La Reconquista Colonial (A Spanish AAR)

[TheChalk]

So this was a rather interesting idea I had - a "Reconquista" of all the ex-Spanish colonies in the Americas.

This is my 3rd AAR and will be written in a gameplay format. I'm still kinda noob-ish at Vic2, so bear with me.

As many of you know, this is how I will start:

For clarification, the criteria for success is to reclaim all the following lands:

Primary Objectives
Annex the following countries:

Colombia
Venezuela
Bolivia
Peru
Ecuador
Paraguay
Uruguay
Argentina
Chile

Secondary Objectives

Take over the Carribean
Take over Guyana
Annex Mexico
Annex the USCA (Or constituent countries)
Reclaim Gibraltar
Reclaim the Falklands

Extra Objectives

Annex Brazil
Reclaim Spanish Colonies from the USA (Texas, California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Florida)
Annex Portugal


LIST OF CONTENTS
Baby Steps
CARLO! CARLO! MY CANAL FOR REY CARLO!
​

 

[TheChalk]

BABY STEPS

This chapter is simply going to cover all the pre-unpause moves.

First off, I noticed that Spain starts with very low literacy, which will slow tech progress in the future - something I'm going to need if I want to win wars. I'm in no rush, I have 100 years, but I need to start solid. Therefore I choose Positivism for my first tech, for the Education boost. I also use my National Focuses to promote Clergymen in the two most populous provinces.

Spoiler

To prove how little of a rush I'm in, I immediately start justifying a war against Colombia. I want to go for Panama, both for the (eventual) canal and to have ports on the Western side of the continent for later.

Spoiler

Then I move onto politics. I start with cordial relations with all of South + Central America, but I don't see the USCA lasting long and I don't plan on sphering nations I'm going to (re)conquer later. Therefore I influence and ally Brazil, as well as influencing Portugal and Mexico who won't yet be my allies.

Spoiler

Finally, I move onto the economy. What a suprise, Spain's is struggling. High education/Admin are a priority right now, so Taxes and Tariffs have to come up and everything else goes plummeting down. Sorry, citizens!

Spoiler

There's also the question of the Carlist rebels Spain starts with. I'm going to ignore them and let them siege, so I can switch to the Absolute Monarchy later.

 

[Zorro]

Should make for an interesting AAR. It's a good idea to go to war with Colombia so earlier, you'll need to spread out those infamy hits. Good Luck!

 

[GreatUberGeek]

Subbed! Interesting move with the Carlists. Also, the screenshots (except the first one) don't work-they only have an imgur link.

 

[TheChalk]

Should make for an interesting AAR. It's a good idea to go to war with Colombia so earlier, you'll need to spread out those infamy hits. Good Luck!

Yeah, infamy is certainly going to be interesting to deal with. Hopefully by the time the Wars of Containment roll around I'll be able to deal with them

Subbed! Interesting move with the Carlists. Also, the screenshots (except the first one) don't work-they only have an imgur link.

No idea what you're on about.

 

[GreatUberGeek]

Well, not any more...

 

[AsdfeZxcas]

Neat idea for an AAR! Will follow.

 

[rorlegion]

Looking forward to the reconquista! I think it was a smart move in the long-run to let the Carlists seize power.

 

[TheChalk]

Neat idea for an AAR! Will follow.

Thank you!

Looking forward to the reconquista! I think it was a smart move in the long-run to let the Carlists seize power.

It was. Absolute Monarchy is incredibly useful.

 

[Zzzzz...]

I'm pleased that you went absolutism. State-cap + faster CB!

Subscribe!

 

[guillec87]

Subbed... you should go for the old Spanish lands in Italy

 

[Barkingdragon13]

Make sure you prove how little of a rush you're in for the Cono Sur, or those perfidious colonials will steal Patagonia and generally give you grief.

 

[Avindian]

Nobody can say your goals aren't ambitious! Spain is a great country to play in Vicky 2, and I look forward to seeing how you do!

 

[Belgiumruler]

sub

 

[TristramShandy]

Ambitious premise, I'm really interested to see how this ends up! The infamy required to go about reconquering SA is going to be the obvious hurdle.

Just a small word of advice (apologies if you know this): you might want to reconsider how you've got your military spending allocated. During times of peace, there's practically no downside to having your national stockpile expenditure set to 0 (unless you're worried about somebody else declaring war on you, or you need domestic demand for military goods to keep military factories in business) - national stockpile is the amount of money that's spent on troops' equipment, and is reflected in their org. Military spending, however, are the wages you're actually paying your soldiers. At the moment, you've got that set to 0, which means they're literally not getting an income, and therefore won't be getting any life needs. This means they'll demote to other jobs, meaning you'll lose soldier pops (i.e., manpower,) or worse, they'll join a rebel faction. You obviously want loyal soldiers, as they're typically what you need to rely on to crush rebellions.

Just my 2c, apologies if it isn't wanted

Subbed in any case!

 

[TheChalk]

I'm pleased that you went absolutism. State-cap + faster CB!

Subscribe!

Yeah, Absolute Monarchy is definitely going to be useful.

Subbed... you should go for the old Spanish lands in Italy

I was thinking of that, but I will have to see if time and infamy allow it.

Make sure you prove how little of a rush you're in for the Cono Sur, or those perfidious colonials will steal Patagonia and generally give you grief.

That's a good point. Falklands and Gibraltar are definitely going to be interesting.

Nobody can say your goals aren't ambitious! Spain is a great country to play in Vicky 2, and I look forward to seeing how you do!

sub

Thanks! I'm glad to recieve attention from such well known writAARs.

Ambitious premise, I'm really interested to see how this ends up! The infamy required to go about reconquering SA is going to be the obvious hurdle.

Just a small word of advice (apologies if you know this): you might want to reconsider how you've got your military spending allocated. During times of peace, there's practically no downside to having your national stockpile expenditure set to 0 (unless you're worried about somebody else declaring war on you, or you need domestic demand for military goods to keep military factories in business) - national stockpile is the amount of money that's spent on troops' equipment, and is reflected in their org. Military spending, however, are the wages you're actually paying your soldiers. At the moment, you've got that set to 0, which means they're literally not getting an income, and therefore won't be getting any life needs. This means they'll demote to other jobs, meaning you'll lose soldier pops (i.e., manpower,) or worse, they'll join a rebel faction. You obviously want loyal soldiers, as they're typically what you need to rely on to crush rebellions.

Just my 2c, apologies if it isn't wanted

Subbed in any case!

It's what I normally do, just keeping it up for now to resiege Rebel provinces as they slowly worm towards Madrid.


Next update tomorrow (probably). I might be able to squeeze it out tonight but we'll have to see.

 

[SotV]

How are you planning to deal with the US?

Oh, and dotted.

 

[Seelmeister]

That is a very ambitious list of targets, this will certainly be an entertaining read!

 

[Jape]

That is a very ambitious list of targets, this will certainly be an entertaining read!

Certainly on both counts. Keep it up!

 

[TheChalk]

That is a very ambitious list of targets, this will certainly be an entertaining read!

Certainly on both counts. Keep it up!

Thanks! I hope I can deliver.

CARLO! CARLO! MY CANAL FOR REY CARLO!


Whilst preparing for war, I get a research expedition pop-up. I need the prestige to keep my GP position, and I never liked the French anyway.

Spoiler

We finally get rebels in the capital in July 1837. Most of my troops are busy being redeployed in the Carribean.

Spoiler

Meanwhile, my war preparations are almost finished. I present to you:
OPERATION CODENAME: IT'S OUR CANAL NOW

Spoiler

I will deploy two armies: A smaller army will land in Panama (Indicated by red), and spread out to siege the wargoal. I will then send a larger army (Indicated by blue) into the north of Colombia, which will fan out and spread down the east towards the Capital. The green arrows indicate hope for AI competence.

In August 1837, I declare war on Colombia, and rebels finally siege the capital.

Spoiler

The takeover follows soon after. I exercise my powers and immediately switch to Reactionary, for State Capitalism (I'm clueless with industrialisation) and Jingoism. Support in my country is still low, but I hope to get enough for multiple wargoals by the end of my Colombian war.

Spoiler

I finish Positivism, and continue the chain of literacy-focussed techs with Functionalism.

Spoiler

By Autumn 1938, the war in Colombia is nearly over and I get more free prestige. Some of the side effects of the Carlist takeover were a drop in prestige and a reset in all of my influence in other countries, apart from Colombia, who I'm still cordial with somehow.

Spoiler

The war is over by May 1939. Unfortunately I couldn't drum up enough Jingoism support for more land, but it's a start.

Spoiler