Quick question about colonization

[unmerged(69250)]

Hi again. Just have a quick question about colonization.

Played as Portugal. The first thing I wanted to try out was colonizing the new world. Saw that I had one conquistador and one explorer so attached them to 5000 men and 6 ships and sailed towards the new world. But when I got there it said my colonial range was not enough. So I waited for the island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean to get a population of 1000 because I thought this was going to fix it. However it did not. So now I am just wondering, how do you do it?

I know that ideas and technology increases colonial range, but the needed range was 500+ while I started with 150 or something. So how does people get to enough colonial range within the time of the demo? Or do you always start by declaring war on a native tribe to get a foothold? I mean Castille would have an even worse starting position because they don't have that island in the middle of the ocean.

And another question (that I think is a bug). I declared war on Aztec empire, "parked" my small fleet outside of one of their provinces, clicked the button to transport the men I had detached (with a conquistador leader) and right-clicked the Aztec province. Suddenly the units were gone! Did I miss something or was it just a bug?
Thanks for the answers. Really thankful.

 

[Dutchling]

Exploration is probably better picked as a second or even third idea group. If you pick at as first your diplomatic tech gives you a very low trade range as it is not high enough.

 

[Hannd]

For the colonial range to be extended, the provinces have to be cored. Colonies don't get cored on foundation, you have to do it later. Also, it helps going for Brasil (colony and then core) before jumping into the Caribbean.

Regarding the soldier thingie, are you sure they got on the ships? You can always click "Attach to transport" but you need to have cogs for them to get on the ships. If you had them in the ships for sure, it was most likely a bug.

 

[unmerged(69250)]

Yes I am sure There was an animation and everything and then suddenlt poof! no more troops and leader was back in list so that I could attach him again. But back to colonization, so I am not doing anything wrong then? You should not be able to colonize the new world one year after the start date even as Portugal in the demo?

 

[Hannd]

Yes I am sure There was an animation and everything and then suddenlt poof! no more troops and leader was back in list so that I could attach him again. But back to colonization, so I am not doing anything wrong then? You should not be able to colonize the new world one year after the start date even as Portugal in the demo?

You should be able: let the colony in the Azores grow (shouldn't take long) and then core it, then go for Brazil, grab a province for a colony, core it again and then jump on the Caribbean.

 

[Morwys]

But back to colonization, so I am not doing anything wrong then? You should not be able to colonize the new world one year after the start date even as Portugal in the demo?

No, you shouldn't. What you should do first is colonizing the coast of Africa, as soon as the provinces are in range. When Açores becomes a core of yours, then it's much easier. It takes some years. Later you move to colonizing South America. As portugal, I wouldn't bother much with the Caribbean isles, since you don't want to wage war with Castille early - and they take their time to colonize, not going even nearly as fast as they did IRL.

 

[unmerged(69250)]

ok, thanks a lot