'Maximum exploiting of bankers'

[unmerged(3963)]

Another interesting thing is what I'm trying with Ragusa now - I am 'exploiting' the loan option (I got a stock exchange in 1600ish as a random event - take out 5 loans for 5000d, grab armies, attack like mad.)

Of course, I do have an inflation of over 100% now - last time I checked, a shipyard cost. 2.2 kd...

The 'exploiting' comes in from the fact that I've been able to get 5 loans over and over and over again - you'd think the bankers would wise up.

Any other exploitation strategies out there (within the rules)

Further interesting things of note in this game where I'm Ragusa.
(Currently, it's 1640ish, and Ragusa own half of Greece, Half of current day Turkey, Alexandria, Genoa (Austria owns Corsica), Milan, Modena, Savoy, and the Dauphine and Provence.

- Independant Transsylvania made a go for it around 1636 - even my giving them 400d didn't help them - the poles quashed them back down in 2 years.
- Modenan Havanna
- Irish Connecticut
- Danish Barahona
- Hanseatic MicMac
- Austria owning Corsica, Tunisia and Table
- Venetian Calais

 

[Savant]

Yes, I have been playing the Papal States

and I was forced into a loan situation I couldn't repay so I just maxed out on loans and went bankrupt. Yet, I kept being abl eot take more loans out.. endlessly. This did not used to happen in earlier versions so it must be a patch 1.09 effect. I also recall that this patch (or 1.08) made it so that inflation stayed high with bankruptcy, whereas it used to decline by half in earlier versions (1.07+).

 

[dralizaar]

key to exploits is once you realize its an exploit you stop..to continue to do so once you have realize dit is cheating ...people keep saying they should fix it so you cant.. why? players should know when to say no to abusing it hehe will power my friends

 

[unmerged(3963)]

It's not something I would do in regular games - more of an experiment.

It DOES explain (thanks Savant) why my inflation is not dropping, even though I get the message that it has.

One more question, if I may - how do I change a loan to a gift?

 

[dralizaar]

change loan to a gift? unsure exactly you mean an existing loan to another nation? if so cant be done..although you might try giving that nation the ammount they need to pay you off right before they have to pay you if so,,using the diplo options and the various siuzed gifts

 

[unmerged(3408)]

I guess you could call it a gift if you gave them a 200d loan for 300 months at 1%. Although, I'm pretty sure the AI would reject the offer.

You are playing Ragusa so I take it you are playing the IGC. I don't see any exploitation. Your inflation has permanently damaged your economy. Your bankruptcies have continually depleted your troops' moral. And you've lost a lot of money, which could have gone to constructive purposes, to interest payments.

Looks like you've been the one "exploited" by the bankers

 

[unmerged(3963)]

Petrus - good point.

Although I think coming in second after Spain, and having expanded hugely, is not something I could have done without being exploited by the bankers.

I DID damage my economy severely - you are right in that. Cannon are so expensive, I am still using the 80 cannon army from 1494somethingish - and it's now round 1650.

Funny thing, though - with all this hyperinflation, I find diplomacy more and more appealing - those costs never go up, and it's cheaper to buy good relations with some powers than even raising a small army against them.

 

[unmerged(3408)]

That is one benefit. You are like everybody's poor cousin. Nice guy liked by all....always in need of a little cash.

 

[unmerged(3963)]

I certainly NEED to be liked by Turkey - that 100+ army sitting in Thrace is way too powerful once it starts moving (since I have surrounded Thrace with Ragusan provinces, during peace it can only be shipped out by the Turkish navy - a slow, and, for the AI, difficult process).

 

[unmerged(3408)]

Then you are luck that you don't have many cannon. For some reason I always felt the fortifications around Thrace far too easy to breach.

This is the Golden Horn we are talking about there. The most legendary city defenses in History. In the game, however, a naval blockade and modest besieging force were always enough to bring the city under my thumb. Always felt too easy.

 

[unmerged(3963)]

This is actually how I got all my 7 Turkish provinces - run to Thrace with my 50 or so guns (only 50 in 1490ish, more later), submit it, and then grab provinces until their counter-strike becomes too dangerous - at which time you negotiate a favorable peace.

Actually, cannon is the only thing Ragusa has to boast about. That, and the inflation, though it is nowhere near the 'Crazy Genoans'