Explain 'Dominions' to me, please

[Raventhefuhrer]

Hello,

I've pretty much just begun to get into the Scramble for Africa and I notice that I've gotten the opportunity to release some African nations as 'Dominions'. Apparently a certain portion of Colonial Power is expended upkeeping my African colonies, and by releasing them as Dominions I could reclaim that Colonial Power.

Other than that, what does releasing someone as a Dominion do for me, and how does it differ from a Satellite, if at all? Or would it generally be more beneficial to administer the colonies directly, as the AI seems to do, provided I have the Colonial Power to spare?

 

[RELee]

I'll just quote the manual. It's easier.

Satellites & Releasing Countries
Some countries start the game as Satellites of another (similar to Vassals in Europa
Universalis) – they are their own countries, but something binds them to a “master”
country which controls certain aspects of their foreign policy and economy. They may
have become this way because of recent independence, a longstanding relationship with
the other country, or because of a recent conquest. For whatever reason, they are not
fully free to decide their futures.
These countries are automatically part of their master’s Sphere of Influence, if the master
is a Great Power, and are also part of the master country’s Internal Market. A Satellite
may not Declare War or make Peace on its own – it always follows the lead of its master.
A Satellite or Dominion also cannot be Influenced by other countries, and cannot be
Declared War upon (the Declaration must be against their master).

Releasing Satellites
Provinces a country Owns which also have Cores belonging to another country or
country Tag may be Released by its owner as a Satellite. It will retain its ties to the
master country as a Satellite unless its status is changed by result of a Diplomatic Action
(usually a Peace Offer).

Dominions
A Dominion is an Overseas Satellite. The military of a Dominion is under the direct
control of its master during times of War.

There may have been some changes from the expansions, but this will get you started.

 

[Raventhefuhrer]

Thanks for the quotation, General Lee.

It sounds like Dominions really are just the same as Satellites then.

 

[GC13]

Other than that, what does releasing someone as a Dominion do for me, and how does it differ from a Satellite, if at all? Or would it generally be more beneficial to administer the colonies directly, as the AI seems to do, provided I have the Colonial Power to spare?

Dominion is just a synonym for Satellite, same as Puppet. If you have the colonial power I'd recommend managing the colonies yourself. There's really no reason to spin off a Dominion unless you need the colonial power or really need an infamy reduction.