Ceylon to control the Sea.

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The plan is to turn the Island of Ceylon into a global power. The aim is not only to survive but for Ceylon to grow and flourish into the leading Naval and Trade nation by the end of the game. I also plan to defeat Portugal, Great Britain and Spain in wars. Ceylon would rule the waves. This could be a disastrous game because I never played a Indian nation before.... Also my first AAR so might forget to update at times.

The leaders of Ceylon are extremely attached to their home Island so would not be taking any more land or even vassals. In the unlikely event I gain provinces they would be sold.

I would be playing IN with the hiring fair mod, simply because it is overly tedious to monitor the advisors at low speeds (Small nations get very few advisors). Game difficulty is set to normal, AI aggressiveness is low, and there would be no lucky nations.

 

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The first 10 years

1399 the aged king of Ceylon is the great Bhuvanaikabahu V, during his reign he was not widely recognise but historians would look back and see him as the first of a great line of Kings.

The kingdoms sliders are not great, King Bhuvanaikabahu knows that to survive his country needs a strong Navy, and for that he needs money and the way to achieve that is through trade so he moves his society towards Plutocracy and makes arrangement to send merchants to the great markets in far away Kutch and to bring goods to the far away ports of Hormuz and Samakland. .

In the middle of the next year one of the merchants protested about the countries Mercanlistis policies, the cristims were fair and King Bhuvanaikabahu agreed to free up Trade.

The days passed swiftly and stability was restored, Early April 1403 the King Bhuvanaikabahu grew ill and on April 30th handed over the crown to his son who was a great Administrator (8-5-5).

In 1404 the Merchants were upset again, this time fractions supporting both mercantilist and Free trade were clashing. Being a great administrator and to continue his father legacy King Parakramabahu VII proposed to free up trade even further. In 1410 King Parakrambahu VII again allowed freer trade. By this time it was not uncommon to have 15 merchants applying their trade in Kutch, Samakland and Hormuz.

So in the first 10 years, I was able to move 3x towards Free Trade and once towards Plutocracy. Gained a reasonable number of merchants and even built another ship.

 

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In 1422 got level 4 Government and my first national idea which was "National Trade Policy". Also achieved level 4 Naval and have move once again towards free trade.

Built a couple more big ships but need more. Income is only around 17 ducats a year. Little else of interest occured in the previous decade.


Update:
Another decade has passed, and little to show for it. A couple more big Ships join the growing fleet. King Parakramabahu died and was replaced by his pet Monkey king Vimala Dharmasuriya I (3-4-4) because his son was to young to take the throne. Now have 5 merchants in 4 COT. Moved one towards free subject in a attempt to compensate for the 50% Indian research penalty. Deccan is building a massive land empire, but they are no sailors so the kingdom of Ceylon is not concerned.

My Navy is now 5 big ships and 4 cogs.

 

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Nothing much been happening, moved twice towards free subjects, built more big ships so now have the strongest navy in the Indian region. Have found Jianstu COT which is nice and rich and helping my cash flow.

Was stuck with the monkey Vimala ruling for many years but finally a new king Jahabahu II has taken the throne, he is competent (4-6-5) but wished for more.

The Deccan empire has collapsed. Until I gain the ability to blockade I have little ability to go on the offensive but that is many years away. So is gaining the ability to sow discontent, although I am to poor to use it. Luckily I have not been dragged into any wars so far.

Would post a few screenshots at 1500, unless something interesting happens before then.

 

[Dewirix]

Never played in India before but was considering it for my next game. Will be fun to see how things go for your little kingdom.

If it's anything like my Japan game Deccan will eventually become a serial bankrupt. Since that reduces their army's morale to zero even 2,000 soldiers could carve out a nice little empire on the mainland.

 

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Since my last update I disbanded by entire army to save a bit more money :wacko:. Keeping inflation under control is difficult. Think National bank would have to be my next idea.

Deccan is no more, they expanded to fast. Then hindu rebels ripped them to bits. The Muslim tech group is just keeping ahead of me, have not seen any Europeans but know they would be miles ahead. Not being able westernise would make the game hard. Suppose I could sell half of my island then hope it revolts back....

 

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Changed to Nobel republic in 1541, Should help bring a end to the low admin rulers. The Latin countries are 10+ tech levels in front.

 

[Dewirix]

I wouldn't worry too much about tech levels compared to the Europeans. It's 1541 - you can wait a couple of centuries before westernising and still end the game ahead on technology.

I'd concentrate on looking for a way to expand onto the Indian mainland.

 

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Not allowed to expand from my starting two provinces,so can not see myself being able to westernize. The only way would be to sell one province to a European and hope it would revolt back but thats a high risk strategy. Even then, I think it would make the game more interesting if I remain in the Indian group.

 

[MizarNX]

Try to go Westward in order to get an higher-tech neighbour. For example you could easly get Baharian in a war. Or, if you manage to get MA all your way to Italy, you could try to get Venice or Sicily.

But if you want to stay with your original provinces, you're stuck in the indian tech group. Focus on trade and navy and you should be safe until the end of the game. Remember that having less than 3 provinces speeds up your tech rate, and this is a big advantage.

 

[Eber]

I like your idea though I'm a little perplexed. You may win in the tech battles (if you westernize) because you only have two provinces, but how will you actually ever win any wars against Great Britain, Spain or even Portugal? If you won't expand, you will have a very small navy at best. Their navies will just engulf you and destroy you based completely on numbers.

I don't see how you will be able to win let alone survive if you won't expand onto the Indian mainland. It's a great idea, but it is severely limiting yourself to reach the goals you set out to do. Just my two cents.

 

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I like your idea though I'm a little perplexed. You may win in the tech battles (if you westernize) because you only have two provinces, but how will you actually ever win any wars against Great Britain, Spain or even Portugal? If you won't expand, you will have a very small navy at best. Their navies will just engulf you and destroy you based completely on numbers.

I don't see how you will be able to win let alone survive if you won't expand onto the Indian mainland. It's a great idea, but it is severely limiting yourself to reach the goals you set out to do. Just my two cents.

Naval upkept is very cheap. Done it before with Sicily which has a comparable Naval force limit. Had a fleet of around 90 big ships by game end and could of afforded more. The big question is wither I can overcome the -50% tech penalty a challenge which Sicily did not present. .

 

[Eber]

Naval upkept is very cheap. Done it before with Sicily which has a comparable Naval force limit. Had a fleet of around 90 big ships by game end and could of afforded more. The big question is wither I can overcome the -50% tech penalty a challenge which Sicily did not present. .

Touche'. I didn't know that, I've never played a small power before. Glad to know!

 

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Very few people have which is the reason why I decided to write up this game. It would have been much easier to have played with a European island but keen to see if I can bring success to Ceylon. I an far from certain that I would succeed.

 

[blsteen]

Ceylon is an interesting choice, the tech disparity would be difficult to overcome later on I would think

 

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Things have just gotten slightly more interesting.

In 1559 I finally discovered Europe and found out about their COT. Unfortunately I need to Open all of the markets before trading can start. For that I need relations above 50, most are -50 or worst.

My income is quite healthy now so I sent a few diplomats to Venice to improve relations, got it into the low 40's when Venice got annex by Milan A few years later I brought relations with Bohemia up to 50 and now have 5 merchants trading in their COT. Luckily I could get merchants into Alexandria straight away. Currently got 45 merchants working away.

My three national Ideas are National Trade Policy, shrewed commerce practice and Patron of the Arts. If I do not get the Architectural Development event shortly I might change Patron of the Arts to national bank. Inflation is currently around 10% which would not be helping my teching.

Now I need to decide wither to keep Nobel Republic or to change to Merchant Republic. The quicker elections and cheaper merchants would probably be more helpful then royal marriage. So would likely make the change. My final government goal is Administrative Republic which is still many years away.

 

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Taken 1568

I am still about 10 levels behind the Europeans in most areas of research.

My income is looking quite good, getting my merchants into european COT should help things develop even further.

 

[Dewirix]

You're going to need to keep up in the tech race if you want to beat Portugal, Britain and Spain in wars.

That said, since the only viable option you've got is selling one of your two provinces, westernising, then somehow getting it back you'd be taking a huge risk.

 

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I agree, but I think it is to late to try that trick.

Have reached a short term goal, that is government 19 and Administrative Republic. My government tech has now caught up with the eastern Europeans but thats been at the expense of all other areas.

The bad news is that Castille has quite the foothold in east Africa, which basically means it would not be long before the European countries start exploring India. Would gain a few levels of Naval next and update my fleet with Caravels, the latins would be using galleons (maybe even wargalleons). Hopefully luck is with me.

Have not had a revolt the entire game

Also taken National Bank as my 4th idea, Patron of the Arts has still failed to produce the desired event. Any new ideas would be to strengthen my Navy.

 

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Been studying the Europeans, and probably could get a weak one to accept my province. Its a high risk, and gamey strategy. But I still require 5 slider movements to get the correct setting to advance to Muslim.

The other option is to remain in the Indian tech group and see what happens. Can a extremely rich, small nation with optimised slider settings keep up with the Europeans (In Govt, Naval and Trade). Could be a interesting experiment but the chance of failing seems high.

I am tempted to remain in the Indian group just to see what happens. If I do succeed in sinking the British fleet it would be a great achievement.