Chinese Cheese - A Ming AAR

[kebzero]

FEEDBACK​

To All:
It appears I've come across a savegame corruption bug of some sort. My game now CTDs on reload.

My options are two-fold. I either

A) backtrack five gameplay years to a working savegame, or
B) edit the troublesome bit ouf of my active savegame. The problem is a colonist that is enroute, the game seems to work fine if I nix that colonist from the savegame.

I'm planning to go with Option B in this case, if the good people following this AAR do not object fiercely. The savegame edit is to my detriment (one less colonist and time lost), not advantage - save of not having to play five years of rebel herding and minor war skirmishes over again.

what is the tech level for eastern nations? most christian eastern nations stick with their default unit until they reach level 22 so that gives u a chance to outmatch them even with your chinese troops. once they reach land 22, things are going to get difficult so if you have a chance, swallow as much as you can before 1600.

As I'm playing a good deal ahead of my AAR reporting, I don't know exactly. I did put aside a save from the upcoming 1550 status update, so if you'd like to know, I could check Eastern nation tech levels there, when we get there.

As things are, I'm in no particular rush to acquire even more heathen lands in eastern Europe. I want to get Asia done first, and my current hope is to complete that by 1575. Eastern Europe is not my biggest concern in this game, I'm far more worried about the mega-empires growing in western and central Europe.

the french king finally realized you didn't give him anything for his fighting in your many wars and he's pissed
wales ... why did you freed them? to focus GB's AI on it?

Hey, we gave his troops lots and lots of practice. French military tradition got a nice boost.

Wales has a twofold purpose - primarily to cheaply weaken Great Britain, and also to serve as an easy way to attack Great Britain. Either they attack Wales (guaranteed by Ming), or Ming attacks Wales (guaranteed by Great Britain). Scotland tends to seek continental allies, Wales... not so much.

 

[kebzero]

Part 31 - Cores in America

Ming's first step in befriending Milan is to stop fighting them, offering a token sum. In turn, we will guarantee their independence, as France eventually gets a new mission, 'Conquer Milan'.

Now, the war overview makes more sense. Castille still has forces, but most are trapped overseas - and as you can see, Castille's navy is now about as big as Muscowy's.

Some colonists arrive at Buru to an uncertain fate, given our minuscule colonial funding. Our focus turns north again.

Iberia is fast submitting to Chinese control.


May 17th, 1521 - Parlakimid is converted to hinduism.

Good news from Mexico. Tohancapan has been in Ming ownership for fifty years, and has thus become a core. Our colonial range now extends to most of the Caribbean.

France, free of our alliance, jumps Brittany.

On July 14th, 1521, we opt to clean up our Indian situation. Sunni Rajputana will drag in the dwindling empire of Vijayanagar.

Brittany is rendered French territory. It is at this point I register that Brittany must have been conquered in the past, and then broke free, since their capitol is in Armor. France must have had a very turbulent start indeed.


November 29th, 1521 - Bozhou is force-converted to animism.

Rajputana is incorporated in Ming.

News of the Timurids fighting in the west is well received, and Ming forces steel themselves for another campaign in their western half.

Castille is humbled, and we remove as much coastline as we can.

Vijayanagar is also trimmed down considerably.

To celebrate all these gains, a massive victory parade is arranged, heading all the way from Jiangsu to Beijing and onward to Oirat lands.


Chinese-Horde Exotic Eateries Soothing Efforts (CHEESE): 32


Conquering Karshi is a very timely mission.

This is Karshi, soon-to-be Ming territory.

In the northeast, Hinggan converts to Chihan culture voluntarily.

 

[Noirin]

To All:
It appears I've come across a savegame corruption bug of some sort. My game now CTDs on reload.

My options are two-fold. I either

A) backtrack five gameplay years to a working savegame, or
B) edit the troublesome bit ouf of my active savegame. The problem is a colonist that is enroute, the game seems to work fine if I nix that colonist from the savegame.

I'm planning to go with Option B in this case, if the good people following this AAR do not object fiercely. The savegame edit is to my detriment (one less colonist and time lost), not advantage - save of not having to play five years of rebel herding and minor war skirmishes over again.

I think no one will mind if you choose B


It will be interesting to have a look at the early years of Europe after you finish the AAR, we will love you even more if you show us a GIF map and/or a screenie of France's history as narrated by EU3's "Resign" button

 

[PrawnStar]

Option B is absolutely fine. I'd say any sort of 'no edits' rule is about not cheating by tweaking the save. Fixing a bug in the save is good.

 

[ulmont]

B) edit the troublesome bit ouf of my active savegame. The problem is a colonist that is enroute, the game seems to work fine if I nix that colonist from the savegame.

I've seen this problem before. You can't have a colonist traveling east across the international date line in the save, as far as I can tell. Works fine during the game to colonize, but crashes day 1 after being loaded.

 

[MizarNX]

No problem if you choose Opt. B, it's not cheating, is fixing!

It seems that Castille is beating the dust...
I was surprised seeing France honouring so many call to arms, maybe they tired of being lesser partners in all these wars.

 

[Starfury]

My options are two-fold. I either

A) backtrack five gameplay years to a working savegame, or
B) edit the troublesome bit ouf of my active savegame. The problem is a colonist that is enroute, the game seems to work fine if I nix that colonist from the savegame.

Chinese Cheese and no Option C?

 

[Nikolai II]

Chinese Cheese and no Option C?

Option C would be saying "Cheese it" and Canning the entire game.

B works nicely. And if you figured out how to find that colonist.. mind sharing? I think I've had similar games that I've had to abandon..

 

[ulmont]

And if you figured out how to find that colonist.. mind sharing? I think I've had similar games that I've had to abandon..

It's Asians colonizing across the date line, in the save that crashes the game on reload. I reported it about 10 months ago: http://www.europa-universalis.com/forum/showthread.php?t=386539

 

[Nikolai II]

It's Asians colonizing across the date line, in the save that crashes the game on reload. I reported it about 10 months ago: http://www.europa-universalis.com/forum/showthread.php?t=386539

Hm. Well, might have been discovered just after I abandoned my game, then.

But the question was, how to find the error in the save game file? I.e., how can I clean such a save from crashing?

 

[kebzero]

FEEDBACK​

B it is, then... and glad you all think so, because that's what my impatient self got started on.

I think no one will mind if you choose B


It will be interesting to have a look at the early years of Europe after you finish the AAR, we will love you even more if you show us a GIF map and/or a screenie of France's history as narrated by EU3's "Resign" button

I did a quick load-and-resign as France, just to get an idea. It seems I was wrong. France didn't do much of anything this game, other than annex its vassals and pester England every few years. They did capture Morbihan early, and I suspect that Brittany simply moved their capitol instead, or perhaps Vendee defected. At least it wasn't France's doing.

I've seen this problem before. You can't have a colonist traveling east across the international date line in the save, as far as I can tell. Works fine during the game to colonize, but crashes day 1 after being loaded.

That might be it. Only one of the travelling colonists was a problem.

No problem if you choose Opt. B, it's not cheating, is fixing!

It seems that Castille is beating the dust...
I was surprised seeing France honouring so many call to arms, maybe they tired of being lesser partners in all these wars.

France has been a true boon to Ming this game. I'm much more worried about the actually aggressive empires as I approach 1575. I've mentioned Milan, but the Orthodox Poland and a very beligerent Austria are causing headaches. Austria is currently marching on the Caspian Sea...

Chinese Cheese and no Option C?

We do not speak of it.

Option C would be saying "Cheese it" and Canning the entire game.

B works nicely. And if you figured out how to find that colonist.. mind sharing? I think I've had similar games that I've had to abandon..

Search the save for the name of the province(s) you're currently colonizing. There should be a subsection there with the 'actively colonizing' bit. Delete that, save and reload. Worked for me.

It's Asians colonizing across the date line, in the save that crashes the game on reload. I reported it about 10 months ago: http://www.europa-universalis.com/forum/showthread.php?t=386539

I'd agree on the date line, but I'm not certain that it is only for Asians... I think I've seen this with Europeans too, if colonizing 'across line' provinces. Know I went back on a France game six months ago for this bug.

 

[kebzero]

Part 32 - Byzantine Phoenix

Ming needs money, Songhai has some. On September 21st, 1522, the collection commences.

We also have need for more land, and the Timurids have plenty of that. October 22nd, 1522, we invade. It is time to fulfill our current mission.

With every nibble, the Timurids are easier to deal with - especially since they keep sending their regiments westward.

Songhai is quite gracious. Their capitol is soon pushed westward thanks to a war with Hausa.

The narrow landbridge in Persia is a perfect place to perform hit-and-run attacks on newly assembled, single regiments that the Timurids are trying to assemble in their 'core' lands.


May 19th, 1523 - Chenzhou is force-converted to animism.

One of their largest remaining armies is obliterated.

The war is progressing nicely.

Armagnac returns - and Great Britain is losing to Poland.

Through careful diplomacy with France and overwhelming paperwork tossed at the Castillian court, Ming claims Burgos to act as a 'buffer state' between France and Castille.

The Timurids are finally rallying their western armies, and it is time to grab-and-run. We now have a solid buffer for the pagan waves, though all this heathen Sunni territory will be rowdy for centuries.

Conquest complete, it is time to give the Oirats their share of the spoils.

The Ottomans collapse entirely, and a strong Byzantime Empire emerges from the ashes of Greece. That they're a Despotic Sunni Monarchy is not so important.

Emperor Zhengde I has sadly passed away, and his son, Hongguang I ascends to the throne. Alas, his best talent is eating noodles, and as all at the Ming court knows, noodles are only good in great moderation. The new Emperor is frequently encouraged to lead charges on enemy forts.

The Timurids are sending their forces back west. They never learn. February 1st, 1524 we attack Punjab.

At this stage, our local forces are a fair match for the Timurids, and Ming should be able to take them on fully.


March 8th, 1524 - Khorat is force-converted to animism.


April 9th, 1524 - Rayong is force-converted to animism.


July 10th, 1524 - Maharasthra is force-converted to animism.


And with that, it's 1525. Time for a status update. By the way, I actually set aside a save from this point in time, so if there is anything in specific you'd like to see in the 1525 update, let me know now.

 

[ulmont]

I'd agree on the date line, but I'm not certain that it is only for Asians... I think I've seen this with Europeans too, if colonizing 'across line' provinces.

Fair enough, although it would be an odd game where a European's colonial path led across the date line, since that's pretty much only going to happen when colonizing the Americas from a Pacific port.

 

[unmerged(146373)]

This is really amazing, I'd never be able to deal with all of those rebels without Latin troops.
Any chance we'll so see the Japanese wiped out? Maybe after this king 'resigns' during one of those assaults?

It is at this point I register that Brittany must have been conquered in the past, and then broke free, since their capitol is in Armor.

I suspect that Brittany simply moved their capitol instead, or perhaps Vendee defected.

I'm sure that's exactly what happened.
In a recent French game, I used those nice patriot rebels to wipe out OPM Brittany like the Byzantines do to so many Greek OPMs with latin owners.

 

[sprites]

at this point the ruler is rather unimportant , or you prefer one better skilled in administration for colonial porposes/WE ?

 

[jhhowell]

A bit late now, but I'd say that your save file bug fix should go ahead and give yourself back the colonist too.

Why don't you go ahead and take out the Timurid's loyal sidekick Corsica? An alliance too silly to eliminate? And why the odd-looking peace deal? I'm guessing you're either setting up more sniping corridors like Gurgan/Mazandaran, or more consolidated province configurations made less efficient use of war score.

 

[unmerged(3921)]

Stir-fried cockroaches? Bah... you ain't seen nothing 'til you've seen Cantonese style, warm, jellied monkey brains. I am not kidding you.... And yet despite the occassional curious culinary choices, overall I have to admit, Cantonese cuisine is the best of all the regional Chinese cuisines. It's sort of the equivalent of Southern cooking in American cuisine. Occassional disasters, often as unhealthy as inhaling gunpowder, but it does taste good....

On the Oirat-Ming Relations mission - there are times when the game absolutely will refuse to give you that mission. Even after all your other unique missions are finished and all the requirements are propoerly set up for O-MR. I've had it refuse to give me that mission after 6 mission cancels. This will occur ad infinitum until you save and reload. Not a problem if you play in short 1-2 hr bursts, but if you go marathon style, saving everything and rebooting once in awhile can be good.

On the big Europeans - do not fear them. Yes, the first big war with France (or Austria or whomever) will be fierce. But thereafter if handled correctly, it will be the last time they effectively resist you. The key is to use the "train" strategy. DoW them directly and after you defeat their ground troops, beseige all their cities and get a 90% war score - do not give them a peace offer. Instead, keep on seiging their cities while you prep for round 2. Prepping means getting a seige force on every city they own which you control, having as many diplomats available as you can reasonably muster (min 3) and having the O-MR ready to finish with a single diplomat. When you are ready, give them a max (100%) peace and 1 day later DoW someone they guaranteed. Preferably a small minor that no on else has guaranteed. Also finish the O-MR. Your target major will have zero armed forces and all their new builds will die on arrival. Repeat for round 3. This strategy works very well versus France and Austria which are likely to have guaranteed multiple small minors. Can also work well vs. big Russians and the Ottomans. Have been able to train France as many as six times in a row before - they never get up off the ground after that kind of treatment.

 

[elbasto]

Do European provinces cost you 0,5 BB before 1650?

 

[sprites]

yes , but thanks to oirats it's not such a priority

 

[Kartos]

yes , but thanks to oirats it's not such a priority

hehe, that's true, after every war he uses this mission. but it cost also 0.5 for the Muslim faith?