Newbie question: how do I get explorers?

[unmerged(5476)]

Hello,
maybe this is a really stupid question, but I couldn't find the answer in the manual. How do I get explorers and conquistadors? Do I buy them or do they just 'pop up'?

thanx to the 1who takes the time to answer me

bart

 

[hjarg]

Expolrers and conquistadores are historical: for example Spain has Columbus from the beginning, but England has to wait a bit before they get Drake.

They appear when they did historically, but if you're lucky, you can get a random event as well. Rare though.

 

[unmerged(3408)]

Certain nations get explorers early, like Spain and Portugal. Some get them later in the game, like France or even Russia.

Something to think about when deciding on what country to play because it may impact your strategy.

 

[Xanadu]

It is possible to get an Explorer/Conquistidor from a random event. But that doesn;t happen very often so don't hold your breath.

Also you can't buy Explorers/Conquistidors

 

[SideshowBob]

Another common trick is to actually miss your explorers when they do appear. By default the game will only tell you about them appearing in the scrolling message bar at the bottom. Change your message settings so you get a pop up window informing you of leaders/explorers/conquestadors.

 

[Agelastus]

Although there's normally quite a loud noise when one of your "specials" pops up-I've never missed that!

Conquistadors and explorers are the single most useful things to have in the game.

 

[maekh]

i usually get 2-4 conquistadors with Sweden each game but i hardly get any explorers at all..

 

[Xanadu]

Oh yea one more thing. All Explorers/Conquistidors always arrive on January 1st.

 

[Agelastus]

Originally posted by Xanadu
Oh yea one more thing. All Explorers/Conquistidors always arrive on January 1st.

Which is slightly strange given the care taken with their historical death dates. I suspect it was done this way to help players keep track, and avoid wasting colonists in the case of countries with dynamism.

 

[hjarg]

Originally posted by Xanadu
Oh yea one more thing. All Explorers/Conquistidors always arrive on January 1st.

Well, not the random ones. Random ones come when they feel like coming

But all the pre-defined leaders (incl generals and admirals) do come in January 1st.