The problem with colonial nations and independence

[Dnote]

Isn't this only an issue for nations which get crushed in their home territories?

I've played many games where English, Spanish and Portuguese colonies remain till quite late game, because I'm not involved in crushing them in Europe. Obviously sometimes Aragon stomps on Castille, so that can cause the break away, but mainly they stay intact until quite late.

 

[Lys91]

I think Bermuda is an oversight. It makes no sense otherwise that Bermuda, which is a European overseas possession to this day, is part of a CN, but for example Galapagos and Easter Island, which are parts of South American nations IRL, are not.

There is many European territory now days that are part of CN (the myriads of French islands across the globe, French Guyana, English oversea territories etc...), I don't think that's a good criteria. The oversight, would be the islands that are not part of a CN.

I think an issue here is the DLC system. Once a feature is released in a DLC, it is rarely iterated over again, and new mechanics are added instead of improving what is there. If you look at CK2, there is potential for improvement, but some feature remains shallow.

 

[Simoleum]

In an earlier post here I wrote of the need for more types of colonies, like trade posts in Africa, etc. I wonder if that would make the game more historical as well, cause in game I often see Castilian Brazil, cause Portugal starts colonizing Africa. If that were changed, perhaps Portugal would go for Brazil first, which makes Castille go for other areas due to Tordesillas.

There is many European territory now days that are part of CN (the myriads of French islands across the globe, French Guyana, English oversea territories etc...), I don't think that's a good criteria. The oversight, would be the islands that are not part of a CN.

I think an issue here is the DLC system. Once a feature is released in a DLC, it is rarely iterated over again, and new mechanics are added instead of improving what is there. If you look at CK2, there is potential for improvement, but some feature remains shallow.

I've also thought about that. Since the colonial system got a "super-duper" upgrade in Conquest of Paradise, I have problems seeing a total change in colonization, as suggested here, cause it would not pay that previous DLC, or its buyers, much respect.

 

[freedavebrown]

LD should be calculated on some sort of moving average basis. It makes NO sense that if one of your stacks gets wiped in Europe your CNs LD shoots up. First of all, they wouldn't even know that the wipe had happened right away. But setting that aside - it should only be sustained weakness that causes LD to spike. This would also solve the occupation problem.

It would be very easy to implement as well. It could literally just be a 5 year (or whatever) moving average instead of a spot calculation. This simple change would help a lot. The problem is that Portugal will get carpeted by France in a war in which France doesn't even care about Portugal and doesn't intend to take any land from portugal but then the LD spikes and someone supports Independence and it doesn't even matter that Portugal is basically fully recovered 6 months later. Too late, they are totally boned.

 

[Simoleum]

Another problem with colonial nations, and the absurdity of having them automatically form once you get 5 provinces in a predetermined area, is that you have no option to increase development in these provinces, even though they are your provinces (cause you cant develop in "provinces you dont own"). Just remembered this in a save now, and just highlights how poor the feature is at the moment. They are my colonies and I cant do anything to them basically.