A Pleasant Empire ( A Hawaiian AAR)

[Antiboyscout]

1849 - 1856 Do you remember that one time Hawaii tricked the United States into helping them annex half of modern day Pakistan?

A lot of the things I wanted to do were based heavily on money. Colonial power is based on ships and ports. Both are huge money sinks. Factories in a country as small as Hawaii need constant attention or they will fail. I speak from experience. In a private game I manage to colonize most of the South Pacific islands. I just requires money. Gold income to be precise. I will look elsewhere.

For those that think taking on Korea or Japan are good ideas. Korea has Chinese support and Japan in in the US's sphere.

I'll keep the tech popups to a minimum. I'll include the major techs and important inventions.

This war will go well right?

Never Mind...

This is a bit unfair. A lot of things happened between the start of this war and the end.

Like the US deciding not to march on Mexico city during the Mexican American war.

I research Idealism, Medicine, and State and Government.

I need a consolation prize.

Much better.

Now I will look to an area that I normally never look to.

Sindh, Makran, and Kalat. 3 Indian States not in the British SOI and with no allies.

I also research Breach Loaded Rifles, High & Low pressure Steam Engines, and start on Market Structure.

I'll finish the year off with this image.

 

[stnylan]

Any expansion is surely good

 

[Shinkuro Yukinari]

Once you get Machine guns, just land 30k troops in Korea and watch the Chinese fall trying to kill you

 

[Antiboyscout]

1856 - 1861 Consolidation and Industrialization

Your not an empire until your native culture is a minority of the lands you control. That's right Germany you don't count you wannabe empire. Where are your overseas holdings? That's right you don't have any.

I start research on Business Regulations.

I did this. Ignore those US troops. I did this. Thanks to these acquisitions I now export Fruit, Wool, and Tea as my top 3 exports.

I now have enough money in the treasury to build a factory. I decide on glass as the first. Glass is usually in demand all game, and it has synergy with several other industries like Liquor.

The USA is at cordial relations with Korea. I won't be able to take it.

Time to have the first proper military in a long time. Having an army of nothing but colonial troops is perfectly safe right?

I appear to be too late with my army building. The US will most likely win the war, but If I am involved I will get noting out of it. I refuse and break the alliance.

I start research on Battleship Column Doctrine. High level Ports are required for colonization later.

I need to move my troops from the colonies to anywhere else, so I create a small transport fleet.

I also upgrade the port at Hawaii.

The glass factory finally opens. At least it's profitable. Considering it only has around 200 workers, this isn't too bad. I do change the national focus to promote Craftsmen.

Now for a tricky bit. I want Empiricism as quickly as possible to speed up later research. It unlocks at 1860, so I can wait a year and stockpile research to blast through it later.

I love it when Capitalist start projects to build railroads. Even if you pay for it yourself, it's still a discount from what it normally costs.

I really want Panama. This is going to be tricky. They are currently worn out from the Mexican American war, but they have multiple allies, and outside powers want to influence them.

Time to start Empiricism. This shouldn't take long.

You can do it guys. I believe in you.

Less than 4 months later, I start research on Mechanical Production. The inventions from this tech greatly improve Tea harvests and Machine Parts improve glass production.

I start research on Early Railroad.

I managed to get Pragmatism early enough to net 10 prestige.

The very first siege still has not completed, I am now fighting 3 countries, and the Mexican American war is over. This will ether be a long fight or a quick loss.

 

[stnylan]

Quite a cliffhanger ending

 

[Antiboyscout]

1861 - 1866 I Messed Up

Damn you Mexico. How did you recover so fast?

Oh dear, It may be best to just take the Humiliation to avoid a Cut Down to Size. Losing my Prestige is better than losing my army.

I peace out and start to research Army Professionalism.

That eases the pain, at least a little.

I research Romanticism. I hope to recover a little more Prestige.

The Precision Work invention provides a +10% boost to Glass production.

I research Steam Turbine.

Time to go home guys.

Are you trying to show me up Ethiopia? Is that it?

I research Late Classical Theory.

yeah I'll start sending colonist right away...

I'm sure the 27 thousand of us Polynesians will manage to make a dent in the around a 86 thousand Baluchi.

I finally have enough money to build a Liquor Distillery. Liquor is our #1 import and it will have synergy with the existing Glass factory thus creating a permanent demand for the glass output.

I research Steamers.
I research Raider Group Doctrine.

Oh, hello Bali. Did you forget about me? It seems like you broke free of the Belgian SOI. Why on earth would you do that?

Umm, Texas? You feeling all right? You don't look quite yourself.

The United Kingdom? I'm sure we can take them. This is a great idea.

Oh no. Who could have seen this coming? Oh the humanity.

I research Iron Railroad.

Final image for the year. I wish the conservative party would stop losing support. I also wish the Socialists would stop gaining support. Socialist do not want Liberal reforms. I do.

 

[stnylan]

Meh, you can take them

Texas is clearly confused

 

[Specialist290]

Bali must be made to suffer -- not only do they steal the glorious Hawaiian flag's colors, but they put them in the wrong order!

 

[Antiboyscout]

1866 - 1871 The Great Philosopher Maxim

Good bye CSA I hardly knew ye.

I research Iron Steamers.

That didn't take long. I added a Hussar to my army to speed up occupation.

Yemen, you look a little exposed there. No allies? No Sphere? I found my next target.

Debtor's Prison event. I decide to piss off the Aristocrats because there are more of them.

Austria gets to Tutankhamen's Tomb first, somehow.

Mechanized Fishing Vessels invention increases fish production by 50%. Good for the Hawaiian islands.

I research Naval Plans to increase supply range.

Is there a reason not to take the Penal Colonies decision?

I research Realism to boost Prestige farther.

The Ironclads invention is important for colonization. Ironclads have the greatest colonization point / Naval supply

It's over and now I get a whole lot of opium.

I research Collectivist Theory... Marx get out of here.

Now comes choice. Machine Guns and Analytic Philosophy both unlock in 1970. Machine Guns is needed for colonization, but I'm not at secondary power yet.

I love getting multiple inventions at the same time.

I decide to research Analytic Philosophy first. The faster research will help now rather than latter.

Smallpox noooooo.

I research Machine Guns.

I really hope the UK will be satisfied in Africa. I really want at least the Polynesian islands. Why is Palmyra part of the Hawaiian Islands state?

 

[stnylan]

Hawaii is becoming quite the opportunist.

 

[Antiboyscout]

1871 - 1876 Why do Muslims consume Liquor?

Behold the industrial might of Hawaii. I still don't produce enough Liquor to satisfy local consumption. I dare not make another factory while the labor pool is so small.

I get Logical Positivism early enough to get +15 prestige.

What? I'm getting immigrants? 3 Jewish families decide to leave Turkey and move to Hawaii. At least they're assimilating. One of the benefits of being in North America

I research Inorganic Chemistry. I want to start heading toward Electronics for later industry.

Yay. If only I was a secondary power this would mean something.

I just noticed this. Do to the weird way conversion works and random chance, all of my Craftsmen are Catholic, and all of them will be Catholic in the future.

I research Organic Chemistry. The Dye Factory is useless to us, but the Fuel Refinery could be useful later.

Here we have a unique Hawaiian event. It appears to be completely negative and you have no choice in the matter. Go Hawaii!

Oh dear I've been found out. I had a bit of luck with the Infamy. It's rather low for a conquest CB.

I research Impressionism.

I research Expressionism.

I actually want more militancy so this is a no-brainer.

I research Steel Railroad.

Your alliance did not make you strong. It made you weak.

I was wrong. It's not the UK I need to worry about. It's Japan. I squeak into secondary power status. Unfortunately I have Negative Colonial power points at the moment, and no Lv 3 ports to build Ironclads. Damn you Japan.

 

[stnylan]

Sneaky Nippon ruining your plans.

 

[Antiboyscout]

1876 - 1881 It would be nice if you could buy ships from other countries outright

The Colonization race is in full swing, but we are a long way from joining in.

I research Naval Statistics. The supply range helps with Colonizing far away places.

Colonial Incident with Portugal. I can't compete with them or their ally the UK.

The Cracking invention allows the construction of Fuel Refineries. Unfortunately, I don't have any oil yet.

I research Interchangeable Parts.

Thank goodness. I was waiting for Temperance league for a long time. Farming Efficiency and increased Pop Militancy are great. I need high Militancy to push through reforms.

I research Semi-Automization. -10% factory cost is amazing even if you lose half of it with one of the inventions.

Colonial Incident with the Ottoman Empire. They are also allied to the UK.

I can finally pass Only Landed voting Political reform. Vote Franchise is the best way to entice immigrants to your country.

I research Historical Theory.

I enacted Landed voting in November '77 and it took until July '78 to trigger Prussian Constitutionalism. It doesn't matter much. Changing ruling party increases Militancy but that just helps push more reforms.

I pass Weighted Wealth voting Political Reform.

2 Years later I pass Wealth voting Political Reform.

I research Phenomenology & Hermeneutic.

I research Electricity. I normally make most of my Industry money on Electric Gear into Telephones but I'm not sure how much Rubber I have.

I finally get my Lv. 3 Port in Hawaii. Now to spam Ironclads like there is no tomorrow. Here is where I wish I could buy ships from other countries. By now, the Ironclad is outdated with Battle Ships becoming available. A secondary power coming in and buying all the outdated ships sounds reasonable.

I get the Expressionist Music invention early enough to get +20 Prestige.

I gain 16 immigrants from Salonika. The reforms are starting to do their job.

All the reforms are playing havoc with my Elections. Conservative and Liberal Parties are equal in power with socialist forces making gains.

 

[stnylan]

But perhaps now people will be incoming!

 

[Antiboyscout]

1881 - 1886 My Kingdom for a Ship

The scramble for Africa is almost done. Germany what are you doing?

I have rebels in Hedjaz. I wonder if the muslims are mad that the most holy city of Islam is held by Christian kingdom?

I research Combustion Engine. I hope to be the first producer of Automobiles in the world.

I get the Inventions Edison Light Bulb and Bell & Grey's Telephones at the same time. Now I need to save up funds to build the factories.

So, Prestige or improved relations with Belgium. Sorry Belgium.

Tensions in Hedjaz. Hedjaz is becoming a bit of a powder keg.

I research Blue & Brown Water Schools.

I pass the Weighted Universal voting reform.

Time to start my High Tech industry manufacturing chain.

After changing the Ruling party I generated enough Militancy to pass Universal voting reform.

This event impacts Hawaii proper not one of the colonies. Thankfully the cost isn't too great at less than 1 thousand Pounds.

I pass the Censored Press reform.

I research Associationism. I want to be ready to unlock Radios when the time comes.

I research Phenomenalism.

When the Telephone Factory is completed I will have a complete product line as the Telephone requires only Glass and Electronic Gear.

I research Neoclassical Theory. Despite everything, my Glass Factory is having problems making profit.

Oh my goodness, I think the reforms are paying off. The immigrants are mostly Italians and an unusually large amount of Jews.

Oil in Brunei. Lovely If I ever get another state I'll think about building a Fuel Refinery.

I research Fire Control Systems to speed up ship build time.

I pass the Harassment Political Parties reform.

I research Weapon Platforms for faster build time.

I am 4 points away from starting my first Colony. I can only hope I face no competition.

 

[stnylan]

Crossing fingers!

Making the most of it though.

 

[Shinkuro Yukinari]

Inb4 USA starts colonizing it before you

 

[Antiboyscout]

Inb4 USA starts colonizing it before you

In most cases, If the USA doesn't get Hawaii they never colonize the pacific. I think it also prevents the Spanish/American war as the Philippines become inaccessible.

 

[Antiboyscout]

1886 - 1891 The Islands Are Mine!

Here it is, the first non military conquest colony. The Hawaiian Islands state is very disparate. Wake, Midway, and Palmyra are all part of the same state.

The Telephone factory is open. Despite the small work force, it is already making profit. This only improves over time.

I research Experimental Psychology.

Comet Sighted. This event is very rare. I've had games where I never see this event once.

It's done, and no one competed with me. I hope to make it part of the state before the end of the game, but that takes a ridiculous amount of Colonial Points.

On to Tonga. Tonga has a significant population of Polynesians, so future statehood is quite possible.

I research Main Armament.

I research Naval Logistics.

Tonga get. Europe and Japan seem unusually passive. I guess Europe is too far away and Japan was satisfied with Micronesia.

I need to build more Militancy to pass more reforms. I'm starting to lose the immigration race.

Kiribati has to be one of the worst states in the Pacific. It includes the Line Islands and...

I research Psychoanalysis.

Kiribati also contains the Gilbert Islands. These two are not even close to each other.

The Tahiti Region is also quite large and contains a large population of Polynesians.

I research Ad-Hoc Money Bill Printing. I thought Colonies were supposed to make money. I hope the increased Adm. Eff. will improve tax revenue. The tax Eff. is a bonus.

I research Private Bank Money Bill Printing.

I get the invention, Daimler's Automobile, allowing construction of an Automobile Factory. This will be a long way off. I don't have the money or work force.

Tahiti is mine. Tahiti was basically the first vacation island. Too bad Tourism isn't a thing yet. All we'll be getting are dirty dirty sailors on there way to East Asia.

Fiji has almost no Polynesian pops in the state. 150 live on the Island of Nui. Fiji is will be one of the hardest to make a state.

Oh good, the women are starting to protest. At least I'll be able to pass more reforms in the future.

I research Organized Factories.

An interesting event. First, I have no official Hawaiian Brigade. Second, the event let's me skip 3 Social reforms from No Pensions to Acceptable Pensions.

I pass the Free Press reform.

I research Nationalism and Imperialism.

The women have gotten tired of marching and have decided to write an angry letter.

Fiji is ours. All that fancy water will make us rich.

It seems the women are tired of writing letters and are now forming a committee.

I pass the Gerrymandering reform.

I research Scientific Management.

Here is the reason I tried to improve my naval range as much as possible. Easter Island in the Araucania state is one of the most remote locations to colonize. It may be easier for a South American or the USA, but for anyone else, it may as well be the North Pole. I'm not sure if the port it calculates distance from needs to be a state or not, so I am building a port in Haiti and saving up for a Lv. 4 in Hawaii.

End of year popup explosion. Liberals almost have an absolute majority.

 

[stnylan]

The islands shall belong to you!