Alas, Andalusia

[Susan1972]

I went for the Re-Reconquista cheeve and I think I blew it.

Any tips for the next run?

 

[durbal]

Be more aggressive.

 

[bokorthedust]

From the screenshots it's not apparent why you blew it, unless I'm missing something. Any more context?

 

[grisamentum]

Any tips for the next run?

Wait, why? What's the problem?

Anyway, go Diplomatic ideas instead of Trade and Admin ideas instead Economic. Neither Eco or Trade really makes sense for a game where the main thing you're doing is conquering an entire region like Iberia from a small start.

Also, I'd think you'd want to Quantity before Quality and Religious or Humanist relatively early as well, since you're mostly conquering land that is not your religion.

 

[Nostalgium]

It's been a very long time since I played in Spain, but just a few things I would've done differently:
Quantity before Quality, Trade before Economic - the Quantity + Quality 20% Goods Produced modifier has some serious heft. I'd also have pursued a more aggressive African policy once Iberia was relatively secure. Get some access through Morocco and attack West Africa to siphon more of their trade up to Sevilla.

More to the point though; why do you think your campaign is over? You have the 100 best years for expansion ahead of you, and you can comfortably wrap up the rest of Spain in those years, unless there's something else here. Your economy seems healthy, your ally seems strong, your have a decent-sized army, and I don't see what the issue could be. More context is sorely needed.

Oh yeah, and as a Muslim, any Muslim, keeping a happy and influential Dhimmi estate is much stronger than conversion. You can easily cap tolerance of Heathens, and get 30% MP and 20% Tax in Heathen provinces as well as -10% Tech Cost. It is, quite frankly, an absurdly powerful Estate.

 

[Astalic]

Wait, why? What's the problem?

Anyway, go Diplomatic ideas instead of Trade and Admin ideas instead Economic. Neither Eco or Trade really makes sense for a game where the main thing you're doing is conquering an entire region like Iberia from a small start.

Also, I'd think you'd want to Quantity before Quality and Religious or Humanist relatively early as well, since you're mostly conquering land that is not your religion.

I agree but Quality make a lot of sense with eco. (+5% disc) trade and eco have a really good policie too. While this is not the best setup for blobing it make a lot of sense to get good policy and maximise usefullness of these pick.

 

[Nostalgium]

I agree but Quality make a lot of sense with eco. (+5% disc) trade and eco have a really good policie too. While this is not the best setup for blobing it make a lot of sense to get good policy and maximise usefullness of these pick.

The problem with that is that Quantity is much better than quality on its own, so you're trading 50% Max MP, faster MP recovery, cheaper army, stronger forts and lower attrition for slightly better units and 5% disc. Quality is... I'm not going to say it's bad, but it's a bit of a trap for players who don't understand just how much better 50% more troops are than 10% better. Put it this way; if your troops kill 10% better but the enemy has 50% more, you're still 40% short of victory. It's not quite that simple of course, but it's a workable boil-down. It's especially true in the early-game, before countries have had the opportunity to stack their military ideas with their national ideas to unlock true Space Marine potential, like Prussia and Poland.

Quality isn't a bad pick, it's just not a great first pick.

 

[Astalic]

The problem with that is that Quantity is much better than quality on its own, so you're trading 50% Max MP, faster MP recovery, cheaper army, stronger forts and lower attrition for slightly better units and 5% disc. Quality is... I'm not going to say it's bad, but it's a bit of a trap for players who don't understand just how much better 50% more troops are than 10% better. Put it this way; if your troops kill 10% better but the enemy has 50% more, you're still 40% short of victory. It's not quite that simple of course, but it's a workable boil-down. It's especially true in the early-game, before countries have had the opportunity to stack their military ideas with their national ideas to unlock true Space Marine potential, like Prussia and Poland.

Quality isn't a bad pick, it's just not a great first pick.

I know, my MP pick are quantity - eco because quantity is in my opinion really strong when you have to fight against stronger/bigger foes.

 

[MatthewP]

I also don’t get it. Seems like you’re in a great position where almost nothing could go wrong. Sure you have a crappy
monarch, but you still have 150 years left.

 

[Susan1972]

I also don’t get it. Seems like you’re in a great position where almost nothing could go wrong. Sure you have a crappy
monarch, but you still have 150 years left.

EU4 is where things go wrong when nothing could lol.

I'm overall pleased with the results. It's the best Ironman campaign with a small starting tag so far but I'm kinda thinking it could have gone better.

 

[Susan1972]

The problem with that is that Quantity is much better than quality on its own, so you're trading 50% Max MP, faster MP recovery, cheaper army, stronger forts and lower attrition for slightly better units and 5% disc. Quality is... I'm not going to say it's bad, but it's a bit of a trap for players who don't understand just how much better 50% more troops are than 10% better. Put it this way; if your troops kill 10% better but the enemy has 50% more, you're still 40% short of victory. It's not quite that simple of course, but it's a workable boil-down. It's especially true in the early-game, before countries have had the opportunity to stack their military ideas with their national ideas to unlock true Space Marine potential, like Prussia and Poland.

Quality isn't a bad pick, it's just not a great first pick.

I was thinking either Offensive or Quality just to leverage what little I had. Quantity didn't seem like that much of a difference. Maybe a starting trio of admin, offense and diplo would have been better.

 

[Nostalgium]

I was thinking either Offensive or Quality just to leverage what little I had. Quantity didn't seem like that much of a difference. Maybe a starting trio of admin, offense and diplo would have been better.

Quite likely, yes. I'd also probably swap Admin for Humanist, as nearly all your early expansion into wealthy land will be into Heathens, so quelling those revolts sooner rather than later will make your start less problematic. But then, Granada is in a good position to leverage the mercenary benefits from Admin in the early game too, and CCR will stay relevant throughout, so it's a toss-up.

 

[grisamentum]

I agree but Quality make a lot of sense with eco. (+5% disc) trade and eco have a really good policie too. While this is not the best setup for blobing it make a lot of sense to get good policy and maximise usefullness of these pick.

Quality + Eco is fine but not for the first two idea groups. Quality as a first group is almost never the right choice. Quantity is almost always the best first mil group, especially if you're starting small.

 

[MachopPower69]

Can you provide a screenshot on Castile? I want to see if they are allied with your rivals or perhaps a PU under someone

 

[Iferius]

In what way did you blow it? You're a medium sized power with strong allies.

 

[Nostalgium]

In fact, I'm a bit in love with that (presumably) AI Naples > Two Sicilies! That's probably the best I've seen an Italian AI that isn't Venice do, ever!

 

[Geremin]

Jumping in to echo everyone else - what's the problem? You're in a great spot for the achievement, the last 150 years of the game let you conquer much more land more quickly; and you can alternate between eating Morocco and Castille and siphoning trade straight into Seville for buckets of ducats. I'm sure you'd do it better if you started again but you're basically home and dry at this point.

 

[Susan1972]

Nailed it! Thanks to all for the tips

It was watching Pravus Gaming on YouTube doing this very cheeve that got me hooked on EU4. 80 cheeves and counting at just under 1 per 10hrs played.