First Idea as Vijayanagar

[rudders10]

Hey guys, any advice as to what I should take as first idea for Vijay. It is 1480. I have annexed all the southern OPM. I have orissa, kathiawar, Gujurat and Bahaminas as vassals. Looking to take Ceylon next. Cant attack anyone else as have blocked access to fabricating claims by all my vassals

Cheers

 

[Pukovnik]

It depends if the rest of India is more Hindu or Sunni/Shiite. But either way I would highly recommend you taking Religious Ideas, since you will later on fight the Muslims in Pakistan and Persia and possibly Buddhist nations in Indochina in your way of expansion. Make sure to meet the requirements and form Hindustan as soon as you can since that will give you claims on all of Indian subcontinent. Also, be ready to deal with the threat of foreign European invasions from the late 1500s to the end of the game - which means get westernized as soon as possible (e.g. make a border with some of European colony).

 

[lordelenath]

I'd go for exploration, because it will allow you to westernize faster. Personally I absolutely hate those maluses therefor I tend to westernize asap.

 

[wetblowdryer]

I personally go for quantity so I can field massive armies compared to my neighbors.

 

[grisamentum]

Hey guys, any advice as to what I should take as first idea for Vijay. It is 1480. I have annexed all the southern OPM. I have orissa, kathiawar, Gujurat and Bahaminas as vassals. Looking to take Ceylon next. Cant attack anyone else as have blocked access to fabricating claims by all my vassals

Cheers

Exploration (mandatory for most non-westerns) and then Religious (mandatory for everyone) and then Expansion

 

[joelzhl]

Exploration is always a first for Asian countries with a coastline. There are tons of rich Pacific islands you can colonize which does not count as oversea province. What's better is that since you are Vijayanagar, their trade feed downstream to your trade node.

 

[rudders10]

Cheers guys. Took religion in the end so will see how that plays out. Surprised no real coalitions have really sprung up against me yet. Have bitten into Bengal now as well.

 

[unmerged(804580)]

Exploration. You need to find the Europeans and Westernize, preferrably sooner than later. Colonizers will get missions to conquer a coastal province in India and if the target happens to be you, and you haven't Westernized, you'll reget.

 

[rudders10]

They seem pretty slow at getting to India from what I have read. Anyone know when they would normally get here. It's only 1506 at moment.

 

[El Jojo]

You still have a lot of time before the europeans arrive. The point of taking exploration is to go look for the famed "westerners" by yourself. You can westernize by 1550 this way and then, as the only westernized nation in Asia you'll be the king of the world! Plus it's much either to westernize when you're not too big and culturally diverse. Hindu Kannada provinces won't spawn much rebels even at -3 stab.
Religious works better as a second idea, in my opinion. Beware of the oecumenism idea (one of the religious idea) since it will cause your provinces to switch randomly to Buddhists...

 

[rudders10]

Took religious so can't change now. Any point takin exploration as second idea or too late?

 

[joelzhl]

Took religious so can't change now. Any point takin exploration as second idea or too late?

I would still take Exploration as second. The reason I don't like religious as first idea is because Hindu tolerance + Religious will mean a lot of province flipping to Buddhism, which will drive your religious unity down. Even with Vij's +20% unity, it will still cost you quite a bit more ADM points to finish Westernization.

 

[El Jojo]

Took religious so can't change now. Any point takin exploration as second idea or too late?

It's still worth it. After all you don't have to complete the religious ideas before getting a new group, and the real arrivals of europeans in India is still at least a century away. As mentionned do not take the religious tolerance idea before westernization, I'd say only take the stability reduction one.