The Holy Trinity

[coz1]

Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love 1.02

I needed to take a slight break from my Persian AAR while I figure out a few things about the next section. Decided to play a little Victoria outside of that game, and I was trying out the 1.02 patch for the first time. I figured while I was playing, I might open the game up to advice, since I'm not a very good player anyway, much less on 1.02 I'm sure.

For some strange reason, I chose the Pope. Perhaps I'm trying to atone for my anti-papist suggestions I seem to keep giving others. As the action was rather slow, I started thinking about a good way to present this. I didn't feel like doing the "I did this, I did that" form for one country over 85 years. Those are great AARs, especially since the game is new, but I felt like I might grow tired of writing about it after some time. So I decided to go for a multi-country AAR. Tried and true method and inspired mostly by Storey's Three Countries One Goal AAR. Many have tried this in EU, but I think I'm the first for Vickie, though I might have missed it if there has been one already.

This will be a pretty bare bones AAR, no characters or heavy plot. I just felt like doing something much easier than my Persian AAR to keep me fresh and give a little break. Besides, that one should be done within another week, so it will be good to have another one in the works.

I have no idea how this is going to turn out, or if it will even work like I am expecting it to. I have decided to start with the Pope for ten years, then switch to Ireland (whom I freed from the British yoke) for my second country. I will play them for ten years and get them up to speed and then switch to a third country, which I have not decided upon yet (though it must be a good Catholic country to keep with the theme - I'm thinking maybe Mexico or Colombia). After ten more years with them, I plan on doing 5 year stretches with each. That might be a bit short, but it will at least give me 4 chances to play each and then end up in WWI with hopefully Italy (which I plan to switch to depending if it actually forms or not - otherwise I'll stick with the Pope) and Ireland.

Basically, I just want to have a little fun and test out the patch. It should go pretty slowly as I won't be updating it near as much as I have been with Persia. I'll take all the advice I can get since I will be playing as I go along, and hopefully I will be able to carry out those suggestions effectively. I'll clarify other rules and such as I go along. I'm leaving pretty much everything open. So, without further ado...here's the first chapter:

 

[coz1]

Papel States, 1836-1845

OK – start the game and pause to make sure everything looks good. I set taxes at about 60% for everyone and immediately start researching Practical Steam Engine. I want to get some RRs up as fast as I can.

Check my relations with everyone else, and I seem to be at zero with all of them. I have alliances with all of the other Italian states, and that’s fine by me right now. I’m exporting fruit, cattle, wool, grain and a little timber. I’m hoping to get a glass factory up when I get some MP to produce some wine.

I have two corps of troops, each at 5,000 men. I leave mil. Maint. At 100% and eventually get def. spending as high as I can given the reactionary government I have. The man in the funny hat don’t like much change, but he’s going to have to accept some to get our economy off the ground. I put tariffs on high to make sure I’m making some dough and everything else seems to be set.

I un-pause the game…. and wait…and wait…and wait. The years roll by and I start research on Romanticism next in the hopes that I might get there first and reap the prestige bonus. The Mechanical Production comes next to gain my first five MP. With them, I build my glass factory and immediately realize that it’s going to take more than one to produce enough to both sell and use in a winery. Doh! Eventually I’ll get some more MP…right? At least I have the craftsmen and clerks in Roma to fill the darn thing.

By this point, it’s 1841. I have also expanded my orchard in Roma as it seems I might have some farmers to spare after some time. I am making some money and education and defense are funded. I have even been able to keep crime fighting at 60%. I have been receiving plenty of overtures from my Italian mates, keeping my diplomatic points for Austria, who does not seem to like me as much as I like them.

My next research is on Positivism as it appeared to give some sort of education boost, but I’m still pissed because I’ve gained very little prestige already on my previous culture research. I think I’m waiting for the date that those big bonuses hit. Not sure when that is though. Once I get Positivism, I go for Exp. RR. This is finished by 1842 and I immediately place some track in Roma, Perugia and Ancona, since this is where I have my limited army. I can get more lumber and cement on the WM, but steel is not forthcoming. I still have enough, though, to put more RR in both Rimini and Crosetti and I soon feel the benefit of my industrial building. I’m making over 5 pounds a day and funding everything I want to at the moment.

Problem is, I am still mostly waiting. By now it’s 1843. The Turks end up in an alliance with Austria that pisses my good Christian soul off and Russia seems as though they haven’t had a thing to eat in two weeks, gobbling up Khiva and Bukkhara. I am asked if I want to build a library and I say hell no, I’d rather be ignorant. I will get some lowered consciousness at the cost of only one literacy percentage. Since I’m already up over 50%, this is a decent trade off.

By the end of the session, I am exporting enough to make a little money, the glass seems to be making some profit on occasion and I am importing coal, iron, and furniture while waiting for everything else to become available. I can get tobacco too, but paper, clothes, steel and MP are still nowhere to be found.

Italian States in 1845

My end stats are:
Prestige 11 (43rd)
Industrial 39 (19th)
Military 2 (43rd)

Next up…Ireland in 1846.

* * *

I figure the winner is the one with the highest ranking at the end. Sounds reasonable enough to me. So, the question is - who to play as the third country? They won't get their fifth turn, and I would prefer somewhere out of Europe, civilized and they must be a mostly Catholic country. What say you folks? Any and all advice is welcome on gameplay choices, styles and pretty much anything else that comes to mind.

 

[unmerged(10971)]

I vote for Mexico.

But doesn't Ecuador become a Papal satellite in 1862? That might be a possibility. Not a good one, but it is one.

EDIT: Nevermind, Baden's Catholic so that gets my vote.

 

[coz1]

I actually thought about Baden , but that's just too much in Europe. I want to try something a little different than the other two I picked. Come on, I let Ireland go...doesn't that count?

As for Ecuador, that's not bad, but I don't want to be a satellite. I ended that relationship between Ireland and the UK so I can make a decent amount of money (if possible.) That's why I was thinking maybe Colombia. Figured I might get a decent prestige bonus too, if I can get the canal event.

Mexico sounds good too, but I don't want to duplicate what others are doing as far as AARs. Gaijin de Moscu has a good one going already so I'm a bit hesitant. I was slighty unsure about using the Papal States, because I don't want to take anything away from calcsam2's Two Sicilies' AAR. However, since his is "how to play" and mine is "how the hell do I play" I figured it wouldn't draw any attention away from him.

 

[unmerged(10971)]

How about Argentina? That's in the Americas, decent-sized, and Catholic.

 

[coz1]

Argentina...hmmmm. I've played them once, for a bit, on 1.01. Land to colonize and plenty of expansion room if I want to go that route. A sure possibility.

 

[unmerged(25129)]

hmmmm....dont suppose when the CSA comes around there catholic are they?

 

[Judge]

Nice start though the glass & wine idea might be a bad idea. Even though you have a lot of fruit I would recommend steel. Logically it should be profitable to produce wine but in the game it isn’t so unfortunately. Paper is another winner. In 1,02 Clothes is impossible to buy (almost) so a fabric factory and a regular clothes factory (run them on low capacity at least) will be essential if you want to convert to craftsmen/clerks I guess. Researching culture techs first have become a favourite of mine + “railroad techs”. No need to industrialize heavy in the beginning.

As for other country, try Peru. Nasty event with Bolivia in the beginning though but later a gold mine and your sulphur mines will provide a good income

 

[coz1]

No, CSA is right out, but Peru does sound fairly interesting (and they got past their Bolivian events in one piece). And it doesn't have to be a South American country, though that's where many of the Catholics reside.

I just had to play 5 years with Ireland last night to celebrate the Pats victory, and it's going pretty good. I'll try to get the other five years done this evening and see how the rest goes.

And your probably right Judge - glass might not have been the best choice. But then that's the purpose of this AAR - learn from my mistakes.

Thanks for the comments guys and there should be a bit of time left before I need to settle once and for all on the last country.

 

[Friant]

Interesting approach. How well does the AI play while you are 'away'? Are you worried that it will undermine your best-laid plans, like investing lots of money in poorly-chosen industry, or diplomatic moves?

I assume you are playing on Normal difficulty? If it is anything harder, your country will get production bonuses when you don't play them. Not good for one's ego to come back and see they were better off without you.

 

[stnylan]

Interesting. I have to admit my brain is struggling to think of any Catholic non-European countires other than those in Latin America (unless Quebec has been released).

Columbia or Venezuela get my vote.

 

[coz1]

Friant - I have not played long enough to see what changes occur while I am gone. I will try to follow those as best I can. I am curious to see myself. I am definitely worried about my plans being messed up, but that does provide a bit of a challange (as if there wasn't enough already ). And I am playing on normal/normal. I usually do this to keep things fairly simple, especially when first learning a new game.

As for the third country - we have so far (that is the suggestions I am considering):
- Colombia
- Argentina
- Peru
- Venezuela

Hmm, all South American. Well, that was my initial thought too. Had one more though - what about Portugal? Any thoughts?

 

[stnylan]

Well, Portugal is genuinely a colonial country (well, a country with colonies), which none of the others are. that could provide an interesting aspect of play. But it remains european, so to that degree the Latin Americans would be more interesting.

 

[Friant]

I've not tried as Portugal, but it seems that the main hope for them would be an aggressive colonization program, which would be crippled if you didn't start playing them in 1836.

 

[unmerged(17727)]

*Subscriping*

 

[coz1]

Well, Ireland went pretty well. I'll try to get that up this evening hopefully. A few interesting notes though - Germany went with the Frankfurt assembly. So now I have a half-Germany, a NGF, several smaller southern German minors and Austria. Ugh. I don't think Germany's gonna make for an interesting foe come WWI (or friend depending on how it plays out). Anyone know of a way to get Germany formed right from this point without having to massivley alter the save game?

Also - I have whittled it down to a choice between Peru, Argentina and Portugal for the third country. All good catholics. Peru will net me some major cash later, Argentina possibly the same, plus they have some land to colonize still. I don't recall how much Portugal has done so far, but that might provide enough of an interesting aspect to take away from them being in Europe.

Anyway, number 3 is next to play and I will play whomever gets the largest vote total (if you've already suggested one of the three, you don't need to vote for it again unless you just want to.)

And thanks for the interest so far!

 

[coz1]

Ireland 1846-1855, Part I

Well, I will say that there is definitely more to do here than I had with the Pope. I stop that game on Christmas Eve and save. Release Ireland as a satellite and then tell Great Britain to bugger off – I don’t need their protection (accept for that lovely defensive alliance we have - see all their pretty boats protecting my lands?) They keep Belfast just to piss me off.

The Emerald Isle with a big ugly zit at the top

Finally get back into the game with much good cheer because the New England Patriots have won, thus I am about as drunk as one would expect an Irishman to be, so the lads have that going for them. Immediately there are a million things to do, half of which my mind can’t wrap around quick enough. The pause button is my friend.

Sooo…taxes are set to 60% for everyone, I got education at 85% and crime fighting at 50%. I have zero army or navy so that’s cheap as is def. spending. And I put it on full tariffs to start.

I’m in the middle of elections with a Whig ruling party. I already allow full suffrage plus some trinkets in safety and unemployment (lazy bastards). These I fund just enough for them to mean anything.

And my natural resources are cattle, fish and a little grain. I am lucky, however, because the Brits left exp. RR all over my lovely land as well as a few factories. I start with Liquor, Fabric, Canned Food, Clipper, Reg. Clothes and Ammunition factories, though I am not making enough from any of them to mean much.

So I close the distillery in Connaught (hey, I’m already tipsy anyway) and put those guys to work in the fabric factory. Close down the clipper joint in Leinster too, and let the rest of them shuffle around with canned food, clothes and ammo.

By this point, I am starting to see a slight profit and some goods are coming in, as well, I have a stockpile of MP in case I want to build another factory (or more). Since I don’t trust my fine neighbors any farther than I can throw ‘em, I decide to build some troops, converting 25,000 fishermen into soldiers and (eventually) recruit some 10,000 fresh troops, who end up stationed in Dublin.

Near the end of 1846, I build a steel factory in Ulster since I have some ner-do-well craftsmen just sitting around and Judge gave the good advice to think about the lack of steel on the market. Turned out to be a good choice. Then the Whigs take the election with 60% of the vote. Sure, fine – don’t bother me none as long as things stay the same as they are. Once research for Military Plans is finished (they were researching this when I came into the game), I go for Idealism next. Want that prestige, baby!

1847 starts with Austria and Prussia getting pissed and taking on Denmark and friends for Slesvig. Have a blast fellas.

My liquor factory burns down. Well, nobody is working there and I couldn’t get any glass anyway, so it’s not that big of a deal (I’ll just have to import alcohol.) But the steel factory comes on line and I put three sets of craftsmen hard at work. I have no freeloaders now and I’m lovin’ every minute of it.

Austria makes peace with Denmark taking nothing and Louis Napoleon starts his rise to power in France. 1848 is getting exciting. I start researching Clean Coal.

1849 and Prussia makes peace with Denmark, again taking nothing. What was that war about then fellas? Just to parade your armies? Guess so.

Then I notice Two Sicilies making a defensive pact with Spain. I guess the Pope is alone now. Hmmm, not sure if I like that. I have a few dip. points available so I send him some love. I’m actually thinking of getting all three of my countries into an alliance by the 20th century. What do you think?

By July of ’49 I can set crime fighting at 75%. I’m happy. But then Germany takes the bait in the Frankfurt assembly and screws the pooch. Don’t they know how much more they could have had? Don’t they care? North German Federation forms up with everyone but Mecklenburg, who makes a quick sandwich and takes off without saying goodbye to anyone. Austria is certainly pissed about all of this, but at least they still have a slight buffer what with Bavaria, Baden and Company, LLP still sovereign states.

I don’t like it one bit. Neither does Denmark and they immediately DoW NGF. Germany doesn’t even help out…what the…? Turns out not to matter. Denmark ends up losing Flensburg in the tussle. That ought to teach ‘em.

Anyway, back to Ireland. Since steel is building up, I start research on early RR. I want it to cover the country before my 10 years are up. I also expand the fabric factory in the hopes of eventually getting my Clipper Yard going. I’m also a little pissed (literally and figuratively), because this was based on the idea of having some new craftsmen but I suddenly notice after the building is underway that one POP of 90,000 or so has dropped to 50,000. What happened? Did they move away? Is this the POP splitting issue? Not a clue. Guess I should read up on it more.

I’m further pissed to find that Russia didn’t stop with just lunch before. Just trolling around the world, I notice Persia looking rather green. They are completely gone, swallowed by the bear. Doesn’t mean much to this game, but I have certain understandable tendencies to see them alive for some reason. But by this time, my early RR is ready to build so I get over it quickly.

I slowly begin in Dublin, and then Galway, eventually allowing my folks to travel the width of the country by train. I have to start selling some techs to afford the rest, but by June of 1853, it’s done. Woohoo! (or Choo-choo….ugh, I know.)

Romanticism is my next tech. Still doesn’t look like the Pope has received anything for his investment, but I’m going to try anyway. By now it’s January 1851, my fabric factory is now level 2 and I need clerks. Plus, by this point I was seeing two screens so I stopped for the night. Don’t want to make this too long, so let’s pick up Part II a bit down the road. Still, so far so good. Things are looking much more promising, inebriated or not.

 

[unmerged(10971)]

Yeah, I know you're playing Ireland, but (just a suggestion, you may ignore at your leisure) slow down on the drinks while playing.

Nice to hear Baden's still around.

And I restate my vote for Argentina.

 

[coz1]

It was only celebratory drink. Not my usual playing style. I'm no Mr.T or Paranoid Tsar.

 

[stnylan]

Well, out of those 3 I have to go for Peru.

Interesting seeing what happening.