What would you do as Belgium?

[robc04]

Hello,

I was looking at Belgium and am confused as to what action one would take to get started.

- They can't buid factories (unless you change the ruling party).
- Employment is at or near 100%, so there isn't a need to expand factories.
- They aren't a great power, so you can't build up a spere of influence.
- All possible colonies are out of range.
- They don't have any CBs to start a war.
- Their neighbors are in alliances that would probably get them crushed if they started a fight.

This is what I did...
-I fiddled with some sliders and set a national focus so my clergy are growing. I want more research points.
- I subsidized my factories so they could afford inputs and tried to make sure they have access to inputs via my stockpile.
- I started researching market structure to boost the education rate.

I'm sorry if this is an idiotic question, but what the heck would you do to get the game going? I just don't see what there is to do.

Thank you

 

[Fire_Unionist]

Fight Morocco for colonies.

 

[Cossack8559]

I invaded The Netherlands twice... took Friesland and got them to release some Portuguese land. i have 5 factories 2 of which keep closing and going bankrupt then they open up again only to go bankrupt a month or so later. :wacko:

I reached 8th in world rankings and was a super power for about 2 years then i lost my status to MEXICO!! I then lost my ally Great Britain and ended up at war with them... they landed their first army in my port city with about 33,000 men which i crushed and then crushed a 2nd army of theirs which was 44k before signing a white peace.

I have 153.50k in my treasury with zero debt and zero loans taken(currently), and am about to regain my 8th place ranking as you can see. This is my first time playing (never played victoria 1) so i am still learning everything as time goes on. very enjoyable pick Belgium has been for me.

But, Its still early and disaster can strike at anytime. :|

 

[Fire_Unionist]

Why is losing status to Mexico surprising?

 

[Cossack8559]

Its not, its just all of southern Mexico is occupied by rebels (just the south) and i have the exact same Military score(77),Higher prestige and my industrial power is higher. Not to mention i think my economy is in very good shape. but, as i said i'm 8th again now. that is until the Ottomans decide its time to regain their status as one of the greats.

 

[John Forseti]

Theres lots you can do with Belgium. In my game first time the netherlands declared war on me I put the nationalist party in charge letting me 100% fund the military and gave me Stat Capitalism, and after I beat them I used the national focus to promote craftsmen alternating between Vlaarden(sp?) and Walloonia each year. Invaded and annexed Zulu starting a small colonial empire and now i've got 8 factories open simultaeneously in Vlaarden and 5 in Flanders. Everything was looking up until the flemish nationalists who are now within 60/70% of my army started causing trouble, I don't get it. Everyone is at the very, very least meeting some of their everyday needs with the majority meeting all of them, why are they upset?

 

[robc04]

Thanks for the suggestions. I didn't even consider attacking a country in Africa. I new I wasn't able to colonize there yet due to the life rating.

 

[unmerged(139045)]

Belgium is indeed a very enjoyable pick... I'm amazed at how easy it is to play compared to starting GPs like the US or Prussia. I have so much money I don't know what to do with it, and just end up making a bunch of ironclads and transports to go beat up and acquire protectorates in Africa and SE Asia. As for combat, I fought and won two wars with the Netherlands, one to push my cultural hegemony (I think), and one to get some of their colonies in Indonesia. I also acquired Morocco from Spain, but had an annoying time with bad dice rolls in the battles.