Portugal idea groups

[unmerged(177849)]

I ask too many questions - I should figure out stuff on my own (and often do). But especially since this will be iron man, I don't want to screw it up.

As stated in another thread which I sort of hijacked (sorry), I am probably going to try a conventional Portugal --> Master of India game. Not a big challnge, I know. But I still want to get the idea groups right.

Here are my thoughts:

(1) First obviously exploration (though I've seen people suggest expansion first - not buying it).

(2+) Then ... so many candidates.
(a) Admin for the coring cost reduction.
(b) Religion for converting India and the CB
(c) Diplo because it is OP and fits my play style
(d) Expansion for a bunch of things, not least of which is the CB.
(e) Trade - not the focus of my attempt, but still a good way to insure solid income
(f) Naval - see trade

Obviously 5 diplo ideas isn't very tenable, especially since I don't want to fall behind too much in diplo tech. So at least one of trade and naval has to go, and probably at least one more diplo idea. Even 3 of the first 5 may be pushing it.

No military ideas there - they shouldn't be needed if my main ambition is India. Of course I'll be wasting a ton of military points - but with so many needed/desired admin and diplo groups, I don't see that I have a choice.

What say you all?

 

[Beagá]

Expansion is better if, well, you want to Expand in Europe. Not everyone likes a pure colonial game and in that case, Expansion wins. The problem is more that Portgual doesn´t really benefit from the third Merchant for a loooong time, unlike France.

Through Portugal starting position will Always suck due to lack of options to expand in the early game besides North África and Spain.

 

[unmerged(177849)]

Expansion is better if, well, you want to Expand in Europe. Not everyone likes a pure colonial game and in that case, Expansion wins. The problem is more that Portgual doesn´t really benefit from the third Merchant for a loooong time, unlike France.

Through Portugal starting position will Always suck due to lack of options to expand in the early game besides North África and Spain.

And thus my focus will be on going outside Europe. India primarily.

And obviously expansion would help there. But OTOH, I am not confident that I could explore India sufficiently with my initial explorers - and waiting for the FOW to lift naturally is not viable. I should have my foothold in India by about 1500.

I'm thinking at this point exploration, admin, expansion, religion, trade in that order, with the 3 after that not really mattering. Will hate to give up my favorite - diplomacy - for the second straight game.

 

[illapa]

You plan on not getting a single military idea until tech level 17? You won't have a military idea until ~1600. Why not replace Expansion with Defensive or Offensive? You're going to find yourself at 999 military points with huge ahead of time penalties. It's a huge waste of points if you want a super aggressive Portugal isn't Exploration (colonists), Religious (CB and missionaries), Offensive better?

 

[sunsterson]

Expansion offensive religion diplomacy economic or defensive

 

[LarryLeica]

You can realistically explore what you need with your starting explorers - Cape, Aden, Americas, so exploration isn't always best initially. By the time you'll be getting to India it will probably be revealed anyway, and if you've already got Africa under control, then no-one will be getting there anyway.

 

[Nirmara]

Personally, I would take innovative as my second idea since you are going to need a lots of diplomatic points and it come with great events.

 

[unmerged(177849)]

I appreciate the responses, but I'm mostly not convinced. Though innovative is something that I didn't think of that I'll consider.

-expansion: really you just confirm what I already believed. Given my goals, getting to Aden isn't enough, and waiting a century and a half til the FOW lifts is not an option.

-military - savings wasted military points is not reason enough. I'm mainly going to be fighting in India and won't need the military ideas. If aristocratic was better .. but it isn't.

I'm going to see how my points are shaping up - if I'm lagging in either diplomatic or admin points, I may need to reconsider. But otherwise, aside from looking hard at innovative, I think you've all just confirmed my assumptions.
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