Trying to survive and colonize as Granada

[the atom]

I've googles around but most of the old strategies seem out of date. France will never, ever ally with me no matter what I do. The the only allies I'm capable of securing are Morocco and Tclemen but I don't think that's enough. Any ideas?

 

[Sybrand99]

Allying Morocco and Tunis is enough. Transport your troups to Morocco, so that you can attach to their forces when Castille declares. But there is a huge chance that Aragon will attack Castille in the beginning of the game to subjugate Navarra. Wait until Castille won't defend Portugal and attack Portugal with Morocco. After that you can take on Castille together with Morocco.

 

[Quaade]

why not doing hardcore style?... should still work... ally north african berber nations, also increase chance for Castille and aragon going to war (easier target, AI logic) and attack/annex Tlemcen... You can even call in either Tunis or Morroco... give them land if you want to secure yourself a bit better, or screw them and hope for a weak castille with no union for some time... Then eat one of your new neigbours and the small nations to the south

 

[Dominion]

Old PM I wrote. Should still work.


Ally Morocco + Tunis
Delete everything but your transports and delete your fort
Declare on Tlemcen by promising both land
Keep your war participation high by sending a soldiers into sieges, trying to join fights after you see them ending successful and blockade with your transports

This is what you want

Or at least something like it.

In this screenshot, I took special interest land so Tunis broke their alliance. Had me sweating blood until they finally accepted my alliance again.

Either way, after that you play a small nation.

I took Exploration second. Admin first, but only the first three steps for a long time. Always ready to merc up and go bankrupt should they attack me. Since my neighbours are allies and I would have a truce north, going bankrupt wouldn't even hurt me.

After that you colonize a bit until you ask yourself "What should I even do with all that cash?"

The answer is: Save a boatload, throw some mercs into Castille's face and eat their land.

And don't care about how late it gets. You only want to get done.

 

[Quaade]

In this screenshot, I took special interest land so Tunis broke their alliance. Had me sweating blood until they finally accepted my alliance again.

Yeah... had the same... would have gave them a bit land should I do it again... a slightly stronger Tunis is way better than facing Spain alone...

Had one war with Spain where I managed to pull through and only lose Gibraltar or smth... In the truce I was able to consolidate and strike them when they were preoccupied, splintering them afterwards as wolves lunged at the carcass

 

[the atom]

Doesn't seem to be working. First try, I actually had a merc army built up and ready to take Tlemcen when Castile decided to invade me. They wiped out my mercs immediately and started occupying my land, as Tunis and Morocco didn't react until it was too late. When they finally showed up the Castillians beat the snot out of both of them, and then Portugal declared on Morocco and that was basically it.

Second try I actually got a chance to take some clay from Tlemcen when Morocco declared on them on it's own accord. I took three provinces (one over the amount I'd justified for) but that one province of over extension caused Morocco to break their alliance for some reason. Then I went bankrupt. Then Castile showed up.

 

[ELPhantomII]

Does the tributary exploit still work, or did they patch that out?

 

[Quaade]

Does the tributary exploit still work, or did they patch that out?

If you mean trib to ming... then no... Ming should not trib anyone they can´t see and they added in some distance afaik

 

[Quaade]

Doesn't seem to be working. First try, I actually had a merc army built up and ready to take Tlemcen when Castile decided to invade me. They wiped out my mercs immediately and started occupying my land, as Tunis and Morocco didn't react until it was too late. When they finally showed up the Castillians beat the snot out of both of them, and then Portugal declared on Morocco and that was basically it.

When you get your african lands you should keep your army there. Also you need to build up your fleet a bit

Think I´m nearly done with my achy run as bengal... then I could take a quick look at granada start in-game