African Colonial Shrinkage....

[Vortigern]

Playing as the Turks, I decided it would be amusing to try and colonise new lands in Africa. In particular West Africa, since the natives don't seem to be quite as nasty as elsewhere. I duly set up a trading post in Louga (just north of the Senegal River in the most westerly part of Africa). A few years later, I concluded it would be useful to have a port in the region, sent a colonist who succeeded in his mission, and promptly discovered that my shiny new colony had a 14% negative growth modifier due to its location.

So, my question is, how can I prevent the ultimate demise of this colony? Is there any way to balance out that 14% modifier? Is the colony just doomed no matter what I do?

 

[unmerged(8451)]

The growth rate will increase once it becomes a city. Other factors which improve growth rate include: building a manufactory, promoting a mayor, high stability, if there is a cot there or in a neighboring province, or if the province is a capital.

There may be more.. but that's all I know of offhand.

 

[FrosT37]

usually, cities over 2500 inhabitants always get positive growth rate so... just send 24 other colonists LOL

 

[AlanC9]

In any event, the modifier will never shrink a city below 700. Once it's a city, it stays a city. So just get it up to 700 and forget about it.

 

[Castellon]

Originally posted by AlanC9
In any event, the modifier will never shrink a city below 700. Once it's a city, it stays a city. So just get it up to 700 and forget about it.

I thought it had to be a 1000 before it would not shrink?

 

[unmerged(8233)]

700 is the correct number.

 

[unmerged(6603)]

I thought colonies had greater growth rates than cities... anyway, just place enough colonists to get it above 700, as was stated... but I personally don't find colonization to be that much fun... it gets old quick

 

[Vormaerin]

Colonies do get a +5 to growth, but that doesn't help much against the -14 location modifier for Africa. Location modifiers apply to colonies and are gradually reduced in various levels of city development.

Aloha
Vormaerin

 

[Castellon]

I have a provence in West Africa. It is at 750 pop. but it stil has negative 2 growth. So are you saying that it will shrink the pop down to 700, but will not go below that?

 

[Japan]

You are correct. It will not go below 700.
(Yay I'm a captain!!!!!!)

 

[unmerged(2826)]

As France the location modifier in provinces with natives is better, to affect their ability to negotiate a lot with the natives wherevere they settled...

 

[suo]

There was another thread on this topic some time ago. If it did not change with 1.04 the correct numbers for positive growth are 1000 or 2000 inhabitants depending upon the location.
In most parts of the world it is 1000, in most parts of tropical Africa 2000.

 

[Lethke]

You could also play as an African nation. They don't get the neg. growth modifier.

 

[Lucidor]

Just start the colony with a trader and be quick about it - then you won't have too many people die until you reach the magic 700. You probably will want to leave it at 700 souls, since -14% is a bit steep.