Dutch nation

[Tallyhoo]

Hello and good morning guys

I started my Utrecht game and i would like to form Netherlands, Dutch nation or whatever is it called. The problém is that Utrecht is Theocracy so my question is how can i make it to something more suitable for netherlands? (Merchant republic or noble republic dunno what they originaly was)

One more thing - i have to say that even if Utrech start with one province only, it is really easy gameplay much easier than byzantine for example and more fun definately.
Which ideas are best for Netherlands? Im still Utrecht but first idea i picked is trade. Im thinking about exploration and naval maybe?

 

[Marcus Septim]

when you form netherlands ,you get an event to chose dutch republic , monarchy or normal republic (administrative ) as for ideas i wouldnt really go for exploration since i cant steer directly to antwerp instead i let spain ,france and england do the job for me , for other i usualy go trade ,defensive , naval , offensive and so on every slot on the second idea line is military i hope i was helpful

 

[Gabriel SPR]

when you form netherlands ,you get an event to chose dutch republic , monarchy or normal republic (administrative )

Indeed, it is a random event that can fire at any moment in the 1580-1620 timespan.
As for ideas, exploration is definitely an option if you're trying to get to Asia before everyone else. You can use that to establish some naval base around Africa and in South East Asia, then I'd take Trade and Expansion to get dem spices

 

[unmerged(739896)]

Diplomatic is a good idea for expanding without getting slaughtered by an angry coalition- by having Austria and France on your side, that's it.

Also, you'll likely turn a lot of countries into useful vassals, both in the early stages (Flanders, Brabant, Holland and Hainaut, all owned by Burgundy) and into the colonization age (Mexico and half of Asia).

 

[Tallyhoo]

Can anyone explain how im supposed to steer trade from Asia to Antwerpen? I wont be able to steal from Sevilla and Bordeaux (my ships get attrition there) trade nodes probably so is Asia - Caribbean - London - Antwerpen the only way?

 

[Gabriel SPR]

You can't, your best option is to dominate one node in Asia or Africa and then collect there. For example, you can try to monopolize the Cape, build enough trade power in India and South East Asia through provinces and light ships, and then steer everything you can all the way to south africa to collect there.

 

[Xara]

Slightly related, but what happens if France doesn't exist when you hit 'Form Dutch Nation'? France gets created anew?

I'm guessing if France is your vassal when you do it, that can also save you losing French region cores (since they'll go to your vassal, who you can integrate)

 

[Tallyhoo]

I started as Utrecht not Burgundy so i did not lose anything.

 

[Gabriel SPR]

Slightly related, but what happens if France doesn't exist when you hit 'Form Dutch Nation'? France gets created anew?

I've just tried this with cheats and yes, you automatically release France if it doesn't exist.

 

[Xara]

I have them vassalized in my current Burgundy game. Hope that doesn't break it when I do so. Guess I'll find out in a few decades!

 

[AnguyTheArcher]

Can anyone explain how im supposed to steer trade from Asia to Antwerpen? I wont be able to steal from Sevilla and Bordeaux (my ships get attrition there) trade nodes probably so is Asia - Caribbean - London - Antwerpen the only way?

Ask for fleet basing rights from Algeria = problem solved. Will help with blockading during wars too. But Bordeaux and especially Sevilla are too strong - you'll lose a lot of money to competition.

 

[Xara]

If you expanded into Hannover lands, you could technically go Asia -> Africa -> Ivory Coast -> Caribbean -> Chesapeake -> North Sea -> Lubeck -> Antwerp

It's not hard to patrol London and steal a lot from there. But yea, taking a double hit through Seville and Bordeaux costs a lot

 

[ceteris.paribus]

I have them vassalized in my current Burgundy game. Hope that doesn't break it when I do so. Guess I'll find out in a few decades!

Your vassals don't break. Problem is feeding them any of the French leftovers that belong to HRE. You could take the provinces out of the HRE, but you will piss off the current HR Emperor immensely. If not, you are going to need a lot of relationship slots. Not to mention the -200 ADM MP you will need to move your capital so you can keep Bourgogne.

Paradox made sure switching from Burgandy would be a very costly, if not an uneasy choice.

 

[Xara]

I have *France* vassalized. And I am the Emperor. And I am integrating France to 99% before I enact the decision. So hopefully that means I hit the decision, all the French region provinces I own go to France, who is then annexed the next month, giving it all back plus what they had beyond that.

 

[ceteris.paribus]

I have *France* vassalized. And I am the Emperor. And I am integrating France to 99% before I enact the decision.

LOL! I am so off. :blink:

 

[Trickrs]

If you expanded into Hannover lands, you could technically go Asia -> Africa -> Ivory Coast -> Caribbean -> Chesapeake -> North Sea -> Lubeck -> Antwerp

It's not hard to patrol London and steal a lot from there. But yea, taking a double hit through Seville and Bordeaux costs a lot

In my last game I did mostly it until Chesapeake, I then collected there, earning like... 100 ducats, Britain sent their fleet of 200 light ships to steal my income, I sent 100 light ships to London and got 200 ducats, 300 per month.