Census tax in latest patch

[The Witch-King]

Originally posted by Velociryx
I have not played the latest beta patch yet, but I'm all for the idea of disallowing annual tax revenues in provinces without TC's (doesn't alter my style of play a bit, since I am already in the habit of building them everywhere as soon as I am able to).

Another poster made the comment that it makes it difficult to maintain huge standing armies, and I would say that this is both a good thing, and historic. Maintaining huge standing armies *should* be difficult, and for those countries that begin with large forces, it poses an interesting (and immediate) in-game decision. How do you want to play it? Disband that army to get yourself down to an operational limit, or declare an early war, and sacrifice your "troop cushion" for early gains, hoping like hades that you can make the money last long enough to make solid gains? (or, spend the coin you've got, attack anyway, and eat an early bankrupcy, along with the nasty side effects that go with it?). The only problem I can see is that the early bankrupcy actually becomes a halfway attractive option, which IS ahistoric. (If I know there's no way in HELL I can support the troops I've got, and I have sufficient tech to build TC's, my inclination would be to DoW on day one of the GC and use my army to get me some quick "sucker punch" gains, take out max loans and use the money to build TC's everywhere, let the economy tank (hopefully after a lightning war that reduces my army for me, and nets me another 3-6 provinces), then kick back for five years and let the effects wear off.

-=Vel=-

Yes, but the worst effect of bankruptcy - the inflation kick - never wears off, does it?

 

[Porcius]

The new tax system will take some getting used to.

I just started a game as the Ottomans. I have three big armies. I have to disband two to get to the maintenance limit, but the third won't be big enough to take down the Byzantines. It takes 18 months to get to Infra 1 with the treasury slider set to .23 inflation rise. I decide to disband one army and eat the costs.

Result: Bankrupt by 1424 to keep my enemies away and build TCs. More loans are taken out. Obscurantism event happens, coupled with WE. I'm holding my own now - +5 provinces, but no money to collect their taxes. Inflation is 37% in 1428. If it weren't for an heir being born and a 75o monopoly company, who knows how bleak the economic setting would be.

The Turks start with a lot of Orthodox provinces that they cannot collect big monies from, infrastructure of zero and an army three times bigger than they can afford. Like I said, I'm doing OK militarily, but the inflation is going to kill me before too long. The Georgians are already getting uppity.

If I hadn't forgotten the new alliance rules and joined a Candar alliance, I might have been able to salvage the situation. (Bastards wasted my taking of Constantinople before Morea could fall.)

 

[Porcius]

Well, there is still the choice to promote TCs in non-core provinces with different cultures and religions. That +3 RR can really hurt sometimes, but if TCs are the only way to get any real money you have some serious thinking to do. This is a strategic calculation.

As for building TCs at home not being a "real choice", neither is promoting governors - only an idiot wouldn't do it if it's how to keep inflation under control. With so many other more important decisions to make in the game, the fact that hiring TCs in core provinces isn't a head scratcher doesn't bother me that much.