

1 October, 1574 – I’ve discovered a Lithuanian colony on the coast of West Africa, beside Kongo. I offer Kongo a free trade agreement,

1 November, 1574 – After making preparations, I declare war against Venice.

All three of ours allies honor our alliance and join us against Venice.

I have a small army in boats outside of Corfu, and they are ordered to march onto Corfu and begin a siege. Another army is in Ferrara and ordered into Venezia to begin a siege. Finally, a large army is in Lombardia, and they will smash into the major Venetian army, blood will run this day.

9 November, 1574 – The Siege of Corfu has begun

10 November, 1574 – And the siege of Venezia.

29 November, 1574 – I lost the Battle of Piedmont. I retreat to Lombardia to regroup. I hate losing the first battle in a war that I planned.

1 January, 1575 – I order colonists to Sao Vicente

4 January, 1575 – RM: France

18 January, 1575 – My large army arrives in Nice and begins a siege

9 March, 1575 – Corfu falls to us.

30 March, 1575 – After an assault, Nice falls to us

2 April, 1575 – A Venetian force is besieging Liguria

14 April, 1575 – The besiegers from Corfu arrive at Venezia to assist the siege here.

30 April, 1575 – My army and a Tuscan army drive the Venetians away from Liguria

1 June, 1575 – RM: Saxony

2 June, 1575 – Venezia falls to us.

13 September, 1575 – We drive back the Veneitans from Piedmont with a combined assault of my main army and the Venezian army.

30 September, 1575 – Sao Vicente expands

5 October, 1575 – We won the battle of Savoie.

4 November, 1575 – The first peace offer from Venice arrives and it was laughable.

11 November, 1575 – After an early walls breached during the siege, I order us to pour in and we capture the city.

6 December, 1575 – Piedmont falls to us.

8 December, 1575 – Venice accepts peace. They give us Nice, Piedmont, and become our vassals.


Nice:

40647 people work the quiet and relatively poor fish trade here on the coast immediately west of Liguria. The Lombard Catholics send us 7.78 ducats annually. They have a temple, marketplace, courthouse and workshop.

Piedmont:

117731 people work the unsurprising wine trade here in Lombard country. The Catholics here send us 21.8 ducats annually. They have a courthouse, workshop, temple and University!

I recruit another admiral. I split off 6 Flytes from my Med fleet and send 6k troops on those ships. Time to send sole soldiers abroad.

[SFL Cat]

Just curious...how are the powers that dominated this period historically doing? (i.e. England, France, Spain, Germany, etc.)

[Abe Sargent]

Ventures Temporarily Restablished

10 January, 1576 – Our first admiral died. 

I order a Constable built in Piedmont accidentally – meant to build a level 2 fort. Ah well. I order a Constable built in Palermo as well since I now have some extra splash.

1 March, 1576 – A Gift to the State occurred, and I add the 200 ducats to the treasury. With our new money, I order the following:

Constable in Romagna and Brescia and Mantua
New Admiral for the Med

13 March, 1576 – I send out my explorer for another run.

25 April, 1576 – NSD: New Caledonian Sea

2 May, 1576 – NSD: Three Kings Islands

8 May, 1576 – NSD: Northern Tasmin Sea

14 May, 1576 – NSD: Cook Strait. NLD: Taranaki, unclaimed

23 May, 1576 – NSD: Coast of New Zealand

2 June, 1576 – NSD: Fiji Basin

I order my explorer back to the Lithuanian Colony of Ternate.

11 June, 1576 – NLD: Whangarei, unclaimed

10 August, 1576 – Sao Vicente expands

6 November, 1576 – RM: Lithuania

1 December, 1576 – Naval tech increase

15 December, 1576 – I send an Insult to Bali.

28 December, 1576 – 6000 troops and the appropriate fleet arrive at Ternate. I can send them at opposing forces at any time.

1 January, 1577 – I need one more successful colonization at Sao Vicente to expand. I send off colonists. Time for more explorations.

7 January, 1577 – Ottomans and Hungary come to peace terms after a war with no land changing hands.

24 January, 1577 – NSD: South China Sea

28 January, 1577 – NSD: Cam Radh Bay, NLD: Vijaya, Champan – I send them a free trade agreement.

1 February, 1577 – NSD: Coast of Annam

4 February, 1577 – NSD: Gulf of Tonkin

15 February, 1577 – NLD: Prey Nokor, Malaccan – I offer them a FTA

19 February, 1577 – NSD: Mekong Delta

23 February, 1577 – NSD: Gulf of Siam

1 March, 1577 – NSD: Malayan Sea

19 March, 1577 – NSD: Macabar Isles

23 March, 1577 – NSD: Coast of Atjeh. Now that I’m done with this section of the sea, I’ll return to the Lithuania province

1 April 1577 – Our land tech increases

1 May, 1577 – I send colonists to Little Karoo

29 July, 1577 – I initiate a slow campaign to increase our relations to Venice. It will take a lot of ducats and a lot of time and a lot of diplomats and a lot of gifts.

I send out the explorer again, this time to finish exploring around the Japan area.

20 August, 1577 – NSD: Ryukyu Islands

24 August, 1577 – NSD: Amakusa Sea

3 September, 1577 – NSD: Northern Philippine Sea

8 September, 1577 – NSD: Setto Island Sea, NLD: Kii, Nagato, Bungo, Shikoku, all Japanese. There’s a British fleet here.

15 September, 1577 – NSD: Tokai Sea, NLD: Musachi, Hitachi, Mutaro, all Japanese

20 September, 1577 – NSD: Taihei Ocean

27 September, 1577 – NSD: Tsugaru Strait

I order the explorer back.

30 September, 1577 – Sao Vicente expanded.


Sao Vicente:

Adjacent to Santana and up the coast, the province of Sao Vicente features 2040 Lombard Catholics working the sugar fields. They send us 26.03 ducats annually, with around 23 of those being production.

[Abe Sargent]

Just curious...how are the powers that dominated this period historically doing? (i.e. England, France, Spain, Germany, etc.)

There is no Germany during this period. Either historically or in this game.

Great Britain is okay, although their colonization efforts are focused on South American, not the north. They have some provinces in Scandanavia and Ireland.

France is about the same as rl. They haven't begun to assex their vassals. They have decent colonizations. This was not an era of French dominace, in real life, because of European wars.

Sweden, which was a major player during this time normally, is down to a handful of provinces. No colonization efforts by Sweden, unlike real life (at least thus far)

Austria is a major, major player in both real life politically (Hapsburgs) and in this game geographically - they have large swaths of land.

Obviously, in the game, Spain never formed. There's Castille and Aragon instead - its component pieces. Castille has a lot of power however. Less colonial power, but a lot more North African power - so it porbably averages out hte same.

Portugal was a major, major colonial power during this time in the game, with colonies all over America, Africa, the spice islands, India, Malacca, etc. In this game, their colonies are almost all in North Amercia, but they have massively expanded in North America, taking out tribes and gobbling land at a very quick clip.

The Ottomans were a major power in Europe duiring this time, and still are.

Saxony's doing very well for itself. As is Hamburg. Burgundy is still around (in real life, Burgundy was building a powerful country when the young duke got offed in battle and the country was split up).


How about a list to help you out?

My personal choices for the top five powers in Europe, currently:

1). Austria. They have a ton of land, they took out Poland, Hungary, parts of Lithuania, parts of Scanadanvia. They stretch from the Adriatic to the Baltic.

2). The Ottomans. They've gained some serious land in Europe in the eastern parts, and along with ally Crimea, they have some some serious power. They also have the most valuable province in Europe, Thrace.

3). Castille. Their combination of advnaced soldiers and large amounts of land makes them very, very, powerful.

4). Burgundy. The combinations of the wealthy Dutch provinces and the best COT in the game currently in Dutch territory with one of the most advanced armies in the game make them a power.

5). Naxos. I honestly beleive that we are powerful enough to win a war against all ofthe other major powers if we prepared for it. But no thte Turks, Austrians, Castilleans or Bugundains. Even if taken by surprise, I feel that they would win against us.

Now, if you include colonial power, Portugal would leap frog over us.



Hope that answers some questions!

[Abe Sargent]

Times of Boredom

26 October, 1577 – NLD: Taiwan. Whoah momma. Unclaimed CHINAWARE province with almost 6000 natives.

20 November, 1577 – Our explorer berths at Ternate.

18 December, 1577 – I accept a request from Venice to move across our provinces.

1 January, 1578 – I have a colonist and some money. Where next to colonize?

Obviously the Spice Islands offer some nice choices. What are the best?

Well, for pure value, Taiwan is amazing. The natives are a bit pissy I have a 70% chance of my first colonist taking, it costs me 100 ducats, almost twice as much as normal. It would take 672 days for colonists to reach Taiwan. Plus, it may be a bit too close to China for my tastes. What if China decides they want it? What do I do?

Mataram – As a spice province with a high tax value (8 outta 10) there’s really not much more you could want from a province. The large number (9000) of slightly aggressive natives might be a problem considering the slow speed of colonization here in the Indies.

If all I want in an outpost and a spice isle, then Halmahera is my best choice. The 500 natives here barely register a pulse, and although the taxvalue is very low (1), it’s a spice colony. There’s a large 82% chance of my first colonists settling – which is about as good as you are going to get with natives on the colony. Let’s send our colonists here.

Halmahera it is.

April 4, 1578 – Our Monarach, Giovanni III has died. We have a new king, Guglielmo III. Admin: 7, Military: 8, Diplomacy: 3

April 6, 1578 – RM: Burgundy, Castille

8 April, 1578 – RM: Great Britain

10 April, 1578 – Lithuania lost a province in peace accords with the Ottomans

27 April, 1578 – We became the Papal Controller again.

30 April, 1578 – RM: Lithuania

1 May, 1578 – Our stability increased.

4 May, 1578 – Little Karoo grewoo

20 May, 1578: RM: Tyrone

23 May, 1578 – A new war between Crimea and the Ottomans against Lithuania begins

1 January, 1579 – I order level one forts in Turks Islands and Santana

31 July, 1579 – Little Karoo expanded. I sent more colonists in.

30 September, 1579 – RM: Saxony

20 October, 1579 – We successfully set up a colony in Halmahera

1 January, 1580 – I order a level one fort built in Sao Vicente

25 June, 1580 – The Teutonic Order again tries to pick a fight with Austria. Again I agree to join our fellow brothers.

30 July, 1580 – Little Karoo expands. I send out more colonists.

1 September, 1580 – Turks Island is now a core

1 January, 1581 – I order more colonists to Halmahera

23 January, 1581 – RM: France

8 July, 1581 – The Order sent us a white peace offer, which we accepted.

29 July, 1581 – Little Karoo expands. I send more colonists. If these take, then it’s a city and the natives join.

16 September, 1581 – I take a look at my slider settings, because I can move one. I decide to move us one towards Free Trade. Our stability drops.

1 January, 1582 – Our government tech increases

1 March, 1582 – Our land tech increases.

I need to find another place to send colonists. After some consideration, I choose Rio de Janeiro. It’s near my current South America holdings, and a sugar province. It’s solid.

10 March, 1582 - - Hungary ceded territory to the Ottomans. That leaves just one Hungarian province left – Croatia.

29 July, 1582 – Little Karoo expands. It is now a full colony:

Little Karoo – Located on the southern tip, east side, of the African continent, Little Karro is an ideally suited colony for exploration and interseas trade. 1563 Catholic Lombards work the sugar trade here. 25.08 ducats are made here annually, with 22 of those being production.

[Abe Sargent]

Adding Ginger to Bread


1 August, 1582 – Our great governmental advisor whose great work brought us significant fame and was with our court for decades and decades has passed.

1 September, 1582 - Elias Zeno a level two treasurer, who adds to our trade tech, has arrived in Cyprus. I hire him

20 October, 1582 – Our colony in Halmahera expanded.

1 November, 1582 – Anastatios Loredano, a level 3 government advisor arrived in Palermo. Do I hire him? Here is what I currently have:

Level 2 government advisor
Level 2 trade advisor
Level 1 production advisor

And now a level 3 government advisor. I could fire the level 2, replace him with the level three, and move on. Or, I could replace another with the level 3 government advisor. Like a 1 production advisor? Let’s do that. I drop the production advisor.

13 November, 1582 – Our attempt to set up a colony in Rio de Janeiro has failed. I dispatch more colonists to reattempt.

1 January, 1583 – I order a level 1 fort built here.

28 July, 1583 – We set up a colony in Rio de Janeiro. I order more colonists to follow.

1 January, 1584 – Colonists are sent to Halmahera

25 March, 1584 – Uhoh. Dalmatia has become reformed!

12 April, 1584 – Rio expanded.

1 November, 1584 – Santana is now a part of our patrimony (core province).

1 January, 1585 – I send colonists to Rio.

15 September, 1585 – Rio expanded. More colonists.

20 October, 1585 – Halmahera expanded.

9 November, 1585 – RM: Burgundy

1 January, 1586 – I send colonists to Halmahera

31 May, 1586 – Rio expands.

1 October, 1586 – Abbruzzi and Valencia are part of our patrimony.

1 January, 1587 – Colonists, Rio

31 March, 1587 – RM: Austria

23 April, 1587 – After a lot of diplomats and a lot of money, I have maxed relations with Venice.

July 1, 1587 – I offer Venice annexation, and am told by my advisors that the chance is roughly half and half. Unfortunately, it’s the bad half, because they reject our annexation offer. Our relations drop.

15 September, 1587 – Rio, expansion, more colonists

1 October, 1587 – Our land tech increases

20 October, 1587 – Halmahera expands

1 November, 1587 – Our trade tech increases

1 January, 1588 – I send colonists to Halmahera.

I offer Venice annexation after spending the last half of last year jacking our relations back up with gifts. This time, they accept.


Savoie:

This Lombard Catholic province in the beginning of French country is a cloth province. 24.35 ducats are made annually, split about even, by the 32834 people here. Savoie comes with a temple, marketplace, courthouse and workshop.

Corfu:

Another of the Greek provinces, the island of Corfu has a workshop, temple and courthouse. The sleepy 17885 Orthodox fishers give us 5.31 ducats annually. Venice gave it a level 2 fort.

Sao Tome:

The colony of Sao Tome is adjacent to Rio de Janeiro. It is a sugar colony, currently with 645 settlers here. It features 300 natives, with a low aggressiveness. Four more successful bands of colonists and it becomes a full city.

Venezia:

805712 people work the fishing trade here in the Center of Trade known as Venice. The Lombard Catholics make around 22.84 ducats annually. This is a core province of Austria. The place comes with a shipyard, courthouse, temple, marketplace and workshop. It also has a level 2 fort.

[Abe Sargent]

Visions of Tomorrow and Yesterday Intertwined

15 February, 1588 – My explorer is coming back from a deep Indian Ocean trip where he opened up some sea lanes, but I’m not sure he can make it back to my colony deep it the Spice Isles. I send requests for military access to Malacca, Brunei and Atjeh. Each has around an even chance of giving me the requisite access. None do. Just have to hope my ship and explorer can make it back, but it’ll be tight.

19 March, 1588 – A level two fort is completed in Savoie.

23 March, 1588 -Our fleet arrives back in the Sea of Ternate, and will dock soon. It was down to 12%, and would have been destroyed on 1 April, 1588. I came within one week of having my vessel and explorer destroyed.

31 May, 1588 – Rio expands

1 June, 1588 – I send a colonist to Sao Tome. The natives there are more aggressive than they are in Rio, so let’s finish it out first.

3 July, 1588 – RM: Saxony

5 July, 1588 – Aragon rejected a royal marriage offer.

1 January, 1589 – I order a constable in Venice and a customs house in Liguria.

13 February, 1589 – Sao Tome expands and more colonists go there.

18 August, 1589 – Austria declared war upon Saxony. I join my allies. I intend to send no armies north.

3 September, 1589 – RM: Burgundy

20 October, 1589 – Halmahera expands.

28 October, 1589 – Sao Tome expands. I send in more colonists.

1 January, 1590 – I order courthouses in Tripolitania and Damatia. I order a customs house in Venice.

1 April, 1590 – A level 3 stability tech advisor arrives in Corfu. I hire him and jettison my treasurer that added to our trade tech development.


With my new stability advisor, I feel that it is time to move into a new phase of my life.

[Lithium]

Damn, this is a great campaign. Going from a small Greek province to a Mediterranean power with African and South American colonies... it makes a great story. Go on, and make Naxos the new Rome!

[sabotai]

23 March, 1588 -Our fleet arrives back in the Sea of Ternate, and will dock soon. It was down to 12%, and would have been destroyed on 1 April, 1588. I came within one week of having my vessel and explorer destroyed.

Something I found out by accident. If you lose a ship, you won't lose the explorer/admiral. They go right back into your pool.

[Abe Sargent]

Plans Afoot


I order preparations for war.

13 July, 1590 – Sao Tome expands. I send more colonists.

16 August, 1590 – I accept a white peace from Saxony.

4 October, 1590 – RM: France

1 January, 1591 – I send a colonist or three to Halmahera.

I am about to do something I haven’t done but once this game, and also something that I have never done at the same time.

I switch national ideas. I am leaving behind Scientific Revolution and taking Deus Vult.

My stability drops to -1.

And then I declare war on Tunisia.

My allies join me. The Mamluks and Morocco join Tunisia. Blood will flow. Oh yes, it will flow.

To prepare for this war, I have done the following things.

1). My main army is in Tripolitania, with 5000 calvary and several thousand infantry. The purpose of this army is to sweep east quickly – attacking and defeating all opposition as it goes.

2). The army (around 5k infantry) that I normally have in Tripolitania is in the Castillean province of Gabes – adjacent to Tunis. It will march in, besiege Tunis and annex the country.

3). A decent sized army is in ships off the coast of Cyprus. It is ordered to land in Beirut, and they’ll move south or siege, whichever is needed.

4). 5000 troops and the requisite ships, plus the Caravel are in Little Karoo. They will be ordered to sail up the coast of Africa and land in the back of Mamluks, thus hiting them from behind. This will not occur for several months, in order to draw out the Mamluk troops towards one of the two ends of their empire to fight armies 1 and 3.

That’s my battle plan. Here we go.

[Abe Sargent]

Plans Undone


19 January, 1591 - My troops land in Beirut. I order a quick assault.

27 January, 1591 – My main army arrive sin Sirt and engages defensive forces here.

29 January, 1591 – The Siege of Tunis has begun

31 January, 1591 – After a quick siege, Beirut has fallen to us. I order them to Damascus.

1 February, 1591 – Our stability increased

2 February, 1591 – I order a quick assault of Tunis. We defeated the Mamluks in Sirt. I order my forces to move inwards. My troops in Tunis can take these provinces once Tunis falls to us.

18 February, 1591 – My troops arrive in Damascus. I decide to begin a siege.

20 February, 1591 – My troops in Tunisia failed to capture the city in an assault and continue the siege.

1 March, 1591 – Our stability increases to 1

We defeat the retreating Mamluk troops in Cyrenaica. I order my main army eastward.

27 March, 1591 – Sao Tome grows and is now a full city. I‘ll look at it after the war.

8 April, 1591 – Our main army has won the battle of Libya. I order them to Asyut.

18 April, 1591 – Damascus falls after an assault. Another assault on Tunis fails.

3 May, 1591 – A Mamluk force arrives in Beirut to begin a siege.

5 May, 1591 – I order my main forces into Cairo itself.

13 May, 1591 – The Siege of Cairo begins.

11 June, 1591 – My northern army arrives in Judea and begins a siege.

1 July, 1591 – RM: Burgundy

Our army in Judea is met by some angry Mamluk troops.

5 July, 1591 – After another assault, Tunis falls. I order my troops eastward to Sirt.

7 July, 1591 – We defeat the Mamluks in Judea.

9 July, 1591 – Tunis has been annexed.

15 July, 1591 – Our army from Little Karoo has arrived in the Suez. I order my troops to disembark and do some fighting

3 August, 1591 – Damn Aragon declares war against us. Castille and Tuscany join us, but Austria runs away. I have a bunch of troops stationed in Valencia that I wasn;t using. Hopefully I can distract Aragon with those and, say, Castillean troops until the war is over. Burgundy and Portugal joined Aragon. Burgundy I’m worried about, but I guess we’ll see how it goes.

[Abe Sargent]

Death Continued

I order an assault of Cairo. Have to end this now.

19 August, 1591 – Cairo falls.

20 August, 1591 – Morocco offers a white peace, which I accept.

I order my troops to Alexandria. Capture it, force it in peace, and then move on to Aragon.

I order a bunch of troops built in Northern Italy.

29 November, 1591 – Mamluks recaptured Beirut

5 January, 1592 – Judea fell to us.

15 January, 1592 – Sirt fell to us.

29 January, 1592 – I order my newly built northern army into Savoie to break the Burgundy siege.

15 February, 1592 – We break the siege.

3 March, 1592 – Alexandra fell to us.

6 March, 1592 – The Mamluks rejected my offer of peace for Judea and Alexandria. I order my army to Delta where we’ll keep seiging.

10 April, 1592 – I reject a peace offer from Mamluks for Sirt, Damascus and Judea.

12 April, 1592 – I can’t drag out the Afrcian war any longer now that I have European powers to concern myself with. I offer peace for just Alexandria. Mamluks accept.

24 May, 1592 – I have sent the Burgundain defenders away in Frenche-Comte.

8 June, 1592 – We have driven the Aragonese out of Sardinia and begin a siege.

3 September, 1592 – We drive the Aragon forces from The Baleares

11 September, 1592 – Frenche-Compte fell to us.

11 October, 1592 – Portugal accepted a white peace offer.

29 October, 1592 – RM: Castille

1 November, 1592- Our production tech increases

25 November, 1592 – After several sea battles won and lost by us each, I manage to sneak 5000 calvary into Valencia. I am about to attack Barcelona.

2 February, 1593 – After a massive battle, we drove the Aragonese forces from their own capital and began a siege.

10 April, 1593 – Barcelona fell.

30 April, 1593 – The Baleares fell

1 May, 1593 – Our naval tech increased

7 May, 1593 – Our troops broke the siege at Valencia.

25 July, 1593 - I order a siege of Aragon

12 September, 1593 – My forces are pushed out of Frenche-Compte, and th Burgundy forces begin a new siege.

3 November, 1593 – Sardinia falls.

12 November, 1593 – Frenche-Compte fell to Burgundy.

16 November, 1593 - One of my admirals has died.

20 November, 1593 – Aragon fell

23 December, 1593 – Aragon accepts peace for The Baleares and Sardinia. That drives Aragon out of the last non-Iberian Mediterranean province.

24 December, 1593 – Burgundy rejects a white peace

28 February, 1594 – Burgundy keeps rejecting our peace offers.

20 March, 1594 – Our explorer died.

27 March, 1594 – A large Burgundia force arrives at Savoie. Anticipating such a move, I landed 4000 calvary, 200 infantry and my leader to bolster up the northern army.

4 May, 1594 – We won the Battle of Savoie of 1594.

6 May, 1594 – Burgundy rejects our white peace offer. Fine then. I order my troops back into Frenche-Compte

1 June, 1594 – Dalmatia is now a core province.

14 June, 1594 – We win at Frenche-Compte

17 June, 1594 – They reject another peace offer.

27 June, 1594 – Even more Burgundian troops arrive to protest our presence in Frenche-Compte

24 August, 1594 – After another long battle, we drive the Burgandy troops back.

26 August, 1594 – Burgundy rejects yet another white peace offer.

1 October, 1594 – Sao Vicente is a core

21 October, 1594 – Sweden was annexed by Norway.

17 December, 1594 – I capture Frenche-Compte. I send a white peace offer.

18 December, 1594 – Burgundy accepts peace.

[Abe Sargent]

1 January, 1595 – Let’s survey the new provinces, in order of newness:


Tunis – Located in North Africa, the province of Tunis features 284195 people live and work here. The Berber Sunnis work the grain trade. I order a Courthouse built here. They currently send me a mighty 1.56 ducats, but we’ll work that out.

Alexandria – Our third Center of Trade, the Egyptian province of Alexandria is located near the Nile. 191536 people call Alexandria and the surrounding province home. The wool trade is the poison of choice here. 4.21 ducats are sent to us annually, and again, we’ll work that out. The people here are Sunni and al Misr Arabic. It comes with a temple, courthouse and workshop.

Sao Tome – A former Venetian colony that we were able to expand during the war, Sao Tome hosts 1409 Lombard Catholics in this Sugar city. 23.56 ducats are sent home annually.

The Baleares – These islands off the coast of Aragon are fairly poor. Captured mainly because of their strategic location, The Baleares 17645 Catalan Catholics fish the mighty Mediterranean. With a temple, courthouse, marketplace and workshop, the people here make around 6.31 ducats for us annually.

Sardinia – One of the final Lombard provinces that were not in our grasp, Sardinia is an island in the Great Sea. The 73326 Catholics here work the barely lucrative fish trade. They send us 8.36 ducats annually. The province comes with its very own temple, marketplace, courthouse and workshop.

Rio de Janeiro – After capturing the provinces from Aragon but before peace with Burgundy, we finished Rio de Janeiro’s colonization. 2067 Lombard Catholics work the sugar trade here. They send us 24.41 ducats annually in trade.

[Abe Sargent]

I need to decide where to send more colonists. A few ideas:

Santo Amaro – The link between Rio and Sao Vincente, it’s another sugar province. No reason not to maximize our connection. There are 1000 natives here with a low aggressive ness and a 65 chance of taking initially, which jumps significantly after you set up, obviously. The taxbase here is just one, however.

Tahiti – Way out in the Pacific we discovered Tahiti. It’s a spice province with 1000 natives of a low aggressiveness. It would take us 551 days to settle here, but there’s a 75% chance of taking initially. It would help us navigate around the world to have a colony in the Pacific. Tax value of 3.

Mosquito – A province on the east coast of Central America, this coffee province features 2000 natives of low aggressiveness, a tax value of two and a 69% chance of taking with our first colonists. This province is adjacent to the Mayans.

Taiwan – Want a valuable province no matter how long it takes to send colonists, how aggressive the natives are, or how close you are to China? Then go for Taiwan.

Mataram – High taxvalue of 8 meets spices meets large number of natives meets long travel time and some aggressive ness on part of natives.

Mauritus – An island in the southeast Indian Ocean, this is a sugar province with 500 natives and no aggressiveness. This colony would have a good taxvalue in 5. A 78% chance of taking with our colonists meets 483 days lead time.

Cape – Adjacent to Little Karoo. This is a wine province with no aggressiveness natives and just 500 of them. It also has a 7 taxvalue, and 358 day travel time and 78% chance of taking. Mauritus would be better because of the trade value of sugar vs wine, but Cape has the higher taxvalue and would set up more quickly.

Bahamas – An unclaimed cotton province near Turks Islands. This place features 5000 natives, so it would become a nice province quickly. They are of medium aggressivenss, so we’d need to concentrate on colonizing here as fast as possible. The taxvalue is a 2, which is lower than I’d like, and the chance to take is 68%. I’ve seen better.

I’ve also found some gold provinces in exotic places like near Kamchatka and near Alaska.

Looks like my real options are Cape, Santo Amaro, Bahamas, and Tahiti. The others are in places that are either worse than one of those four options or do not help me as much geographically.

I decide to axe the Bahamas. It’s low taxvalue, gamble with the natives, and commitment to work on it to the exclusion of finishing Halmahera makes it an unruly choice. I don’t want both Halmahera and Tahiti on my queue – takes too long. That leaves Cape or Santo Amaro.

Both are adjacent to current colonies. After careful consideration I decide to send out colonists to Cape.

[Abe Sargent]

A Sideline of Years

18 January, 1595 – Austria agrees with our royal marriage proposal.

3 February, 1595 – I get a Boundary Dispute. I choose to press the issue and gain cores on four adjacent provinces to Alexandria. Our relations with Mamluks plummet, but they were already really low.

13 February, 1595 –The Cherokee inherited the Creek

1 March, 1595 – Little Karoo is now a core.

4 April, 1595 – I accept another alliance offer from Austria.

1 June, 1595 – Our government tech increases. We can choose a new national idea.

I take the National bank without much hesitation. We need to fix our inflation.

20 October, 1595 – Halmahera expands

25 December, 1595 – We establish a colony in Cape

1 January, 1596 – I send out colonists to Cape and Halmahera

14 January, 1596 – Portugal wrests one of our cardinals away from us. We are still the Papal Controller with two cardinals and Portugal has two cardinals. I want to remain the controller because of the increased badboy reduction and decreased stability costs.

18 July, 1596 – RM: Tyrone

15 August, 1596 – RM: Saxony

26 November, 1596 – Portugal are now the new Papal Controller

25 December, 1596 – Cape expands.

1 January, 1597 – I order colonists to Cape and level one forts built in Sao Tome and Rio.
I also incite rebellion at Ternate. My spy is captured but succeeded. Their rebellion rate is up. Hopefully some rebels will arise in Ternate. My hope is that rebels will capture Ternate, Lithuania won’t care, and after a few years, they’ll jump to Naxos. This is my first use of a spy in this game. I’m hoping I’ll like it and keep using them.

11 May, 1597 – I get New Land Claimed in Halmahera. I can increase my taxbase, manpower, or both for an additional cost of 30 ducats. I choose both.

29 July, 1597 – RM: Lithuania.

1 October, 1597 – I choose to move my slider one towards free trade again. Our stability dropped,

20 October, 1597 – Halmahera expanded,

1 November, 1597 – Our stability increased back to 1

25 December, 1597 – Cape expanded.

1 January, 1598 - Colonists leave Naxos bound for both of our colonies.

I order a Constable built in Alexandria

25 December, 1598 – Cape expands.

1 January, 1599 – We discover Ethiopia. I send them a free trade agreement. I send colonists to Cape. I order a Customs House built in Napoli and Ferrara.

27 January, 1599 – I send a new spy to Ternate to incite rebellion again. He succeeded and was not caught.

1 March, 1599 – A great admiral of ours died today. Sad.

1 September, 1599 – I decline an alliance offer from Novgorod.

20 October, 1599 – Halmahera expands.

25 December, 1599 – Cape expands.

1 January, 1600 – Colonists are dispatched to our two colonies.

25 December, 1600 – Cape, grow, yadda

1 January, 1601 – Send more colonists to Cape. Our trade tech increased. We gained cores in Nice and Piedmont. I also decide to send colonists to Santo Amaro. Halmahera becomes a city with the colonists en route, so I need a new colony, and Santo Amaro makes perfect sense.

20 September, 1601 – Our colonization attempt to Santo Amaro failed. I send in more colonists.

5 October, 1601 – Guglielmo III has died. Giacomo III is or new king. He is: Admin 8, Military 5, Diplomacy 8. Pretty good.

[Tellistto]

What is your military tradition? Have you thought of hiring generals while it's high? Using your monarch is great and all, but should he die in battle without an heir, you might be royally pissed with what might happen with all those royal marriages you have. No telling who might suddenly control your empires future.

Creating Dynastic ties with other countries also creates heirs to your country, remember. :)

Tell

[Abe Sargent]

What is your military tradition? Have you thought of hiring generals while it's high? Using your monarch is great and all, but should he die in battle without an heir, you might be royally pissed with what might happen with all those royal marriages you have. No telling who might suddenly control your empires future.

Creating Dynastic ties with other countries also creates heirs to your country, remember. :)

Tell


My tradition is very, very low.

I think two of my leaders that died did so during war.

Royal marriages, are, in my opinion, great ways of bumping your realtions with others. Lt's be honest. inheriting the Modena provinces really gave us a nice jumpstart to. Right now, the only nation with a royal marriage to Castille is us. Imagine us inheriting all of that, for example. It's worth the risk. Plus, my monarch is a better general than anyone else (well, he normally is, I don't think the new guy is). I use him as my hammer army, not for any of my anvils. The anvils get the hardest work.

-Anxiety

[Tellistto]

Thanks for the reply. I completely agree with the fact that inheriting Modena was your ticket to where you are now, was just pointing out a small concern with the use of the monarch and what could happen should no heir be present. I don't know that you could be inherited by another country or not, but I do know that you could be forced into a dynastic union where you have very little control over your country until the king of the other country dies. That'd put a real spanner in the works, as the saying goes.

Tell

[Abe Sargent]

A Brief Interlude

19 October, 1601 – Castille declared war against Morocco. I join my ally.

20 October, 1601 – Halmahera expands.

Halmahera – The largest of the spice islands, Halmahera is a spice province with 1520 Lombard Catholics working the trade here. 19.82 ducats are made here annually.

25 October, 1601 – RM: Austria

25 December, 1601 – Cape grows.

1 January, 1602 – RM: France. Colonists: Cape. Level one fort: Halmahera. Constable: Abbruzzi.

4 March, 1602 – RM: Denmark

19 May, 1602 – I accept a white peace offer from Morocco.

8 June, 1602 – Santo Amaro is set up. I send in more colonists.

20 June, 1602 – I get colonist expansion. Cape gets 200 colonists.

I also get a Boundary Dispute event with provinces like Provence and France. I choose to settle it. No way am I starting a French-Naxosian war.

25 December, 1602 – Cape expands, and with those 200 colonists, is now a city!

Cape:

1531 people work the winefields in this quiet South African province. 15.14 ducats are made here by the Catholic and Lombard people.

10 February, 1603 – Our other admiral has died.

8 March, 1603 – Santo Amaro expands. I order in more colonists.

14 March, 1603 – 3 calvary regiments arrive in Minas Geras, a gold province interior to our own coastal provinces. I order my men to attack the aggressive natives. I tend to clean this province out then colonize it.

16 April, 1603 – The natives are wiped out. Colonists are dispatched.

30 May, 1603 – 150 Years in the Making

[nilodor]

How big is your royal family to have all of these royal marriages?

[thealmighty]

What are your total army numbers (inf, calv, etc,...) and number/type of ships? How does that compare to any other power...if you have any kind of knowledge of that variety at all?

[Abe Sargent]

The 150 Years Review


Our 11% inflation in 3rd worse in the world.

We have the sixth highest income in the world.

Liguria sends us the most taxes, followed by Venezia.

After the gold province of Santana, Lombardia is the greatest production maker for us.

China outnumbers us with four centers of trade.

I have 44 regiments of infantry, 14 of calvary, 2 of artillery.

2 caravels, 1 galley, 1 cog, 14 flytes and one early frigate that I captured from Aragon.



A look at our provinces, this time by geography:

Greek: The following provinces are our Greek provinces – the heart of our realm historically.

Naxos – This Orthodox wine province features 9994 people making us 14.92 ducats annually. It has a workshop.

Athens – 55626 Orthodox fishermen work the seas here, making us 8.33 ducats. It has a workshop and is no longer a core of the Ottomans.

Morea – 16887 Orthodox wine growers make 15.28 ducats annually for us. It comes with a workshop and is no longer an Ottoman core.

Rhodes – 49149 fishermen here are also Orthodox. 4.57 ducats are made annually in this province. It has a workshop.

Cyprus – 30458 Orthodox folk ply their trade in the wine business. 16.79 ducats are made here annually. This province features a workshop.

Crete – 7.87 ducats are made by the 26304 fishers in this island. The Catholics here have a workshop.

Corfu – A temple, workshop and courthouse adorn this sleepy Orthodox island. 20232 fishermen make 5.32 ducats for us annually.


Italy: All of these provinces are Catholic. This category will be subdivided by culture.

Lombard: These are the Lombard provinces.

Ferrara – 156239 people harvest salt here. The province has a workshop, temple, customs house, university, marketplace and constable. 31.34 ducats are made here.

Modena – 103940 people work the wine trade here in Modena. 27.29 ducats are made. This province features a university, temple and workshop.

Parma – 151002 winegrowers create 29.76 ducats for us. A temple, university and workshop dot the skyline.

Liguria – This center of trade feature 332206 people making wool and 19.26 ducats, almost all in taxes. It comes with its own constable, workshop, temple, courthouse and customs house. It is a core of Genoa.

Nice – This sleepy coastal provinces features many fishing villages housing 52057 people. 8.38 ducats are made annually by the marketplace, temple, workshop and courthouse.

Piedmont – The 150779 people make 29.74 ducats growing an harvesting wine. The province has a customs house, temple, courthouse, university and workshop.

Savoie – 37681 people live and work here, making 27.06 ducats. The province has a temple, marketplace, workshop and courthouse. Cloth is grown here.

Lombardia – The cultural heart of this district, Lombardia has 384314 people making cloth. The province features a constable, workshop, temple and courthouse. 40.27 ducats are made here annually.

Brescia – Another cloth province, the 31.09 ducats are made annually by the 158785 people. A constable, workshop, temple and courthouse dot the landscape.

Mantua – 80785 farmers grow grain in this province. They have a courthouse, workshop and constable. 9.45 ducats are made here each year.

Venezia – Another center of trade, this province just works the fish trade, with 999679 people working here. It features a shipyard, customs house, constable, courthouse, temple, marketplace and workshop. It is a core of Austria. 22.73 ducats are made here.

Sardinia – The island of Sardinia 79094 people specializing in the fishing trade. 8.67 ducats are made here. The place has a temple, marketplace, workshop and courthouse. It is a core of Aragon.



Umbrian: These provinces in Central Italy are predominantly Umbrian.

Romagna – 191668 people work the salt trade in this province that is also claimed by The Papal States and Aragon. 32.03 ducats are made annually here. It has its own university, constable, workshop and temple.

Ancona - 99719 wool harvesters make us 6.84 ducats annually in this core province of Aragon. Temple, marketplace, workshop and courthouses add an aura to the town.

Abbruzzi – Our final Umbrian province, 19.67 ducats are made annually by the wine trade, worked by 66617 people. This is an Aragonian claimed town. The place came with a temple, marketplace, constable, workshop and courthouse.


Sicilian: These provinces are Sicilian

Napoli – 576858 wine growers work the markets here. This city comes with a constable, workshop, marketplace and customs house. 29.97 ducats are made in this province claimed by Aragon

Apulia – 95822 people work the salt trade here making 19.45 ducats annually. This province is a core of Aragon. Just a workshop, courthouse and temple lie here.

Calabria – 92153 fishermen make 6.85 ducats, core of Aragon, has a workshop, courthouse, temple, and marketplace.

Messina – 9.15 ducats are made in this fishing village. Aragon claims her as a core. It comes with just a workshop. 148,204 people live here.

Palermo - Only a constable and a workshop are used by these 213380 wine growers who make us 27.04 ducats annually. Aragon likes this place and has a core here.



Elsewhere in Europe: The following provinces are in Europe. All but Dalmatia are Catholic.

Malta – The Maltese fishermen number but 16247 and have a workshop. It is a core of Aragon and makes us 4.70 ducats annually.

Dalmatia – This former Croatia and Hungarian and Venetian province is now in our hands. The people here are Reform. It is claimed by Hungary. 26904 people make wool here and send us 2.06 ducats annually. There is a workshop and courthouse here. The people here are Croatian.

The Baleares – This former Aragonian province is still claimed by her. 19033 fisherman work the Mediterranean. The Catalan people make us 6.23 ducats. They have a temple, workshop, marketplace and courthouse.

Valencia – 152494 Catalans work the grape vines and making wine. 25.15 ducats are made by the Catalans. Aragon claims this as a core. It features a workshop, marketplace, courthouse and temple.


Africa: These three provinces are all Sunni.

Tripolitania - This ivory province has 64129 people and a courthouse and workshop. 22.89 ducats are made here. The people here are Tuareg.

Tunis – 1.94 ducats are made by the 300327 people that work the grain fields here. The Berbers have a courthouse.

Alexandria – 211036 al Misr Arabics work the grain trade in this center of trade. 5.39 ducats are made annually by these people with a constable, workshop, temple and courthouse. This is a core of Mamluks.


Colonies. These are all Catholic and Lombard. None of them have any city improvements beyond a fort.

Turks Islands – 2779 cotton growers make 21.32 ducats for us.

Santana – Gold is featured in this colony. 1760 make 44.46 ducats here for us.

Sao Vicente – 26.90 ducats are made by the 2506 sugar growers here.

Halmahera – Spice is the order of life here. 1520 people make 19.99 ducats for us

Sao Tome – 1507 people make us 23.67 ducats from the sugar trade.

Rio de Janeiro – 24.54 ducats are made by the 2211 sugar workers.

Little Karoo – Sugar is also a way of life here for the 1848 people that make us 26.05 ducats.

Cape – Wine is the key ingredient here. 15.94 ducats are made by the 1537 people here.


On the way – Cape Verde, Santo Amaro. Colonists are trying to settle at Minas Geras.

[Abe Sargent]

How big is your royal family to have all of these royal marriages?

I don;t have that many RMs anymore. Sweden, Britain, France, Castille, Saxony, Austria, France, Burgundy, Lithuania. Sometimes Tyrone or Norway. Vassals cant give RMs, and certain government types can't either. That's why I can't diplo vassalize Tuscany - I can't get a RM with them.

That's not that many marriages in this time in Europe, especially for a large power. Compared to the real life Hapsburgs that positively small.

[Abe Sargent]

What are your total army numbers (inf, calv, etc,...) and number/type of ships? How does that compare to any other power...if you have any kind of knowledge of that variety at all?

My totals should be in the above 150 review, I beleive. I wrote it an hour ago, so I can't remeber for sure.

Now I'll rarely see other countries entirely, and a fog of war is over everything except my allies, and states adjacent to me or my troops or my allies. I see that Castille has more troops than me, but Castille has a more territory than me. I have more than Aragon, and you would exepct me to. I believe I have less than the Ottomans from what I've seen, and I think I have more than Mamluks.

I have a whole lot less than Austria, and I have less than Burgundy from what I've seen. My economy can't take all of that soldiering during peacetime and it certainly can;t build soldiers during war.

I beleive I have my armies stationed in Valencia, Dalmatia, Alexandria, Tunis, Little Karoo, and North Italy.

[Abe Sargent]

New European Map:

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2798/150europefy8.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Diversions in Coffee


8 September, 1603 – I recruit a new explorer.

6 October, 1603 – I get an event – Good Government Policies. One options allows me to increase my stability two, one allows me to invest in government tech and the third allows me to get 500 ducats. I choose the double stability growth. We jump from 1 to 3!

5 December, 1603 – Santo Amaro grows.

13 December, 1603 – We have set up a colony in Minas Gerais.

1 January, 1604 – I send colonists to Santo Amaro.

1 July, 1604 – Our trade tech increases

5 July, 1604 – I want another “colony.” I decide to take a shortcut and declare war on Bali. I have five regiments of troops ready to unload here in the Indies.

All of our allies join us. Champa joins Bali.

21 July, 1604 – We land and attack the Bali defenders.

31 July, 1604 - Our general died on the battlefield.

13 August, 1604 - We defeated Bali and captured their capital because it has no fort.

14 August, 1604 – Bali accepts annexation. We now have Bali Lombok as a province in our nation. That gives us a truce with Champa.

I order a Courthouse built here, because the people here do not like me right now.

Bali Lombok:

This coffee province has 114060 Hindu Sulawesi people. They make 32.23 ducats for us annually.

[Abe Sargent]

Intersections in Time and Space

30 September, 1604 – Santo Amaro expands and I send in more colonists.

1 November, 1604- Halmahera is now a core province.

1 January, 1605 – I send colonists to Minas Gerais.

I sack my stability advisor.


29 June, 1605 – Santo Amaro expands

1 August, 1605 – I get a new colonist and send him to Santo Amaro.

17 August, 1605 – The courthouse in Bali-Lombok is complete. I order a fort built here.

30 September, 1605 – Minas Gerais expands

1 October, 1605 – Our production tech increases.

1 January, 1606 - I submit plans for a workshop to be completed in Tunis.

21 February,1606 – After a short life, my explorer died.

30 April, 1606 – Santo Amaro expands and more colonists are sent.

6 May, 1606 – The Oirat Horde offers us an alliance. I respectively decline – since they are in Asia.

12 June, 1606 - Norway has entered into a personal union with Denmark.

25 June, 1606 – RM: Ethiopia

1 August, 1606 – I send colonists to Minas Gerais.

17 August, 1606 – A fort is built in Bali-Lombok. I order a workshop.

RM: France

1 January, 1607 – Our government tech increased.

28 January, 1607 – Santo Amaro expands.

1 February, 1607 – We send more colonists to Santo Amaro

10 May, 1607 – Minas Gerais grew

1 July, 1607 – I recruit an admiral.

12 September, 1607 – Ethiopia was annexed by Swahili.

7 October, 1607 – RM: Funj

31 October, 1607 – Santo Amaro expands, more colonists, etc.

11 April, 1608 – RM: Norway

30 July, 1608 – Santo Amaro expands. I send a last group of colonists.

1 August, 1608 – Rio de Janeiro is now a core province of ours. I send colonists to Minas Gerais.

30 April, 1609 – Santo Amaro expands and is now a full city.

Santo Amaro – The link between our South American holdings, this Catholic Lombard sugar province has 2035 and makes us 24.18 ducats annually. I order a fort here.

[Abe Sargent]

Battle Lines Being Drawn

11 May, 1609 – Minas Gerais expanded and I quickly dispatched more settlers.

30 June, 1609 – I have a Rush of Colonists. Three extra colonists arrive. I need a place to send them. Where next to colonize?

Before I was looking at Bahamas, Tahiti, Mosquito, Taiwan, Mataram, Mauritus. I can add to that the following.

Guayra – A tobacco province just inland from our current South American holdings. The people here are mildly aggressive, but we can colonize it quickly, I hope.

Jamaica – Jamaica combines a wealthy taxbase (6) with a wealthy crop (sugar). It does have mildly aggressive natives, but a quick colonization and some nearby troops can probably help with that.

After consideration, I believe I have enough colonists for now for a far away colonization and a close up colonization. Therefore, I send colonists to Taiwan and Bahamas.

28 December, 1609 – Our admiral died after serving for a short time. Ah well.

8 February, 1610 – Minas Gerais expands and more colonists are sent with alacrity.

7 March, 1610 – We establish a colony in the Bahamas. I send in more.

13 July, 1610 – Castille declared war upon Morocco. I join them. Eventually Castille will just annex Morocco. Will this be that war?

7 November, 1610 – Minas Gerais expands.

11 November, 1610 – Bahamas expand and I send more colonists.

1 February, 1611 – Peasants in Bali Lombok rebel.

We have an advisor that has appeared in Mantua, a level 4 natural scientist (production tech increase). I hire him.

24 February, 1611 – We put down the rebels.

1 April, 1611 – Both our naval and production techs increased.

3 May, 1611 – We set up a colony in Taiwan!

18 July, 1611 – The colonists sent to the Bahamas have set up, and more are sent post haste.

8 August, 1611 – Aragon declared war against us. Burgundy and Portugal joined them. My allies joined us.

I prepare for war.

[Abe Sargent]

Children in a School Yard


10 September, 1611 – We begin a siege for Frenche-Compte

4 November, 1611 – Norway inherited Denmark.

6 November, 1611 – RM: Norway

9 November, 1611 – Castille is out of the war having negotiated peace.

17 November, 1611 – Burgundy inherited Hungary. I order my troops in Dalmatia into the newly made Burgundian Croatia.

29 November, 1611 – We lay siege to Croatia.

5 December, 1611 – 3000 calvary of mine have landed in a Greenland colony by Aragon and captured it. We permanently took it.

I move to the next colony up of Aragon’s..

13 December, 1611 – I lost a major naval battle against Portugal and lost a bunch of ships.

16 December, 1611 – I seize the other Aragon colony in Greenland and our badboy increases some more.

11 January, 1612 – I marched a sneak army through France and hit Aragon behind. I begin the siege of Girona.

29 January, 1612 – Frenche-Compte fell.

1 February, 1612 – Trade tech increases

26 February, 1612 – I offer a white peace to Morocco and they accept.

24 March, 1612 -Bahamas expanded and colonists were sent.

2 April, 1612 – I capture one of the Aragon small cities, former colonies on the North American coastline.

11 April, 1612 – We capture the other Aragonian province in the Delaware area.

21 May, 1612 – Girona fell to us.

27 June, 1612 – Croatia fell.

1 July, 1612 – Some Aragonian troops arrive in Girona to try to recapture it.

11 July, 1612 – We defeat the defending force and begin the siege of Navarra.

10 September, 1612 – I take Frenche-Compte and Croatia in a peace deal with Burgundy.

1 November, 1612 – My army from Navarra marched over and relieved the Siege in Girona.

28 November, 1612 – Bahamas expanded and more colonists were sent.

8 December, 1612 – I lost a battle against the Portugese in the Americas.

1 February, 1613 – Corfu, Savoie and Sao Tome are now our cores.

6 March, 1613 – Taiwan expands. More colonists are shipped.

31 March, 1613 – After a quick assault, Aragon falls to us.

7 May, 1613 – After sending my forces back through the two Aragon provinces in America, I send a peace offer for them and Aragon refuses. It was a very generous offer too.

21 June, 1613 – Aragon accepts peace for Girona and Aragon.

4 August, 1613 – Bahamas expands and more colonists set out.

8 August, 1613 – The siege of Algarve has begun.

29 August, 1613 – The siege of Braganca has begun.

4 February, 1614 – Algarve falls

27 March, 1614 – We begin a siege at Madeira

2 April, 1614 – Portugal rejected a white peace offer

10 April, 1614 – Bahamas expand, colonists and what.

26 April, 1614 – Braganca falls to us.

1 May, 1614 – They reject another peace offer.

6 July, 1614 – I accept a military access request from Austria.

23 August, 1614 – Madiera fell.

15 December, 1614 – Bahamas grows, more settlers are shipped.

1 January, 1615 – Our government tech increases

4 January, 1615 – RM: Castille

7 January, 1615 – Taiwan expands. More colonists are sent eastwards.

15 February. 1615 – We capture a Portugese colony on the west Africa coast named Arguin.

25 March, 1615 – We come to a white peace with Portugal.

[Izulde]

Looks like Portugal was giving you a bit of fit there.

[Abe Sargent]

Yeah, I'd move Portugal up teh power scale significantly after that war. All of their power is overseas, but they have such a mammoth amount of land and troops there, and its' really tough to take them out. They still keep something like 20k troops at home, and its concentrated in just a handful of provinces.

IW as hoping to get Madeira, but I;d been at war so long, since the Morocco tiff, that I needed to get my war exhaustion down, and I couldn't continue to press Portugal.

I doubt I'll be going into mainland N. America ever, because they are just that powerful there.

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Counting the Faces


26 March, 1615 – I try to give Frenche-Compte to Switzerland but they decline. I can’t release it as a vassal without realizing three other provinces as Savoy. Let’s see if I can do anything else with this province.

France and Burgundy are not willing to buy it. Feh. Alright, I’ll keep it for now, although I don’t want to.

Our new provinces:

Girona: 16819 Catalan Catholics work the fish trade here in this province east of Barcelona. There is a workshop, marketplace, temple and courthouse here. They make 8.96 ducats for us

Aragon: The province of Aragon is an iron province. 18472 Castillean and Catholics work the mines here making 18.79 ducats for us. There is a workshop, marketplace, temple and courthouse here.

Croatia: 22829 Croatian Reformers make and sell cloth here. 17.14 ducats are made here. There is just a workshop here. I order a courthouse built here. Austria has it as a core.

Frenche-Compte: Which I didn’t want. It’s too internal. 23099 Burgundian Reformers sell salt here. 15.91 ducats are made here. It comes with a courthouse, temple, workshop and customs house.

Two colonial provinces on Greenland are now ours as well. I’ll talk about them as I colonize them to full colony status.

3 April, 1615 – RM: Austria

1 May, 1615 – Our production tech grows.

8 August, 1615 – We get a New Land Claimed event in Calabria. I choose to increase taxbase by one.

21 August, 1615 – Bahamas expands. One last group is sent off.

1 January, 1616 – After saving up, I order a Textile Manufactory built in Lombardia. It costs me over 1k ducats. It’ll take five years to build. What does it do? Production tech investment almost at the level of a level 2 advisor monthly. 6 ducats annually, normally, but double in a province with cloth or wool (and Lombardia is a cloth province), and +1% population growth each year. Not bad, eh?

1 February, 1616 – I send colonists to a Greenland province.

27 April, 1616 – Bahamas expands and is now a full blown city.

Bahamas: 6016 people work the cotton fields here in the Bahamas. 20.47 ducats are made by these Lombard Catholics.

[Abe Sargent]

How about a new Caribbean map?

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/3209/1616carribeanct2.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Other people's Toys

1 August, 1616 – Tunis is now a core.

1 September, 1616 – Our colony in Greenland expanded.

11 November, 1616 – Taiwan expands and more colonists are sent with all due haste.

25 November, 1616 – RM: France

1 January, 1617 – I order a new wall built in Bahamas. A workshop is ordered for Turks Island.

1 April, 1617 – I order new colonists to the first of the Greenland colonies.

1 May, 1617 – Alexandria is a core province.

1 August, 1617 – One of our governmental advisors died. A level 6 advisor appeared in Parma! But he’s a spymaster, and I don’t feel I need to make spies a go go. I hire a colonist maker as an advisor.

1 October, 1617 – I send colonists to the other Greenland province.

1 November, 1617 – Eiriksfjord expands and becomes a full city.

Eiriksfjord is a fish province on southern Greenland. 1325 Lombard Catholics work here giving us 3.23 ducats annually. I order a fort built here.

1 December, 1617 – Burgundy has converted to Protestant. That means they are no longer anyone’s ally.

1 January, 1618 – I order a constable built in Sardinia.

6 March, 1618 – Genoa accepted an alliance with us.

18 March, 1618 – So does Switzerland.

23 March, 1618 – I get an alliance offer from Burgundy. Tasty. I accept.

This month of alliances brought to you by Naxos the coke of the Aegean!

29 April, 1618 – Our other Greenland colony expands. More colonists are dispatched.

16 September, 1618 - Our colony in Taiwan expanded.

1 October, 1618 – We sent out more colonists to Taiwan.

17 October, 1618 – RM: Lithuania

20 October, 1618 – I offer a military alliance with The Papal States and they agree. Why ally with my vassals? Because then when they war, they might get territory. No badboy for me, but I can annex them later. Switzerland, for example, has about 10k troops sitting there in Bern.

Why accept Burgundy’s alliance? They are very, very strong. They’ll leave me soon, I have no doubt, but for now, they are convienent. Plus, if they get into a war with Austria, I can leave Austria and try to take some more nearby provinces.

10 November, 1618 – Vestbygen has expanded and is now a full city.

Vestbygen has 1014 people killing and cleaning furs. The Catholic Lombards are send us 12.87 ducats annually.

[Abe Sargent]

A Venture Gained


1 January, 1619 – Sardinia and The Baleares are now cores. I order a fort built in Vestbygen.

21 May, 1619 – RM : France. I send colonists to Minas Gerais.

3 August, 1619 – RM: Lithuania

1 September, 1619 – I get another New Land Claimed, this time for Santo Amaro. I choose to spend 30 ducats to increase both manpower and tax value.

1 November, 1619 – I dispatch colonists to Guayra

18 February, 1620 – Minas Gerais expands.

31 July, 1620 – We set up a new colony in Guayra.

5 August, 1620 – Taiwan expanded. More colonists are snet.

1 October, 1620 – Colonists, Guayra, etc.

1 January, 1621 – The textile manufactory is built. Cape is a core province. I order a Missionary to Bali-Lombok. It’ll take around ten years, and at the end of that time, we have around a 50/50 chance of converting the people there.

1 April, 1621 – I send colonists to Minas Gerais.

30 June, 1621 – Guayra grew.

1 October, 1621 – I send colonists to Guayra.

30 December, 1621 – Minas Gerais expands. Need just one more colonist to make it a full city.

1 January, 1622 – I order a workshop in Sao Vicente and Cape.

20 January, 1622 – I get another New Land Claimed, this time for Cape. I choose just the tax value increase.

6 February, 1622 – RM: Great Britain.

8 June, 1622 – Taiwan expands. We send more colonists in.

28 Junly, 1622 – Guayra expands.

1 October, 1622 – I send more colonists to Minas Gerais.

1 January, 1623 – I order a constable in Messina and Parma.

1 February, 1623 – Our trade tech increased.

1 April, 1623 – I send more colonists to Guayra.

30 June, 1623 – Minas Gerais expands.


Minas Gerais – This gold province inside our coastal provinces has 1017 Lombard Catholics making 42.64 ducats for us. It took us nine successful colonization attempts instead of the usual ten, because we delayed and it grew enough in the meantime while we were look at other colonizations.

I order a fort built here.

8 July, 1623 – I get an interesting event:

East India Company

Our nation’s stands on the brink of being able to compete in the foreign spice markets abroad. Our monarch is considering founding this company. Here are my options:

Found It! Gain 200 ducats, a merchant. Get Trade Company benefit for six years or so:

+4 trade tech
+50% chance of merchants taking
+50% chance of merchants competing
+1 merchant annually

Or, The Venture is Not Worth the Effort. -2 prestige.


I obviously choose to Found It!

[nilodor]

How advanced are the Inca's, Maya's and other America based factions?

[Abe Sargent]

Reruns


15 October, 1623 – Castille declared war upon Morocco. I join said war.

29 December, 1623 - Guayra expands. I ship out more settlers.

18 March, 1624 – Castille finally annexed Morocco.

11 April, 1624 – Taiwan expands. More colonists are sent.

28 September, 1624 – Guayra expands

1 October, 1624 – And colonists are sent there.

1 January, 1625 – Our badboy, which was once quite high, has diminished a bit. Let’s bump it back up.

3 January, 1625 – Genoa has accepted our offer of annexation.

Corsica –

The island of Corsica is 20505 Catholics making and selling naval supplies. This Lombard provinces makes us around 8.51 ducats annually. I order a Constable built here. It came with a workshop.

24 January, 1625 – Giacomo III died. We have a new ruler. Francisco VI. He has – admin 6, military 7, diplomacy 7. Solid.

By the end of the month, I get and accept RMs from France, Austria and Lithuania.

22 May, 1625 – RM: Burgundy.

24 May, 1625 – I offer Munster a RM and they accept.

30 June, 1625 – Guayra expands, colonists sent.

7 August, 1625 – I get Colonial Expansion in Guayra. 200 colonists arrive there.

6 September, 1625 – I send colonists to Espirito Santo. A sugar province adjacent to my colonies in South America.

1 October, 1625 - our naval tech increases.

1 December, 1625 – Our production tech increases

1 January, 1626 – Our land tech increases. I order a constable in Cape.

14 February, 1626 – Taiwan expands. This may be my last set of colonists sent there.

1 April, 1626 – Guayra expands and more colonists. This should be last set of colonists here as well.

20 May, 1626 – We set up a colony in Espirito Santo.

1 November, 1626 – More colonists are sent to E Santo.

29 December, 1626 – Guayra expanded.

Guayra – This tobacco province in internal to our coastal provinces in South America. 2015 people send us 22.54 ducats annually. I order a fort built here.

1 July, 1627 – Santo Amaro is a core.

30 July, 1627 – E Santo expands. More colonists.

1 October, 1627 – I send colonists to Porto Seguro, a sugar province north of E Santo and south of British colonies.

18 December, 1627 – Taiwan grows.

Taiwan – This Chinaware province has the most valuable trade good in the game (gold is not traded). 6952 people make 33.54 ducats for us here. I order a fort built here post haste.

1 January, 1628 – Our trade tech increased.

29 April, 1628 – E Santo expands. I send in more of the colonists of the colonizing.

6 May, 1628 – I get another colonial expansion, this time of E Santo.

4 June, 1628 - Porto Seguro expands. More colonists.

14 July, 1628 – Our reputation is almost back to normal. I should do something about that.

10 November, 1628 – I declare war against Mamluks. All of our allies join us. Their one ally, Kanem Bornu, joins them

[Abe Sargent]

How advanced are the Inca's, Maya's and other America based factions?

The Cherokee are Land Tech 0. As are teh Aztec, Zaptotec, and Maya. Let me check the Incas, hold on. They are also at zero. Now let's compare that world wide.

Sub-saharan Africans? All at zero or one land tech.

Let's see about the Indies nations. Brunei is at 8, Sulu at 7. Atjeh is just at 2.

By comparision, Mamluks are at 7, Burgundy at 16, Castille at 17, we are at 15.

[Abe Sargent]

The Seven Seals

4 December, 1628 - We win in Alexandria.

12 December, 1628 – We drove the enemy away from Sirt.

The siege of Beirut has begun.

14 December, 1628 – We give Burgundy military access after they ask

27 December, 1628 – Beirut falls after a quick assault.

29 December, 1628 – After chasing troops into Libya from Alexandria, we defeat them here with the Alexandrian army.

1 January, 1629 – Minas Gerais is now a core.

18 January, 1629 – We win in Cyrenaica.

20 January, 1629 – My rear army begins a siege of Sirt.

26 January, 1629 – E Santo expands. More colonists are sent.

28 January, 1629 – I win a battle in Judea and begin a siege.

30 January, 1629 – I lose a Battle in Alexandria and Mamluks begin a siege.

11 February, 1629 – Judea falls to us after another quick assault.

23 February, 1629 – A new force drives the Mamluks out of Libya.

3 March, 1629 – Porto Seguro expanded.

18 March, 1629 – We win in Alexandria and break the siege.

1 April, 1629 - I send in more colonists.

3 April, 1629 – We launch assaults on Cairo and Libya.

7 April, 1629 – We were attacked in Alexandria by a small force and drove them away.

10 April, 1629 – We barely defeated the Mamluks in Libya.

12 April, 1629 – A large Mamluks force of 7 regiments arrives in Judea and begins a siege.

16 April, 1629 – Judea falls after a short assault.

We won in Cairo and have begun a siege in their capital.

19 April, 1629 – Hawran fell to our assault. The troops from Beirut are marching to us, I decide to stay here and fight, and probably lose, as opposed to running around trying to avoid them.

2 May, 1629 – I lose in Hawran.

23 May, 1629 – Sirt fell to us.

8 June, 1629 – Hawran fell again.

16 August, 1629 – Cairo fell to us.

1 September, 1629 – Bali-Lombok is now a core. We defeated a minor Mamluk army trying to take Alexandria from us.

22 September, 1629 – We win two minor skirmishes.

1 October, 1629 – Instead of sending out colonists, I order a Conquistador – a general who can search provinces. I will send an army deep into Mamluk territory to find their good provinces, assuming they have any.

8 October, 1629 – On the same day, both Libya and Judea fall to us.

25 October, 1629 – E Santo expands.

14 November, 1629 – We recapture Hawran.

19 November, 1629 – I launched my Sirt and Libya armies into a simultaneous strike against some aggressive Cyrenaica defenders, and crushed them between the two armies.

20 November, 1629 – I accept white peace with Kanem Bornu.

21 December, 1629 – We drove the Mamluks fragments from Sirt.

24 December, 1629 – We won in the interior province of Ibrim. Now I order my Conquistador to explore.

29 December, 1629 – Porto S expanded.

3 January, 1630 _ I get a peace offer from Mamluks for Sirt, Libya and Hawran. I have no desire for Sirt and Hawran, but I think that I do want Libya. Beirut would be good, so would Delta or Judea. After that, my conquistador will tell me.

4 January, 1630 – Beirut fell back.

5 January, 1630 – Cyrenaica fell to us.

20 January, 1630 – We discovered Berber, an Orthodox province! It had no fort, so we captured it. How many more of our Christian brothers are back here? In other news, We captured Al Kirk.

17 February, 1630 – We discovered Butana, another Orthodox province hear in the Mamluk rear. We capture it immediately.

10 March, 1630 – A small number of infantry capture undefended Gojjum. This Orthodox province used to be Ethopia’s, until the Mamluks took it. I knew it was here, so I knew to drive with my Conquistador here to see what else what out there.

13 March, 1630 – We discover a minor Sunni province. I order my men on.

2 April, 1630 – I discover another small Sunni province in the rear. I run into some rebels as well. I choose to flee rather than destroy the rebels.

3 April, 1630 – Delta fell to us.

18 April, 1630 – I get a better peace offer from the Mamluks, but it’s not what I want. I continue the war.

12 May, 1630 – I lose a battle is Asyut and retreat to Alexandria.

16 May, 1630 _ I find another Orthodox province – Dongola. Okay, I;m ready to send out a peace offer now.

I have a warscore of 99, that’s pretty good. Let’s see what I can do with it.

I send a peace offer for several provinces. The Mamluks reject it. I order the war continued.

25 May, 1630 – Damascus fell to us.

28 May, 1630 – We defeated the Mamluks in Asyut.

19 June, 1630 – Now they accept our peace offer. We took Libya, Delta, Judea and the four Orthodox provinces.

[SFL Cat]

You conquering fool! ;)

[Qwikshot]

I just bought this game...and while I didn't fare well in the first few EU games, this one I seemed to have grasped better.

That being said, I tried to walk in your footsteps with Naxos just to see how it was like, and needless to say, I didn't have the skill nor the patience.

That being said, I tried Mecklenberg (which I confess is a little easier) and had a blast, and it really did sharpen my skills and interest.

Everyday I check in on this dynasty just to see how things go and I'm always impressed.

That being said, do you find that this game makes it easier to conduct conquest than the first two games? I thought something would kick in for that small a country to have expanded that big (it's not a complaint, I think it at least allows for the possibility which in the prior games was more of just being capable of surviving not so much expanding influence).

[Abe Sargent]

I just bought this game...and while I didn't fare well in the first few EU games, this one I seemed to have grasped better.

That being said, I tried to walk in your footsteps with Naxos just to see how it was like, and needless to say, I didn't have the skill nor the patience.

That being said, I tried Mecklenberg (which I confess is a little easier) and had a blast, and it really did sharpen my skills and interest.

Everyday I check in on this dynasty just to see how things go and I'm always impressed.

That being said, do you find that this game makes it easier to conduct conquest than the first two games? I thought something would kick in for that small a country to have expanded that big (it's not a complaint, I think it at least allows for the possibility which in the prior games was more of just being capable of surviving not so much expanding influence).



I'm about three years down the road from this last post. Something happens totally unexpected, and I have to make a bad decision or a worse decision. Ah hell, I'll go ahead and tell ya.

Aragon and Castille ally with each other and Castille asks me to join a war vs. Portugal and Britian with their ally Aragon. It's a classic trap war. The kind where on top it looks okay, but deep down would be horribel for me. GB is adjact to my colonies in S America with soldiersi in theirs, GB and I have a royal marriage so joining Castille would be a stabilityhit for me. It's precisely the sort of war I've been dodging all year long.

Take th ebad war with teh possibly of lost land? Or leave my allaince with my bestest alliance buddy? Doing so drive Castille into the hands of Aragon. can you imagine Aragon declaring war against me and havin Castille join her? I;d be raped. I've spent all game making nice wiht hepeople who would kill me.

So I have to leave the alliance, but there is this real danger. I know its a danger, because I've played eu2 so much. So what I am currently doing is secnding gifts to Aragon like mad. Make nice, get our relations up, get a royal marriage with them, and then hope they no longer want to attack us.

I see what the future could bring and take steps to avoid it. I only wage war against those I think I can win. When I lose war, I'd rather lose ducats.

I have the newer badboy system down pat. I know when to attackm when to push and when to call off wars (like I did in a previous war against Portugal pushed against Mamluks just now, etc). Your badboy decreases by the diplomacy skill of your leader each year. When I took 7 provinces from Mamluks, I gained 7 badboy points. My leader's diplomacy is 7 or 8, can;t remember which. That means my bb decreases by 0.7 or 0.8 each year. I'm the Papal Controller and that's an additional -0.25 bb each year. When I had that 3 diplomacy guy a while ago, I had to take a long gap between each war. Now that I am papal controller with a high diplomatic king, I can wage a lot of war.

To be fair, that's pretty realistic. How much of a bad reputation would a Catholic nation who controlled the curia have really gotten in 1630s by capturing seven provinces in the Middle East and North east Africa, including Judea?

Hope that info helps!

[Abe Sargent]

Libya – 9403 Tuareg Sunnis work in this core province of ours. Just 2.28 ducats are made by the wool makers. This province has strategic value, cutting off two Mamluk provinces from the rest of the nation (Sirt and Cyrenaica). I expect rebel problems to follow shortly. A temple, courthouse and workshop accompany this province.

Delta – The delta of the Nile river is inhabited by 54675 al Misr Arabic Sunnis. This is also a core province of ours through a previous event. 5.89 ducats are made by the fishers here. It has a temple, courthouse and workshop. I took this province because I had the ability to grab another province additional to the other six, and we had captured it, it was a core, and it was continuous with Libya and Alexandria.

Judea – I decided to take Judea because of the homeland of Christ. Under the hand of both the current Papal Controller and the Holy Roman Emperor, hopefully Judea will remain in Christian hands. 18835 people harvest grain here. The Sunni people are of al Misr Arabic descent. 3.41 ducats are made here. The typical three buildings are here too.

The following four provinces are all Orthodox. I ordered forts built in them all. I believe these lands were captured from previous Orthodox nations in the area, such as Ethiopia or Nubia.

Dongola – 19332 farmers harvest various grains in this Nubian province. They send us 1.89 ducats. Funj has this as a core, so it may have been theirs once upon a time. It comes with the typical three buildings.

Berber – 19238 people work the very poor wool trade here. They are also Nubian. This province is also a core of Funj. 1.93 ducats are made. The same three buildings comes with.

Butana – This is the best province, finally, that we took. I was happy to find not only fellow brothers in Christ but also an Ivory province. The people here are Nubian. 58390 people work the trade here. The make is 24.45. That’s just 0.3 or so less than Tripolitania makes. It is also a core of Funj and comes with the same three buildings.

Gojjam – This Ethiopian province hosts 19987 farmers making us 2.27 ducats in the grain trade. This is not a core of anyone outside of Mamluks. It comes with the standard three buildings.

These four provinces cut off two Mamluk provinces fromt eh rest of the country, like our Med holdings do as well. It’s an interesting dynamic.

[sabotai]

That being said, do you find that this game makes it easier to conduct conquest than the first two games? I thought something would kick in for that small a country to have expanded that big (it's not a complaint, I think it at least allows for the possibility which in the prior games was more of just being capable of surviving not so much expanding influence).

I started a game as Japan. My first goal was the conquest of Korea and Manchu. It took 2 wars to finally get the upper hand on them (they were allied, so I had to fight both at the same time). I took 2 korean provinces after the first war (I was lucky they offered that.I was out of manpower and was about to start losing very badly), and the second saw me gain most of Korea and 2 provinces from Manchu. The 3rd war the annexation of Korea and taking all but one province from Manchu. The extremely fast 4th war was the annexation of Manchu.

I also had several colonies (I took Quest For the New World idea). Taiwan, an island in the West Indies, a few up in Siberia (found a gold prvince up there, plus there are a lot of fur provinces).

Then something happened. I got this event that gave me two options. 1) Lose 500 ducets, move 1 towards Centralization. 2) Lose 2 Stability. Basically the event stated that Japan should not be this large. I forget the exact text, but it said that because Japan was so decentralized (my slider was all the way to Decentralized), that it was hard to control the nation.

After so many wars, my stability was -2, so I took the Stability hit. Problem Solved, right? No, because I got the event again. And again, and agian, and again. I was stuck between -3 and -2 stability because this damned event kept popping up. It was hurting badly because I didn't have any merchants, so I had very little trade income. As a result, I was losing about 3 or 4 ducets per month (with the treasury slider in the budget all the way to the left). So I had to move the slider a bit to the right, but that caused my inlfation to go up pretty fast. If I could have merchants, I could send them out and get enough trade income to ffset most of that -3 to -4 a month.

But I couldn't get merchants because I couldn't get out of -2 stability, and I couldn't take the first option since I never even got close to having 500 ducets at one time. So, I did what I had to. I created Korea and Manchu as vassals. I stopped getting the event.

At least I still got half of their taxes.

[Abe Sargent]

That's an annoying event. I'd get pissed if I got that event. Don;t know off the top of my head where my centralization/decentralizion slider is, maybe you chouls change yours over time, then annex those guys.

[sabotai]

That's an annoying event. I'd get pissed if I got that event.

Yet, it's pretty realistic. A nation that has no "centralization" should have a really hard time controling its nation if it gets large, so stability should stay down (or the nation should spend a lot on "control"-like things (I guess police, and the nature) to keep things stable.)

But if you haven't gotten it by now, you probably won't. In my Portugal game (where I had a LOT of provinces in the New World, half of North Africa, a few Castillian provinces and a few Italian provinces), I never got the event. I think I was either in the middle or a notch or two toward Decentralization.

I wonder if I can find the event in the scripts.

[Abe Sargent]

Contemplation


Over the next few months, I’ll send my troops to their new locations. I’ll also continue to explore this area with my Conquistador.

I order colonists to E Santo.

1 July, 1630 - We get an event. The Conquest of Jerusalem. I get one extra missionary annually and 1 prestige annually. That’s awesome! What’s really cool is that I did not know you could get that!

26 August, 1630 – I actually discovered an unclaimed province adjacent to Butana – Taka. Taka has no natives, trades slaves, and is fairly poor. I’ll steer clear, but I thought it humorous that I find it here.

1 October, 1630 – I send colonists to Porto S.

16 October, 1630 – Pegu and Ming have entered into a personal union.

20 October, 1630 – I decline an alliance offer from Japan.

1 December, 1630 – We lost our other governmental advisor.

5 December, 1630 – I ask for and receive military access from Funj.

19 December, 1630 – We discovered a province to the west of Gojjam. We were attacked by natives but drove them off. Fazughli.

11 January, 1631 – NLD: Dar Nuba. Attacked again by natives.

15 February, 1631 – NLD: Kordofan. We drove off the natives.

27 March, 1631 – E Santo expanded.

1 April, 1631 – And more colonists are dispatched.

26 May, 1631. Today is a great day. Today, after preaching for over ten years, the people of Bali-Lombok have converted to Catholicism!

1 June, 1631 – I order a constable built in Bali-Lombok.

Another cardinal died. I currently control six of the seven cardinals.

30 June, 1631 – Porto S expanded.

1 July, 1631 - A sad thing happened today. We no longer accept Greek as a main culture. 

5 July, 1631 – I get a massive Boundary Dispute event, giving me a core on five Mamluk provinces, which I accept.

30 March, 1632 – E Santo expands.

1 May, 1632 – E Santo is sent more colonists. If these take, it becomes a city.

24 May, 1632 – I decline a Mamluk request for military access. Heh, let them suffer.

1 June, 1632 – I order a customs house built in Bali-Lombok.

1 August, 1632 – Our naval tech increases.

20 August, 1632 – Porto S expands.

1 November, 1632 – I send more colonists to the Porto Seguro.

29 January, 1633 – Espirito Santo exapands:


Espirito Santo - This 2031 sugar colony makes us 25.57 ducats annually. I order a fort built here.

30 June, 1633 – RM: Lithuania.

30 July, 1633 – Porto S expands and more colonists are sent.

1 August, 1633 – A level two treasurer advisor (trade tech) appeared in Dongola. Capturing those lands pays off! I hire him.

1 October, 1633 – My trade tech increases.

1 November, 1633 – Where do I send my next colonists? I’m pretty much done with this area of South America. All of the remaining adjacent territory is grain or other poor trade value goods. There are some provinces that I don’t know what is in them, but my Conquistador is stuck in Africa inside a landlocked section of my territory.

Here are some ideas:

These four are older ideas, and are still available.

Tahiti – Way out in the Pacific. A nice naval base. Spice with 1000 natives of a low aggressiveness. It would take us 551 days to settle here, but there’s a 75% chance of taking initially. Tax value of 3.

Mosquito – East coast of Central America, this coffee province features 2000 natives of low aggressiveness, a tax value of two and a 69% chance of taking with our first colonists. This province is adjacent to the Mayans.

Mataram – High taxvalue of 8 meets spices meets large number of natives meets long travel time and some aggressive ness on part of natives. Already have three provinces in this area of globe (Halmahera, Taiwan and Bali-Lombok)

Mauritus – Island in the southeast Indian Ocean, sugar province with 500 natives and no aggressiveness. This colony would have a good taxvalue in 5. A 78% chance of taking with our colonists meets 483 days lead time.


I also considered this last time:

Jamaica – A wealthy taxbase (6), a wealthy crop (sugar). Mildly aggressive natives, but a quick colonization and some nearby troops can probably help with that. Already have colonies nearby (Turks Islands, Bahamas)


After consideration, I decide to go with Jamaica and send out colonists.

[Abe Sargent]

The Oracle at Naxos


1 January, 1634 – I order a Refinery built in Napoli. That’s another 5 year to build thing, double ducats in wine and sugar provinces (Napoli is a wine province) and it adds tech.

17 March, 1634 – I get a New Land Claimed event for Corsica and choose to increase the taxvalue.

1 May, 1634 – Porto S expands and I send in more settlers.

10 June, 1634 – I once again respectfully decline a Mamluk overture for military access.

1 July, 1634 – A level 2 army reformer advisor appeared in Mantua. I jettison my colonist maker for him.

14 July, 1634 – We now have a new colony at Jamaica.

18 August, 1634 – Castille wants to smack the Cherokee around, and I join their war, but not their desire.

1 January, 1635 – Our government tech increased. I order colonists to Jamaica. A marketplace is ordered for Bali-Lombok. A customs house for Corsica. A level two fort for Frenche-Compte. Constable for Turks Islands.

27 January, 1635 – Porto S expanded.

1 April, 1635 – Bahamas are now a core province.

1 June, 1635 – Since I am the leader of the Castillean-Naxos alliance, I negotiate peace on behalf of both of us with the Cherokee for 50 ducats to me. The Castilleans were raping them and I don’t really want anyone to get that powerful.

7 September, 1635 – Castille declared war upon Portugal. Aragon, who had joined an alliance with Castille and was in one with Portgual, choose to fight with Castille against Portugal. Great Britain joined Portugal. So, Britain, and Portugal are at war with Castille and Aragon. Castille asks me to join.

Okay, here’s the problem. Castille is the aggressor. Join them, and my stability drops from being an aggressor against GB (we have a royal marriage). I have no real desire to go to war with GB, who is next to our colonies in South America. I have no real desire to go to war with Portugal. Again, normally I’d leave behind Castille, for a while at least.

However, they’ve joined with Aragon. Aragon. Our mutual enemy. If I drive Castille away am I sending them into the nest of our enemy? Do I want to find myself on the same side of a war as Aragon against two nations I really don’t want to be at war with along with a resulting drop in stability?

I’m still allied with Burgundy and Austria if I leave the Castille alliance. It’s just we’ve been partners for so long.

Still, Naxos before Castille. I decline and leave our alliance.

30 November, 1635 – I offer Castille a RM and they accept.

1 January, 1636 – I order marketplaces in Lombardia, Brescia, Piedmont, Palermo, Modena and Parma.

31 May, 1636 – Jamaica expands and I dispatch settlers a-go-go.

1 June, 1636 – The next word I get news that Tawian is a core.

1 July, 1636 – I sent more colonists to Porto S.

1 September, 1636 – I begin a campaign to make nice with Aragon. The last thing I need is for Aragon to declare war on me and have Castille join them.

17 September, 1636 – Aragon and Portugal come to peace terms.

1 January, 1637 – Our Greenland provinces are now cores.

8 February, 1637 – Jamaica expand and more colonists are sent.

30 March, 1637 – Porto S expands.

20 July, 1637 – I accept a RM from Aragon.

1 October 1637 – Croatia and Frenche-Compte are now cores.

21 October, 1637 – Jamaica expands and colonists are sent out

[Abe Sargent]

Miscellany


1 January, 1638 – The two provinces of Ceylon threw off their yokes and declared independence. I move a ship over to take a look at their defenses. They might be my next expansion target.

1 July, 1638 – Aragon and Girona are now part of our patrimony.

3 July, 1638 – Jamaica, expansion, more colonists

5 July, 1638 – After a few of my gifts arrived at their court, Swahili, the country to our south in the former Mamluk Orthodox provinces agrees to give us military access. Now I can move my Conquistador out.

14 September, 1638 – I declare war upon Ceylon. All of our allies join us.

1 October, 1638 – I send colonists to Porto S.

15 October, 1638 – We land 5k troops in Jaffna and begin a siege.

7 December, 1638 – We defeat Ceylon in Korales.

14 March, 1639 – Jamaica expands; more colonists sent

1 April, 1639 – Our naval tech increases.

24 April, 1639 – We capture Korales. I order my troop back to Jaffna.

23 May, 1639 – We crack the Jaffna defending troops and begin a siege.

27 June, 1639 – My cavalry fail to take out the stragglers at Korales and they won a victory there.

15 September, 1639 – Jaffna falls.

1 October, 1639 – I accept peace with Ceylon. We take Jaffna, and Ceylon becomes our vassal.

Jaffna – 18057 people work the spice trade here on this island off the coast of southern India (Sri Lanka). The Sinhala Buddhists make 21.91 ducats for us annually. It comes with a workshop. I order a Courthouse built here. Atjeh has it as a core, in addition to Ceylon.

9 October, 1639 – RM: Austria.

23 November, 1639 – Jamiaca, expansion, yadda

1 December, 1639 – Our production tech increased.

8 December, 1639 – RM: Aragon

1 January, 1640 – Forgot to tell you about the expanded and new city Porto Seguro.

Porto Seguro: This sugar city is nestled between the British colonies in South American and our own possessions. 2060 people make us 27.05 ducats. I order a fort built here.

1 July, 1640 – Our land tech increased

6 August, 1640 – I send one more group of colonists to Jamaica.

1 October, 1640 – I order a Missionary to Jaffna. It’ll take around 9 years and I’ll have around a 45% chance of it taking.

1 January, 1641 – Where to send my new groups of colonists? Mosquito? Mauritus? Tahiti? Mataram?

I choose something father away for the first one, since my colonist production slowed with the recent firing of my colonist advisor.

Colonists are en route to Mataram.

5 April, 1641 – NLD: Roggeveld. This inland province was discovered by our Conquistador just inland from Cape. It has GOLD! We’ll be colonizing this now.

18 April, 1641 – Jamaica is now a full city.


Jamaica – 2516 make 30.39 ducats working the sugar trade here. I order a fort built.


16 May, 1641 – RM: May

1 July, 1641 – I send colonists to Roggeveld.

6 August, 1641 – RM: Austria

29 December, 1641 – Our badboy is almost back down, and there’s some more land I can grab, so let’s get it on.

[Abe Sargent]

A Dance Once Danced


I declare war against Mamluks.

All allies are in. Let’s play our game once more.

14 January, 1642 – We defeat a small Mamluk force in Delta.

Our forces arrive in Beirut and begin attacking Mamluks.

17 January, 1642 – RM: Britain.

19 January, 1642 – We discover a province behind ours in South American with our Conquistador. We may colonize it later.

20 January, 1642 – We defeat the Mamluks in Beirut and I order my forces to move. This is not a besieging force – too many cavalry.

24 January, 1642 _ Our holding forces that were in Judea arrive in Beirut. They begin a siege.

4 February, 1642 – We win a battle in Damascus with our largerly cavalry army.

9 February, 1642 – We win in Sirt and begin a siege.

15 February, 1642 – We win a battle in Delta.

20 March, 1642 – A quick assault leads us to capture Beirut.

30 March, 1642 – We catch a fleeing group of troops in Hawran and defeat them.

20 April, 1642 – Sirt fell after a quick assault.

23 April, 1642 – We win a major battle in Al Karak against the Mamluk reserve forces.

26 May, 1642 – We win another battle in Gaza. I leave my troops here to initiate a siege.

7 June, 1642 – We won the battle of Cyrenaica and begin a siege.

9 June, 1642 – We captured Damascus after another assault.

29 June, 1642 – We set a colony in Roggeveld and I send in more colonists.

10 July, 1642 – Massawa fell to our southern army,

2 September, 1642 – We sent up a colony in Mataram and more colonists are sent there as well.

28 September, 1642 -We defeat a very large army in Cairo after building 3 cavalry regiments in our Egyptian/Libyan provinces.

13 December, 1642 – I offer Kanam Bornu a white peace and they accept.

24 December, 1642 – Gaza fell to us.

29 December, 1642 – Cyrenaica falls to our quick assault.

13 January, 1643 – My Conquistador died.

19 January, 1643 – Asyrut fell to us.

28 March, 1643 – Cairo fell to us.

3 April, 1643 – We reject our first peace offer from Mamluks.

11 April, 1643 – Sinai fell to us.

17 April, 1643 – We defeat one of their last good armies at Diamentia and began a siege. I have a plan on which provinces I want to capture, and Diamentia is the last one I need to capture.

22 June, 1643 – Our colonization to Roggeveld failed. I send in more colonists. Had a 985 chance of success.

19 July, 1643 – My major army lost a 3 month battle against the Mamluk major army in Nile. My army is essentially destroyed and will take months to rebuild.

15 August, 1643 – I fail an assault at Diamientia and continue the siege.

7 September, 1643 – I capture Kargah.

3 November, 1643 – My troops from the Kargah siege arrived in Diamientia and assaulted the province and it has fallen into our hands.

13 November, 1643 – Our backup army defeats the Mamluk army in Nile. With their major army broken, capital captured and numerous other provinces in my hands, I send in a peace offer for a few provinces I have my eye on.

14 November, 1643 – The Mamluks accept my peace offer. We get Gaza, Sinai, Beirut, Damascus and Diamientia.

[Abe Sargent]

Diamientia – This quiet fishing village has 11518 Sunnis making us 4.32 ducats annually. The al Misr Arabic people here have a courthouse, temple and workshop.

Gaza – 9507 Sunnis work in this core province of ours. They work the salt trade. 13.79 ducats are made by these al Misr Arabic people. They have the same three buildings.

Sinai – Just 6765 people make us 13.65 ducats in the salt trade. The citizens here are al Misr Arabic Sunnis. They have the same three buildings.

Beirut - 91654 al Suryah Arabic people make naval supplies here. This core province of ours features the same three buildings as others. 7.9 ducats are made here in this Sunni province

Damascus – 276802 Sunni people harvest grain here. These people are al Suryah Arabic. 4.7 ducats are made by this core province, and the province features the same three buildings as the previous three.

[Abe Sargent]

How about a map of the area?

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/1372/mideastlm8.jpg

[sabotai]

FWIW, I checked and in my Portugal game, I'm all the way to the right on Decentralization and don't get the event, so there must be other factors to it (or maybe a Japan specific event?). Anyway, I diplo-annexed Castille and just about the whole world declared war on me. :D

[Tyrith]

Really enjoying this dynasty, Anxiety. I have no experience with EU, so I'm going to ask a noob question....

...how does this game, you know, end? What are you trying to accomplish?

[Abe Sargent]

Really enjoying this dynasty, Anxiety. I have no experience with EU, so I'm going to ask a noob question....

...how does this game, you know, end? What are you trying to accomplish?

Much like SimCity or The Sims or such, there is no end - only what you want to do, what you want to focus on. There is an end time-wise, when the game ends because that's the end.

I played a dynasty as Grenada and ended after the final scripting event ended (which were scripted by me for a fantasy Grenada)

[SFL Cat]

Does EU3 not keep a running tally of "victory" points?

[Abe Sargent]

Does EU3 not keep a running tally of "victory" points?

Nope, but it does keep a tally of your prestige.

[Abe Sargent]

Straightening the Collar


1 February, 1644 – I order a Missionary to Alexandria. It will only take a few years to find out what happens.

4 May, 1644 – Mataram expands and more colonists are sent.

14 June, 1644 – Roggevold expands and more colonists are sent.

1 January, 1645 – I order a workshop in Jamaica. Marketplace in Cape, Frenche-Compte, Tripolitania, and Taiwan.

I order extra colonists to Mato Grosso, a tobacco province my conquistador found behind my current provinces in South America.

8 June, 1645 – Roggevold expands, colonists sent

1 August, 1645 – Guayra is now a core.

13 September, 1645 – I decline a Mamluk offer for military access.

30 September, 1645 – We failed to put colonists in Mato Grosso.

24 October, 1645 – I order two of my spies to incite revolts in Mamluk territory.

4 January, 1646 – Mataram expands and more colonists are dispatched.

I order the following: Workshop in Taiwan. Customs House in Cape and Lombardia.

21 January, 1646 – RM: Great Britain

13 April, 1646 – I get new land claimed for Cape and choose to increase its tax value by 1.

22 May, 1646 – Alexandria is now Catholic!

1 June, 1646 – Roggeveld expands.

23 June, 1646 – I got new land claimed for Minas Gerais and took the +1 tax base.

1 July, 1646 – I sent colonists to Roggeveld.

1 January, 1647 – I order the following: Marketplace in Gaza, Sinai. Customs House in Alexandria.

1 April, 1647 – We have a rebellion in Jaffna.

17 April, 1647 – The rebels are defeated.

24 June, 1647 – Roggeveld expands and more colonists are distributed.

5 September, 1647 – Mataram expanded and more colonists leave for her shores.

15 October, 1647 – I reject another Mamluk request for access.

1 January, 1648 – I authorize a missionary for Beirut.

1 March, 1648 – Our trade tech increases.

8 March, 1648 – RM: Lithuania

17 June, 1648 – Roggeveld expands and I send more colonists.

3 January, 1649 – After offering Switzerland an annexation offer, they accept. Bern is now one of our provinces. Again. Now, Bern helps to connect us with Frenche-Compte.

I send a Missionary to Judea.

19 January, 1649 – RM: Austria.

1 February, 1649 – Our government tech increases and we can get a new national idea.

I embrace the idea of Viceroys. This will allow us to increase our overseas income by 30%.

[Abe Sargent]

Gathering the Flock


7 May, 1649 – Mataram expands and more colonists are en route.

11 June, 1649 – Roggeveld expanded, more colonists yay!

1 January, 1650 – I send colonists to Mato Grosso. Let’s try again. I order: Constable in Crete, Athens, Cyprus. Workshop in Little Karoo.

13 January, 1650 – After send out a stream of gifts and such, Ceylon has agreed to annexation.

Korales – The southern half of the island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) features 38605 Sinhala Buddhists making us 34.59 ducats annually. Sugar is the trade here. The province comes with a workshop. I order a courthouse built here.

27 January, 1650 – Another laughable request for military access came from Mamluks.

20 March, 1650 – Burgundy declares war against Aragon. Saxony joined Burgundy. Castille left Aragon’s alliance. Time to buddy back up to Castille I think. I reject Burgundy’s call. Their alliance of convience is limited.

23 March, 1650 – RM: France.

1 April, 1650 – Twice this month missionaries will tell me their success or failure. Beirut and Jaffna are up. If either fails, rebellion.

21 April, 1650 – Beirut converts to Catholicism!

28 April, 1650 – Our Missionary attempt to Jaffna failed. A religious rebellion has occurred.

15 May, 1650 – We defeat the rebels.

4 June, 1650 – Roggeveld expands. More colonists.

15 June, 1650 – I realize that I have just enough to order another missionary to Jaffna.

1 September, 1650 – Our land tech increased (we can built level 3 forts.)

1 October, 1650 – We established the colony of Mato Grosso.

1 January, 1651 – I order the following: Constable in Jamaica, Little Karoo and Sao Vicente, workshop in Bahamas.

4 January, 1651 – Mataram expands. I ship off additional colonists.

1 March, 1651 – Our production tech increased.

23 May, 1651 – We fail a conversion attempt in Jude and the people are revolting.

29 May, 1651 – Roggeveld expanded.

1 June, 1651 – E Santo is a core.

5 June, 1651 – We defeat the rebels in Judea.

I order another missionary to Judea.

Our badboy is completely gone.

1 July, 1651 – Roggeveld has colonists sent.

3 January, 1652 – I declare war against Makassar, a one province nation to our northeast of Bali-Lombok and southwest of Halmahera in the Indies.

All of our allies join us. Brunei and Atjeh joined Makassar.

26 January, 1652 – Our troops land in Makassar and attack the defenders.

12 February, 1652 - We broke the defense and began the siege of Makassar.

1 March, 1652 0 I send colonists to Mato Grosso.

14 July, 1652 – Roggeveld expanded and is now a full colony. More news after the war.

19 July, 1652 – Troops of ours land in Bandjarsmin, a Brunei province. All of their provinces here on Borneo are unforted, so we capture it immediately. I order our troops to move on.

24 August, 1652 – Brunei province of Sukadan was captured.

1 September, 1652 – Atjeh offers us a white peace and I accept.

3 September, 1652 – We capture Makassar.

8 September, 1652 – Mataram expands and I send out more colonists.

16 September, 1652 – Brunei retook Bandjarmasin.

28 September, 1652 – RM: Lithuania.

8 October, 1652 – We capture the Brunei capital.

12 October, 1652 – Brunei recaptures Sukadan.

1 November, 1652 – Our naval tech increases.

1 December, 1652 – Mato Grosso expanded.

6 December, 1652 – I annex Makassar.

I’m going around and around Borneo playing musical chairs with Brunei and their provinces. This is why I hate provinces with no forts. I’ll tell ya when I’m done.

5 March, 1653 – I accept peace with Brunei and they cede us Sabah and Bandjarmasin.

I’ll go over the new provinces in a few months when I do my 200 years perspective.

I order forts built in these two provinces.

30 May, 1653 – 200 year retro

[Tyrith]

I would definately being interesting in seeing world maps covering all your territories as part of the 200 year retrospective.

[Wolfpack]

I agree. I'm also curious as to who has suffered by comparison to actual history because obviously Naxos has become a serious world player (and looks to be on track for a unified Italy a couple hundred years ahead of schedule) rather than a footnote in the long history of Greece. If Naxos is getting all they're getting, someone else is not, I think.

[Abe Sargent]

In my 200 year rotro, now written, An Indies and South America map is inbcluded.

[Abe Sargent]

I agree. I'm also curious as to who has suffered by comparison to actual history because obviously Naxos has become a serious world player (and looks to be on track for a unified Italy a couple hundred years ahead of schedule) rather than a footnote in the long history of Greece. If Naxos is getting all they're getting, someone else is not, I think.

In real life, teh Turks took out hte mamluks, it looks like they aren;t interested, so I am. Aragon joined Castille as Spain, but ultiamtely left her Italian and Med provinces behind, mostly, although a few stuck around (The Baleares, for example). Turks took Rhodes, sending The Knights to Malta, who were given it from Spain, for example.

Sweden's out. Poland's out. Hungary's Out. Norway's down to two provinces. Denmark's out. Scandaniva is diveded between Austria, Novgorod, and Britain. There doesn't look to be any Netherlands, because Burgundy never fell. Castille has done an acceptable job of being Spain, although by this time Spain was everywhere in South and Central Amercia, had absorbed Incas, Aztecs. On the other hand, here , Castille has mad provinces in north Adrifca, which is ironically everything you;d esxpect them to do without Aragon as Spain. Portugal is more powerful then they were in real life. Britain has little in the new world, although at this time that was true as well.

The major players, Incas, Maya, etc are still around.

Our colonization has been exactly what you would have expected of Venice had they been farseeing. Venice controlled the spice trade through teh Mediterranean, so other countires went around Africa or sailed west to break the monopoly. Had Venice the foresight to see that happening, and do so themselves, they could have used their economic and naval power to wreak a powerful stranglehold on conlonization. We would be talking to this day about the Venice Empire.

As the heir to Venice, what Naxos has done has beel fully in line with European colonization. Grab an island here, attack the minor kingdom there, set up a large colony in this other place, etc (See: Portugal, who set up a major colony in Brazil, gobbled up islands, and attacked people in various areas.)


Hope that helps!

[Abe Sargent]

The 200 Year Retrospective:


We have the highest prestige in the game.

We have dropped to 5th in inflation, and our inflation is now around 9.2%.

We have the highest income in the game, now exceeding even that of Ming.

We are nowhere near the highest technology in an area except for government. The highest in each area in Tuscany.

We have more provinces than any other European power.

Liguria, Venezia and Alexandria give us the most taxes. The highest non-COT? Lombardia.

Lombardia gives us the most gold in production – higher than any gold province. Makassar is second. Then the gold provinces begin.

The second most common culture after Lombard is al Misr Arabic.

Our most common trade? Fish. Ugh, that’s like one of the worst ones. Second is wine.

Ming has 5 COTs to our three.

The most valuable trade goods in the world are Chinaware, Sugar, Tobacco, Tea, and Spices, in that order with Coffee just behind spices.

Our badboy is currently 8.74.

We have maxed, 200 relations with France, Auvergne, Provence, Bourbonnais, Orleans, Foix (France and her bitches), Lithuania, Great Britain, Aragon and Funj.

We have 77 infantry regiments, 32 cavalry, and 2 cannon regiments. That’s a total of 111 land regiments.

We have 21 Flytes, 1 barque, 2 Galleons and an Early Frigate.

We are currently in a Feudal Monarchy and I have no desire to change our form of government.

Yay for Deus Vult, the national idea that let’s me go through all of these wars against Mamluks, Tunis, Ceylon, Bali, Brunei and Makassar without losing any stability.


Asian Holdings, both colonial and non. I am going to just give essential facts – remind you of trade, if the religion or culture is different than mine, and stuff like population, and annual income. I am, however, going to use this as a master list for what I think a province still needs to be built there. I will be more specific with new provinces.


Taiwan – 8583 people work Chinaware. We get 39.69 ducats annually from here. Constable could be used.

Halmahera – A spice province with 1520 workers. 22.66 ducats. Marketplace needed.

Bali-Lombok – This coffee province features 114756 people who are Catholic but Sulawesi. 41.24 ducats are made here. Needs nothing.

Makassar – The newly captured province of Makassar is a Sunni province. 380738 people work the spice trade and the province has a tax value of 9. It is a mega good province. The Sulawesi people here make us 47.35 ducats and that’s without it being a core province. It came with a workshop and courthouse. It needs a lot, marketplace, constable, customs house at the very least.

Banjarmasin – This spice province recently captured from Brunei has a fort being built in it right now. The 28514 Malay Sunnis make us 24.81 ducats. The province had no buildings. I find this sad, because Brunei had the tech to have walls, workshops, and such but chose not to. We will upgrade this province over time.

Sabah – The other province taken from Brunei. 24661 Malay Sunnis work the spice trade here as well. 24.43 ducats are made here. Again, walls are currently being built. The remaining non-capital Brunei provinces have no major trade goods, but the capital is another spice province.

Jaffna – The 17573 Buddhists here also work spices. The Sinhala make 25.01 ducats. This province could us a marketplace, and then after we convert the people, more tax bonus buildings Jaffna is currently one of two provinces with a revolt risk. The other is.

Korales – The 38348 make 35.41 ducats working the sugar trade. The Sinhala Buddhists are also currently being uppity. This place could really use a marketplace as well.

Mataram – This province is currently a colony.


Sub-Sahara Africa – All of these provinces are former colonies.

Little Karoo – 2754 sugar farmers make 33.13 ducats. This place could also use a marketplace.

Cape – Wine is the name of the game here. 26.97 ducats are made by the 2309 people. This province has a high tax base, and has been built up, and needs nothing else. In fact, Cape is the third highest province not a Center of Trade in terms of tax incomes (Lombardia, then Savoie, then Cape).

Roggeveld – This gold province is inside the coastline and adjacent to Cape. 1559 people work the trade here, making 43.77 ducats. A wall is currently being built here.

Cape Verde – Is currently a colony.



West Indies and Caribbean: All of these provinces are former colonies.



Turks Islands – 4142 people work the Cotton trade here. 27.29 ducats are made. It could use a marketplace.

Bahamas – 24.59 ducats are made in this cotton province. 8096 people live here. It could also use a marketplace.

Jamaica – Sugar is harvested by the 2771 people here. 35.59 ducats are made here. A marketplace and Customs House would be appropriate here.


Greenland: These two provinces were once colonies:


Eiriksfjord – Fish is the trade here. 3.41 ducats are made by 1761 people. There is no need for anything here, ever.

Vestbygden – Fur is traded here. 14.32 ducats are made by the 1332 people. It could use a marketplace.


South American: These provinces are all previous colonies of ours:


Santana – This gold province attracted us to the area and we’ve been expanding here ever since. 2624 people make us 44.01 ducats. It doesn’t need any improvements.

Sao Vicente – One of many sugar provinces in this area, Sao Vicente was the first one here that we colonized. 34.49 ducats are made by the 3729 people. Marketplace is a definite need.

Santo Amaro – 2895 farmers harvest sugar here. It needs a marketplace. 28.24 ducats are made here.

Rio de Janeiro – 3296 sugar farmers make 28.29 ducats. Need marketplace.

Sao Tome - 28.16 made by 2247 farmers. Need marketplace too,

Espirito Santo – 26.93 ducats are made in this sugar province. Like the others, it needs a marketplace. 2389 people work and live here.

Porto Seguro – The seventh and final coastal province of this area, this is also a sugar province in need of a marketplace. 28.16 ducats are made by the 2292 people here.

Minas Gerais – Another gold province, this time inland. 1291 make 44.96 ducats. Needs nothing else.

Guayra – This tobacco province is behind the coastal ones like Minas Gerais. 2489 people make us 24.10 ducats. A marketplace would be good here too.

Mato Grosso is a colony here behind Minas Gerais.



African and Middle East Provinces: These were all taken from Mamluks save two. The default here is that they are all Sunni unless otherwise stated.


Tripolitania – Our first province in this region is this ivory province. 85356 people make 30.28 ducats. It needs nothing.

Tunis – The 397487 people work the grain trade. 5.21 ducats are made here. This province doesn’t need an improvement, it need a conversion.

Alexandria – This center of trade features a Catholic population. 362776 people work the grain trade here. 24.95 ducats are made here. Nothing else is needed.

Libya – 3.27 ducats are made by the 10719 people in the wool trade. Nothing is needed here.

Delta – This fish province features 62274 people making 7.88 ducats. Like Tunis, this is a good conversion target. It combines a high taxvalue with a small trade value – making its only value taxes, which are hurt by the different religion factor.

Diamientia – 12193 fishers make us 6.08 ducats. Nothing else here is of any worth.

Sinai – This is a moderately wealthy salt province. Salt is a solid trade item. 7200 people work the trade making 15.88 ducats. (See?)

Gaza – Another salt province, 10118 make us 16.04 ducats. Nothing else is needed here.

Judea - 21408 grain workers make 5.51 ducats. This is a high priority conversion target – high taxvalue, low trade good value, and its Jerusalem.

Beirut – This newly Catholic province features 97629 people working the Naval Supplies trade. 13.24 ducats are made here. A constable would be good for this place.

Damascus – With a skyhigh tax value and a low trade good, the large populace of Damascus is a key conversion target. 293034 people harvest grain making us 7.73 ducats.

Gojjam – 19987 Orthodox people work the grain fields and generate 3.3 ducats, needing nothing.

Butana - 25.98 ducats are made in the ivory trade by 58390 people. Needs a marketplace.

Berber -19228 woolmakers create 2.67 ducats. Needs nothing. Very poor.

Dongola - 19332 grain farmers convert their work into 2.67 ducats. Need for naught.



Mediterranean Islands –


Naxos – Our home is a series of islands in the Archipelago of the Aegean Sea. 14898 winegrowers make 15.73 ducats. Needs a marketplace.

Rhodes – This minor fish island only makes 5.48 despite the 73263 people that live here.

Cyprus – 45401 grape growers and wine makers create 20.27 ducats. Needs marketplace.

Crete – 39210 people make 9.10 fishing. Needs nothing.

Corfu – 30159 fishers make 6.27 ducats. Again, needs nothing.

Malta – One of our poorest European holdings, 24219 people work the fishing trade here generating 7.1 ducats annually.

Messina - The east half of Sicily holds 22 0919 fishes making people making 14.52. No needs here.

Palermo – One of our many wine provinces, 323332 people live and work here. 34.67 ducats are made. Needs a customs house.

Sardinia - 123931 fishermen make us 13.26 ducats. It needs naught.

Corsica – 25270 people work the naval supplies industry. They make us 13.93 ducats and that’s almost all taxes. Several tax value increase events happened here making it pretty valuable compared to what it normally is. I’ve built it up and it doesn’t need anything.

The Baleares – 28922 fishermen make 9.21 ducats, needing nothing.


Iberian Holdings: These were all taken from Aragon.

Valencia – 238938 people work the wineries here. 35.66 ducats and it needs customs house.

Aragon – 26040 iron miners and smelters work here. 23.40 ducats are made here. It doesn’t really need anything.

Girona – 23709 fishermen make 11 ducats and need naught.


Grecian Mainland Holdings:


Athens – 84408 people work the fish trade making 7.63 ducats.

Morea – 25173 people make 16.33 ducats. Le wine demands le marketplace.



Italian Holdings:


Calabria - 144343 people work here in Calabria. 10.03 ducats made by the fishers in need of nothing.

Apulia – 142836, salt workers, 26.95, don’t need anything.

Napoli – Fair Napoli. 902673 winemakers don’t need anything but the 49.46 ducats they make me.

Abbruzzi – 104381 people work here. 26.76 ducats are made by the winegrowers.

Ancona – 10.32 ducats made by the woolsmiths here. 156247 people live here. Province need naught.

Romagna – 300320 salt workers make 38.84 ducats. This province needs marketplace.

Ferrara – 257326 salt workers make 39.75 ducats. Its needs are none.

Venezia – 999999 (the max) people work the fish trade in this COT. 32.37 ducats are made here. It is in need of nothing.

Modena – 165555 make wine and make 37.03 ducats. In need of constable

Parma – 39.11 ducats are made in this wine province by 140515 people. Needs nothing

Liguria – This center of trade has a large number of woolcrafters. 635444 create 29.59 ducats, needing naught.

Nice – 81566 makes 11.57 in the fish trade. Needs nothing.

Savoie – 59041 cloth makers generate 36.14 needing a constable and customs house.

Lombardia – 601519 cloth makers generate 64.37 ducats needing for nothing.

Mantua – 120420 make 14.67 ducats in the grain trade, needing for naught.

Brescia – Cloth is the trade here. 240606 make 40.45. Needs customs house.

Piedmont – 240158, wine, 39.11, could use a customs house.




Other Mainland Europe: These four provinces are not Italian, nor Iberian nor Grecian.

Bern – Former Switzerland, an inheritance given up and then reclaimed, this iron province is of Rhinelander descent. The 14470 Catholics here make 24.93 ducats. This province needs a constable and a marketplace.

Frenche-Compte – This Burgundian Reform province has 27479 salt workers making 20.69 ducats. Needs are nil.

Dalmatia – Reform 32995 make 5.24 ducats in the wool trade. Needs are ick.

Croatia – Cloth is made here by 26958 Reform Croats. 20.42 ducats are made here. This province needs a constable, marketplace, and maybe a customs house afterwards.



Vassals – Our only current vassal is The Papal States.

Allies – Papal States, Tuscany, Austria

[Abe Sargent]

Would you like to see an Indies map?

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/7852/indiesyayzk4.jpg


In this map, I listed ourprovinces by name, so you see where Badjarmasin is or Sabah, etc.

[Abe Sargent]

And a South America map?


http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/9936/200yearsouthamoj5.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Naxos in Real Time

1 July, 1653 – Porto Seguro is now a core.

25 September, 1653 – Yet another missionary has failed in Judea. Our standing troops put down the rebels, and I order another to the province.

I also send one to Delta while I’m at it.

2 December, 1653 – Mato Grosso expands, more colonists

1 January, 1654 – I order a marketplace in Little Karoo and Morea, Constables in Croatia and Bern.

10 May, 1654 – Mataram expands, more colonists

1 September, 1654 – We fail to set up a colony in Mato Grosso, despite 94% odds.

1 November, 1654 – I send in more colonists.

5 December, 1654 – I decline a military access request from Mamluks. Again.

9 December, 1654 – Our king died. Our new monarch is Francesco VII. Admin 7, military 7, diplomacy 8. Very good.

22 December, 1654 – RM: France.

1 February, 1655 – I order marketplaces in the two Brunei provinces and Makassar.

7 March, 1655 – RM: Castille.

19 March, 1655 – I got New Land Claimed for, of all places, Venezia. I chose to raise the tax base in my most populous province..

1 July, 1655 – The following provinces are now cores – Judea, Gojjam, Dongola, Butana and Berber.

30 July, 1655 – Mato Grosso expands and more colonists are sent

18 September, 1655 – Mamluks grabbed about four poor provinces in a fast war against Swahili.

1 January, 1656 – I have two missionaries come due this month in Delta and Judea. If they do well, then I’ll move on to other things.

9 January, 1656 – Mataram expands and more colonists are dispatched. That’s good news to start out the month.

12 January, 1656 – Once again we fail to convert Judea and put down a rebellion here.

20 January, 1656 – Delta is converted.

I order more missionaries to Judea.

I do not have a lowered badboy, so I can’t take land. However, the war I am about to wage has nothing to do with territory. It is time to tame the Mamluks on a permanent basis.

[Abe Sargent]

No Land Exchanged

1 March, 1656 – I declare war against Mamluks.

All allies are in. Let’s finish this.

17 March, 1656 – We have launched attacks on six provinces simultaneously. Three armies have already arrived.

1 April, 1656 – We broke the defenders in the two provinces with them. A bunch of sieges have begun.

8 April, 1656 – Dayr az Zor has fallen after a quick assault.

11 April, 1656 – Burgundy declared war against Aragon.

29 April, 1656 – Mato Grosso expands.

1 June, 1656 – Our government tech level increases.

3 July, 1656 – Hawran falls to us.

10 August, 1656 – Tabouk fell to us.

22 September, 1656 – I accept a white peace with Kanem Bornu.

24 October, 1656 – Cairo fell.

29 October, 1656 – Sirt fell.

2 November, 1656 – We broke a minor siege of Libya.

1 January, 1657 – I order a Textile manufactory in Liguria.

24 January, 1657 – Al Karak has fallen to us.

23 February, 1657 – Nile fell to us.

29 March, 1657 – Jabal Shammar fell to us.

30 April, 1657 – We capture Cyrenaica.

30 May, 1657 – Mato Grosso expanded.

25 June, 1657 – Kargah fell.

2 August, 1657 – We accept peace on the following terms:

Mamluks gives us 50 ducats.
And they become our vassals.

[Lithium]

Damn, you tamed those beeyotches. I guess you're now THE power in the Mediterranean and Nothern Africa, and are a respectible colonial force.

Are you considering expanding into Southern Europe? Specifically the Spain area. Is Castille or Aragon still around?

[Abe Sargent]

Damn, you tamed those beeyotches. I guess you're now THE power in the Mediterranean and Nothern Africa, and are a respectible colonial force.

Are you considering expanding into Southern Europe? Specifically the Spain area. Is Castille or Aragon still around?

Castille would kick my ass. Aragon is still around, but what do they have left? A bunch of chump provinces. I'll be expanding in a completly new direction in just a few years....;)

[Abe Sargent]

Absorbing the Papacy

10 September, 1657 – Mataram expands and I send one last group of colonists out there.

2 January, 1658 – I offer the Papal States annexation and they agree.

Roma – 318111 Umbrian Catholics work the grain trade here. They make us 25.39 ducats, mostly from taxes. I order a constable built here. It is a core of ours, so no problems with the people.


1 May, 1658 – Our production tech incrased. Colonists expanded Mato Grosso and more are bound.

10 May, 1658 – Once again a conversion attempt to Judea has failed despite around 50/50 odds of it taking. I order more missionaries.

6 September, 1658 – I get an event – Papal State. Some of my people want to be ruled by an independant papacy, or at least the illusion thereof. I choose not to grant the Papal State freedom. Our prestige dropped as did our badboy.

1 October, 1658 – I order colonists to Delagoa Bay, an Ivory province about three provinces up and on the east coast of Africa from Little Karoo.

1 January, 1659 – I order a naval weapons manufactory built in Corsica. Like the other factories, its value increase in a certain province, namely naval supplies, and it adds to our naval tech development.

29 January, 1659 – Mato Grosso grewosso

17 February, 1659 – We get another Papal State event and I lose another badboy point. If I get this event every year or so, it’ll make warmongering a cinch. Imagine the combination of curia controller, high diplomacy and an auto 1 loss each year. I could wage war and gobble up land at a very cheap rate. I think this event may be broken.

My guess is that the event may be the reverse. That you are supposed to increase prestige (you hold the mighty Rome) but increase badboy (but you shouldn’t). In stead it decreases both, but who cares about the decrease.

What I may do is turn the event off if it keeps firing. Let’s give it a little longer and see if this is a reapeatable phenomenon.

28 April, 1659 – Just two months later it fired again. Can you imagine the warmongering potential if I get the event bi-annually? Geez, we’ve to end this, its too broken. I close down the game and look for info online on how to end the event.

Okay, I’ve moved the event out of the folder. Hopefully that will tell it to go away.

[Abe Sargent]

Interlude

12 May, 1659 – Mataram expands and becomes a full city. Let’s take a look:


Mataram – 10073 people work the spice trade here in Mataram. 30.75 ducats are made here for us. I order a fort built here.


1 June, 1659 – Aragon accepted peace with Burgundy but had to lose their north Europe holding of Bremen.

12 June, 1659 – I get Colonial Expansion. 200 people arrive in Mato Grosso and I get 1 more colonist. That makes Mato Grosso a city:


Mato Grosso - 1017 people work the coffee fields here in this South American province. 26.12 ducats are made here. I do not order a fort as I’m almost outta money and want to send this colonist somewhere.


I send colonists to Damaraland on the West Coast of Africa about three provinces up from Cape.

20 July, 1659 - Now, I accept the Mamluks request for military access.

1 August, 1659 – Jamaica is now a core.

8 November, 1659 – We set up a colony in Delagoa Bay.

30 December, 1659 – We fail to convert the heathens in Jaffna.

1 January, 1660 – I send colonists to Delagoa Bay. I build a wall in Mato Grosso. I order another missionary to Jaffna and a marketplace to Korales. I order a constable in Makassar and Taiwan.

22 March, 1660 – RM: Aragon

24 April, 1660 – Damaraland is now our newest colony.

13 May, 1660 – I order a marketplace at Mataram.

1 June, 1660 – Colonists are leaving for Damaraland.

22 August, 1660 – With our badboy gone, its time to prepare for the next major war. This one is going to be the first war in a long time to actually cause our stability to drop.

29 August, 1660 – We failed to convert the people of Judea. Again.

15 December, 1660 – I dissolve our alliance with Tuscany.

1 January, 1661 – I send missionaries to Judea. Probably my last batch.

21 January, 1661 – I decline an alliance offer from Norway.

1 February, 1661 – I cancel military access with Tuscany.

8 February, 1661 – Delagoa Bay expanded.

1 March, 1661 – One of my advisors died. I hire a small colonist guy.

[Abe Sargent]

Two Wars, Both Alike in Dignity, in Fair Verona, Where we Lay our Scene


2 March, 1661 - I declare war against Tuscany. Our stability drops to two.

Austria joins us. I have four armies surrounding the three provinces of Tuscany, because they have a massive army in there. My goal is very simple. Take all three provinces, then peace for vassalizaiton and giving me their two non-capital provinces.

13 March, 1661 – One of our armies arrives at their capital of Pisa and initiates a siege.

15 March, 1661 – Another army arrives in Siena and begins a siege.

They are staying in Firenze as a reserve, waiting for one of my armies to make a mistake – like launch as assault. I have surrounded Firenze with an army on all five sides.

13 April, 1661 – Damaraland expands and I send more colonists.

12 August, 1661 – Siena fell to us.

13 September, 1661 - I order a four way strike on Firenze and the large Tuscan army here.

23 September, 1661 – Our strike begins.

4 January, 1662 – Firenze falls to us. I offer them peace to become our vassals – no change of land. They accept.

23 February, 1662 – Damaraland expands. More colonists are sent.

1 March, 1662 – I send colonists to Delagoa bay.

15 May, 1662 – I order a constable in Mataram

1 July, 1662 – Our land tech increases.

5 January, 1663 – Damaraland expands, colonists sent.

16 April, 1663 – Delagoa Bay expanded. I order in more of the colonists.

22 April, 1663 – We have finally converted the heretics in Judea.

25 May, 1663 – I ask the Turks for military access and they agree.

Our badboy is back down to zero. Time to grab some land.

1 July, 1663 – I send an insult to Candar.

1 August, 1663 – I send another insult.

1 September, 1663 – I declare war against Candar. Their ally, Karamon joins them. Austria joins us. I order troops into Candor and Karamon.

8 September, 1663 – Our Beirut army arrives in Karaman and begins a siege.

22 September, 1663 – Our forces arrive in Kastamon, the capital of Candar.

21 October, 1663 – Kastamon falls after a quick assault.

6 November, 1663 – We begin a siege of Sinope, the other Candarian province.

17 November, 1663 – We fail to set up in Damaraland. I order in more colonists.

18 November, 1663 – We take Karaman after a quick assault.

2 December, 1663 – Sinope fell.

4 December, 1663 – Karaman becomes our vassal and pays us 50 ducats.

5 December, 1663 – Candar becomes our vassal, pays us 50 ducats and cedes us Sinope.


Sinope – This 22707 Sunnis work the naval supplies industry here. 7.24 ducats are made by the Turkish people. This is a core of Candar but not the Ottomans.


Why do a war for this relatively small province?

1) It’s adjacent to Trebizond, a Greek Orthodox province under the control of the Ottomans.

2) It gives us a presence in the Black Sea. It was the only province in the Black Sea that was not under the control of a major power or a capital province.

3) It gives us two more vassals in the area.

[Abe Sargent]

Enemies to Friends


1 January, 1664 – That naval equipment manufactuary was built in Corsica. I order the following:

Refinery in Palermo
Workshop in Mataram
Marketplace in Apulia
Constable in Modena and Savoie


23 May, 1664 – Delagoa Bay expanded.

2 August, 1664 – Aragon rejected a military alliance proposal from us.

1 September, 1664 – Our naval tech increases.

30 September, 1664 – Damaraland expands and more colonists are dispatched.

1 October, 1664 – Jaffna is now a core.

1 November, 1664 – Our production tech increases.

1 January, 1665 – I order the following built:

Constable in Delta, Beirut and Judea and Bahamas
Marketplace in Butana and Cyprus and Turks Islands
Customs House in Makassar
Workshop in Banjarmasin and Sabah

3 January, 1665 – Aragon accepted our offer for an alliance.

5 February, 1665 – Aragon rejects our offer of vassalization. Our relations drop a bit and I’ll have to send over a couple of gifts to get it back up to max.

5 May, 1665 – This time they accept and become our vassals.

I send colonists to Delagoa Bay.

13 August, 1665 – Damaraland expands and I send in more colonists

1 October, 1665 – Mamluks enter into a personal union with Najd, as the leader of said union.

1 January, 1666 – I order marketplaces in the 8 non-gold provinces in South America.

16 January, 1666 – I decline an alliance offer from Hamburg.

10 June, 1666 – Delagoa expanded and I send in more settlers.

25 June, 1666 – Damaraland expands and more colonists are sent

1 January, 1667 – I send a missionary to Damascus

8 May, 1667 – Damaraland expands and more colonists are dispatched.

1 July, 1667 – Roggeveld is now a core

16 July, 1667 – Delagoa expands and I send more colonists.

21 September, 1667 – RM: Castille

1 October, 1667 – Mataram is now a core

1 November, 1667 – Our production tech increased.

1 January, 1668 – I have no badboy anymore. Let’s see what I can do this time

[Abe Sargent]

Asian Exploits


20 March, 1668 – I send more colonists to Damaraland after it expands.

3 April, 1668 – I declare war against Malacca. Our two allies join us. Their two allies, Maldive and Atjeh join them.

This is going to be another of those wars where no opposing province has a fort. As such, there will be a lot of land changing. I don’t want to document all of that, so I’ll just let you know about the end fo the war, fair enough?

12 May, 1668 – I get an alliance offer from the Inca Empire. I decline.

19 August, - 1668 – I capture the capital of the Maldives.

21 August, 1668- I force peace for them to become my vassals and give me 50 ducats.

Delagoa Bay expanded.

1 September, 1668 – I send colonists to Delagoa Bay

1 November, 1668 – Our land tech increased.

1 December, 1668 – Diamientia and Sinai are now cores.

6 December, 1668 – I accept a white peace with Atjeh.

1 January, 1669 – The Refinery is complete in Palermo.

3 January, 1669 – Vijayanagar has allowed us military access.

29 January, 1669 – Damaraland expanded.

1 March, 1669 – I send colonists to finish out Damaraland

13 May, 1669 – RM: Britain

15 May, 1669 – We converted the people of Damascus!

1 July, 1669 – Malacca continues to reject perfectly reasonable peace offers.

3 August, 1669 – Malacca finally accepts our peace proposal. They become our vassals and we get Prey Nokor.


Prey Nokor – This SE Asian province specializes in Spices. 18578 people work here. I order a fort built here. The people here are Khmer Buddhists. 25.49 ducats are made here annually.


9 August, 1669 – Jaffna has converted to Catholicism! I order a constable built there.

[Abe Sargent]

The Golden Age Continues - Friendship into Fealty

(Except for minor conflicts, like the across the world Malacca war or the quick and minor Candar/Karamon war, there have been no major wars for a while now. Ergo, I am naming this the Golden Age of Naxos).

8 October, 1669 – Delagoa Bay expands and more colonists are sent

1 January, 1670 – I order

Weapons Manufactory in Bern
Customs House in Mataram
Marketplace in Bahamas, Vestbygen and Jamaica
Constable in Valencia and Aragon


10 January, 1670 – Damaraland expands and is now a full city.


Damaraland – This ivory province features 21.18 ducats being made by 5084 people. I order a fort built here.


25 January, 1670 – RM: France

1 May, 1670 – Our trade tech increased

3 May, 1670 – RM: Austria

18 July, 1670 – I order a marketplace in Prey Nokor

1 September, 1670 – A level 6 statesmen has arrived in Palermo and I hire him!!

13 November, 1670 – One last batch of colonists are sent to Delagoa Bay.

I send some colonists to Goais, a gold province discovered by my conquistador long ago in the South America region of our colony.

1 January, 1671 – I send a missionary to Tunis.

12 August, 1671 – Our attempt to establish a colony in Goias has succeeded. I send in more.

19 December, 1671 – Delagoa Bay expands and is now a full city.


Delagoa Bay – This ivory province has 6316 people making us 24.50 ducats.


1 January, 1672 – I order the following:

Fort in Delagoa Bay
Marketplace in Damaraland and Jaffna and Naxos
Courthouse in Prey Nokor
Customs House in Beirut and Turks Islands
Constable in Frenche-Compte

I send colonists to Mauritius

5 March, 1672 – I get New Land Claimed for The Baleares and take the +1 tax value.

10 April, 1672 – I offer Tuscany annexation and they refuse. My advisors said there was only about an even chance of it happening. I start sending gifts over to see if we can get our relations up and try again.

11 May, 1672 – Goias expanded.

1 June, 1672 – Our naval tech increases

1 July, 1672 – I send colonists to Goias

7 July, 1672 – RM: Austria

17 September, 1672 – RM: France

2 October, 1672 – I offer Tuscany annexation and this time, they accept!


Pisa – 303291 people work the wine trade here in this core province of ours. 42.50 ducats are made by the Lombard Catholics here. The province comes with virtually every upgrade including a university.

Siena – The Lombard Catholics here number 122039 working the cloth trade. 43.81 ducats are generated here. It comes with almost every upgrade including a university.

Firenze – 564816 Lombard Catholics work the wine trade here in this very valuable Italian province. 48.65 ducats are made here. Like the other two provinces, it comes with a university and almost every upgrade.


We now have all provinces on the Italian peninsula united.

[Abe Sargent]

The Naxos Golden Age - Rally Around the Flag


1 January, 1673 – I order constables in the old Tuscan provinces. I send a missionary to Korales.

31 March, 1673 – Our attempt to expand Goias fails, but the natives do not revolt. I send more colonists in.

30 April, 1673 – On the other hand, we have set up a colony in Mauritius

4 October, 1673 – We failed to convert Tunis.

I order a missionary to Banjarmasin

9 December, 1673 – Candar rejected annexation.

29 December, 1673 – Goias expanded and more settlers were sent out to its gold mines

1 January, 1674 – I order the following built:

Customs House – Savoie, Parma and Brescia
Constable – The Baleares, Apulia
Marketplace – Croatia, Romagna
Tax Assessor – Venezia, Liguria, Napoli, Ferrara and Lombardia

1 February, 1674 – Bern is now a core

25 April, 1674 – Once again, Candar has rejected our offer of annexation.

25 August, 1674 – RM: Burgundy

27 September, 1674 – Goias expanded and more colonists are sent.

1 October, 1674 - I send colonists to Mauritius

20 October, 1674 – RM: Saxony

23 October, 1674 – Candar once again refuses an annexation offer (again my advisors have them at about 50/50)

1 November, 1674 – I have revolt sin both Makassar and Korales.

1 December, 1674 – Our production tech increased.

1 January, 1675 – I order 12 tax assessors built in Italian provinces.

31 January, 1675 – Candar accepts annexation.


Kastamon – This wine province rests west of Sinope on the south coast of the Black Sea and on the north coast of Turkey. 126884 Sunni of Turkish descent live and work here. 25.24 ducats are made here. This province is a core of the Ottomans.


1 February, 1675 – Korales is a core. Our government tech increases.

A level two trade advisor was found in Peidmont. I fire my 37 year old level two tech advisor to hire him. I watch the advisors. The following day our former trade tech advisor is picked up and someone drops a level 3 stability advisor. The next day, someone picks up that advisor and drops a level one production advisor. The following day, someone drops a level 4 colonist make (+0.8 colonists annually) for that advisor. I really want the colonist maker.

I drop my level four tech production maker, who has a few years in him, for this level 4 colonist maker. Now let’s see what happens.

The following day our level 4 production advisor is dropped for a level 2 army advisor. I’d rather have this army advisor than my current level 2 trade advisor, so I drop the guy I just picked up for this army advisor.

That ends the chain, because this new advisor is solely mine for a year. Who knows how long that chain would have gone on?

22 February, 1675 – Francesco VII died. Francesco VIII is our new ruler – Admin: 5, military: 4, diplomacy: 8.

2 June, 1675 – I get Native Attack! event. I chose to defend the settlement and the native hositily in Goias jackets up, several hundred of them die, and I lose 50 people in the settlement.

26 June, 1675 – Goias expands and I send more colonists

1 October, 1675 – Mato Grosso is now a core.

1 January, 1676 – I order a missionary to Tunis.

3 January, 1676 – Aragon rejects our offer of annexation (again, 50/50 roughly, not doing well here recently.)

23 January, 1676 – Mauritius expands and I send in more colonists.

11 March, 1676 – RM: Lithuania

25 March, 1676 – Goias expands and more colonists are sent

1 April, 1676 – Our stability increases back to 3.

23 April, 1676 – I get a Rush of Colonists event and receive 3 free colonists. I need to settle a new place. Where?

I send colonists to Surabaya, a province north and adjacent to Mataram.

5 May, 1676 – Aragon accepts annexation. This increased our badboy a bunch (1 per province at 8 provinces, not colonies).


Barcelona – The cream of the remaining Aragonian provinces. 284344 Catholic make 41.23 ducats. The Catalan wine fields feature a lot of province improvements.

Pirineo – The minor Pirineo is between Girona and Navarra, the land province between the coastal ones. 21582 Castilian Catholics work the poor wool trade, making only 10.3 ducats.

Navarra – The remaining Iberian province of Aragon was this Atlantic facing port province. 23590 Basque Catholics work the iron mines here making 22.86 ducats. This is a core of Foix and Castille.


New World Provinces:

Unami – 2686 people work the fur trade here in Unami (New Jersey). 26.16 ducats are made by the Catalan Catholics. This is a core of Portugal.

Delaware – 2242 Catalan Catholics farm this tobacco province. 32.50 ducats are made annually here.

St. Lucia – This Caribbean Island has 3400 people working the sugar trade. It makes 39.39 ducats annually.

Cumana – This mainland province lies on the north central shore of South America in the Caribbean. 1498 people work the coffee industry here. 26.71 ducats are generated.

Demerara – This mainland province is on the north coast of South America. 31.8 ducats are made by the 2067 people here in the sugar fields.



Colonies:

Caracas
Suriname
Cayenne
Tucujulandia

I’ll send colonists to make these full cities.

[Abe Sargent]

The Naxos Golden Age - Keeping an Umbrella in Case of Rain


20 December, 1676 – Suriname expands and is now a full city.


Suriname – Lombard Catholics number 1228 in this sugar province. 28.45 ducats are made here.


22 December, 1676 – Goias expands and I send more colonists

1 January, 1677 – I order the following built:

Fort in Demerara, Suriname, Cumana, Unami and Delaware
Constable in St. Lucia, Barcelona, Navarra, and Pirineo
Tax Assessor in Piedmont, Naxos and Alexandria


18 January, 1677 – I get this event: Cessation of Church Functions. The church’s functions are beginning to ebb in communities. I can choose to accept it and get a bump in money (250 ducats) from their property but lose some infrastructure (-5% taxes) for 20 years. Or I can take a stability hit and reject it. Neither is good for me, but I take the first option.

5 February, 1677 – I reject an Aztec offer for an alliance.

18 February, 1677 – On a lark, I accept an alliance with Incas. No one’s really touched them, and it might giver me an excuse to war against the Mayas or somebody.

1 April, 1677 – Our naval tech increased

17 May, 1677 – We fail to colonize Cayenne and I send in more

28 May, 1677 – Mauritius expands and I send more colonists.

1 July, 1677 – Revolters in Great Britain have taken the name of England and declared independence. None of these revolters are actually in the English isles.

21 September, 1677 – Goias expands and I send in more colonists.

25 December, 1677 – We set up a colony in Surabaya. I send in more colonists.

1 January, 1678 – Makassar is now a core province.

I order a Fine Arts Academy built in Naxos

16 January, 1678 – We successfully expanded our holdings in Cayenne

15 February, 1678 – RM: Castille

1 April, 1678 – Banjarmasin and Sabah are now cores.

15 April, 1678 – I get New Land Claimed for Cumana and chose increased tax base.

20 June, 1678 – Goias expanded and I send more settlers.

20 September, 1678 – After Taungu rebelled from Malacca, I agree to declare war upon them. Malacca captured it, and I agreed to vassalize them as well.

24 September, 1678 – Mauritius expanded.

1 October, 1678 – I send pioneers to Cayenne. (just a different name for the dynasty)

5 October, 1678 – We have converted the masses in Tunis! I order a constable built here.

19 March, 1679 – Goias expands. I send one last set of colonists to this place. It took a while with the native attack, and two failed attempts.

17 May, 1679 – Cayenne expanded

21 May, 1679 – RM: Portugal. Yes, Portugal offered me a RM!

26 August, 1679 – Surabaya expands and I send in more colonists.

1 October, 1679 – Famous last words strike me as a native uprising kills around 100 people in Goias.

16 December, 1679 – Goias expands. I send more colonists. I’ll say no more.

1 January, 1680 - I order a Textile Manufactory in Brescia.

1 April, 1680 Colonists are sent to Cayenne

1 August, 1680 – Our land advisor died and I hired a level two colonist maker.

21 August, 1680 – RM: Castille

1 September, 1680 Both our land and production techs increased.

15 September, 1680 – Goias finally expands.


Goias – This gold province is adjacent to Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso. 2046 people work the gold trade here. I order a fort built here. 42.46 ducats are made annually here.

[Abe Sargent]

The Naxos Golden Age - Keeping Up With the Neighbors


3 October, 1680 – Castille and Portugal entered into an alliance

15 November, 1680 – Cayenne expanded and I send more settlers to her shores

1 January, 1681 – I send a missionary to Makassar.

I also order:

Constable in Damascus, Girona
Marketplace in Kastamon
Workshop in Vestbygen and Suriname
Customs House in Jamaica


12 March, 1681 – I get New Land Claimed for Palermo.

25 April, 1681 – Surabaya expands and I dispatch more colonists

10 May, 1681 – Francesco VIII died and Giacomo IV is taking over. Admin: 7, military: 3, diplomacy: 8

1 July, 1681 – Cayenne expanded and I sent more colonists.

1 August, 1681 – Our naval tech increased

1 September, 1681 – A level two trade tech investing advisor arrived in Palermo and I hire him in place of my level 2 colonist maker.

I send settlers to Caracas

1 January, 1682 – I send a missionary to Kastamon.

I also order:

Customs House in Roma and Palermo
Constable in Nice
Tax Assessor in Bali-Lombok, Mataram, Savoie, and Crete


14 February, 1682 - Cayenne grows and more pioneers are sent.

1 May, 1682 – Prey Nokor is revolting

8 May, 1682 – Caracas grows and settlers are dispatched

13 August, 1682 – Korales converts to the one true faith!

1 October, 1682 - Cayenne grew.

1 November, 1682 – I order more colonists to Cayenne. Last group?

1 December, 1682 – Tucujulandia got hit hard by a native uprising

27 December, 1682 – Surabaya expanded

1 January, 1683 – I order the construction of two wargalleons

The Fine Arts Academy in Naxos is complete.

28 January, 1683 – Caracas expanded

1 March, 1683 – Settlers leave our harbors bound for Caracas

30 June, 1683 – Cayenne is now a city


Cayenne – East of Suriname, 2012 Catholic Lombard sugar farmers work here making us 30.84 ducats annually. I order a fort here.


1 September, 1683 – Our naval tech increases

29 October, 1683 – Caracas expands and more pioneers are sent

1 January, 1684 – I order a Naval Equipment Manufactory in Alexandria.

1 March, 1684 – We have a revolt in Prey Nokor.

I decide to send a Missionary to Prey Nokor

20 March, 1684 – We fail to convert the people in Kastamon.

14 April, 1684 – Banjarmasin converts.

27 June, 1684 – Caracas expands and more colonists are sent to her fur trading posts.

1 July, 1684 – I order a marketplace in Cayenne after the fort is complete.

1 October, 1684 – Colonists are bound for Mauritius

1 December, 1684 - Three things happen today. Delagoa Bay is now part of our patrimony. We have a rebellion in Prey Nokor. And our trade increased

1 January, 1685 – The textile manufactory in Brescia is finished. I send a missionary to Kastamon and another to Sabah

23 February, 1685 – Caracas expands and more settlers are sent

1 May, 1685 – Damaraland is now part of our patrimony

3 October, 1685 – Surabaya expanded and I send in more colonists

23 October, 1685 – Caracas expanded

[Abe Sargent]

The Naxos Golden Age - Like a Long, Lost Cousin Returning


3 November, 1685 – Malacca rejects annexation

1 December, 1685 – I ship colonists off to Caracas

27 January, 1686 – Mauritius expands

8 March, 1686 – After making nice with the gifts, they reject another offer.

1 April, 1686 – 0ur government tech increases! We can now get a new national idea.

I take Smithian Economics. We get +10 production. Considering the vast amounts of my empire tied into production wealth (Chinaware, gold, wine, sugar, cotton, coffee, ivory, iron, salt, tobacco, cloth, spices, and furs are all average or better at production wealth and we have them (as opposed to, say, tea or copper which we don’t have). Bad producers include wool, fish, grain, naval supplies and currently, slaves).

22 May, 1686 – I get New Land Claimed for Ancona and raise the tax base. Based on this raise, I feel Ancona is now ready for a constable and order one built.

1 August, 1686 – Caracas expanded and I send in even more colonists.

9 September, 1686 - Another rejection by Malacca

10 September, 1686 – I order colonists to set up a colony in Essequibo. This will connect our provinces on the northern coast of South America.

1 January, 1687 – I order a weapons manufactory in Aragon, which has iron.

5 February, 1687 – We annex Malacca.

I annexed 14 provinces. I release several lands as vassals, because frankly, I have no desire for them. Pattani is released as the state Pattani, and is now our vassal. The province of Chaing Mai becomes Lan Na, our vassal. Keng Tong and Megnai become our vassal Chan. Champassak and Luang Prabang become Lan Xang. We now have a badboy of 8 instead of 14.


My new provinces (and I may look to move one or more of these in the future as vassals if possible):

Malacca – The reason for gaining the high badboy, for waging the war again Malacca, and for getting involved here. This is the most valuable province in this area, possibly the most valuable province outside of China in Asia. 744221 people work the spice trade in this center of trade. Look at the number of people, the valuable trade good and the center of trade. That’s a nasty combination. I currently get 60.71 ducats from here, and that’s because the Malay people here are still Sunni. The province comes with just a workshop, so imagine what it will look like once fully built up and Catholic! I order a courthouse built here.

Pahang – Adjacent to Malacca is Pahang. A fort is being built here and will be ready by the end of the month. 6376 people work the fish trade here. Like Malacca, the people here are Malay and Sunni. 5.69 ducats are made here.

Johor – Adjacent to Malacca is the fish province of Johor. 14724 Sunni Malays make us 5.16 ducats.

Panduranga – Up the coast from Prey Nokor, this Hindu province only has 6.98 ducats made by the 52528 fishermen of Cham culture. I order a fort built here. It has a high tax value and should be a high convert target.

Thang Long – This coastal province is just south of Ming. 10.12 ducats are made in the naval supplies business by Buddhists. 23028 Vietnamese work in and around the capital city of Hanoi. I order a fort built here, because it has a very high tax value (10)and is a decent province after conversion.

Binh Tri Thien – This coastal province south along the Gulf of Tonkin from Thang Long features Vietnamese Buddhist fishermen making 5.96 ducats by the 4797 people here. This place comes with a Regimental Camp (faster recruit time).

Khorat – This junky province deep in SE Asia is 20536 people, grain, Buddhist Khorats, 4.01 ducats of ick.

Siem Reap – This inland province is adjacent to Khorat, Prey Nokor and Panduranga. 4404 Buddhists work the grain trade here and make us an outstanding 2.65 by the Khmer.



I understand getting Johor and Pahang, because they are adjacent to Malacca and Mallaca is good enough, but I really want to unload Khorat and Siem Reap. The other three can be upgraded with missionaries and province improvements, but not those.

[Tellistto]

And Naxos grows more. Heck, world conquest, ya still have time.

Tell

[thealmighty]

I'm sure it says somewhere but I don't feel like trying to find where that somewhere is... what is your "badboy" and what exactly is a core province?

Thanks

[sabotai]

"Badboy" is your reputation. The higher it is, the worse it is, meaning the more other nations will hate you. It also negatively effects other areas, such as trade.

Here's the entry in the EUIII Wiki: http://europa-universalis.kerak.com/wiki/index.php?title=Reputation

Your nation considers a core province to be an integral part of your country. Here's the entry on it: http://europa-universalis.kerak.com/wiki/index.php?title=Core

[Abe Sargent]

The Naxos Golden Age - Dealing with Sceptics


26 February, 1687 – Protesting our annexation of Malacca, Atjeh declares war against us. Austria joins us. Brunei and Sulu join Atjeh.

19 March, 1687 – We fail to convert the people in Kastamon.

30 March, 1687 – Caracas expands, I order more colonists.

A Brunei forces arrives at Sabah and begins a siege.

16 April, 1687 – Khorat is captured by Atjeh.

28 April, 1687 – One of our admittedly smaller armies arrives at Lampang and captures it (no fort). I order them deeper into the island.

4 May, 1687 – I decline an alliance offer from Maya.

8 May, 1687 – We fail to set up a colony in Essequibo.

16 May, 1687 – I drive Brunei out of their capital and capture their capital.

21 May, 1687 – I accept peace with Brunei. They renounce their claims on Banjarmasin and Sabah and gave us 9 ducats. I really didn’t want to be at war with them, so that’s fine by me.

24 May, 1687 – Atjeh captures Siem Reap.

1 June, 1687 – Rebels arrive in Thang Long and capture it.

4 June, 1687 – Surabaya expands and I send more colonists. My army captured Palembang. I order them up the island.

5 June, 1687 – Atjeh troops attack and kill my rebels in Thang Long after they move into Atjeh territory. Thanks Atjeh!

15 June, 1687 – We captured the capital of Atjeh with my Jaffnan army. I move them down the island.

20 June, 1687 – We win a minor battle and capture the province of Udong.

30 June, 1687 – Panduranga has been captured by Atjeh.

1 July, 1687 – We captured Sulu.

20 July, 1687 – We capture Aru

23 July, 1687 – We capture Benkulen

1 August, 1687 – Atjeh troops arrive in prey Nokor and begin a siege.

2 August, 1687 – We recapture Siem Reap.

3 August, 1687 – Sulu agrees to be our vassal.

25 August, 1687 – We captured another Atjeh province too big to spell.

28 August, 1687 – Captured Vijaya

31 August, 1687 – We captured Siak and recapture Panduranga

23 September, 1687 – We defeated their troops at Rayong and capture it

25 September, 1687 – We captured the island of Riau.

27 September, 1687 – Atjeh accepts peace for four provinces:

[Abe Sargent]

And Naxos grows more. Heck, world conquest, ya still have time.

Tell

Nah, too unrealistic. Our power right now rivals Portugal at her peak colonially and is less than some powers during European history. We aren't even at English level of colonization in real life at her peak. Nor are we close to sniffing Spain's jock colonially in real life at her height.

[Izulde]

what four provinces did you get in the last war? You didn't put them down ;)

[Abe Sargent]

Vijaya – This coastal fish province connects by land our two coastal Vietnamese provinces and the lower SE Asian coastal provinces of Panduranga. It’s not that valuable on its own, but as a bridge, it has some use. It also has a decent tax base, despite the low ducats 8.61. It has 124434 Cham Hindus. I order a fort built here.

Udong – This coastal province is up the coast from Prey Nokor and adjacent to Siem Reap. Ivory is the key trade good here. 33.98 ducats are made by the 62958 Buddhist Khmer. I order a fort built here as well.

Lampung – On the south east end of Sumatra island, lies this spice province. 22704 Malay Sunni people work and live here making us 31.20 ducats. I order a fort built here as well.

Palembang – This coastal province is adjacent to Lampung. It is also a spice province that I order a fort in. 26004 Malay Sunnis make us 31 ducats even.


My bad boy takes a hit, but as big of one as could have happened. I up my eastern tolerance a little at the expense of protestants and reform.

[Abe Sargent]

We need a new map.


My vassals will have stars by them


http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3561/alandwarinseasiavk8.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

BTW, you might enjoy the title of that map's image in the html.

[Abe Sargent]

The Italian Golden Age - Legacy Claimed



1 October, 1687 – Our production tech increased

1 November, 1687 – I send another group of colonists to Essequibo.

26 November, 1687 – Caracas expands and becomes a full city.


Caracas – This fur province features 4608 Lombard Catholics making 16.75 ducats. I order a fort built here. This is a coastal province adjacent to Cumana.


1 January,1688 – Our naval tech increases. There is a revolt in Binh Tri Thien. I order a marketplace in Malacca and a Courthouse in Binh Tri Thien.

1 April, 1688 – Our land tech increases

2 July, 1688 – We set up a colony in Essequibo. I order more colonists to follow.

1 August, 1688 – Send colonists to Mauritius

18 September, 1688 – I get a Boundary Dispute but choose to settle it since its just over a couple of British colonies.

27 September, 1688 – A lot of city improvements are done in SE Asia, so I order marketplaces in the new non-fish provinces. Courthouses in the other ones.

15 December, 1688 – RM: Funj

1 January, 1689 – Sinope is now a core province. That Naval Equipment Manufactory was built in Alexandria. I order the following:

Marketplace in Caracas, Suriname, Delagoa Bay and Vijaya.

3 February, 1689 – Surabaya has grown and I ship out more settlers.

15 February, 1689 – Essequibo expanded

1 May, 1689 – I send colonists to Essequibo.

3 May, 1689 – I get the following event: Italian Nation.

As the heart of the Renaissance, our nation is blossoming. We have just entered what looks like the start of an artistic rebellion especially in the fields of architecture and literature. The cultural evolution is not aiding our country in protecting its borders, however. Our country is regularly stricken by foreign powers trying to influence us militarily and diplomatically. What do we do?

Form and become Italy
We gain a missionary
A diplomat
And become Italy


We want no part of it.
-2 centralization
-1 tax value in Damascus


I chose to become Italy. I hadn’t set out to do it, but that’s the way the game led us.

[Abe Sargent]

The Italian Golden Age - Waiting for the End of the Day


23 June, 1689 – RM: Great Britain

30 July, 1689 – I get Boundary Dispute and choose to settle it over provinces with Castille in Northern Africa.

29 September, 1689 – I order the following things in my provinces:

Marketplace in Panduranga, Pahang, Johor, Thang Long
Fort in Khorat, Siem Reap

4 December, 1689 – Mauritius expands

16 December, 1689 – Colonization in Essequibo failed but I send more in anyway

1 January, 1690 – I order a missionary to Udong and Vijaya.

1 February, 1690 – I send a group of colonists to Mauritius

8 February, 1690 – I order a Customs House built in Malacca and a missionary sent to Binh Tri Thien

1 August, 1690 – Essequibo expanded and I dispatch more pioneers.

1 September, 1690 – Our production tech increased

30 September, 1690 – I send missionaries to Thang Long and Panduranga

1 October, 1690 – Our naval tech increases

7 October, 1690 – Surabaya expanded

1 December, 1690 – I ship settlers to Surabaya

1 January, 1691– With our naval tech increase, I order an Admiralty built in our capital, which is still Naxos.

17 January, 1691 – Our conversion attempts in Kastamon have failed and the people are rebelling against us.

19 March, 1691 – Essequibo expands…

1 April, 1691 - ….and more colonists are sent

30 May, 1691 – Mauritius expanded

1 July, 1691 – Our great colonist making advisor passed away. I hire a much worse colonist maker.

30 August, 1691 – Makassar has converted!

I order a Tax Assassor built here.

10 September, 1691 – RM: Lithuania

21 September, 1691 – I get New Land Claimed for Roma which I use to increase its taxvalue by one.

23 September, 1691 RM: Castille

15 November, 1691 – Essequibo expanded. More colonists are dispatched

1 January, 1692 – Our Weapons Manufactory ordered in Aragon is complete.

The following building projects are underway:

Workshop in Cayenne, Caracas, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Santana, Roggeveld and Goias
Constable in Cumana, Delaware and Unami and Vestbygen and Sardinia
Customs House in Valencia, Tunis and Damascus
Level 3 Fort in Venezia
Marketplace in Corsica


1 February, 1692 – Our trade tech increased.

1 May, 1692 – There’sa revolt in Vijaya

1 July, 1692 – I order colonists to the newly expanded Essequibo.

5 August, 1692 – Surabaya expanded

1 October, 1692 – I send the go order to a group of settlers in our harbor, waiting to leave for Surabaya’s shores.

16 February, 1693 – Essequibo expands

16 March, 1693 – I get New Land Claimed, this time for Piedmont. From now on, I am abbreviating this event as NLC: with the province name afterwards. I always take the increase in tax value.

6 April, 1693 – Kastamon again casts off our Missionary’s greatest pleas and reject the one true faith. I order more missionaries to the province.

16 July, 1693 – France lost a war against the Cherokee and ceded two of her provinces in the Louisiana area.

1 September, 1693 – Our government tech increased

25 September, 1693 – RM: Austria

8 November, 1693 – RM: France

9 December, 1693 – Essequibo expands and I send in more colonists.

1 January, 1694 – I order a Naval Equipment Manufactory in Beirut, which has naval supplies.

1 February, 1694 – Our land tech increases.

3 June, 1694 – Surabaya grew

26 July, 1694 – Essequibo expands and one last group of colonists set out.

1 September, 1694 – Prey Nokor is now a core

30 September, 1694 – In the same month it became a core province, a missionary failed to convert the province.

1 November, 1694 – I send what may be the last colonists to Surabaya.

21 November, 1694 - I get an event based around my trade advisor. Basicially, because he’s good, I get an event that allows me to choose to reduce inflation or increase taxes for a cuple o fyears. I chose to dock inflation.

[Abe Sargent]

The Italian Gold Age - Preparing a Feast


1 January, 1695 – The natives of Essequibo rise up and destroy part of the colony, two months before the last group of colonists were scheduled to arrive. Now it wil take an additional group of colonists.

1 March, 1695 – Binh Tri Thein is rebelling.

4 March, 1695 – I spend a bunch of money and order a missionary to Malacca. This one missionary almost costs as much as a factory does when you buy your first one (each subsequent factory costs more and more to buy of each type).

12 March, 1695 – Essequibo expands.

20 March, 1695 – We lost agains the rebels who are now besieging the province.

1 April, 1695 – More colonists, more Essequibo

18 May, 1695 – We defeat the rebels.

22 June, 1695 – And yet once more Kastamon has refused to convert. I send even more missionaries. There’s supposedly a 46.4% chance of this thing taking there, you’d figure it would eventually.

4 October, 1695 – Sabah at least converts to Catholicism. They have greater wisdom than the people of Kastamon,

I order a workshop built in Sabah

1 November, 1695 – I send colonists to Mauritius

16 November, 1695 – Essequibo is now a full city.


Essequibo – This sugar province sits on the coast between Cumana and Demerara. 1388 Lombard Catholics make us 35.56 ducats. I order a fort built here.


1 January, 1696 – Our land tech increased

I order missionaries to Palembang and Lampung.

1 April, 1696 – I send a group of colonists to Grao Para, a province adjacent to my South American territories on the north coast.

1 May, 1696 – Our trade tech increased

3 July, 1696 – Surabaya is now a full city


Surabaya – 6070 people work the cotton fields in this Javan province. 30.65 ducats sare made here and I order a fort. It is north of Mataram on the island.


1 September, 1696 – Goias is now a part of our patrimony

1 October, 1696 – I order another mission to Prey Nokor.

8 November, 1696 – Grao Para is now a colony of ours and I dispatch more colonists.

1 December, 1696 – I order a marketplace in Essequibo.

1 January, 1697 – As my badboy winds its way towards zero, I prepare for a war that was inevitable.

[Abe Sargent]

The Italian Golden Age - Ripples on the Sea of Peace


27 February, 1697 – Mauritius expands.

1 May, 1697 – Our naval tech increases.

24 June, 1697 – Grao Para expanded.

4 July, 1697 – I order a marketplace in Surabaya.

8 September, 1697 – Yet another failure in Kastamon, yet more missionaries are sent.

1 October, 1697 – I ship colonists to Grao Para.

30 October, 1697 – NLC: The Baleares

1 November, 1697 – Siena is now a core province.

1 December, 1697 – I order a workshop in Essequibo

1 January, 1698 – Our badboy is almost completely gone, and our war preparations are almost completely finished.

21 May, 1698 – Grao Para grew and more settlers were sent.


I am ready for war now.

There’s this one nation province called Ryukyu on the islands of Okinawa. It has the very wealthy chinaware trade good and no fort. The only thing that has kept me from taking it, is that it is a vassal and ally of Ming. What I need to do is attack Ryukyu, annex it, and then try to become unpalatable to Ming so that they want to end the war rather than continue. To prepare, I have maxed out my defensive armies in Thang Long and Taiwan, in case of Chinese strikes. I also have a large fleet ready to rptect Taiwan if needed.

I declare war on Ryukyu.

Austria joins us and Ming joins them


2 June, 1698 – We defeat the minor Ryukyu defences and capture their province.

28 June, 1698 – We have annexed Ryukyu. I order a fort built here.

8 August, 1698 – Mauritius expands and is now a city. I’ll take a look after the war/skirmish.

30 August, 1698 – We won a sea battle against Ming.

1 September, 1698 – Mauritius is now a core province.

8 September, 1698 - I order a shipyard built at Bali-Lombok

11 September, 1698 – We won another sea battle.

13 September, 1698 – Ming rejects a white peace.

1 October, 1698 – We win another sea battle. Our trade tech increased by one.

17 October, 1698 – Won another sea battle. Tell ya what, I’ll just report it if I, you know, los e asea battle or something. Just assume I’m winning one of these every two weeks or so.

18 October, 1698 – NLC: Venezia

They reject another white peace offer.

19 December, 1698 – NLC: Goias

4 January, 1699 – Grao Para expands and I send out more colonists.

2 February, 1699 – I accept a peace offer from Mign where I pay 200 ducats. I was winning the sea war, but I have no desire to continue this charade of a war. I agree.

We took:


Okinawa – 61630 Shinto workers create and sell chinaware here. 53.82 ducats are being made by the Japanese people here. A fort is currently being built and there are no other buildings here.


And we grew:

Mauritius – 1550 of our people work the sugar fields in this Indian Ocean island. They are also working on a fort. 40.96 ducats are made here,.

[Abe Sargent]

The Italian Golden Age - One Last Gasp of Greatness


23 May, 1699 – NLC: Butana

29 June, 1699 – I order a marketplace built in Okinawa

20 August, 1699 – Grao Para expanded and we sent more colonist

24 November, 1699 – FINALLY. We have finally converted the heretics in Kastamon to Catholicism.

1 January, 1700 – I have four missionaries right now, and I make 1.2 annually. I’ll need them because several provinces have missions come due this next year. I’ll save my money to resend missionaries if needed.

1 February, 1700 – Kastamon is now a core province

3 February, 1700 – I do order a marketplace in Mauritius

1 April, 1700 – Our govnerment tech increases.

6 April, 1700 – Grao Para expands and more colonists are sent

30 June, 1700 – I order a Workshop in Okinawa

1 August, 1700 – Our naval tech increases.

4 October, 1700 – Udong is now Catholic after accepting our teachings!

13 October, 1700 – Vijaya did not convert and instead is rebelling. I order more missionaries sent

20 October, 1700 – Binh Ti Thien converts!

20 November, 1700 – Grao Para grows and I send in more settlers of happiness

15 December, 1700 – I snuck some colonists past the ornery natives in Tucujulandia. I don’t like the colony that much with its tucky fish, but it has an acceptable tax base and more importantly is a land connection in my north coast South American colonies.

1 January, 1701 – I order a Refinery built in Barcelona

20 January, 1701 – RM: Great Britain

1 February, 1701 – Production tech increases

3 February, 1701 – I order a constable in Mauritius

1 May, 1701 – Our land tech increased.

1 June, 1701 – The previous Aragon holdings are now our core provinces.

1 July, 1701 – I order a courthouse in Okinawa

6 July, 1701 – Grao Para expanded and I send in even more colonists.

13 July, 1701 – Both Thang Long and Panduranga have failed missionary attempts. Rebels arrive.

1 January, 1702 – I send more missionaries to Thang Long and Panduranga.

I order level 2 forts in:

Beirut
Damascus
Sinope
Kastamon
Dalmatia

I also order several ships built

3 February, 1702 – I order workshop in Mauritius

22 February, 1702 – Grao Para expands.

1 April, 1702 – And more settlers are sent there

17 May, 1702 - I again snuck settlers into Tucujulandia.

28 August, 1702 – NLC: Beirut

29 August, 1702 – Castille asks for military access and I grant it.

15 November, 1702 – Grao Para expands and is now a city


Grao Para – This coastal sugar province is adjacent to Tucujulandia on the northern coast of South America. 1515 people work the field making 39.6 ducats for us.


1 December, 1702 – Tucujulandia is attacked by natives.

1 January, 1703 – Surabaya is now a core province. All of the provinces that I ordered level 2 forts in I now order level 3 forts in.

I also order level 2 forts in Naxos, Athens and Morea

1 May, 1703 – Our trade tech increased

18 May, 1703 – Tucujulandia expanded and I send more colonists.

30 May, 1703 – 250 year retrospective

[Abe Sargent]

There are no provinces individually listed here, it would take waaaaay too much of my time. Last time it took something like 90 minutes to recap my provinces and this time it would be intimidating.


We currently have 88 infantry regiments, 57 cavalry regiments and 7 cannon regiments.

We also have 7 heavy ships, like caravels and wargalleons. 4 light ships, such as frigates or early frigates. 2 galleys were captured in the Ming war. And we have 26 trasnports, typically flytes and merchantmen.

5 of those large ships are wargalleons. Fear us minor powers, because those rule the sea (as I saw against Ming).


We have been the Papal Controller for decades now and have never stopped being the Holy Roman Emperor since our first induction.

Our inflation is down to 4.2 percent, taking us off the first page. The highest inflation is 20% by the Oirat Horde. Foix is the highest inflated European power at 7%.

We are several levels behind the leaders in all the categories save governmental where we are just one tech catgory behind the leaders.

Currently in the game, there are only three level 6 advisors, and we have one of them, in government tech.

We are the largest nation in the world. We are larger than Ming at number two, Austria at three, The Ottomans at four or the Timurids at five.


What provinces are the highest in production? In order:

Malacca
Makassar
Okinawa
Lombardia *
Brescia *
Bali-Lombok
Taiwan
Palermo *
Napoli *
Korales

Provinces that have an * designate a province with a factory that adds 12 ducats to their total. None of these four provinces would be in the top ten if they did not have those factories. The next four provinces are Tripolitania, Siena, Ferrara, and Romagna, and the of those have Universities, which are a factory that makes duscats as well.

As such, you can see the value of waging wars for these one provinces like Makassar, Okinawa, Tripolitania and Bali-Lombok. Each of those provinces came from a one province nation that we took a heavy badboy hit to capture. You can also see why I jumped on Korales and Malacca when I had a chance. Taiwan is the only colony that charts in the top ten. All of these provinces make more production than our gold colonies.

Right after Romagna are my gold provinces, led by Santana.


Top ten tax provinces, in order:

Venezia *
Liguria *
Alexandria *
Lombardia
Firenze
Roma
Savoie
Mantua
Napoli
Mataram


Provinces with an asterisk signify centers of trade.

Although the previous list was dominated by Asian provinces with wealthy trade goods, this list is dominated by Italian provinces of the same culture as my main. Fully six of these provinces are Lombard Italian provinces, and the one colony that charts is Lombard as well. Napoli charts because of its size (999999), Roma because of its worth as a city, and Alexandria because it is a Center of Trade.

Our other COT, Malacca, is 18th, which is largely because of the religious and cultural differences. Rememebr, Alexandria is now Catholic.

If you want to look at non COT provinces, then the next three provinces on this list are Cape, Barcelona and Valencia. Another colony that high is interesting, and Barcelona and Valencia are on the rich Iberian coast.


Cultures:

Lombard is the largest culture in the land, accounting for around 55% of the people roughly (I’m looking at a pie chart). Our next largest culture is Catalan. After that, we have Greek, Sicilian and al Misr Arabic, following by Umbrian and Malay. No others have enough to even chart.


Religion:

By a large amount, Catholicism is the largest religion in the nation. I’d say it’s around 72-73%. Then the next is Sunni followed by Orthodox right behind it. Religions I have like Shinto and Hindu and Reform and Buddhist if I have any left are mixed together in the remaining 7 percent or so.


Trade Goods:

Fish is my largest export. Boo.
Wine is second, and that’s okay
Sugar is next. Yay.
Grain, ick
Spices, wow
Wool, double ick
Salt, really?


Ming is up to SIX COTs. Geez. Malacca is the fifth most valuable COT by the amount of trade that goes through it (Andelucia is number one).


Trade Goods by Value. Want to know the best trade goods?


Chinaware
Sugar
Tobacco
Tea
Coffee
Spices
Cotton
Ivory
Copper
Cloth
Salt
Iron
Furs
Wine
Naval Supplies
Fish
Grain
Wool
Slaves

(Gold is not a trade good)

As you can see, we have a lot of Sugar. Yay! You do not want the bottom five, because they are el stinko trade-wise.


I was going to take a picture of north South America where we have been colonizing, but then I realize that it’s just a line of eight provinces along the coast. Nothing very sexy to see there.

[Abe Sargent]

The End of the Italian Golden Age - Eclipse


30 December, 1703 – Tucojulandia expanded and more colonists were sent.

1 January, 1704 – I order level 4 fort at Kastamon, level 3s at Morea, and Athens.

1 April, 1704 – I begin to order cannon, ships, cavalry, and infantry in record numbers.

9 April, 1704 – I request and receive Military access through vassal Karamon.

5 July, 1704 – NLC: Calabria

1 August, 1704 – I send a spy into Aleppo to foment rebellion

2 August, 1704 – RM: Burgundy

17 August, 1704 – Tucujulandia expands and more pioneers are sent

1 January, 1705 – I order more forts built. Sinope and Athens to level four. Rhodes and Cyprus level 2s. Level 3 in Naxos.

I continue to order many troops and ships.

8 January, 1705 – RM: Portugal

2 April, 1705 – Tucujulandia expands and one last group (hopefully) is sent.

24 April, 1705 – Malacca converted to Catholicism!

1 May, 1705 – I start hiring generals. This will be a war of epicness

1 November, 1705 – I jack up my military maintenance.

I sent a spy to foment rebellion in Astrakhan.

16 November, 1705 – Tucujulandia expands and is now a full colony.


Tucujulandia – This fish city is between Grao Para and Cayenne. 2468 people work the trade here. 8.4 ducats are made here. I can’t spare the cash to build a fort here anytime soon.


24 November, 1705 – I revoke the Ottoman access to our nation.


1 December, 1705 – Tucujulandia is now a core.

I have a few colonists. I send one to Bourbon, an Indian Ocrean island right by Mauritius. I don’t really ant it, but I don’t want to stockpile colonists over the next bit, and I expect I’ll be really busy.

12 December, 1705 – I ask for and receive military access through Austria.

25 December, 1705 – I send an insult to the Ottomans.

1 January, 1706 – Our government tech is raised. Our badboy from the Okinawan war is almost completely gone, and I’ve been prapping for this war for several years.

26 January, 1706 – I send another insult to the Ottomans. Our relations are now below zero.

1 February, 1706 – Just to get them outta my hair, I send colonists to Blambangan, a coastal province on Java isle next to Mataram and Surabaya.

6 February, 1706 – Brunei and Atjeh are now in a Personal Union, led by Brunei.

27 February, 1706 – NLC: Essequibo.

1 March, 1706 – I check my lines. I declare war against the Ottomans. Austria and Crimea join their respective allies. Blood will rain from the sky and the heavens will open up.


War has begun. The Golden Age of Italy is over.

[Groundhog]

Oh boy, can't wait...

[Abe Sargent]

I haven’t started the war yet. Let’s review a few things. What preparations have I made?

We now have 98/90/18 infantry/cavalry/artillery

I have four smash armies, exclusively cavalry. One is stationed in Dalmatia, Beirut, our vassal Karamon, and Athens. Each army has been ordered to a province adjacent to it with Turkish soldiers. Each of these armies has a general. The purpose of these armies is to quickly and efficiently engage the enemy, win, and chase down the remnants or move on the next enemy and continue engaging. These armies are designed to smash and fade.

Behind them there are three sieging armies in Damascus, Modena and Dalmatia. These armies have generals with a siege value. They are heavy infantry typically with one cannon regiment. They move into provinces that have been cleared out by our smash armies and are to siege and capture opposing provinces. They are large enough to be used in an assault or to engage forces if necessary.

We also have several defensive armies, which are typically a mix of infantry and artillery with a few cavalry sprinkled in. These are stationed in Naxos, Judea, Kastamon and Sinope. Their goal is the hold the line and do not allow Turks into or through the key provinces (Dalmatia, Athens, Beirut and Damascus). They can be used as backup siege armies when needed.

I have several reserve armies. A reserve army is currently located in Cyprus. I may sail it into Turkey, or over to plug a hole where needed. Another infantry and artillery only army has been built on the Italian peninsula. Those troops are currently marching down the peninsula and grouping them. I expect I may need this in Greece or Turkey.

More cavalry are under construction in 8 Italian provinces.

In the naval arena, I have several plans ready. In Sinope and Kastamon there are a Wargalleon/Frigate navy. These navies are to move into the Black Sea and engage any and all Turk/Crimean vessels. They will hopefully win all of their battles.

3 more Wargalleons and another Frigate will be patrolling the Aegean and adjacent areas. They will be keeping any Turks and Crimeans out of the vulnerable capital area of Naxos and hopefully beign a wall keeping them from the Mediteranean. I want full movement and access in the Med.

Meanwhile, I have one Wargalleon escorting my 11 Flytes, or transport ships. If the enemy attacks and breaks us at, say, Sinope, I can sail troops in, with my escort and the nearby vessels.

This is why I went after Candar and Karamon, and one of the reasons I kept pushing the Mamluks despite taking all of their good provinces earlier. In many ways, the entire game has been building up to his war.


If I lose, I intend to lose magnificently.

As I showed you the Ottomans are no joke. They are one of the largest nations in the world, and they have a ton of great provinces.

This will be my hardest war ever. It will be very difficult to keep track of everything at once. However, I expect it to be a coup de gras.


You will get a map before we start.

[Abe Sargent]

Here is our new map. You will note that the new map color of Italy is a green very close in shade to the Ottoman green.

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/5807/warof1706wp0.jpg



Legend:

Hammer - This designates a smash army
Catapult - This designates a siege army
Arrow - This designates a defensive, hold the line army
R - This designates a reserve army

[sachmo71]

One could make the argument that they represent campaigns...:cool:

and it's stated that way in the manual.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I haven’t started the war yet. Let’s review a few things. What preparations have I made?

Enough with this strategy talk. You promised blood raining down! I want blood NOW!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Abe Sargent]

Before you begin any war, you should know what your desired outcome is. These are provinces that I would consider taking and why:

Janina – Strategic. Taking this province would protect three of our provinces it can reach. It would reduce our surface area.

Salonica – Cultural. As a Greek province continguous with Athens, this is a very important province to take.

Trebizon – Cultural. As a Greek province adjacent to Sinope in the Black Sea region, this would be a nice province culturally.

Edirne – Cultural. Another Greek province.

Macedonia – Cultural. The last Greek province outside our territory. Inland, and not highly desired.

All four Greek provinces are relatively poor. Of them, only Salonica is of much commercial value to us, but it is of little value to the Ottomans and would not hurt them to take it (value to us is taxvalue, and Greek Orthodox)

Antalya – Economic. This may be the most valuable province outside of the Ottoman’s two COTs. Taking it would be a great blow to them and a boon to us. It is adjacent to our vassal Karamon.

Smyrna – Economic and Strategic. This coastal province adjacent to Antalya would be nice if I captured numerous Turkish coastal aprovinces. It is also one of two Turkish provinces that has their harbor in the Aegean Sea, with our capital so close.

Bursa – Economic and Strategic. The other province overlook the Aegean is this cloth coastal province. This would be a nice take.

Bithynia – Economic and Strategic. Capturing this province cuts the Ottoman empire in half ground wise. It has a high strategc value for that reason. It’s also a pretty valuable province economically. It is even continguous with Kastamon.

Aleppo – Economic and Strategic. This province decreases our surface area with the Maluks from two provinces (Beirut and Damascus) to one (Aleppo). It is also a solidly valuable cloth province.


I am not getting all of these. However, if I can only get a few, I would want them in this order:

Antalya
Salonica
Bithynia
Janina
Smyrna
Bursa
Aleppo
Trebizon
Edirne
Macedonia


That shows you what may targets are. I have to capture the provinces that I want to keep in peace negotiations, (unless they are core, but none of these are our cores).

[damnMikeBrown]

This one makes me a little nervous.

[nilodor]

The suspense is killing me, hopefully this battle lives up to the hype.

[Qwikshot]

The suspense is killing me, hopefully this battle lives up to the hype.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i107/qwikshot1975/wonka_wilder.jpg

"The suspense is killing me...hope it will last."

[Abe Sargent]

The Ottoman-Italian War - Phase One: The Initial Thrust



The War


I begin by ordering my smash armies into provinces with defenders, so that they can hit people. I order siege armies into provinces that the smash armies vacate.

Let’s do this.

5 March, 1706 – We win a naval battle in The Black Sea.

11 March, 1706 – By now, we have won two more sea battles. Our Karamon troops arrive in a central Turkish province of Angora.

12 March, 1706 – Athens troops arrive in Salonica

13 March, 1706 – Beirut troops arrive in Aleppo

14 March, 1706 – Dalmatian troops arrive in Ragusa.

15 March, 1706 – I lost a Frigate in the Black Sea.

20 March, 1706 – Our smash army in Angora is losing. I order them to retreat to Karamon before the army is completely lost.

26 March, 1706 – My smash army in Aleppo won.

Heavy naval fighting in the Black Sea has resulted in us losing two more frigates. They are practically all gone now. The Wargalleons, on the other hand, are doing well.

31 March, 1706 – We lost another naval battle in the Black Sea. We also lost a Wargalleon.

1 April, 1706 – I won a major battle in the Black Sea. I order my Wargalleon that normally escorts the transports into the Black Sea. I am going to have to field one major navy in order to break up the heavy naval fighting.

5 April, 1706 - Wwe lost another Wargalleon.

13 April, 1706 – We attack the fleeing forces in Adana from the Aleppo battle.

16 April, 1706 – I lost another Wargalleon.

We won in Adana. I order my smash forces on.

18 April, 1706 – Our smash forces barely won in Salonica

20 April, 1706 – Our siege army arrives in Aleppo from Damascus. The defensive army is in Beirut. The East Flank is doing well. The Underbelly not so well. The West Flank has yet to break through, but a second army joined the Turks, and I believe we will win in Ragusa. The Greek flank is okay. The naval battle has been disasterous.