Exploration or Expansion?

[Tub]

The only real benefit that Expansion provides over Exploration is the CB you get at the end, and with the recent changes to vassal feeding, protectorates, and whatnot, coring vast swathes of Asia is becoming increasingly impossible to do.

Exploration provides more colonists, a bigger settler increase, more forcelimits, and the ability to explore. This can be useful everywhere. Expansion, on the other hand, is a good all-round idea group - but its specific benefits are mainly suited to Asia.

So, yeah. Thoughts?

 

[justin6477]

If you take exploration, I think it's a hard sell not to take expansion down the road.

Personally, I tend to pick neither and let others colonize. Unless I'm Muscowy, then it's expansion all the way.

 

[heliostellar]

If you take exploration, I think it's a hard sell not to take expansion down the road.

Personally, I tend to pick neither and let others colonize. Unless I'm Muscowy, then it's exploration all the way.

Yes, I think that really only Muscovy is in any position to make Expansion a priority. However, if you're a Steppe Horde and managed to gobble up all of your peers then there's an argument to be made. However, I would still prioritize Military ideas as a horde since Russia and its ridiculous manpower will coming knocking eventually.

 

[Unready]

Take both.
3 colonists better then 1 or 2.

 

[echolot]

The only real benefit that Expansion provides over Exploration is the CB you get at the end, and with the recent changes to vassal feeding, protectorates, and whatnot, coring vast swathes of Asia is becoming increasingly impossible to do.

Exploration provides more colonists, a bigger settler increase, more forcelimits, and the ability to explore. This can be useful everywhere. Expansion, on the other hand, is a good all-round idea group - but its specific benefits are mainly suited to Asia.

So, yeah. Thoughts?

Depends on the country you're playing with. But if you want to colonize heavily, in most cases, both are a good choice. Agree with Unready.

 

[panionios]

Expansion is for Muscowy only (cannot think of anyone else).The extra colonist for colonization and the +2 diplo relations and +3 reputation for the many vassals you are going to have and fast annexation to open up diplo slots for new vassals makes Expansion obligatory. Not to mention that all important CB to declare war on anyone in Asia.

Having said that, exploration is for Spain, Portugal, France and GB. You won't be colonizing as a central European power (definitely not as Austria, Bohemia, Poland or Brandenburg/TO). Much better to take Diplomatic and Trade (and if you take a third idea from that group, go naval).

 

[Nilmerf]

Expansion is not for Muscovy only. It's a better all around idea group for countries that aren't a major North America colonizer but want to either dabble in it, create a trade network, or jump to Asia instead. Plus, the diplomatic bonuses are great. Here are several example of such countries:

Norway
Denmark
Burgundy
Aragon
Venice
Genoa
The Hansa
Ottomans
Oman

 

[Beagá]

I went Exploration as Hansa and don´t regret it.

It´s simple, really.

1- Want to REALLY focus on Américas? Go Exploration.
2- Want to REALLY focus on Asia? Go Expansion.
3- Want mild focus on both? Go Expansion (yes, Expansion).

The extra diplomatic reputation alone can free you from getting Diplomacy NI and thus you can go Naval more safely. Or even Trade. When I play France I´ll go Expansion then Naval.

 

[smellymummy]

There is a lot of trade money to be made in Asia. The free CB from expansion to gobble up land there at will makes it really easy. The +1 merchant and +20% global trade power also play great with a trade focused nation. The diplomacy boosts aren't half bad either.

Netherlands is a nation that comes to mind that I prefer expansion over exploration. By the time base colonial range can reach provinces you can use as forward bases to move out, most of the exploration is being revealed to you, and then you can just beeline to India, and even maybe set up a colonial nation in the Americas along the way.

For the typical colonizing nations though, England, Portgual, etc, I'd go exploration of course since those nations are in the position to expand early.