Singapore

[BFTeixeira]

I would love if they could add events with dynamic COT's based on areas the Western countries occupy late game. Say if Britain had half of Borneo a OCT would be added to the province with the highest base tax or something similar.

Why?

 

[Nikolaj-11]

Why?

I say that in the post, please read.

 

[Jaol]

To answer the wider context of OP's question, yes, the Strait of Malacca was very important in the EU timeframe, despite the existance of an alternative route through the Sunda Strait (the one near Jakarta). As others have pointed out, Singapore itself wasn't important, but the general route was--"Whoever controls Malacca has his hands on the throat of Venice" was the Portugese assesment of its importance.

The reason for this was that the ancient trade route from SE Asia to India, and then to Arabia and the West went through Malacca. If you look at a map, you can see why--it's shorter, and more protected from the sea. If you were to sail through the Sunda Straight, then head north to India, you spend a lot of time exposed to Indian ocean storms. Also the Sunda Strait is tricky to navigate--bad tides, shoals, and sometimes strong winds. So, for all those reasons, the ancient route from Aisa to India went through Malacca.

When the Europeans arrived and began shipping goods round the Cape, they initially just took over the existing route. Later on, when navigation and shipbuilding improved to make long open ocea voyages more feasible, they also used the Sunda Strait on a route that went from SE Asia direct to the Cape, bypassing India. This, I believe, was the main Dutch route in the later part of the EU timeframe. The British and Portuguese continued to use the old route more, probably because their trade was more dependent on Indian goods (e.g. trading Indian cotton for Chinese tea).

 

[BFTeixeira]

I say that in the post, please read.

Say if Britain had half of Borneo a OCT would be added to the province with the highest base tax or something similar.

I've read it. Where's the why?

 

[Nikolaj-11]

I've read it. Where's the why?

This is what my post says in the beginning. "I would love if they could add events with dynamic COT's"

I like dynamic elements. Do you always read people's posts halfway through?

 

[BFTeixeira]

This is what my post says in the beginning. "I would love if they could add events with dynamic COT's"

I like dynamic elements. Do you always read people's posts halfway through?

I asked for a reason because you were very selective in your post, and didn't base that suggestion in anything besides saying you like that idea.

 

[Thrake]

But the game is about what COULD happen, isn't it? What if 1500s France created a maritime empire and decided to put a trading post there? Its location would make it a pretty good Center of Trade. If places like Macau get their own province, I don't know how having Singapore would hurt.

What COULD happen means that it could have been any other province worth being made a port. I see no point adding a trade modifier there given that it wasn't important in the time frame. What would represent what you're asking for, is dynamic trade centers. While not a must IMO, it would be better than fixed centers of trade in uncolonized regions, if anything because it's too easy to steal the single trade center of most regions while leaving the rest uncolonized.

 

[Khezef]

To answer the wider context of OP's question, yes, the Strait of Malacca was very important in the EU timeframe, despite the existance of an alternative route through the Sunda Strait (the one near Jakarta). As others have pointed out, Singapore itself wasn't important, but the general route was--"Whoever controls Malacca has his hands on the throat of Venice" was the Portugese assesment of its importance.

The reason for this was that the ancient trade route from SE Asia to India, and then to Arabia and the West went through Malacca. If you look at a map, you can see why--it's shorter, and more protected from the sea. If you were to sail through the Sunda Straight, then head north to India, you spend a lot of time exposed to Indian ocean storms. Also the Sunda Strait is tricky to navigate--bad tides, shoals, and sometimes strong winds. So, for all those reasons, the ancient route from Aisa to India went through Malacca.

When the Europeans arrived and began shipping goods round the Cape, they initially just took over the existing route. Later on, when navigation and shipbuilding improved to make long open ocea voyages more feasible, they also used the Sunda Strait on a route that went from SE Asia direct to the Cape, bypassing India. This, I believe, was the main Dutch route in the later part of the EU timeframe. The British and Portuguese continued to use the old route more, probably because their trade was more dependent on Indian goods (e.g. trading Indian cotton for Chinese tea).

Very interesting, thanks.

 

[Nikolaj-11]

I asked for a reason because you were very selective in your post, and didn't base that suggestion in anything besides saying you like that idea.

Yeah, okay, the Borneo thing was just an example. Sorry for not making that clear. I thought that's what it meant when you say "say" in front of something in English like that.

 

[Khezef]

I just googled the 3 EU4 canals and they were all completed 40+ years after the end of EU4. Seems that importance or timeline viability isn't THAT important for features in the game.

 

[AurochsAway]

Yeah, okay, the Borneo thing was just an example. Sorry for not making that clear. I thought that's what it meant when you say "say" in front of something in English like that.

That is what "say" means in English, but BFTeixeira was asking for a reason that was more than "I like it". Colonial dynamism or something like that.

 

[Nikolaj-11]

That is what "say" means in English, but BFTeixeira was asking for a reason that was more than "I like it". Colonial dynamism or something like that.

Eh, well, then I don't really have a answer. I just like alternative history and anything that lets me build empires with more variance.

After playing EU for a while the available rules bacome stale, such as it is with any game. That's why I was a fan of the nation designer and the random new world. Ideally I'd love anything that could shuffle elements a bit more like the random base tax setting.

 

[Mauer]

Eh, well, then I don't really have a answer. I just like alternative history and anything that lets me build empires with more variance.

After playing EU for a while the available rules bacome stale, such as it is with any game. That's why I was a fan of the nation designer and the random new world. Ideally I'd love anything that could shuffle elements a bit more like the random base tax setting.

I would it if there were more "Natural Harbor" provinces, with reduced trade power than they have now, but a few of them would become proper "Centers of Trade" as time passes, maybe if the controlling nation manages a lot of trade power in the node for a long time, or if they're transfering a lot of trade value into or out of it, or even just by random event. Along with a base tax gain.

 

[Korsan82]

How come Singapore is so important? Looking at the EU4 map, you can easily go around it by Jakarta, but in WW2 it was called the Gibraltar of the East. There was no way to bypass Gibraltar before the Suez Canal, but there are lots of ways to bypass Singapore. What's its deal?

Not 100% sure but it could have to do with the water depth. I'll look up some charts later

 

[spyroware1]

I would love if they could add events with dynamic COT's based on areas the Western countries occupy late game. Say if Britain had half of Borneo a OCT would be added to the province with the highest base tax or something similar.

Not sure if that would be OP but I like anything that adds alternative history options.

Yeah well merchant republics get this (construct trade post), dunno why it hasn't been made available to everyone, perhaps as the trade ideas ambition or something. That would gives us borth player option/control AND those what if scenarios.

 

[Esoteric Rogue]

I just googled the 3 EU4 canals and they were all completed 40+ years after the end of EU4. Seems that importance or timeline viability isn't THAT important for features in the game.

Attempts at the Suez canal actually go back to ancient history. I think it's a fine candidate for alternate history.

 

[Khezef]

Attempts at the Suez canal actually go back to ancient history. I think it's a fine candidate for alternate history.

Kiel certainly wasn't, and if Kiel is in the game why is Kra canal not?

 

[chrnno]

Kiel certainly wasn't, and if Kiel is in the game why is Kra canal not?

Not sure I am recalling my history right but I seem to recall Kra canal being discussed as far back as 17th century so it makes some sense. I presume they didn't add it simply because they didn't think of it and not for a nebulous reason. I seem to recall something about a canal before Kiel connecting the two seas

Could be added along with making it so that the channel owner(the country which owns/controls the provinces) can control who can use it.

 

[skunkpuppy]

Was Bintan of any significance during this period? It is reflected as a province right where Temasek/Singapura would have been.

 

[loveactually]

Was Bintan of any significance during this period? It is reflected as a province right where Temasek/Singapura would have been.

among Malaysian/Indonesian, Bintan was famous as pirate island during EU IV time frame.
it was a trading post during Srivijaya empire era, but then somehow transformed into pirate island.
I also read that Sultanate of Johor/Riau were based around here.