Netherlands - Going East & Merchant Republic

[Gzav8]

Hi guys,

I started a new game as Holland while lunching at work and it went unexpected:
Core on our rivals triggered in 1401 and Burgundy annexed Hainaut in 1403... With a -6% interests advisor and some loans I built a rather big army, annexed Utrecht, Friesland, Breda and Gelre in two successive wars. I formed Dutch Nation in 1406, allied with France and DoW Burgundy to get the rest of the cores. By 1410 all Netherlands cores were mine plus Ghent who is germanic culture and pretty rich too. So here I was, 1410 almost as powerfull as Austria. And... 1416 France fall in a Personnal Union with me ! And France control almost all its cores.

So for now all my Europeans objectives are accomplished, I dont want to expand more as I like to play Roleplay and mainly because Netherlands base taxe are just axesome, nothing under 6... So I went colonial:
I sailed to New World and annexed Mexico + the other province with gold there + a random port. I also annexed both provinces of Ceylan Island in India. I'm waiting for them to core to get all Carribeans as I only want the richest colonies to stay rather small compared to others big Europeans and colonial nations.

I lack bigger objectives tho, colonize Caribbeans, ok, but what to do in India ? So here are some questions:

- How does the Gold Income works ? Is it worth it to rush for some gold provinces as I've done for Mexico ? Is it worth it to form a small colony in South America & East Africa to get more gold provinces ?
- I'm planning on becoming a Merchant Republic, but I dont have the "Form a plutocrative administration" or whatever is the decision. Do I need government 12 ? And then how can I make people join my Trade League ? Venice & Hansa are dominating all Europe with theirs.
- India has a rather high base taxe so I'm planning on annexing a big part of it. I never went to China before but I've read that it is quite rich too. Where should I expand in the east to have the richest provinces ? Keep in mind I want to be the smallest possible, still the richest !

Thanks

[Pacius Ferox]

Okay, in my Dutch game I started as Holland, got bulldozed by Burgundy, changed via save game to Utrecht, lost a war to Brabant and changed again the nation, now that Brabant. I probably formed the Netherlands some time around 1477 after diplomatic annexations. I had then all the Dutch provinces plus all the Flanders provinces (a historic 'why not?')

1406? - I'm jealous. And still catholic.

[Kurblius]

I spend months painstakingly learning every detail about the trade mechanics of the game, and then a guy like you just comes along and becomes a superpower in 1410 without even the most rudimentary understanding of how trade leagues or gold works...

AAARRRRGGGHH!!! I hate you!

[Y2Jonathan]

To form a merchant republic, you first must be a republic of any kind so you'll need government 10 to switch to a noble republic. Second, you'll need a CoT in your capital so you'll have to build one in Holland. Third you need something like 25 merchants placed in various CoTs which shouldn't be too hard as the Netherlands.

In terms of best colonies, I believe the strongest locations are Central America, The Caribbean, India, and Southern China. Gold is good for a while but long term its value will diminish compared to the exotic goods. I'd say instead of annexing the Incan and Mutapan gold mines simply declare war and steal the money they are making off of them every few years.

[Gzav8]

When luck goes on early in the game, everything is possible... Noob's luck as we say

I moved my capital to Antwerp who is still a center of trade and I have 5 merchants in every CoT I can reach. So now I have to switch to Noble Republic (I have Gov 13) but I just dont have the option to do so. The only change available is Despotic Monarchy. Has it something to do with the centralization slider ? I'm something like -3 or -2 tho.

[Slym]

If you're a feudal monarchy I think you have to go to despotic first then to noble republic, but I'm not sure.

[Gzav8]

It worked ! Thanks a lot guys

[JKNUBZ]

If you're looking for the richest colonies, don't neglect indonesia.

[magitsu]

OP Remember to turn in lottery ticket next week as you seem to have lady fortuna on your side. What difficulty setting did you use?

Or then look up DDRJake at the AAR-section and make a claim for his throne

Spice islands as in East Indies (Indonesia) are very rich. Gold is among the worst trade goods in the end. But I suspect that you'll get bored before the end by estimating the speed of your current conquest.

[simon chatfield]

Hi guys,

I started a new game as Holland while lunching at work and it went unexpected:
Core on our rivals triggered in 1401 and Burgundy annexed Hainaut in 1403... With a -6% interests advisor and some loans I built a rather big army, annexed Utrecht, Friesland, Breda and Gelre in two successive wars. I formed Dutch Nation in 1406, allied with France and DoW Burgundy to get the rest of the cores. By 1410 all Netherlands cores were mine plus Ghent who is germanic culture and pretty rich too. So here I was, 1410 almost as powerfull as Austria. And... 1416 France fall in a Personnal Union with me ! And France control almost all its cores.

So for now all my Europeans objectives are accomplished, I dont want to expand more as I like to play Roleplay and mainly because Netherlands base taxe are just axesome, nothing under 6... So I went colonial:
I sailed to New World and annexed Mexico + the other province with gold there + a random port. I also annexed both provinces of Ceylan Island in India. I'm waiting for them to core to get all Carribeans as I only want the richest colonies to stay rather small compared to others big Europeans and colonial nations.

I lack bigger objectives tho, colonize Caribbeans, ok, but what to do in India ? So here are some questions:

- How does the Gold Income works ? Is it worth it to rush for some gold provinces as I've done for Mexico ? Is it worth it to form a small colony in South America & East Africa to get more gold provinces ?
- I'm planning on becoming a Merchant Republic, but I dont have the "Form a plutocrative administration" or whatever is the decision. Do I need government 12 ? And then how can I make people join my Trade League ? Venice & Hansa are dominating all Europe with theirs.
- India has a rather high base taxe so I'm planning on annexing a big part of it. I never went to China before but I've read that it is quite rich too. Where should I expand in the east to have the richest provinces ? Keep in mind I want to be the smallest possible, still the richest !

Thanks

indias base tax is irrelevant, since you will lose 90% of it to the "distant overseas" modifier-you cant become a republic until france breaks your PU.

[Gzav8]

I'm playing in Normal all settings to default. Should have take a screen tho

France get out of the union only 10 years later. I got steamrolled by France in 1500 by the way...

I tried the Merchant Republic but the Trade League thing messed up with my Free Trade maxed out so I made less money than before. Load a previous save and get back with Noble Republic.

So for colonies the only thing relevant is what they produce then ?

[Hatkah]

I did something very similar to what you are doing in my netherlands game.
If you want to stay small and rich colonise only the caribbean islands as they WILL have valuable trade goods.
I then moved on and conquered india and south china and colonised the indonesia area. If you also capture CoTs you will make yourself very rich indeed...

[magitsu]

So for colonies the only thing relevant is what they produce then ?

Yes, trade value (trade good) is just about the only thing that counts. You can significantly amplify demand by building high level trade buildings everywhere. Some other buildings will also generate demand. Look up EU3wiki (www.paradoxian.org/eu3wiki) for more.
If the base tax is above 6 you might get something. If above 4 you'll probably get something when you raise war taxes.

[Iwo Jima]

So for colonies the only thing relevant is what they produce then ?

All trade values will be counted in your CoTs, where your merchants should be placed. So, you want the most expensive trade goods - Coffee, Tobacco, Sugar, Wine, Slaves, Ivory. Read about prices for trade goods, since the prices are dynamic, not constant.

tariffs is the main income item for colony. but it's based on production value and tax. so you want colonies not only with high trade value, but also with high taxes. Don't forget about +25% bonus for Slaves trade leader and +5% for each naval slider move.

taxes on theirself are not high in colonies, since -90% penalty for overseas. But constable will rise this significantly (10%+25%=35%). Also, there are some decisions that gives you bonus to overseas income (Naval Patrols and Enlist Privateers). Add to this, that taxes once a year goes to your money score, not to the total income. So, don't ignore taxes in colonies.

So, the best colonies are - east USA around Manhattan, all Caribbeans, North-East Brasil, North Argentina, South Africa, California, Australia and North NZ.
Dutch East India (Indonesia) is good for trade goods, but has a low taxes. And it is tropical, means colonies will grow slow. So, DEI is not in first priority.