Help! I am broke

[unmerged(5366)]

Pls excuse this dumb question from a clueless newbie.

I just purchased this game at my local mall yesterday evening. I took it home, installed it, and spent about four hours running through the Ireland tutorial scenario (twice).

I am just beginning to get the feel of the game. Is it normal to have no gold in the bank by the time I get reach the continent from the British Isles? I just can't seem to maintain a positive cash flow, for some reason.

Am I generating too many armies, maybe? Should I be building trade centers in every single province that I march into? Or settlers? What am I doing wrong?

I am a slow learner, I guess.

Any help would be, well, helpful.

Thanks!

 

[unmerged(4705)]

Forget the tutorial

Hi!. I bought my copy last week and to tell you the truth I hated the tutorial after 15 minutes. The best thing you can do is to began an Grand Campaing (GC) or better still and Improved Grand Campaign (IGC), playing as Russia. You will learn faster. After a few decades you will need to began another game, but we're just learnig, aren't we?

I think the turorial is a waste of time.

 

[Xanadu]

No you are not a slow learner. A lot of people here including myself stumbled in the beginning. It just like all things, trial & error will gain you the most knowledge. I agree with Rothschild don't bother with the tutorial go straight for the Grand Campaign as Russia. At least as Russia a navy , and worrying about a colonial empire is not gonna be high on your list from the start (unlike England,Spain,or Portugal).

 

[unmerged(4783)]

Friend of Bears,

I agree with Rothschild and Xanadu.

Just jump into the Grand Campaign (GC) or Improved Grand Campaign (IGC). I prefer the latter, it is more accurate historically and you can download it free, from here: http://www.ludd.luth.se/~doomdark/EU/. As for money, even as Russia you are going to be somewhat cash-strapped. Play with the sliders, appoint tax collectors, and expand. Don't forget to send colonists to Ingermanland (in the IGC) to make it a city and gain a colonist, so you can populate Siberia.

Good luck!

 

[unmerged(5372)]

Well, you aren't a slow learner, the tutorial game is just very difficult, because the basis of your empire is very small. In all the other scenarios you have a stronger home base. Furthermore, there hardly is any trade, so you income is very low. I ended up as an owner of almost entire western europe, but after you've colonized so much, you are too weak to fight the opposition. If you don't, they'll expand so far, that your base is too small. I'd suggest starting with a normal scenario, which is much more informative.

Regards,

Witte de With

 

[PatMaster]

Its that difficult you say?
I never played the tutorial actually.
Maybe I shall give it a try then

 

[Vulture]

As mentioned before, IGC is advised here. Download it ASAP.
Russia is a good starter, as is Turkey. Both countries are very powerful on the military front and you can make numerous mistakes without damage due to the cheap troops and rich provinces. Both countries will also provide you with a little bit of colonization. Another advisable power is France. It's the strongest country is western Europe with a powerful army & navy. Colonization is also yours once the game gets under way.
The remaining majors: Spain, Portugal, England, Austria (or Sweden if you have Swedish version) & Poland-Lithuania are less advisable for a first game. Spain & Portugal need a lot of coordination because of the colonization-mania of these countries, England has near to no money at start and is hated by France & Spain, two big powers. colonization will not kick in till the mid 1500's. Austria is my favorite and you COULD try them also. Expect lots of diplomatic moves and war. You don not need to worry about colonization & navy with them a lot. Poland is imho the most difficult major after Portugal. Big country, but not that rich, pinned between Brandenburg, Prussia, Teutonic Order, Russia, Golden Horde, Crimea, Turkey, Bohemia & Austria. None of these like you alot. Hungary seems to be indifferent.

Later you can switch to minor countries, using the IGC Config tool...
Then you can ask again what to do

For a very detailed guide on majors, check the FAQ Forum. Heyesey has made an excellent 'guide for major countries'. It's a sticky thread somewhere on top of the page

 

[unmerged(3200)]

I especially hate the fact that you can't save the tutorial.

Now downloading the IGC - thanks for the tip, all.

 

[Agelastus]

Originally posted by Romojo
I especially hate the fact that you can't save the tutorial.

I seem to remember one of the patches fixed that-have you downloaded the most recent (1.09)?

 

[Xanadu]

That be the one.

 

[unmerged(5366)]

Okay. Thanks for all the replies, comrades. -I want to especially thank Pirate Scum, who provided a start-game strategy and even took the trouble to specify the URL.

So last night, I dutifully abandoned the Tutorial scenario. I started a new game as Russia, after downloading the IGC. [I especially appreciate the "Free Ireland" option, btw.] I find that I still tend to go broke very quickly, but I guess that's not too bad, since I gather that its peferable to invest in trade centers, tax collectors, and colonists with an eye towards expansion, versus sitting on a big pile of gold, right?

Making small steps...

 

[dralizaar]

when it comes to cash...dont always spend your cash so much and dont lower research ...max out research and leave taxes zero..your troops as russia especially are diurt cheap and you can depend on year end taxes to sustain your merchants and modest army builds...when not at war drop your maitanance of troops and navies <assumign you have one> to 50% this will save you ltos fo cash...just dont forget to raise it again 1 month before you go to war...also with russia you get diplomats fairly slow so make sure when you go to war that you have at least 2 diplos so you can get your peace in fast if needed...1 to dow 1 to peace...also if you attack kazan your stability drops to neg 3 and you lose a diplomat from that for some reason...so make sure you have 3 when you dow Kazan

also trick dont try to fight enemy armies head on ..especially as Russia..go around them and seige her provs..you got tons of infantry go ahead and assault...if you hit Kazan early and keep going your enemies <Kazan, Golden Horde, Astrakahn, Sibir > wont have cannons yet and seiges will be fast and easy..if you wait..things will get very long and messy...key is to drop your maint costs when you can..with countries like Russia who are poor and have huge armies this helps lots

 

[unmerged(4783)]

You're very much welcome, Friend of Bears.

By the way, if you continue as Russian and left the "Russian Unrest" option on, brace for some nasty surprises. It represents the chaos and disruption that bad czars and usurpers/pretenders brought on poor Russia. I won't tell you anything else so it lurks in your conscience, unless you happen to know about this period in Russian history.

 

[Agelastus]

Originally posted by Pirate Scum
You're very much welcome, Friend of Bears.

By the way, if you continue as Russian and left the "Russian Unrest" option on, brace for some nasty surprises. It represents the chaos and disruption that bad czars and usurpers/pretenders brought on poor Russia. I won't tell you anything else so it lurks in your conscience, unless you happen to know about this period in Russian history.

Unless, of course, he saves and reloads at the inopportune moment, surely!