Portugal AAR (2nd try)

[Yozhik]

Yup, here I go again with a new AAR... Why?

You know, I've asked myself that question many a time. I guess I just like to restart things... because I believe that whatever happens in the early years of IGC is very, very important. Especially with the countries I am playing - Russia and Portugal (I play many others too, but I had to choose 2 else I'd be over-flooding the forum... that and having to post every single game is too hard).

So, I try things. I try them and see what happens; and I hope that people can spot my mistakes and learn on them. Why? Because if what people are saying about EU2 is true, AI will get tougher, and the likes of me who play at the hardest difficulties no matter what are going to have one tough pill to swallow, as AI hordes overrun their colonies.

Oh well, enough BS.

The stage for this AAR is Portugal (surprise... *yawn*). The previous time around I achieved Ivory monopoly (well, the highest producer status, actually), but did not build enough troops... that, and frankly Portugal can not stand the high costs and low growth rates of the African lands. So this time around I am going after Tobacco. Not only it goes up in price slightly faster than ivory, yielding only to spices and chinaware, it grows in clusters, 5 provinces in North America and 4 in Brazil of them being ones I can get to. If I am crazy and lucky enough I may consider the Central American ones too.

If - a big if - this works out, I have a dream of colonizing Indonesia sometime. Sometime...

Settings: 1492 Portugal, Very Hard/Furious, Chaos Maims, Free Ireland and Bretagne, Free/Aus Lowlands, Byzantium, Swedish Ingermanland, Moldovian Bujak, 4 unrests (no Persian one).

This balances the game a bit: Spain suddenly lacks the Dutch cash, Turks no longer have the easy walk-throughs across Persia, Russia actually has to fight for Ingermanland.

Wish me luck...

 

[Yozhik]

1-1-1492 - 1-1-1511: The era of exploration

1-1-1492:
Tech emphasis: Land
Religion: Catholic 100, Moslem 50, Orthodox 0.
All fleets to Tangiers.
All maintenances to 50%.
Bailiffs in all 5 original cities.
RM / Pommerania.

4-1-1492:
RM / Hanseatic League.
ToT kicks in.

9-3-1492:
N Atlantic Ocean is discovered (2nd NW of Azores).

11-1-1492:
Land-3 achieved.

11-12-1492:
N Atlantic Ocean is discovered (3rd NW of Azores).

1-3-1493:
Legal counsels in Tago, Oporto.

1-9-1493:
Chesapeake Bay is discovered.

4-8-1493:
The Diaz's expedition returns to Azores, having lost only one ship.

6-4-1493:
Russia annexes Kazan.

12-27-1493:
Mameluks lose Aleppo and Lebanon to Turkey.

1-16-1494:
Cape Hatteras is discovered.

2-6-1494:
Connecticut is discovered. A grain province, it is of no interest to us.

6-15-1494:
The Diaz's expedition returns to Azores once again, and again a ship had been lost.

7-26-1494:
Manhattan is discovered. A furs province, it is of no interest to us.

12-2-1494:
Random event: Algarve fortress +1 level.

12-12-1494:
Delaware is discovered.

1-14-1495:
The 300-some natives are wiped out. Colonist is sent.

5-11-1495:
The Diaz's expedition returns to Azores. Losses to enemy: 23 infantry, 5 cavalry. Losses to attrition: 1 warship, 3,643 infantry, 728 cavalry.

8-17-1495:
RM with France expires, renewal unsuccessful.

9-14-1495:
Bermuda Triangle is discovered.

10-4-1495:
Santee (cotton) and Roanoke (tobacco) are discovered. Only Roanoke is of interest to us.

10-17-1495:
New monarch, Manuel I (5-4-4).

12-21-1495:

Colonization of Delaware fails.

3-29-1496:
Diaz returns to Azores. Another warship lost.

11-1-1496:
Land-4 achieved.

11-18-1496:
Austria annexes Wallachia.

1-1-1497:
Camoens (Field Chief Judge, Conq, 6-0-0).

3-2-1497:
Random event: Algarve fortress +1 level. Large fortress in Algarve in 1497. Hmmmmm...

3-10-1497:
Another colonist sent to Delaware.

7-10-1497:
Vasco Da Gama (Vice Admiral, Exp, 6-3-4).

10-18-1497:
Central Atlantic ocean (2W of Azores) is discovered.

2-1-1498:
Mascate is discovered (and how did I find out of this province at the tip of the Aravian peninsula? interesting...)

2-15-1498:
The Bermudas are discovered. Delaware is colonized (100 +10%, 1/3, tobacco).

8-13-1498:
Da Gama (20 warships, 5 transports) delivers Camoens (12,300-some infantry, 4,000-some cavalry) to Delaware. Aside from the 10,000 men in Tangiers, these are all of my forces.

11-4-1498:
Carolina (cotton) and Coast of Carolina are discovered.

11-7-1498:
Chesapeake (tobacco) is discovered.

12-3-1498:
Natives are wiped out from Chesapeake.

1-1-1499:
De Albuquerque (General, Conq, 5-0-0).

1-3-1499:
Cape Canaveral is discovered.

1-8-1499:
Roanoke natives are wiped out. Extra men are cool - but I don't want to come close to risking my colonies... too expensive.

1-23-1499:
Seminole (sugar) is discovered. Spain refuses to share discoveries, even though we know of 20 more provinces than they do (74 vs 54).

3-1-1499:
Mohawk (furs, Iroquois) and Catawba (tobacco) are discovered.

3-4-1499:
200 very low in aggressiveness natives in Catawba are massacred. Yes, I know, I know... but with Portuguese finances risks are bad.

3-9-1499:
I find that an english ship docked in Delaware - Cabot with 1 warship left. Oh-kay. H-o-w? I am not allied with them.

4-26-1499:
Golden Horde loses Samara and Kujbischev to Russia.

5-6-1499: Powhattan, the 5th North American tobacco province is discovered. A week later, antives are history.

7-27-1499:
Susquehanna (grain) is discovered.

9-2-1499:
Random event: +7 warships.

1-1-1500:
New leaders: Almeida (Brigadier, Conq, 6-0-0-3) and Pedro Cabra (Flotilla Admiral, Expl, 5-4-4). Colonist sent to Chesapeake.

3-11-1500:
Mental note - Field Chief Judge outranks a general. Camoens (6-1-1 in the New World) is being given a 1,000 infantry escort and exiled to Delaware. De Albuquerque (5-5-5 in the New World) retains the rest.

5-13-1500:
New leaders: M. De Corte Real (Flotilla Admiral, 5-3-3) and G. De Corte Real (Vice Admiral, Expl, 5-3-3).

7-16-1500:
Savannah (cotton) is discovered.

9-12-1500:
Sea of Sargassos is discovered. Diaz dies. The American army is entrusted to Almeida (6-4-5-3 in the New World), De Albuquerque sent to Delaware with 1,000 men.

12-14-1500:
Chesapeake colonized successfully (100 +10%, 1/3, tobacco).

2-20-1501:
Central Atlantic Ocean (3W of Azores) is discovered.

4-18-1501:
Central Atlantic Ocean (4W of Azores) is discovered.

6-16-1501:
Tortuga island is discovered.

9-13-1501:
The first De Gama's expedition returns to Delaware.

1-14-1502:
The Straits of Puerto Rico are discovered. Colonist sent to Chesapeake.

3-12-1501:
Venezuelan sea is discovered.

4-4-1502:
St. Thomas is discovered. It's a sugar island in the Carribean.

4-15-1502:
Persia loses Armenia and a weirdly named N-something province to Turkey.

5-26-1502:
Cabral dies.

6-30-1502: The second De Gama expedition returns to Delaware.

7-1-1502:
I lose Nouchakchott to natives.

7-19-1502:
P-L gains Kurland from TO.

8-15-1502:
Colony expanded successfully in Chesapeake (201 +10%, 2/6).

10-15-1502:
Curacao is discovered.

12-13-1502:
Winward islands (actually, a sea area) is discovered.

1-8-1503:
Colonist sent to Chesapeake.

2-10-1503:
Leeward islands (a sea area) and Antigua (island) are discovered.

4-19-1503:
The third Da Gama expedition comes home, losing a warship, only to leave again. I need to discover the South American tobacco areas before all my explorers vanish...

4-27-1503: M. De Corte Real dies.

8-5-1503:
Chesapeake colony is expanded (303 +10%, 3/9).

9-7-1503:
Mamelukes lose Judea and Syria to Turkey. Mental note - gotta play Mamelukes sometime.

9-15-1503:
Guyana coast is discovered.

10-1-1503:
Infrastructure-4 achieved.

10-5-1503:
Caribe (wool) is discovered, the first South American province for me.

10-19-1503:
G. De Corte Real dies.

1-7-1504:
Colonist sent to Chesapeake.

3-1-1504:
Land-5 achieved.

6-30-1504:
Chesapeake is expanded (406 +10%, 5/12).

7-17-1504:
The American army lands in Caribe.

10-13-1504:
Cuyuni (fish) is discovered.

12-7-1504:
Guyana is discovered. Whoa. Gold. Whoa. Gold. Whoa. I really didn't think it'd be this close...

1-7-1505:
Natives in Guyana are wiped out, but no colony option yet. Gotta colonize the coast first, eh?

4-3-1505:
Central Atlantic ocean (2SSW from Azores) is discovered.

3-18-1505:
Surinam (sugar) is discovered. Natives - wiped out.

5-2-1505:
Central Atlantic ocean (2S from Azores) is discovered.

7-10-1505:
Maroni (sugar) is discovered.

9-18-1505:
Amapa (fish) is discovered.

10-3-1505:
Central Atlantic ocean (3S from Azores) is discovered.

11-14-1505:
Manaus (furs) is discovered. 10VP for discovering Amazones.

11-29-1505:
Central Atlantic ocean (3S then W from Azores) is discovered.

1-1-1506:
Colonist sent to Chesapeake.

3-2-1506:
Marajo (sugar) is discovered.

5-23-1506:
Para (tobacco) is discovered. Central Atlantic ocean (2NW from Cape Verde) is discovered.

6-24-1506:
Chesapeake is expanded (514 +10%, 6/16).

7-22-1506:
England gains a province off Brittany. Central Atlantic ocean (3NW from Cape Verde) is discovered.

8-16-1506:
Tiracambu (sugar) is discovered.

9-20-1506:
Central Atlantic ocean (2W from Cape Verde) is discovered.

10-10-1506:
Marahao (grain) is discovered.

12-30-1506:
Parnaiba (sugar) is discovered.

2-16-1507:
South-Central Atlantic ocean (W of Cape Verde) is discovered.

2-23-1507:
Recife (sugar) is discovered.

3-11-1507:
Venice annexes Navarra.

4-16-1507:
South-Central Atlantic ocean (2W of Cape Verde) is discovered. Iguato (tobacco) is discovered.

7-1-1507:
New discoveries: Ignambuc (tobacco), Coast of Brazil.

8-24-1507:
Diamentina (sugar) is discovered.

10-17-1507:
Alaogas (grain) is discovered.

11-9-1507:
South-Central Atlantic ocean (S of Cape Verde) is discovered.

1-5-1508:
South-Central Atlantic ocean (2SW of Cape Verde) is discovered.

1-22-1508:
Colonist sent to Pernambuc.

3-1-1508:
Random event: fortress in Tago +1. Coast of Recife discovered.

4-15-1508:
Salvador (sugar) is discovered.

6-7-1508:
Minas Gerais (copper) is discovered.

7-30-1508:
Itaimas (tobacco) is discovered.

8-2-1508:
South-Central Atlantic ocean (2S of Cape Verde) is discovered.

9-24-1508:
Niteroi (sugar) is discovered.

9-30-1508:
South-Central Atlantic ocean (3SSE of Cape Verde) is discovered.

10-10-1508:
Pernambuc colonization fails.

11-9-1508:
Curitiba (grain) is discovered.

11-20-1508:
France recovers the province that England earlier took from Brittany.

11-29-1508:
South-Central Atlantic ocean (3SES of Cape Verde) is discovered.

12-8-1508:
France annexed Brittany.

11-23-1508:
Uruguay (grain) is discovered.

1-1-1509:
New leader: Correos (General, Conq, 5-0-0).

2-17-1509:
Cangudu (grain) is discovered.

4-1-1509:
Araxa (grain) is discovered.

9-25-1509:
Nouadibuh (fish) in Africa discovered by chance.

9-27-1509:
Serbia annexes Ragusa.

1-1-1510:
Colonist sent to Pernambus. Correos has 5-5-5 values in the New World.

6-22-1510:
Golden Horde loses Saratov to Russia. Artigas (grain) is discovered.

7-13-1510:
Coast of Pernambuc is discovered.

8-19-1510:
Parana (wool) is discovered.

9-12-1510:
Todos Santos bay is discovered.

9-20-1510:
Pernambus is colonized (100 +1%, 1/3, tobacco).

10-27-1510:
Rosario (grain) is discovered.

12-14-1510:
Aires (fish) is discovered. South of it lays a Spanish colony.

1-1-1511:
Vasco Da Gama dies. I do not have any more explorers. A good time to pause and grieve...

The extent of my explorations:

 

[Yozhik]

1-1-1511 - 12-18-1521: Heading North

1-1-1511:
Colonist sent to Chesapeake.

3-1-1511:
Corrientes (grain) discovered. Someone is buiding a trading post in Roanoke.

4-18-1511:
Jujuy (wool) is discovered. 2,000 infantry moved to Roanoke.

6-4-1511:
...so those were English, eh?

6-29-1511:
They land in Roanoke despite my troops. Dang. Chesapeake expanded (640 +10%, 7/19).

7-11-1511:
Tukuman (gold) discovered. The only thing west is Incas (and south - Spain).

9-1-1511:
Trade-3 achieved.

11-2-1511:
Neembuku (grain) discovered.

12-1-1511:
Turkey gains Kurdistan and Azerbaidzan off Persia.

12-19-1511:
England annexed Eire.

1-11-1512: Colonist sent to Chesapeake.

4-24-1512:
Austria loses Flanders to Venice.

6-25-1512:
Chesapeake has a city now (Quixada): 747 +10%, 14/20.

7-14-1512:
Goias (grain) is discovered.

9-14-1512:
Mamelukes lose Samaria to Turkey. Mato Gross (gold) is discovered.

9-23-1512:
Camoens dies.

11-22-1512:
Caracas (furs) is discovered.

12-24-1512:
P-L annexes Pskov.

1-1-1513:
Colonist sent to Delaware.

4-11-1513:
Solimoes (wool) is discovered.

6-8-1513:
Japura (furs) is discovered.

6-21-1513:
Delaware expanded: 216 +10%, 2/7.

7-6-1513:
P-L annexes Ryazan.

8-15-1513:
Macacos (naval supplies) is discovered.

10-28-1513:
Mirim (naval supplies) is discovered.

12-25-1513:
Austria annexes Lorraine. Pastaza (copper) is discovered.

1-1-1514:
Colonist sent to Delaware.

3-15-1514:
Azuay (gold) is discovered.

5-11-1514:
Cali (grain) is discovered. We reach the Pacific Ocean.

6-23-1514:
Delaware is expanded: 318 +10%, 3/11.

7-10-1514:
Cupica (furs) is discovered.

9-18-1514:
Isthus (Panama)(fish) is discovered. 5VP added to the good cause.

11-2-1514:
Russia loses Karelia to Sweden. Reformation hits.

11-24-1514:
Mosquitoes (naval supplies) is discovered. I run into a Spanish army which attacks me at sight. I withdraw, although I could have won.

1-1-1515:
New explorer: Flotilla Admiral De Queros, 4-3-3. Colonist sent to Delaware.

1-17-1515:
Austria annexes Bohemia.

2-25-1515:
Cartagena (sugar) is discovered.

3-7-1515:
De Albuquerque dies. Tassaret (slaves)(Africa) is discovered by chance.

5-7-1515:
Maracaibo (sugar) is discovered.

6-25-1515:
Delaware is expanded: 421 +10%, 5/15.

7-8-1515:
Tocuvo (sugar) is discovered. Tuscany offers us RM, and we agree.

9-7-1515:
Yaraguay (sugar) is discovered.

2-1-1516:
Land-6 tech achieved.

12-1-1516:
Naval-5 tech achieved.

1-2-1517:
RM renewed / Pommerania.
RM's signed / England, France, Spain.
Colonist sent to Pernambuc.

1-6-1517:
P-L gets Novgorod and Tula from Russia. The American army is evacuated from Pernambuc and sent to Delaware.

5-13-1517:
Pernambuc expanded: 201 +1%, 2/7.

5-18-1517:
Sahara is discovered by chance.

9-27-1517:
The American army arrives in Delaware.

1-6-1518:
Catskill (furs) is discovered.

2-1-1518:
France annexes Milan.

2-14-1518:
Colonist sent to Delaware.

6-22-1518:
Appalache (naval supplies) is discovered.

8-4-1518:
Delaware is expanded: 535 +10%, 6/19.

8-13-1518:
Penobscott, Massachusetts, Penobscott Bay are discovered.

8-24-1518:
Kentucky is discovered.

10-18-1518:
Bay of Fundy is discovered.

11-6-1518:
Bangor is discovered.

11-18-1518:
Erie (the American one) (furs) is discovered.

1-3-1519:
Hindua (furs) are discovered. 10VP for Great Lakes.

2-13-1519:
Newfoundland banks are discovered.

3-7-1519:
Miamis (grain) is discovered. Nova Scotia, a british level 1 colony, is discovered.

5-26-1519:
Tennessee (grain) is discovered.

8-2-1519:
Random event, stability -3. Great.

8-17-1519:
Alleghany (furs) is discovered. Fundy (salt) and Guld of Saint Lawrence are discovered.

11-5-1519:
Russia annexes Golden Horde.

11-16-1519:
Isle Royale is discovered.

12-1-1519:
Alabama (cotton) is discovered. Everything south of that is Spanish.

12-21-1519:
Turkey annexes Mamelukes. Sea of Labrador is discovered.

1-14-1520:
Chicoutimi (furs) is discovered.

1-29-1520:
Tuscaloosa (cotton) is discovered.

3-27-1520:
Prussia loses Memel to P-L.

4-11-1520:
Mobile (cotton) is discovered.

4-21-1520:
Belle Isle, Anticosti, Gander are discovered.

5-14-1520:
Strait of Labrador is discovered.

6-9-1520:
Sea of Baffin is discovered.

6-19-1520:
Biloxi (cotton) is discovered.

7-3-1520:
Hudson straits are discovered.

7-28-1520:
Hudson Bay is discovered. No VPs - someone got them already?

8-22-1520:
Caniapiscau (naval supplies) is discovered.

8-28-1520:
Almeida dies.

9-17-1520:
Bayou (cotton) is discovered.

7-25-1520:
England loses Wessex and Calais to France. We cheer.

11-30-1520:
Matagordia (sugar) is discovered.

12-15-1520:
Gaspesie is discovered.

1-1-1521:
Stability finally hits +1.

1-13-1521:
Nueltim, Eskimalt are discovered.

1-16-1521:
Rio Grande (grain) is discovered.

1-23-1521:
Ungaya, Torngat are discovered.

2-19-1521:
Rimouski is discovered.

3-29-1521:
Tampico is discovered, and we run into Spanish troops again. This time we beat them.

5-17-1521:
Santillo (gold) is discovered.

7-14-1521:
Florida Straits are discovered.

8-15-1521:
Jalisco (gold) is discovered, alongside with a Spanish army. We lose.

9-1-1521:
Everglades and Tampa Bay are discovered.

12-18-1521:
New monarch, Joao III (5-3-3) - and a good time to stop

 

[Yozhik]

12-18-1521 - 3-24-1541: Coping and Hoping

The political map of the world as of 12-18-1521:

1-24-1522:
Pecos (wool) is discovered.

2-12-1522:
The Bahamas are discovered.

3-13-1522:
Concho (grain) is discovered.

4-16-1522:
Jamaican sea is discovered.

5-2-1522:
Wichita (grain) is discovered.

6-20-1522:
Arkansas (cotton) is discovered.

9-11-1522:
Yazoo (cotton) is discovered.

10-28-1522:
Talahassee, Mobile Bay are discovered.

11-19-1522:
Illionois (grain) is discovered.

12-16-1522:
Gulf of Mexico is discovered.

1-16-1523:
Fox (furs) is discovered. New market opens in Anglia.

3-19-1523:
Detroit (furs) is discovered.

5-11-1523:
France annexes Prussia.

6-10-1523:
Niagara (furs) is discovered. A stray Iroquios unit has to be disposed of.

7-12-1523:
Mississippi bay is discovered.

8-12-1523:
Oshawa (grain) is discovered. Another group of Iroquois is beaten.

9-1-1523:
Tampico bay is discovered. Stability is back to +3. That random event in 1519 made me waste 4 years.

10-11-1523:
Huronie (furs) is discovered. Again the Iroquois.

12-28-1523:
Persia loses Iraq and Kirkuk to Turkey. Adironak (furs) is discovered.

3-12-1523:
Colonist sent to Delaware.

4-30-1524:
Yucatan sea is discovered.

6-2-1524:
Russia loses Kola and Onega to Sweden.

6-18-1524:
Belize bay is discovered.

7-9-1524:
Spain gains Navarra from Venice.

7-19-1524:
A horrible event - desertion. My American army is down from 16,500 men to 900. They really ought to make that event percentage based. Sebago (naval supplies) discovered.

9-1-1524:
Delaware expanded: 664 +10%, 7/24.

9-12-1524:
Megantic (furs) is discovered.

12-1-1524:
Jamaica is discovered.

1-1-1525:
New leader: Francois-Xavier, General-Conquistador, 6-0-0. Wurtemberg turns protestant, as do Hanover and Thuringen.

1-15-1525:
Greater Antilles are discovered. Colonist sent to Powhattan.

5-1-1525:
Trade-4 tech achieved.

6-9-1525:
Hungary gets Illyria from Venice.

12-16-1525:
Micmac is discovered.

1-18-1525:
Powhattan is successfully colonized: 100 +10%, 1/4. Another colonist sent to Powhattan.

1-20-1525:
Francois-Xavier (6-1-1 in the New World) arrives in Delaware with the rest of Portuguese troops including the former Tangiers garrison.

4-30-1526:
Russia annexes Astrakhan.

5-27-1526:
Puerto Rico is discovered. We demolish the pirates in the area.

7-3-1526:
Powhattan is expanded: 200 +10%, 2/8.

7-15-1526:
Lesser Antilles are discovered.

10-2-1526:
Mississippi (grain) is discovered.

11-19-1526:
Missouri (grain) is discovered.

10-20-1526:
10 ships lost random event.

1-1-1527:
Palatinat is now protestant. Another colonist to Powhattan.

1-5-1527:
Iowa (grain) is discovered.

1-28-1528:
Turkey gets Baleares from Spain.

4-2-1527:
Mialto is discovered.

2-20-1527:
Minnesota (grain) is discovered.

5-9-1527:
Correos dies.

10-3-1527:
Powhattan is expanded: 303 +10%, 4/12.

10-15-1527:
Austria gains Istria off Venice.

11-12-1527:
Austria annexes Hungary.

1-2-1528:
Hanseatic league and Sweden turn protestant.

3-24-1528:
Manicougan is discovered. Another colonist to Powhattan.

9-18-1528:
Expansion attempt in Powhattan fails.

1-19-1529:
Havana is discovered. Another colonist to Powhattan.

4-3-1529:
Mosquitos Coast is discovered.

4-22-1529:
Gulf of Darien is discovered.

7-15-1529:
Powhattan is expanded: 408 +10%, 5/16.

12-17-1529:
Carribean sea is discovered.

1-2-1530:
Netherlands turn protestant. New leader: Brigadier-Conquistador De Sousa, 4-0-0. New colonist to Powhattan.

4-19-1530:
De Queros, my only explorer, dies.

5-20-1530:
909 men lost in Tago - I only had 1,000 there. Grrr...

6-28-1530:
Powhattan is expanded: 512 +10%, 6/20.

7-29-1530:
First troops built since the beginning of the game: 1,000 infantry in Tago.

1-1-1531:
Hessen, England turn protestant. Another colonist to Powhattan.

3-10-1531:
De Sousa arrives in the New World. His values here are 4-3-3.

5-1-1531:
De Sousa is sent south, to Pentambuc.

7-9-1531:
Powhattan is expanded: 618 +10%, 8/24.

8-22-1531:
England gets Danzig from P-L.

11-1-1531:
Land tech 7 achieved.

1-3-1532:
Holstein becomes Protestant. Naval tech 6 achieved. New colonist sent to Powhattan.

4-21-1532:
Crimea gets Donetsk from P-L.

6-29-1532:
Powhattan is expanded: 723 +10%, 16/24.

2-11-1533:
Hessen annexes Kleves.

4-3-1533:
First colonist sent to Catawba.

2-20-1534:
Random event: risk revolt +5 for 12 months.

3-1-1534:
Catawba founded: 100 +9%, 1/4. Another colonist sent.

4-20-1534:
Nubia loses a province to Hafsid empire.

5-2-1534:
Nubia loses a province to Turkey.

9-1-1534:
Catawba expanded: 200 +9%, 2/8.

12-8-1534:
P-L gets Danzig back from England.

1-2-1535:
Another colonist to Catawba.

7-3-1535:
Catawba expanded: 302 +9%, 4/12.

7-18-1535:
P-L loses Lipetsk, Tula, and Vorones to Russia.

1-1-1536:
Brandenburg turns protestant. Another colonist to Catawba.

7-1-1536:
Catawba expanded: 405 +9%, 5/16.

1-1-1537:
Another colonist to Catawba.

7-1-1537:
Catawba expanded: 509 +9%, 6/21.

1-1-1538:
Helvetia turns protestant. New market opens in Holland. New colonist to Catawba.

7-2-1538:
Catawba expanded: 614 +9%, 8/25.

7-19-1538:
Russia annexes Sibir.

1-2-1539:
Another colonist to Catawba.

7-2-1539:
Catawba: 720 +9%, 13/25.

1-1-1540:
Mem Da Sa: Lt. General-Conquistador, 4-0-0.

1-2-1540:
Colonist to Chesapeake.

6-30-1540:
Chesapeake: 1080 +10%, 15/26. New colonist to Chesapeake. Mem Da Sa's New World stats: 5-4-5-3.

11-29-1540:
Cheapeake: 1185 +10%, 15/26.

12-9-1540:
Michilimakinak is discovered.

1-7-1541:
Denmark turns protestant. New colonist to Delaware.

2-1-1541:
Lach tech 8 achieved.

3-24-1541:
Milwakee is discovered.

Maps:

Central and North Americas as of 3-24-1541:

South America:

Africa:

Europe:

 

[Yozhik]

3-24-1541 - 8-20-1544: The war for freedom

6-5-1541:
Chesapeake expanded: 1,293 +10%, 15/26.

1-2-1542:
Saxony turns protestant. Two colonists, one after another, to Chesapeake.

1-8-1542:
RMs renewed with France, Pommerania, and Spain.

8-9-1542:
Russia recovers Karelia from Sweden.

9-1-1542:
A few Moslem countries DoW me. Good-bye, Tangiers...

9-20-1542:
Austria annexes Thuringen.

11-1-1542:
Morocco besieges Tangiers. Chesapeake, after 2 successful expansion attempts: 1,513 +10%, 15/27.

1-1-1543:
6,000 infantry initiated in Tago.

4-10-1543:
The war is afoot. A naval victory results in acquiring of many Spanish maps, seven rows of screens to hit enter through.

3-3-1544:
The siege of Tangiers is uplifted, but Pernambuc is lost to Hafsids. Can you say a game imbalance? If some Northern African minor can land in South America?.

8-20-1544:
The war is over - the second battle of Tangiers was too costly for Morocco and they demanded peace. I agreed. Of course now a mixed Algerian-Turkish force of 15,000 that landed in Delaware and 2,000 Hafsids from South America have to go home. How... sad...

 

[Yozhik]

8-20-1544 - 5-29-1557: Fortifying the borders

10-12-1544:
Baden gets a province off Bavaria.
The African army returns to Tago, alongside with the fleet.

1-1-1545:
Pommerania and TO turn protestant.

1-1-1546:
Land tech level 9 achieved. Fortress expansion in Delaware.

5-15-1546:
RM with Scotland on their initiative.

2-22-1547:
Pernambuc rebels.

1-1-1548:
Jean Calvin. Colonist to Chesapeake.

5-30-1548:
Colonization failed. Another colonist is sent.

10-29-1548:
Colonization failed again.

1-1-1549:
Hessen is the first reformed state. Fortress expansion in Chesapeake.

2-28-1549:
Spain gets Iceland from Denmark.

4-14-1549:
Pernambuc is liberated.

1-1-1550:
Palatinat, Helvetia, England turn reformed. Colonist to Pernambuc.

5-14-1550:
Colonization successful. Pernambuc is back up to 163 colonists.

11-1-1550:
Land tech level 10 achieved. Research emphasis switched to Infrastructure.

1-1-1551:
Colonist to Pernambuc.

5-15-1551:
Colonization successful, Pernambuc up to 263 people. Another colonist sent.

9-28-1551:
Colonization successful, Pernambuc up to 363 people.

1-1-1552:
Another colonist sent.

5-18-1552:
Colonization successful; Pernambuc is now up to 463 colonists.

1-1-1553:
Another colonist sent.

1-9-1553:
Spain annexes Aztecs.

5-2-1553:
The Moslem bunch - Turkey and such - DoW Austria. I guess Portugal was too tough of a nut to crack for them?

5-12-1563:
Colonization successful; Pernambuc is now up to 564 settlers.

6-9-1553:
Venice loses Flanders to France.

5-14-1554:
Papal States gain Mantua off Venice.

9-24-1554:
Pernambuc is made a city: 765 +1%, 15/37. Spain makes Morocco pay them 161 gold.

12-10-1554:
Spain makes Algiers pay up as well. Go Spaniards!

3-1-1555:
Francois-Xavier dies. Mem Da Sa was lost earlier during the war with Moslems.

6-22-1555:
Serbia gets Albania and Bulgaria from Turkey.

1-2-1556:
Fortress expansion in Pernambuc. 3,000 infantry in Chesapeake.

5-1-1556:
Naval tech level 7 achieved.

8-10-1556:
Spain captures Tripolitania from the Hafsids.

1-1-1557:
Another colonist for Chesapeake.

5-29-1557:
Colonization is successful, the population of Chesapeake is 1,866 now.

 

[Yozhik]

5-29-1557 - 11-1-1575: Upgrading the infrastructure

6-13-1557:
New monarch, Catarina (3-3-2) assumes the throne.

1-1-1558:
Bailiff in Powhattan. Colonist to Chesapeake.

7-1-1558:
Colonization is successful. Chesapeake is up to 1,988 citizens.

7-13-1558:
Spain regains Baleares from Turkey.

1-2-1559:
Bailiff in Chesapeake.

1-2-1560:
Bailiff in Delaware.

9-17-1560:
France gets a province from Denmark.

1-1-1561:
Bailiff in Catawba. Colonist to Chesapeake.

5-29-1561:
Chesapeake's population increases to 2,152 - the colonization was successful.

1-1-1562:
New monarch, Henrique (3-3-3) assumes the throne. Bailiff in Pernambuc.

9-6-1562:
Spain annexes Naples.

10-1-1562:
Random event: Fine Arts academy in Tago.

12-12-1562:
Scotland gains 2 provinces from England.

1-2-1563:
Scotland turns reformed. A new market in Zakategas (Mexico) is opened.
Legal counsel in Chesapeake.

8-13-1563:
Turkey loses Macedonia to Saxony.

1-1-1564:
New colonist to Chesapeake.

8-17-1564:
Turkey loses Rumelia to Austria.

1-1-1565:
Legal counsel in Powhattan.

9-7-1565:
Council of Trent.

1-1-1566:
The Knights became counter-reformed catholics. Colonist to Chesapeake.

5-30-1566:
Chesapeake is up to 2,474 +11%, 19/41.

1-1-1567:
Papal States and Spain became counter-reformed catholics. Legal counsel in Catawba.

1-16-1567:
RM is renewed with Spain. France turns down the renewal offer.

2-1-1567:
Infrastructure tech level 5 achieved. Emphasis switched to land.

1-8-1568:
New monarch, Sebastiao I (3-3-4) assumes the throne. Genoa and Austria become counter-reform catholics. Mayor in Tago, colonist to Chesapeake.

1-1-1569:
Netherlands become reformed. Mayor in Oporto, colonist to Chesapeake.

7-19-1569:
RM signed with Baden (their initiative).

1-2-1570:
Mayor in Algarve. Colonist to Chesapeake.

1-2-1571:
Mayor in Tangiers. Colonist to Chesapeake.

5-14-1571:
Cheapeake reaches 3,024 +11%, 20/41.

1-1-1572:
Colonist to Iguato.

1-1-1573:
Colonist to Iguato.

1-1-1574:
Colonist to Iguato.

5-1-1574:
Colonist to Iguato.

6-4-1574:
Turkey annexes Byzantium.

1-1-1575:
Colonist to Iguato.

5-1-1575:
Land tech level 11 achieved.

9-5-1575:
ToT invoked in Itaimas, a level 2 French trading post. France gets a CB on me for a year.

Enough for now. Mental note: snatch back Muni, an African province, from France.

 

[Yozhik]

11-1-1575 - 9-9-1594: Merchant wars

1-6-1576:
Colonist to Iguato.

5-1-1576:
Colonist to Iguato.

9-16-1576:
Iguato becomes a city: 702 +1%, 12/40.

1-1-1577:
New market opens in Niagara.

1-19-1577:
We discovere Casamance and commandeer a level 1 French trading post for the good cause.

7-1-1577:
Venice rejects a RM.

8-1-1577:
Naval tech level 8 discovered.

10-13-1577:
We commander a level 1 French trading post in Muni for the good cause.

1-1-1578:
New leader, General Antonio Dom Crato, 3-3-2. Legal counsel in Algarve. Colonist to Chesapeake.

8-6-1578:
New monarch, Henrico O Cardeal (3-3-3) assumes the throne.

1-2-1579:
Mayors in Chesapeake, Powhattan.

3-5-1579:
A desertion events in Chesapeake. Out of 3,000 infantry only 1 (one) is left.

4-28-1579:
Turkey gains Georgia from Georgia.

1-1-1580:
6 merchants sent to the french CoT in Niagara.

2-1-1580:
We achieve monopoly there. Filippe III (4-4-4) assumes the throne.

2-1-1581:
Monopoly wars in Niagara are nasty.

3-5-1581:
Random event: fortress +1 in Azores.

7-28-1581:
Turkey gains Hellas from Venice.

5-7-1582:
The merchant wars continue on. I gain monopoly in Niagara, I lose it...

7-29-1582:
TO loses Ingermanlands to P-L.

1-7-1583:
Mayor in Delaware, Catawba.

5-14-1583:
The second Moslem-Portuguese war.

6-28-1583:
Tangiers is besieged.

8-8-1583:
107,000 Moslem troops in Tangiers.

9-2-1583:
I join English-Scottish alliance.

10-22-1583:
138,000 Moslem troops in Tangiers.

5-1-1584:
I surrender, giving up Tangiers to Morocco.

10-1-1584:
Legal counsel in Delaware since the game made me take a loan anyway.

4-1-1587:
Naval tech level 9 achieved.

11-15-1588:
Austria annexes Helvetia.

5-25-1589:
Colonists to Powhattan, Delaware, Chesapeake. All but Powhattan succeed.

7-1-1589:
Naval tech level 10 achieved.

5-29-1590:
Turkey regains Rumelia from Austria.

3-2-1592:
Trade tech level 5 achieved.

10-1-1592:
Naval tech level 11 achieved.

12-1-1592:
Russia gains a province from Uzbeks.

4-2-1594:
Spain gets Leone from France.

6-7-1594:
Venice recovers Mantua from Papal states.

9-9-1594:
France is removed from the Niagara CoT. I now have the sole control of it.

 

[Yozhik]

The third try

After detailed analysis, I decided to restart, this time concentrating on getting one or more gold mines to help the economy. Since the settings and the overall strategy were the same as my 2nd take at playing Portugal, I decided to continue discussing the game in this thread, as opposed to making a new one.

In a few minutes I am going to do a detailed overview of the world in 1592, as to familiarize people with the setting. I could have done it all the way from 1492 - but I have provided enough examples of my gameplay through the first century, and I am sure people are quite bored with them. So let's move on to mid-game stuff.

The save files for the game in question are available here and here.

Remember, they are IGC 2.3 files.

 

[Yozhik]

Religion + Economics

Religion:

The Edict of Tolerance just hit, reverting many-a-country back to Catholicism. There still are a few "rebels", as seen above.

Economics: 1592 vs 1492

chinaware: 43.60 (was: 19.02)
copper: 7.16 (was: 7.26) <-- a decrease
cotton: 10.58 (was: 10.95) <-- a decrease
fish: 3.48 (was: 2.94)
furs: 25.80 (was: 11.15)
grain: 1.40 (was: 1.15)
iron: 5.92 (was: 5.97) <-- a decrease
ivory: 43.50 (was: 18.08)
nav. supplies: 10.48 (was: 10.26)
salt: 5.76 (was: 4.38)
slaves: 10.15 (was: 1.96) <-- the highest jump
spices: 49.20 (was: 21.32) <-- the best sell
sugar: 20.60 (was: 22.05) <-- a decrease
tobacco: 42.30 (was: 18.45)
wine: 2.69 (was: 2.00)
wool: 2.06 (was: 1.60)

 

[Yozhik]

Politics

North America:

Portugal owns 2 gold mines (Yukon, Monterey) and 5 tobacco provinces (Catawba, Powhattan, Delaware, Roanoke, Chesapeake).
Venice owns Connecticut.
Netherlands own Manhattan and Les Cayes.
There are 3 French colonies/tps, 6 English ones, and a lot of Spanish ones.
Aztecs and Iroquois are still alive.

South America:

no data available

Africa:

French landed in Leone, and natives burnt Portuguese TP in Nouakchott. Judging from the economics, Turkey owns a number of Ivory locations in South Africa.

Eastern Europe, Middle East, India:

2 Portuguese and 1 English provinces in India.
Khanates are gone.
Turkey owns 2 provinces in Northern Russia.
Persia is down to 4 provinces.
The emerald-green province in the Balkans is Uzbeks.

Western Europe:

The yellow province in Scandinavia is Spain.
The dark brownish province in Norway and another one of that color in North Germany are Russia.
TO gone.
Netherlands down to 1 province.
The three emerald-green provinces in Spain are Catalunya that rebelled from them in early 1500s.
Byzantium, Serbia, Wallachia gone, Ragusa - survived.
The red province in the center of Germany is P-L, the yellow one to the left from it - Spain.
Denmark owns three provinces in North-western Germany.

Asia:

no data available.

 

[Yozhik]

1-1-1592 - 11-1-1604: India, India, and more India.

1-1-1592:
Mayors: Oporto, Algarve.

4-18-1592:
Madurai (Southern India) brought up to level 5 colony (507 -2% people).
Spain and England refuse RMs.

1-12-1593:
Colonist to Madurai.

9-12-1593:
Madurai brought up to level 6 colony (606 -2% people).

10-14-1593:
Antonio Dom Crato, my only leader, dies.

1-1-1594:
Colonist to Madurai.

6-1-1594:
Naval tech level 15 achieved.

8-22-1594:
Colonization fails in Madurai.

11-6-1594:
Aztecs lose a province to Spain.

1-3-1595:
Colonist to Madurai.

4-1-1595:
Naval tech level 16 achieved.

8-1-1595:
Random event: Fine Arts academy in Tago. This has been a very interesting game - a total of -7 stability through random events (for Portugal, at Very Hard / Chaos Maims, this means losing 2 years completely - right when it needs to colonize asap before the Conquistadors vanish) - yet this is the fourth manufacturing facility I gain through the random events.

8-27-1595:
Madurai becomes a city (703 -2%, 20/43).

1-1-1596:
Colonist to Madurai, Warship in Madurai.

7-23-1596:
Madurai up to 803 0% citizens.

6-12-1596:
Colombo (Southern India) is discovered.

1-5-1597:
Colonist to Madurai, Warship in Madurai.
As I can not hope to bring my North American navy here unscathed, I have to build a new one to get to Indonesia.

2-6-1597:
To honor a call to allies by France, I DoW Austria.

2-11-1597:
Jaffna (Southern India) and Coast of Trincomalee are discovered.

3-6-1597:
To honor a call to allies by Prussia, I DoW Knights.

5-12-1597:
Northern Bay of Bengale is discovered.

7-28-1597:
Madurai up to 903 0% citizens.

1-2-1598:
Colonist to Ganges.

2-15-1598:
Bailiff in Madurai.

3-8-1598:
Ceylon sea is discovered.

6-10-1598:
Bay of Bengale is discovered.

9-17-1598:
New monarch assumes the throne: Filipe IV (3-3-3).

10-20-1598:
Colonization of Ganges fails.

1-1-1599:
Colonist to Ganges.

2-17-1599:
Mayor in Madurai.

10-19-1599:
Colonization of Ganges fails.

12-1-1599:
Naval tech level 17 achieved.

1-1-1600:
Colonist to Ganges. Tangiers revolts. As my army there was still on 50% maintenance, it is wiped out. 4,000 infantry in Tago.

7-1-1600:
Mughai empire DoWs us.

9-12-1600:
The 4,000 get wiped out in an attempt to take Tangiers.

10-23-1600:
Ganges is colonized (110 -2%).

12-1-1600:
Tarakan and Santal (Eastern India) are discovered. Tarakan is a Dutch colony.

12-24-1600:
Knights get a province from Papal states.

1-6-1601:
Fortress expansion in Madurai.

2-13-1601:
Another part of Bay of Benghal is discovered.

2-25-1601:
France annexes Milan. China annexes Ayutthaya.

4-20-1601:
Irrawdy and Kwai (Eastern India) are discovered. China is discovered. Irrawdy delta is discovered.

5-12-1601:
Pirates re-appear in Cheapeake Bay. Again? I sunk what, 14 of their ships there last century?

8-1-1601:
Phuket (Indonesia) and Mergui Archipelago are discovered.

10-25-1601:
Andaman sea is discovered.

12-1-1601:
Persia regains a province from Uzbeks.

1-1-1602:
Explorer: Antonio Fernandez (4-1-1). Colonist to Ganges. 4,000 infantry in Tago.

3-24-1602:
4 pirate ships wiped out - off Roanoke and off Delaware.

4-10-1602:
England annexes Scotland.

6-1-1602:
Naval tech level 18 is achieved.

7-3-1602:
Tangiers falls.

9-6-1602:
Colonization of Ganges fails.

1-4-1603:
20 guns, 3,000 infantry in Tago.

7-17-1603:
China annexes Korea.

8-3-1603:
Gold production loss for 12 months. White peace signed between Mughai empire and Portugal.

10-23-1603:
Nouadibuh (Africa) is discovered.

11-3-1603:
Turkey loses Vologda to Russia.

11-21-1603:
Gambia is discovered.

1-11-1604:
Damara and Namaqua (South Afria) are discovered. Colonist to Ganges.

1-24-1604:
Table (South Africa) is discovered.

2-5-1604:
Karroo (South Africa) is discovered.

2-12-1604:
Ciskei (South Africa) is discovered.

3-4-1604:
Antsirana (Madagaskar) is discovered.

3-8-1604:
Turkey loses Crimea to Georgia.

3-20-1604:
Ambovombe (Madagaskar) is discovered.

4-27-1604:
My North American fleet completes the jump Leone (West Africa) - Madurai (South India) with no casualties.

5-9-1604:
We retake Tangiers.

7-25-1604:
We discover: Ajeh, Malacca, Kuala Lumpu, Riau (Indonesia) and straits of Malacca.

8-21-1604:
We discover: Jambi, Singapore (Indonesia) and Straits of Johore.

9-19-1604:
Malaysian sea is discovered.

9-28-1604:
Ganges is expanded to level 2 colony (209 -2%).

11-1-1604:
Land tech level 12 achieved.

Phew. Enough for now...

 

[Yozhik]

11-1-1604 - 5-9-1613: The mad dash to the east

11-4-1604:
Incas lose 2 provinces to Spain.

1-7-1605:
Colonist to Ganges.

2-20-1605:
Nicobar islands are discovered.

3-18-1605:
Coast of Ajeh is discovered.

4-15-1605:
Coast of Sumatra is discovered.

5-12-1605:
Sunda, Palemdag (Indonesia), Christmas island are discovered.

6-10-1605:
Straits of Sunda are discovered.

7-1-1605:
Naval tech level 19 achieved.

7-7-1605:
Bandung, Jakarta, Bandjarmasin (Indonesia), Karimata Strait are discovered.

8-30-1605:
Spain annexes Aztecs.

9-13-1605:
Ganges becomes a level 3 colony (308 -2%).

1-1-1606:
Colonist to Ganges.

2-4-1606:
France loses Flanders to Wurtemburg.

3-1-1606:
Sarawak (Indonesia) and Coast of Sarawak are discovered.

3-29-1606:
Sabah, Brunei (Indonesia) and Coast of Brunei are discovered.

4-27-1606:
Balabac Strait is discovered.

5-23-1606:
Makassar, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Selatan (Indonesia), Strait of Makassar are discovered.

6-21-1606:
Surabaja and Java Sea are discovered.

7-18-1606:
Salabanka and Sea of Java are discovered.

8-15-1606:
Flores, Sumbawa, Bali (Indonesia), Straits of Lombok are discovered.
Netherlands already have a settlement in Sumbawa.

9-9-1606:
Ganges becomes a level 4 colony.

12-5-1606:
Pirates are in Chesapeake bay again.

1-1-1607:
Colonist to Ganges. Warship in Delaware.

3-1-1607:
Revolt in Tangiers.

3-17-1607:
Coast of Java is discovered.

3-25-1607:
Tangiers rebellion is suppressed.

4-20-1607:
Coast of Surabaja is discovered.

5-24-1607:
Australian sea is discovered.

6-22-1607:
Timor sea is discovered.

7-19-1607:
P-L loses 2 provinces to Sweden. Timor and another part of Timor sea are discovered.

9-11-1607:
Ganges is up to colony level 5.

11-13-1607:
France gets Artois from Austria.

1-1-1608:
Colonist to Ganges. Warship in Delaware. 2,000 infantry in Chesapeake.

2-24-1608:
P-L loses Bogutjar to Russia.

3-1-1608:
Kazan rebels from Russia.

3-10-1608:
Mekong and Mekong delta are discovered.

4-8-1608:
Dalat and Kam Rah bay are discovered.

5-5-1608:
Da Nang and Coast of Annan are discovered.

6-1-1608:
Tahn Noah, Hanoi, Yunnan, Hainan, Guang Dong (China), Gulf of Tonkin are discovered. Turkey gets Banat from Hungary.

6-28-1608:
Paracel islands are discovered.

7-26-1608:
Fukien, Kiangsi (China), Taiwan strait are discovered.

9-7-1608:
Ganges becomes a city: 2,606 +7%, 18/43.

1-1-1609:
Fortress expansion in Ganges.

2-8-1609:
Hejang, Hangzouh, Yan Tse Delta are discovered.

3-6-1609:
Jiangsu, Yellow Sea, Kjongju are discovered.

4-9-1609:
Edo, Kyushu, Tsushima Strait are discovered. Nippon is discovered.

5-22-1609:
Ryukyu islands are discovered.

9-1-1609:
Spain, France, England refuse RMs.

10-1-1609:
Sibir rebels from Russia.

2-7-1610:
Colonist to Bali.

3-1-1610:
Trade tech level 5 achieved.

3-4-1610:
Another region of Sea of Java is discovered.

4-2-1610:
Buru and The Moluccas are discovered.

4-30-1610:
Another part of Sea of Timor is found.

5-7-1610:
Kazan loses Ryazan to Russia.

5-27-1610:
Sorong, Ceram, Sea of Banda are discovered.

6-24-1610:
Sorong strait is discovered.

7-22-1610:
Tindore and sea of Tirnate are discovered.

8-20-1610:
Mindanao and Ocean are discovered.

1-1-1611:
Bailiff in Ganges. Mayor in Roanoke.

5-25-1611:
Bali becomes level 1 colony (100 +10%, 2/8).

7-13-1611:
Manado and Sea of Celebs are discovered.

8-19-1611:
Mindoro and Sulu sea are discovered.

9-17-1611:
Samar and Gulf of Leyte are discovered.

10-11-1611:
Yap island is discovered.

10-21-1611:
Spain annexes the Incas.

11-9-1611:
Philippine sea is discovered.

12-6-1611:
Palau island is discovered.

1-19-1612:
Colonist to Bali. Mayor in Delaware.

2-24-1612:
West Australian Coast is discovered.

4-2-1612:
King Sound is discovered.

4-30-1612:
South Timor sea is discovered.

5-26-1612:
Another part of Timor sea is discovered.

6-23-1612:
Tanimbar islands are discovered.

7-21-1612:
New Guinea coast is discovered.

10-19-1612:
Palawan and Sea of Palawan are discovered. Alongside with 9,000 Spaniards stranded on the island.

11-17-1612:
South China Sea is discovered.

12-16-1612:
Luzon and Manila Bay are discovered.

12-27-1612:
Bali becomes a level 2 colony.

1-1-1613:
Mayors in Chesapeake, Catawba.

1-14-1613:
Strait of Luzon is discovered.

1-26-1613:
RM signed with Modena (their initiative).

2-10-1613:
Taiwan and Sea of Taiwan are discovered.

3-1-1613:
Naval tech level 20 achieved.

3-18-1613:
Coast of Luzon is discovered.

 

[Yozhik]

5-9-1613 - 2-3-1617 then 1-1-1615: Konnichiwa!

7-13-1613:
Another region of South China sea explored.

8-19-1613:
Bangkok, Cambodia, Khmer, Gulf of Siam explored.

11-4-1613:
Australian sea explored.

1-1-1614:
Colonist to Bali. Mayor in Ganges.

4-13-1614:
Honshu and Southern Sea of Japan explored.

4-26-1614:
RM signed with Tuscany (their initiative).

5-1-1614:
Southern Korea sea explored.

6-15-1614:
Yalu and North Korea sea explored.

7-11-1614:
Nakhodka, Olga, Western Japan sea explored.

8-8-1614:
Nelma, Vanin, Bogorodsk, Tatar straits explored.

12-5-1614:
Bali expanded to level 3 colony.

1-5-1615:
Colonist to Bali. Mayor to Tangiers.

4-25-1615:
Sendai and Bay of Niagata explored.

5-21-1615:
Sea of Japan explored.

6-1-1615:
Georgia loses a province to Uzbeks.

6-19-1615:
Hokkaido, Northern Japan sea explored.

7-17-1615:
Laperouse strait explored.

8-14-1615:
Strait of Hokkaido explored.

1-1-1616:
Bali to colony level 4, colonist to Bali. New leader: Brigadier-Conquistador Pedro Teixeira (4-0-0). 5,000 infantry in Tago.

10-10-1616:
Austria annexes Saxony.

1-1-1617:
Mayors in Monterey and Yukon.

2-13-1617:
P-L loses Silesia to Austria.

Game crashes, rolling me back to 1-1-1615. Oh well... Anyways, more AAR stuff tomorrow.

 

[unmerged(2833)]

Yozhik, can you tell me why are you playing in such strange ways? I mean, going only after one product?I'm asking because Portugal was country i played lately.

 

[Yozhik]

Maur13 - Portugal is a country that can not afford fooling around - not at the highest difficulty levels. That means that every single colony they place has to be one of great value.

There are 4 products that tend to score high on a regular basis:
- chinaware
- tobacco
- ivory
- spices

But only tobacco and ivory are available in large quantities to you in the beginning of the game. I do not intend to ignore the other two - I am just waiting for an opportunity to come by.

The first time I made an AAR I went after Ivory.
Benefits: Close-by and ToT comes in handy.
Downsides: Senegal is the only region with the decent success % and growth rates; stretched out infrastructure; Turks.

The second time it was tobacco in both North and South America.
Benefits: Close, and with decent growth rates; with careful handling you gain tobacco monopoly as the five tobacco spots in North America are exempt from ToT, and the four of ten tobacco spots in Centra/South America are given to Portugal under ToT.
Downsides: South America is hard to colonize.

So, this time around I decided to go for some gold mines in addition to the five tobacco lands in North America. Now, as you know, Spain has ToTs on all American goldmines except for Yukon. Moreover, all the South American goldmines are inland, requiring a colony on the coast. This means extra time, extra cash, and extra BBs.

What did I do? A mad dash to the east with Almeida, then with Francois-Xavier. Colonization of Monterey, while leaving a sizeable unit just south of it so any Spanish armada has to fight it and beat it before being able to proceed to Monterey which it takes through ToT. In addition, I made sure that for the first 50 years I've been researching land technology non-stop, 100% (=max monthly income loss on the research screen).

One note about Yukon: it sucks. Royally. Six month long winter, that comes in sporadically (the areas may be green in march, but may stay snowed until may); sometimes you can hide in the mountains (3rd province from Yukon, if Yukon is "1st" - it's called N-something), sometimes you can't. A jeweler when it comes to watching attrition (I always try to have it at 0 whenever possible), I lost 6,000 men there.
On the good side, no one will ever take it from you - not without losing 50-100-150 thousand men. If you fortify it.

As of 1615, I am no longer "specializing". First of all it is due to the plunge in market prices (and I blame the rebellion of Catalunya in 1500s, which slowed down the Spanish expansion considerably), second of all it's due in my desire to get ships to Alaska resulting in a lot of Indian/Indonesian exploration - if pirates appear there I have nothing to defend with, and good-bye my gold...

So at the moment I have:
- Bali (spices)
- Madurai (chinaware)
- Ganges (spices)

All of these have been chosen for having an above-average success rate when colonizing. Trying to build a city in a place with 62% colonist attrition (38% colonization success) is not fun.

My immediate plans:
- Senegal
- the island off East Africa that has spices, but not the Oman-owned one

Hope this helps. I can always upload one of my saved games from just before taking Monterey if you want to see the game unfold...

Cheers.

 

[unmerged(6159)]

I think you're having a tough time because you've decided not to set up TPs. If this is to make it more interesting that's great, but I think Portugal needs to get TPs all over Africa and Brazil in the early going to get the income to make colonies when it can. It is much easier and cheaper to do this than to go after the gold mines. It is interesting to see how a different approach works out though.
Can I ask why you're expanding colonies beyond population 700? You don't get much benefit from doing so, and the colonists in Chesapeake could have set up another city in Brazil which would be much more valuable.

 

[Yozhik]

Re: Isaac

I think you're having a tough time because you've decided not to set up TPs. If this is to make it more interesting that's great, but I think Portugal needs to get TPs all over Africa and Brazil in the early going to get the income to make colonies when it can. It is much easier and cheaper to do this than to go after the gold mines. It is interesting to see how a different approach works out though.

Hi,

the first reason I do not want TPs (or as many TPs) is BBs. The second one is that I do not want to have a stray Hafsid unit landing in South America and burning several TPs in a row Had that happen (actually, was a colony, so I did regain it, but boy did it hurt!). The third one is that TPs do not provide ports. The fourth one is that colonies can be fortified. I dare you to find a show funnier than watching a 700-man colony (supply limit of the province ~25-35 for me, ~0-5 for the enemy) with a small to a medium fortress besieged fruitlessly by enemy for a year with horrible forage losses... I think the only thing funnier than that was a show of a 146,000-strong French army walking from Paris to Marseillez and back, losing 60,000 men in the process. In the peacetime, too.

Now, those are serious ones. Now, the quirky ones:
- I like to see cities grow
- I like challenges (hey, stupidity does have its advantages)

Can I ask why you're expanding colonies beyond population 700? You don't get much benefit from doing so, and the colonists in Chesapeake could have set up another city in Brazil which would be much more valuable.

True, but this is my answer to having a lot of colonies. See, I do not wish to end up lagging in terms of research. Also, a 5,000 men city within 50 to a 100 years doubles its tax income (~15-19 at the start for my tobacco provinces to - I estimate - 35-40). When you're dealing with limited space (there are at least 35 other colonies - England, France, Netherlands - that's before we're talking about Spain in North America right now, and limited resources - tobacco does grow only in 15 places in the world, cities are the way to go. A large city is not going to mean more tobacco, etc produced - but then again a TP elsewhere would not have yielded much anyway... This is argueable, of course, for two fur TPs match one tobacco one; but two more TPs mean two more BBs - and as it is no one likes me - Orthodoxes and Moslems are deep-red in relations, while the rest of Europe is barely holding around 0, despite 80-100% tolerances for their religions.

But hey - I always appreciate an advice... I've never said that what I do is perfect... So - thanks!

P.S. The AI does not place too many TPs by the way... especially Spain, who colonized the heck out of Carribean... What *does* kill me is how 1 province Netherlands already has 5 colonies that I discovered... of course, The Knights in Michigan and Papal States in West Africa are cute too.

 

[Yozhik]

1-1-1615 - 3-4-1621: Back to Africa

1-1-1615:
Colonist to Bali, Mayor to Tangiers.

4-26-1615:
Diego Garcia island discovered.

5-24-1615:
Central Indian ocean discovered.

6-29-1615:
Another part of Central Indian ocean discovered.

7-25-1615:
Another part of Central Indian ocean discovered.

8-24-1615:
Kenya and Malindi discovered.

8-6-1615:
Georgia loses Georgia to Uzbeks.

8-12-1615:
Mogadisco and Mudugh discovered.

8-20-1615:
Somalia is discovered.

10-7-1615:
Kutch discovered, pirates off Kutch defeated.

1-2-1616:
Market opens up in Bali. Pedro Teixeira joins (Brigadier, Conquistador, 4-0-0). 5 merchants to Bali.

1-9-1616:
The Comores are discovered.

2-6-1616:
Gulf of Zambeze is discovered.

3-3-1616:
Inhabmane, Zambezia, Coast of Natal discovered.

3-3-1616:
Transkei, Natal, Ocean discovered.

4-8-1616:
Nampuia, Niassa, Mtawa discovered.

6-14-1616:
Nubia gains a province from Ethiopia.

7-20-1616:
Lindi, Refiji discovered.

9-25-1616:
Curango, Ovambo (Africa) are discovered.

10-1-1616:
Luana, Lobito discovered.

10-10-1616:
Cabinda, Zaire discovered.

10-18-1616:
Muni discovered.

10-26-1616:
Douala, Kribi discovered.

11-4-1616:
Ivoria, Accra, Nigeria discovered.

1-1-1617:
Mayors to Monterey, Yukon. Merchant to Bali, where I already have trade level 5.

2-1-1617:
Monopoli in Bali achieved. Along with Yukon, it becomes my private CoT.

3-3-1617:
A nice random event: 2 settlers, conquistador, 3,000 infantry, 3 warships (Colonel Escour, 3-0-0-1).

4-26-1617:
Georgia loses Crimea to Turkey.

1-1-1617:
Scotland breaks free from England.

2-26-1618:
Legal counsel in Algarve.

10-8-1618:
Arafuan sea explored.

11-4-1618:
Kalepam, Kolepom bay explored.

12-10-1618:
Straits of Torres explored.

1-8-1619:
Colonist to Bali.

1-4-1620:
And another one.

2-9-1620:
Colonist to Senegal.

9-2-1620:
Random event: 5,500 infantry, 1,100 cavalry in Tago.

12-7-1620:
Bali becomes a city.

1-25-1621:
Colonists to Timor, Senegal.

3-1-1621:
Turkey gets 3 provinces from Persia.
Naval tech level 21 achieved.
Trade tech level 6 achieved.

Screenshot time!

a. Southern Africa: France, Netherlands, Turkey.

b. India: The three moslem empires, 1 French, 2 English, 2 Portuguese holdings.

c. Indochina: Big China, small Netherlands.

d. Indonesia: Portugal and Netherlands. Darkened Timor has my colony underway.

e. West Northern America: France, Netherlands, Portugal, and a lot of Spaniards.

f. East Northern America: The left grey province is Knights, the right one is Ragusa. Brown in Quebec is Eire, Light Green in Manhattan - Venice. The big players are the Netherlands, England, France, Spain (who also owns Florida), and Portugal. Iroquois are still up and running.

g. Carribean: Spanish with a bit of French, English, Dutch.

h. West Africa: From top to bottom: Morocco, P-L, Portugal, Papal States, France, France, Portugal, Portugal.

 

[unmerged(2833)]

Some of my thoughs:

First of all, colonizing doesn't give you BB.

(ah, i forgot something, it should be in the beginning, ally with Spain immmediatly)

Portugal get loads of colonists, but only early in the game. It's pain, because you don't have money early in the game-especially yearly income, which is what matters anyway (at least regarding colonization and wars)

To offset it-i would try to get budget slider 100% to treasury at first-sure, it gives you high inflation, and virtually stops your research, but IMO, colonists are more valuable.

So, first go for Brazil, colonizing as much high land tax provinces as you can (there are some with sugar or tobacco, with land tax above 4, sure not much, but compared to what you get from your mainland, it's going to matter)if you ever find yourself without money and with colonist, TP something, as it will increase your percentage of colonist later-but with getting as much monthly income as you can,
you should be able to colonize with all colonist. That about Brazil, of course, you can go for East Coast also (Pretty close from Azores), but i usually don't do it.

Use explorers to raise percentage of colonist. You also need many colonies to offset effects of rampaging inflation.

Try to discover Table, it should be easy. Colonize it, and maybe some provinces east of it. Then start exploring way to India, preferably discovering Bourbon and Reunion on your way (very good provinces, high tax value, and also sugar-producing). Then discover Goa, and colonize it, so you will have base in India. There goes question.

1: Colonize India, with or without slaugtering the natives.

2: Go for Indonesia, then colonize Java(or Mekong). TP other Spice island, it's fairly safe, no one should mess with your TP there. And they are essential so you could quickly get your COT there, and after it happens, you will float in cash . And then you will catch up with research very quickly.

Brazil and India should be colonized for two reasons

1: It is near enemy, so your TP can be burnt.
2: Decent land tax values.
3: You need some provinces to promote governors.

Ah, btw, do you think what for you got Almeida? Go and Annex Morocco and Algiers (and Maybe Hafsid empire and Mameluks too)

Well, rant is over