Point of Colonization?

[Ge15t]

I consider myself new to the Europa Universalis series (I own EU3 complete but its way to confusing), and I was wondering at what point does a colony actually become useful, bar income.

I have played as Portugal during the demo and it just seems like an excuse to make a bit more money and no real reason to continue to colonize considering the cost?

 

[Felicity]

Colonies are not instantly gratifying. Over time they'll give you more manpower and more income and will often be an integral part of a powerful economy and Empire, especially if your original holdings were meager.

 

[Ge15t]

Ok thanks for the reply, but how would the manpower be useful if its all the way over the ocean? Or is 'manpower' sort of a generic, dimensional gateway in which soldiers jump out of to reinforce armies?

 

[tapewormlondon]

Ok thanks for the reply, but how would the manpower be useful if its all the way over the ocean? Or is 'manpower' sort of a generic, dimensional gateway in which soldiers jump out of to reinforce armies?

Manpower is nationwide, not consigned to different areas

 

[unperson]

They are also important when building up a trade route.

 

[BobbyDylan]

Ok thanks for the reply, but how would the manpower be useful if its all the way over the ocean? Or is 'manpower' sort of a generic, dimensional gateway in which soldiers jump out of to reinforce armies?

Pretty much. Its' the same teleportation device you're generals can use to instantly change armies that are continents apart.

 

[Zarine]

It offer multiple things :
- income
- base for your fleets
- trade power
- manpower
- more land in case of war

At first, it can seems that paying 1 ducat per month is too high for any gain. But with the least interesting colony, you get about 3-4 ducats a year (tax and production).
So, if you take 5 years to make your colony into a city, this would mean that it would pay off about 15-20 years later.

 

[DanubianCossak]

I consider myself new to the Europa Universalis series (I own EU3 complete but its way to confusing), and I was wondering at what point does a colony actually become useful, bar income.

I have played as Portugal during the demo and it just seems like an excuse to make a bit more money and no real reason to continue to colonize considering the cost?

Number of provinces that you own, colonial or non-colonial, define your country in basically every way. First and foremost in EU4 more provinces = more income (in EU3 they also increase tech costs, which was a bad thing). More income = more options. Second they increase land and naval force limits, allowing essentially to maintain larger armies and paint the world in your color easier. Then last but not least more provinces allow you for different strategies and tactics, think Russia WW2 defense in depth - you can similar thing in EU as well.

 

[Ge15t]

It offer multiple things :
- income
- base for your fleets
- trade power
- manpower
- more land in case of war

At first, it can seems that paying 1 ducat per month is too high for any gain. But with the least interesting colony, you get about 3-4 ducats a year (tax and production).
So, if you take 5 years to make your colony into a city, this would mean that it would pay off about 15-20 years later.

Will this process of turning into a city from the initial colonization happen automatically?

 

[generalolaf]

Will this process of turning into a city from the initial colonization happen automatically?

Colonies become cities when they reach 1000 population. Keeping your colonist in a colony will make that happen faster

 

[nicholas2000]

Will this process of turning into a city from the initial colonization happen automatically?

Once there are 1,000 people in the colony, it will "poof" into a city. From there you can make it a core, build improvements, etc. The population of the colony will expand over time, but can also be impacted (positively or negatively) by random events or attacks from the natives.

 

[Andy_Dandy]

With a demo version lasting only 28 years, it can be hard to see how benefitial investments in colonisation will be over time. Same goes for so many other aspects of the game, like the real long term cost of fast military expansion etc.

 

[Delta107]

At first e.g. the Portuguese built trade posts and settlements to support their fleet operation. Colonization came a bit later.

 

[Alextrasia]

well the new colonie System is that you have Colonist the same way as you have merchants. So you deploy this colonist to an empty province and after a travel time we instandly founds the colonie. But it start out with something like 10 People living there. From this Point you have to pay the colonie upkeep which Shows up in your Balance.
The second the colonie is established it is possible to take the colonist out of the colonie to found another one.
The first colonie will still grow something like 30-70 People a year (this is what your paying upkeep for, is you lower your colonie upkeep less People get to the colonies every year)
Or you let the colonist sit in the colonie. He will Speed up the growing by attracting more settlers.
The colonie is finished as soon as it has 1000 People living there.
Now you do not have to pay upkeep for the colonie anymore.
BUT for a colonial empire you still Need a fleet and patrols at the coast of the colonies.
Every finished colonie just Needs one ship somewhere stationed. (dosent has to be at the colonie) and from time to time a patrol (otherwise the colonies get a -33% income cause the oacen was unpatroled for too Long and pirates and smugglers started to take away your Money! ;D)

i hope that i cleared everything about colonies.

Ah and yes you have to core the colonie after it has finished. It dosent Need much to do so.

 

[Thanik]

Colonies are excellent source of income + manpower in mid and long term.

1. Focus on 1-2 colonies at once to avoid extra cost
2. Ideas ,technology, decisions ,buldings , advisors improve income directly from colonies, and to all provinces in your country
3. Also they increase your power trade in trade nones, so you can
4. Buldings: more manpower, production, tax and naval forcelimit
5. Some ideas make colonization faster, so you pay less

 

[beckermt]

With a demo version lasting only 28 years, it can be hard to see how benefitial investments in colonisation will be over time. Same goes for so many other aspects of the game, like the real long term cost of fast military expansion etc.

I think they did a good job with the colonizing thing actually. For Portugal the game starts in the red, but as soon as the Azores become self-sustaining, your income jumps 4 €/month and you're in the black. I found it very noticeable. Clever Paradox...

 

[Number One]

It paints large parts of the map your color and you get to see your name in more places as well.

Biggest benefits i see to my glory.

 

[trcanberra]

It paints large parts of the map your color and you get to see your name in more places as well.

Biggest benefits i see to my glory.

Ah yes - megalomania - I can SO relate to this.

 

[Calantyr]

The biggest reason to colonise? Because even if you don't want to, the other nations do.

Colonise early and colonise fast, or be left behind.