Avoiding Poverty -- How to?

[unmerged(5250)]

I've been playing as Portugal, and have successfully managed to claim a vast portion of the world (at least as trading posts) by 1540, have annexed the Hanseatic League, and maintained a tenuous peace with my neighbors. However, I'm still only making like 130 ducats a year -- not much, certainly not enough to make more money with. Am I doing something wrong? What's the quickest way to boost my income at this point: convert my posts to colonies (i've got maybe 3 full-fledged colonies outside Europe, including Monterey)? Invest in tax collectors (expensive!)? Pursue the loan strategy?

All advice (and admonition) welcome ...

 

[Xanadu]

Well you can always go for the Aztec/Incan gold as an easy way out.

 

[unmerged(469)]

There are only two QUICK ways to make money-annex the Aztecs or Incas, or get control of a fat and juicy CoT in Asia. But it requires an actual colony (not just TP) to get a new one to pop up, so start shipping some colonists off to Asia.

 

[Xanadu]

LOL...beat ya!

 

[unmerged(718)]

kick spains butt, then you can start making money

 

[unmerged(469)]

Originally posted by Xanadu
LOL...beat ya!

Revenge is a dish best served cold, Captain Kirk.

 

[Xanadu]

Well you did mention the Asian CoT thing.
But that really benefits your research more than your yearly taxes (excludung those extra ducats for tariffs in that province with the CoT).

 

[unmerged(469)]

I can't remember, does Zapatecas have a good tax value, or is it all gold income?

 

[Xanadu]

My understanding is that any province with a CoT gets trade tariffs.
But since you have planted the seed of doubt.....

 

[unmerged(3408)]

Zapatecas have a good tax value

It has a rather large population so the taxes aren't bad. But, of course, the real $$ is in the gold.

 

[Xanadu]

Yes all the Aztecs prvinces have good populations. Always over 5000 people,and up into 6 digit figures.

 

[Agelastus]

Build colonies. Build them into cities. Unless you're playing as one of the initially wealthy countries such as France, that's the way to build up your yearly income-then go kick their butts and take their income!

 

[unmerged(469)]

Originally posted by Petrus


It has a rather large population so the taxes aren't bad. But, of course, the real $$ is in the gold.

Gold is nice, but Xanadu was talking about inflation free straight-to-treasury census money, which means just taxes.

 

[Carolus Rex]

Originally posted by Agelastus
Build colonies. Build them into cities. Unless you're playing as one of the initially wealthy countries such as France, that's the way to build up your yearly income-then go kick their butts and take their income!

France is so much fun that way.

 

[unmerged(3627)]

Originally posted by Admiral Yi
There are only two QUICK ways to make money-annex the Aztecs or Incas, or get control of a fat and juicy CoT in Asia. But it requires an actual colony (not just TP) to get a new one to pop up

Nope. CoT's can show in trading posts.

You do have a monopoly in the trade centers that all those TPs of yours are sending the money to, right?

 

[unmerged(469)]

Originally posted by Heyesey


Nope. CoT's can show in trading posts.

Are you kidding me!!???

 

[Agelastus]

Originally posted by Admiral Yi

Are you kidding me!!???

Apparently he's not-I don't get it, and I've never seen it, but more than one person has mentioned it.

Or maybe they're all in on the joke!

 

[unmerged(469)]

Then what happens to the CoT if the TP gets burned?

Similarly, has anyone every had a CoT spring up in a <700 colony with natives present who wipe out the settlement?

 

[Xanadu]

Weird..
I have never seen a CoT show up in a TP before. Now there is a screenshot I would like to see.

 

[unmerged(3627)]

Whicheveritis provice next to Mekong, when I had a TP there and a colony in Mekong. I made damn sure I built it up and fortified it before anyone had a chance to burn the place

This was before I knew about screenshots... I'll keep an eye out for another such occurrence.