I ended up colonizing a big chunk of Siberia, always leaving an uncolonized province between me and any neighbors (and hoping said neighbors didn't start colonizing) - and then got to Taiwan, and the Phillipines, AND New Zealand before anyone else could. NZ became a Colonial nation, the others under my control.
Wasn't exactly a sterling game of trying to conquer the world. I only fought in two wars aside from the chaotic unification war that brought the other three into my realm, and both of those wars as an ally. I was gearing up to try and invade the still balkanized Japan, but didn't think I could manage it yet since my fleet wasn't strong enough. Then game ended. But was a fun game all in all, and a weird image for an alternate nation by any standards!
Wasn't exactly a sterling game of trying to conquer the world. I only fought in two wars aside from the chaotic unification war that brought the other three into my realm, and both of those wars as an ally. I was gearing up to try and invade the still balkanized Japan, but didn't think I could manage it yet since my fleet wasn't strong enough. Then game ended. But was a fun game all in all, and a weird image for an alternate nation by any standards!