Colonising as a free city

[tommassi]

So, if I play as let's say Hamburg, stay as an OPM just developing my province to death... what happens if I start colonising America? Will I lose free city status whenever I make my first colony into a city, because of course I won't be able to make it into a CN until I have five provinces?

If so, it sucks.

 

[Bouchart]

If you ever control more than one province you become an oligarchic republic.

 

[tommassi]

If you ever control more than one province you become an oligarchic republic.

I know. But is that limited to Europe? Does it still apply with colonial regions?

 

[caedussl]

I wonder if there's a work around. Like give the province to a subject, and then when your subject has the five provinces it should become your colonial nation (right? not sure). Anyways, seems like a lot of work, especially considering you probably won't stay a free city forever. I ran into this in my Hamburg run's. It get's boring having to conquer at least two provinces in a war because your subject will always give one up to the emperor when demanded (or having to subjugate any OPM if you can't take land from their allies).

I know. But is that limited to Europe? Does it still apply with colonial regions?

It does. It's happened to me.​

 

[tommassi]

Well, my idea is precisely to stay as a free city for the whole run** (starting as a free city, vasalize two neigbours, annex them later on, I've already done). But all of a sudden I had this idea that maybe colonising could be a thing for me... well, not so much I guess. Shame. I think colonies should not count towards this.

**PD.- I should've mentioned: without even vasalising anyone. Taking part in wars, of course. But not conquering. Mainly to see how far can I take development. But since colonising does not use any MPs.

 

[Thrake]

Hum... How about annexing 5 provinces through war (CN should be tough to pull as an OPM so maybe instead try to get that from a primitive)? Would you still lose the status if you then try to expad your CN with colonist (would a growing colony count towards province count?)?

 

[Dominion]

Hum... How about annexing 5 provinces through war (CN should be tough to pull as an OPM so maybe instead try to get that from a primitive)? Would you still lose the status if you then try to expad your CN with colonist (would a growing colony count towards province count?)?

Still need to core them before you get to form a colony.

Only way to get a colony as an OPM would be to create a vassal, have him create a colony and annex said vassal.

 

[Incompetent]

Still need to core them before you get to form a colony.

Only way to get a colony as an OPM would be to create a vassal, have him create a colony and annex said vassal.

You'd then end up with at least two provinces of your own, namely your capital and the vassal's capital. Or is there a day's grace before you become an Oligarchic Republic, giving time to immediately release the vassal again?

Alternatively, is it possible to set up Colonial Nations, become an OPM (but still have the CNs under you), and then become a Free City?

 

[Dominion]

You'd then end up with at least two provinces of your own, namely your capital and the vassal's capital. Or is there a day's grace before you become an Oligarchic Republic, giving time to immediately release the vassal again?

Alternatively, is it possible to set up Colonial Nations, become an OPM (but still have the CNs under you), and then become a Free City?

Should be possible to release again, as there's a one day grace period for tons of things.
Granted, I did not test it yet. Can't start a console run atm, but feel free to try it out.

The whole issue with setting up a colony, turning yourself back into an OPM and becoming a free city again without bypassing the issue by annexing a vassal and immediately releasing it again is that you have to have someone offer it to you, isn't it?
Not sure if an AI Emperor is even able to grant someone free city status. I have yet to see a free city that isn't amongst the eight initial ones.

Interesting topic.

 

[tommassi]

AI does offer free city status if the number is below eight. But not sure it would offer it to a human manager OPM that is now well past 75 development.