A shot of tAQUILEIA... an [IN] learning AAR

[unddu]

Smithian is great, I always tend to pick it, doesn't really matter what type of game I'm playing I always end up with exacly the same NIs!

It's 20% eff innit? They made it better when compared to NA.


Also there are some great gov types you might want to try:

-Const republic: <-- the best : unlimited cent slider 20 % prod eff ADM eff 1
-Abs Monarchy<---- if you can't keep the WE down, perhaps best used with Patriarchate? ADM eff .9! -5 max WE +1 RR
-rep dictator<---- 10% navy and army morale ADM eff .9!


Those are all nice

Also: Viceroy is nice, but if you can just link the nations up with the rest of your empire, there wont be any tariffs anymore :rofl:

 

[Beamed]

If it's 20% then that doubles the strength of my argument!

 

[unmerged(69928)]

I don't think anybody has mentioned it, but the difference is simply because you get a big bonus to supply limit in your own territories.

Actually it was. Well, to be specific it was a known entity due to my NI's. Both of us knew the what, it was the how and why we were puzzled about.

It all basically adds up to attrition, and how to avoid it, and it stemmed from seeing Austrian provinces with a FL of 5 (five!). That's really low for a developed province. Even so, if it had 5 and I took it over with a FL modifier of 50%, it should hold 7 or 8 when I take it, not 14. There had to be other factors at work, and we were wondering aloud what they might be or how they work.

It was also meant as a heads up for those new to the game as one of those odd little things that can make you go "Hey!" or "WTH?" when all your men seem to disappear for no reason and your WE skyrockets...

T

 

[unmerged(69928)]

I'm totally going to go against the crowd and suggest you choose Smithian Economics!

Why? Well, the answer is twofold.
A) You have all those provinces connected to your capital which will also benefit from this.
B) Your empire is so large that the 10% Smithian Economics provides is enormous.
As well, I have no idea what your sliders are like, but if Land<->Naval is predominantly Naval, the bonus for your overseas provinces will be that much more, and Viceroys' effect will be amplified by the time your next idea rolls around.

I have to have trade or production tech to 30 for that one, yes?

Sliders are all fairly centered except for Full Left on Central and -3 Mercantile. I believe I am One to Quality and One to Defensive. Should be it.

I CAN say it will be 2015 before I get a land connection for alot of provinces, and Africa will probably not quite get there.

I'll keep it in mind though...

Thanks for 'splaining too...

T

 

[unmerged(69928)]

Smithian is great, I always tend to pick it, doesn't really matter what type of game I'm playing I always end up with exacly the same NIs!
It's 20% eff innit? They made it better when compared to NA.
Also there are some great gov types you might want to try:
-Const republic: <-- the best : unlimited cent slider 20 % prod eff ADM eff 1
-Abs Monarchy<---- if you can't keep the WE down, perhaps best used with Patriarchate? ADM eff .9! -5 max WE +1 RR
-rep dictator<---- 10% navy and army morale ADM eff .9!
Those are all nice
Also: Viceroy is nice, but if you can just link the nations up with the rest of your empire, there wont be any tariffs anymore :rofl:

The thing with Governments is at this time I only have 1 Monarch type that's not very good to change to. Is there a chain I have to follow to get to the ones you suggest?

I think you may actually be proud of me... I have yet to write it up, but last night I took the Otts to funky town and back again. 99% WS cuz I didn't want to take a boat to Ireland and take the last couple he had.

Really makes me want peace deals reworked though. All that for a couple of provinces... UGH. I wonder if I do it again and just stay at war the rest of the game he'll be nicer.

T

 

[unmerged(92044)]

Changing to an Absolute Monarchy is going to drop your stability enough that you can just go to a Despotic Monarchy, and then to an Administrative Monarchy (which is probably the best government for your empire until Constitutional Republic becomes available in the early 40s, IIRC).

EDIT: Probably best to swap out another idea before you do all this, since you'll end up at -3 stab anyway.. Like, uh, Grand Army for Scientific Revolution or Smithian Economics.

Might want to convert everything before, too, to get the Theocracy's full effect.

 

[unmerged(69928)]

Changing to an Absolute Monarchy is going to drop your stability enough that you can just go to a Despotic Monarchy, and then to an Administrative Monarchy (which is probably the best government for your empire until Constitutional Republic becomes available in the early 40s, IIRC).

EDIT: Probably best to swap out another idea before you do all this, since you'll end up at -3 stab anyway.. Like, uh, Grand Army for Scientific Revolution or Smithian Economics.

Might want to convert everything before, too, to get the Theocracy's full effect.

IIRC I just got the tech that enabled ADM Monarchy... So, IF I understand correctly...

1- Convert everything Pro before I change due to Theo's bonus.
2- Just before switching Govt switch NI's. Recommendation Grand Army due to having high enough MP already to something financial in nature... Also due to the fact I will lose Stab anyways, so I might as well lose it all at once...

Correct?

Will I be able to change to ADM Monarchy right away or is there a 10 year waiting period or?

Is there a flowchart (OMG! he said flowchart!) showing the order and/or relationships etc. that you are aware of ??? I'm going to have to check the wiki now too... research... research. You know that's why it's called REsearch don't ya ? Cuz you have to do it again and again...

I am greatful for the walk through! Usually I have already started a new game... (well, actually I did... with Austria, but don't tell. )

T

 

[unmerged(92044)]

There's a non-IN flowchart on the wiki and someone made an IN flowchart, but I didn't save it.

And that's exactly what I was saying, though due to how easy it is to convert (relatively) you probably don't need to convert -all- of your provinces, just the juicy/pagan ones.

There's no waiting period for government swaps, IIRC.

 

[LeifNepstad]

I vote Republican Dictatorship or Constitutional Republic for final government type. [Or perhaps, you could go from one to the other.]

 

[unddu]

I'll help you with that Ant :
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?t=361104

A nice flowchart

I wouldn't even bother with waiting for the convert: Hell I always find it easy enough to convert no matter what religion or government I am.

And toss Grand Army out of the door +33 force limits, I wasn't happy when you picked it in the first place


(Btw Austria is like cheating: The only thing worse is .... France....!)

 

[unmerged(69928)]

I got the chart, so now I can figure this all out. Once I get back to playing... I have alot to type for the updates and that is up next.

I agree that Constitutional Republic or Republican Dictatorship will be good candidates for the final Govt. type, with a spell in ADM Monarchy on the way.

Looks like two moves at least to get to ADM, and then another two to get to the finals. Looks like a Negative Stab Fest heading my way next round to get into ADM.

I'm looking forward to it anyways. It'll be the first time for Govt. jumping... Thanks for the push guys!

T

PS: I play Austria when I want to relax and have a little fun. It's my "unwind" nation. It's like having a beer after mowing the lawn... I have never played as France though. That just looks TOO easy

 

[unmerged(70585)]

Nice to see that the first piece has been cut off those damn otts.

Hopefully, sicily will see thr light and join for the greater good.

Just a minor bone of contention, Why give up on the theoacracy? Isn't that the start of the AAR? Wouldn't changing government change the difficulty factor and lose the spirit of the story?

but i'm just nit picking

I love this aar, can't wait for the next update

 

[unmerged(69928)]

Nice to see that the first piece has been cut off those damn otts.

Hopefully, sicily will see thr light and join for the greater good.

Just a minor bone of contention, Why give up on the theoacracy? Isn't that the start of the AAR? Wouldn't changing government change the difficulty factor and lose the spirit of the story?

but i'm just nit picking

I love this aar, can't wait for the next update

You are right, but I am slowly being "convinced"... I did want to stay a Theocracy for the handicap factor, but as things have progressed I want to take the "learnding" part a bit further. It will help with the war mongering if I swap out.

Tell you what:

I put it to a vote... A simple yes/no for staying in Theocracy. The "Polls" will remain open until the next set of updates is done and posted. (The Checks will be in the mail, as always )

Speak now or forever hold your peace, as my daddy always said.

Majority rules, one vote per person. Dogs can vote twice. Cats can vote once per life, but must show verification they died and came back for each vote. Donkeys can vote, but they won't count.

T

 

[unmerged(69928)]

And toss Grand Army out of the door +33 force limits, I wasn't happy when you picked it in the first place

Just curious, but with such low MP at the start, no real cash to spare, Bohemia and Austria both bigger and badder, what would you have done?

I imagine I could have loaned and Merc'd the first few provinces. I was mostly looking to be able to keep a standing army near what my neighbors had without incurring the over FL penalty, which would have taken the paltry ducats I got for taxes before I ever saw them. In the end it was pay or pay, robbing peter to pay paul so to speak, but I don't regret the decision.

I think it may be that I am defensive in nature when I play. I really hate to lose even one province once I have it, so I tend to keep alot of guys in reserve watching over things. Plus it does help keep some of these bigger nations off my back.

Anyways, I should be typing updates, shouldn't I ???

T

 

[unddu]

Well I guess my vote is pretty obvious : You HAVE to change govs, if not for the bonusses that the gov provide then for the max cent slider: You need to go for full cent always: It's folly not to do so :rofl:



Concerning the grand army part of things:
I would have gone: National Bank. Why? Well grand army doesn't give you any more MP, it's just increases the amount of armies you can have. In order to be able to pay up for the number of soldiers needed, you need to mint quit a lot. National bank is pretty much the NI I get in every single game: It's priceless. I would have gone for Banking and then build soldiers up to what I can pay. Even if I would have picked Grand Army then I still would not be able to pay for all those soldiers without gaining inflation. I don't want inflation! I also hate mercs and only use them once every single game: Namely in the first year when as a 1 province minor I need to expand to a two province minor ASAP. After that I'll never need them.


edit; I also hate losing provinces, but for some reason I never seem to loose anything anyway , my Mecklenburg RPing AAR game was the last time I had to give something up (my dirt poor vassals ^^)

 

[Beamed]

I have to have trade or production tech to 30 for that one, yes?

T

Yes. Don't tell me you were naughty and tech rushed for Gov. 30!

 

[unmerged(69928)]

Yes. Don't tell me you were naughty and tech rushed for Gov. 30!

But of course... Sometimes I like being naughty... Though usually it ends me in trouble.

T

 

[Beamed]

We shall see the repercussions, then!
Eagerly awaiting the next update.

 

[unmerged(69928)]

Day Nine​

A time of brief celebration followed by everyone and their uncle wanting something...

The date is November the 15th, 1661. A day that will long be remembered... because I wrote it down. The victory over the Ottomans was sweet, but like any candy once enjoyed, it just creates an overwhelming urge for more of it. Unfortunately we are in no position to press forward. A Llama with two feet and a broken back would have more success than we could at this point...

Our BB is at a startling 24.24, our manpower is exhausted and our people riot in the streets for more Broadway musicals and fiction books, along with the occasional screaming Mel Gibson impersonation crying freedom in a vain attempt to forge some newfangled homeland...

Now see... These guys GET IT:

I'M in charge here. I own it. It's mine. Every last pixel of it belongs to me. I needed a place to go in the winter months. A place to kick back with an adult beverage and lime, rub some sand in my toes and chaff my bottom silly on the dance floor till 4 am every night.

And its so much fun to see their little faces scrunch when I tell them. They say "Oh, you own this lovely establishment?" "Oh Heavens NO..." I calmly reply. I bend over just a little and flash a knowing grin as I tell them..."No... I own the little Island it's BUILT on!"

Anyways, on to the business of the day... "Paper boy, Where are my dispatches?"

We pan over to the left, to a tall desk in the corner of the court meeting hall, behind which the keeper of the royal documents is sorting the Kings daily dispatches from the Province Governors throughout the kingdom:

"Paper Boy, Humpf... I got your paper boy right here. Let us see... morning dispatches... yes, there we are... Looks like almost all the provinces have reported in. Good Good. No reaming the Royal Document Specialist today because some make believe provincial appointee forgot how to use his pen. Well now, lets see:"

Oh my. Rebels... and Rebels... and a rebellion!!!

And more Rebels... More Rebels??? And Rebels... Oh, More about Rebels:

Oh, What's this? We can make new boats? Cool. The King will be pleased about this. I'll have to drop a hint about the finest trees in the kingdom he can use to build them. Straight and true, easy to get to. Right there in my next door neighbor's front yard. Hah! I can see his face as they cut his front yard down... FOR BOATS! That will teach him to pretend to not see where his mutt leaves his muffins... Hmmm, more Rebels, more Rebels. I guess I can take these into the King so he can start "reading"...

We rejoin the King as he reads through the distressing news:

"Will you look at this? We kick butt from here to India to Africa and back and these people want to do is bitch. Rebels, everywhere it's rebels, rebels and more rebels. And their sisters:"

Oh and look here, more rebels!

Hey Court, anybody in this kingdom do anything but fight rebels? Well it seems to be all we're doing lately. Doesn't ANYBODY do anything else? Like maybe cook LUNCH? It is 10:30 already... Well call it a damn snack then! All this rebellion nonsense is making me hungry...

Oh hey, now, look at this one... That's how you take care of them Rebels:

Yeah... That's how it's done! I need to make an example of this boy... (picks up phone): Hey sally, This guy in Delta province, The one who dispatched all those screamy mimis to rebel hell... Send him a ring or something. No better yet, send him one of those royal towels with my initial on it... Yeah, one of those, yeah. How do I know if he likes white? Just send him one... It's from the KING. Besides, everybody loves a good towel...

Hey! Harry you old bugger. How do you always win these? That's like the fifth office pool this year already...

(The phone rings...) Hey, how you been? What? Me? No... No, Harry won it again. I know, luckiest SOB I ever met. (puts his hand over the mouthpiece and turns to the old man at the end of the table) Harry, you will tell me how you do it before you die, won't you? What do you mean maybe? How bout I arrange for you to maybe, like die... like tomorrow...

Time flies on to May:

The Royal Document Specialist approaches with a sheaf of papers: "Here are the daily dispatches, sire..."

"Hmm? Oh yeah. It's not going to be all that Rebellion stuff again, is it?"

Damn.

Double Damn!

Oh jusse frisse misse munchin fargin tarter kickin spit lizard lickin ....

What the heck is going on here? And hey... Bure? I thought we bought him out???

 

[unmerged(69928)]

So what can you do while you wait... I had to literally sit on my hands to not go after some of those prime little targets that are just waiting for me to, um... "claim" them. Yeah, "claim" them... that's the ticket.

With all the tax assessors and Market places and such being built, I figured it was a worthwhile change to make when a decent Statesman arrived:

It's a long way between techs now, and any help is good help.

Massina pops core and I get a free Fort 2 in Trent. Always handy those. I then pop a lucrative trade event that gives me +30 Trade tech a month for the next year. I mean really... 50d or 320d in Trade Tech? Oh, stop the world and let me think it over... Then a core in Wajasu, another Fort 2 in Zandura.

And then this:

Heavens to Mergatroid... Just as I'm getting ready to pause, another one kicks so I end up with:

WE and BB down, Prestige and Diplo skill Up? No thinking required here. "I'll take a number 3, Instant War Monger Repair kit... Medium with a Vanilla Shake..."

It does mean removing my judge, who's just shy of exceptional... but I go for it.. Revolts are starting to quiet down now, and I want the extra WE reduction.

Man, I do like this event:

An extra tax base isn't much, but after all those modifiers I currently enjoy... And seriously, how can you complain about more money? Well I guess you could, but it really would be a terrible waste of breath.

I finally get Jenne to go Pro, and then get another +1 tax base event in Romagna. I'm ping ponging like mad out by Malabar, and I get another +10% defense event for Sopron. It's all OK so far, until:

I needed that like another hole in my head. Plus the extra revolts. With all of this going on, I need a stiff drink. Ahhh, just in time!

It will be years before the invention of the Margarita, so this is a nice change of pace.

Krain gets the +10% defense event and again I get thrown out of the electorate. Sounds to me like the HRE ruler likes to play spin the bottle. Glad I'm not there when it lands on his jester and he has to kiss him.

Enough time has passed, and I have some BB cap space. Time for some cleaning up...

It's a two for one sale over at Africa's. I want that last Swahili gold province, and the Adal lands are just gravy.

The Swahili jump my diplomat as he's headed out of town. They give him a really fast ship and a message:

Wow, I don't even think the ink was dry on the Declaration of war... But do you honestly think I declared war so I could stop 2 days later? What do you think this is, a training exercise?

OUCH !:

That puts me at 58% inflation. A hefty 8% shot in two events. Don't know if I'm still stuck in the decline event or if my gold mines are tripping these, but they're starting to hurt.

Things are proceeding in Swahili land:

Another free level 2 fort in Messina... works for me!

The people are so happy with my conquest of the Swahili capitol they decide to "flee":

From the "wow" department:

Now that's how to handle rebels. One hit wonder and total spankage. I like it...

And now they don't even have anything to rebel about:

Things are progressing with Adal too. One province down, a few to go.

As I get close to wrapping up the Adal provinces, the Swahili make a serious pitch to keep their homeland:

I consider Milking it, but with my luck I'd end up with someone else popping in and taking it during one of my 10 year waiting periods before I could make my next withdrawal. I decline.

I can't annex Adal outright, so I pop a couple provinces, get them to drop some cores and take their last 50 ducats.

It's then on to lunch with Mr. Annex...

I end the day with BB to spare...

A few map shots to get us all caught up on where we're at now: