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May 5, 2002
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This is my attempt at England, using a strategy I havn't seen yet (i havn't read all the AAR's but none of the ones i read had anything like this) This is without the IGC and on Normal/Aggressive (yea i did double check) Im not going to have any big story line instead just facts and my opinions.

1492-1503

The beggining 1492-1496

1492- I started my attempt by getting myself a fort in Cornwall and putting a Tax Collector in Midlands. In Febuary France DoW'd Spain, which gave me a chance to get out of my Alliance with them as it helps me very little. I then formed a new alliance with Austria, Brandenbug joined in June. November brought the annexation of Milan.

1493-1495- I spent this period putting the last tax collector on the main Island in the city of Lincoln and getting my Alliance stronger by adding Bavaria, Saxony, Wutemburg. I did my best to please France sending them gifts and getting my relationship from -200 to -138, although you'll read it all ends in vein.
Most of Europe was at war in this period as PL DoW's the Hans, Russia DoW'd Kazan. Navarra sacked up and DoW'd Spain (Stupid AI)
My Techs improved some as I got Land 2 and Infra 2. I sent a few merchants to Flandres but didn't worry about trade too much, and in 1495 I got unhappiness among merchants.

1496- Navarra got Aragon and money from Spain (how the hell did that happen), France got Franche Comte from Spain. I stationed 10,000 men in the Ireland Islands 10,000 in Cornwall, 4,000 in Anglia and 1,000 in the Marches. All Infantry. I finally got trade 2 a year late.

English rise back to power 1497-1503.

1497- I sent Cabbot out to find America. I got land tech 3 and sent out the order to make 20 guns for Norfolk in the Marches and 10 for my army in Anglia. I finally got naval tech 2, this of course after alot of countries are pushing 3 and 4. I got alot of VP for succeding in my missions to keep Calais and No French in the british isles.
On September 23 I declared war on the Hanastetic League. There faithful allies in Portugal and Navarra (damn I wanted them) joined them, I felt no need to call mine in.
In October Norfolk lands his force of 15/1/2 in Bremen and i go to pick up the second attack force out of my capital.

1498- Norfolk crush's his opposition in Bremen killing 5,000 men and 8 guns while suffering 2800 casualties with 2 guns being hit. Portugal lands in Cornwall and defeats my army stationed there although few casualties for both sides. By May my seconds army had arrived in Bremen. I station 8/1/1 in Yorkshire.
We somehow lose in Bristol even though not one man was bloodied. So I reinforce my troops with the 10,000 I had in Ireland over to Wales. Those Portugese walk in and take Lincoln which is unfortified. My second army had been moved from Bremen to Holstein. By October I managed to win a few battles vs the more advanced portugese in Yorkshire then followed in Lincoln. I then defeated the Hans who were lagging in techs in Holstein then defeated there army in Bremen. I repeated my feat vs the Portugese by winning in Yorkshire when they again attacked, then finishing off there landing party in Lincoln as I chased them. At the 2 year anniversary Norfolks Home Army takes Bremen.

1499- those tricky Portugese landed in Ireland and walked through Lanister and Munster, I sent the new recruits in Yorkshire to take care of the problem.
I sent a colonist to Roanoke and a trader to Santee, 2 of the 3 found by the now dead Cabbot, the other was Carolina but I had no more colonists. They both were successful. I take Holstein in April and send Norfolk there to meet up with the 2nd Army. The Yorkshire recruits arive in June and defeat the Portugeese in Lenister. I then persue them all the way to Munster and win. Norfolk is called to action twice more in the month of June, crushing the Hans in Holstein, securing our position there. The royal navy is tested for the first time and wins, stealing the rutters of Portugal (what a nice surprise :D) off the coast of Cornwall. Again in August Norfolk defeats a small force in Holstein, I send my Armys there to Mecklemburg, where Norfolk wins again. October brings the ToT. I secure my coast destroying a transport in November.

(Ill stop mentioning all battle in Ireland-I win 20ish vs small portugal armies of 2-5 units and they march around the fortless cities and i chase etc...... This goes on for the entire war).

1500- The Cornwall and the 10,000 from Ireland combine and kill 2,000 Navareese in Lincoln. In March Milan becomes independent again and I win the 3rd naval battle destroying a warship from Portugal. For the 5th time Norfolk gets a win. I beat Navarra in the Channel. In July I finally took Mecklemburg. I lose a naval battle in Lands End, each side lost a ship. In September I make peace with the Hanastetic Leauge taking Bremen and Holstein with 160D, leaving me just Portugal and Navara..In October i sent a merchant to my new center of trade in Holstein and commishion 13 warships and 3,000 soilders to Holstein. I lost Bremen to Rebels in November so Norfolk has to take them out. Roanoke rebelled and took Santee also, although I would take Roanoke back.

1501- 5,000 more troops to Ireland. In May I stole Navarras rutters after beating them in the Channel again. I again proved my Naval superiority by beating Portugal and taking a warship out off Wales. I supress a revolt of 38,000 rebels in Holstein and get my but handed too me by a fleet a third of my size off Wales. Poland gets money and East Pommerania.

1502-Norfolk is sent to the Azores were he beats a small army and takes the Island in a 10 day assault.

1503- I take split naval battles but take a ship in one of them in the Sea of Azores and in August I take Cape Verde. I drove the Portugesse completely out in September and Get Cape Verde and the Azores in October. The problem was on September 10th the French Declared War on me........ (to be continued)


Game Notes
My basic goal of the war here was to A) finally get a center of trade B) make better transport routes to India and America C) Get a stonger foot hold on the continent. My strategy with Portugal was bassically to avoid major sea battles and not let them get solid position on my Islands. They spent much of the time landing small parties on Ireland or in Cornwall and I defeated them and chased. I learned how far I was lagging in Navy Tech as I lost twice to a far inferior fleet and no battle were real pushovers. I only recruited troops 3 times, and 1 was just to guard against rebellions in Bremen and Holstein. I was surprised how small those Portugeese landing parties were, I was expecting 10,000ish. The rutters I stole provided almost the entire way to Asia, but very little in the Americas. I did learn about Cape Verde from them though. Holsteins center of trade is 200+ right now. I plan too get another update sometime next week on how the war with France is going.
 
Nice. I haven't been doing well as England. I've gotten Strathclyde from Scotland, but in the next wars I've only been getting status quos with Scotland, and money from her allies because I have really good relations with them.
 
I have an update for you (wow took so long, I had nothing to do since it was raining and the war didn't take as long as thought.)

The first French War 1503-1508

At the end of my Portugeese war, September 10th to be exact, France DoW'd me. Im not gonna lie I was about to wet myself thinking about the A** kicking I was about to get. I had no Navy in the area, a tiny little army and NO money. So after I quickly ended my Portugal campaign I sent Norfolk and my little navy back up too the Isles.

1503- The end of 1503 saw no action in the war, just a minor skirmish in the straights of dover, which I lost.

1504-I very large French army storms Calais to start my year off. Atleast Febuary brought me news of Naval Tech 3. In April I took a loan to finance some more troops. September brought me great news as we defeated a 40,000+ strong French army landing in Anglia with just 10,000 men, too bad they lost 2 months later in Lincoln. I then reinforced that group with 27,000 recruits from Kent, then Kent was sieged by 22,000 since it was vacant. Then they refuse to take just Calais. Ah nuts.

At this point I was VERY worried about this war as I had 3 tombstones in a little over a year. Not only that but they had 60,000+men on the isles and 20,000 in Calais.

Feb-Dec 1505-The war begins to turn.

The battle of Kent:Febuary-April
In this period Norfolk arrives back from Cape Verde to the Isles were he groups up with 22,000 men with 30 cannons. I station him to Kent were he will win 4 straight battles vs French beaching parties. He kills well over 20,000 men in these battles while loseing just over 5,000. This cripples the French as there recruits were simply brushed aside in there invasion attempts, it was quite obvious they wanted Kent also.

Clearing the Isles: May- Aug
This section started off with me gaining Land Tech 4. In June the Azores revolt, although they suppressed it themselves i guess. In June I win the first real naval battle of the war as I dominate a French fleet in The Channel taking 2 of there ships in a 2 week battle. It shows there behind in Naval Tech as they had no long range fire power. July saw a stange thing as the French moved there unit out of Lincoln, which I then retook with 35,000 men in August.

Frances last stand: September-December
At this point the French had a 20,000 man army still sieging Anglia, which looked like it was about too fall. I attacked them with 35,000 men under Norfolk in September, killing 11,000 vs loosing only 2,000 but lost (Norfolks only one) and finally broke the siege in October when Norfolk came back and killled 8,000. I then beat off the siege in Kent too a man and went back to Anglia.November saw me win vs the French Navy in the Straights of Dover as they attempted too unload another force, I lost 3 ships and took only 2 but I stopped any further invasion. A last attempt at victory in December saw me finally force the French out of the Isles as there 1,000 men attacked my army in Anglia under Norfolk.

Invading France 1506

January saw me dust off a small little attack force in Anglia and I commishioned 2/0/2 ships and 5,000 more men.

Beaching: July-December
Norfolk and 23/0/25 landed upon the shores in Caux. He dusted off 9,000 of 10,000 French there and layed siege. The city would fall too out assault in September and we win a third straight naval battle in the Straights of Dover, taking 2 of theres while loosing 1 of mine. Later in October we win the first of 2 battles in Picardie and in December get 2 victories, Norfolk in Picardie and then a small force in Yorkshire.

1507- We start the year off with a win in Lincoln again. In Febuary I get Excellent Minister RE. I took Picardie by assault in April and in May secure our position there with another win by Norfolk. I sadly lost my naval advantage as I lost a battle in Straights of Dover, but no ships were sunk. I sieged Paris in July and won a battle there in August. Cape Verde also revolted and took control. The year ends on a bright note as Denmark DoW'd Parma (wtf that makes NO sense) and in turn France. Also relations improved with Spain to +2 after a Letter of Intro.

On January 25th the war finally ends after I take Paris just days before Caux would have fell, I received Caux and Picardie.


Game Notes: I now have 319 VP, Spains in 2nd with 191.
I choose to invade Caux and not Picardie for 2 reasons 1)If I was too loose the battle I did NOT want to retreat to Calais where the French General Pioux (sp?) was and 2) I wanted to force those ships there out too sea as soon as I could. I thought the AI played the war fairly well. If it wasn't for Norfolk I would have 3 less provinces right now because He won 3 battles when he was outnumbered. The only thing I would critique the AI on was they should have sent there good general to the main Island too face Norfolk instead of letting him rot in Calais.
Right before the end of the war I was on the verge of loosing Caux and Wessex (sp?) and then probabally Picardie and Kent. They had 60,000 or so in Caux, 20,000 in Wessex, 23,000 on a boat going somewhere and 23,000 sitting in Normandy.
Is Norfolk the best general in the game or something. The guy lost 1 battle in 10 years.

Also dont think Im gonna stand for those damn French DoWing me when Im at war, Ill get them back when the time comes dont worry. Look for an update next friday I hope maybe sooner if something unexpected happens.
 
Originally posted by Imperial Army
Roanoke rebelled and took Santee also, although I would take Roanoke back.

I learned how far I was lagging in Navy Tech as I lost twice to a far inferior fleet and no battle were real pushovers.

Imperial Army--

(1) Why were you getting rebellions after only 3 years of war? (DOW Sept 1497, rebellions in 1500) At that point in the game all your lands should be catholic. Did you by chance not adjust your religious tolerance sliders? With max tolerance for catholics you should be able to go up to 9-10 years before war exhaustion sets in...

(2) With low navy tech (or always with galleys) morale is so low to start the battle that you can see even more lopsided results than you do on land. So your results aren't necessarily due entirely to lagging naval tech (though as England you definitely need to become a naval power ;) )
 
I figure Ill update my position and the rest of the world as of the end of the war.

Im probly the 7th strongest in the world.

Spain is the strongest, followed by Poland-Lithuania then France, Denmark,Turkey, Russia.

Key alliances are
Russia-Denmark
Spain-Poland.
France-Genoa-Rhodes-Tuscany
Portugal-HL-Navarra-moslems
Hungary-Bohemia-Venice
(please note i left off small german states in the alliances)


At this point my army is very small, with a smaller navy. France or Spain could easily beat me right now and maybe even Portugal and HL. Denmark could take my provinces also. Poland most likely could but we dont share a direct border and i can beat them on the sea so im not really sure. Turkey would stomp me to the ground if they could reach me.....but thats not a given.

Im also in a pretty useless alliance. Unless my North provinces are attacked they cant really help me (well austria could but they dont).

Spain is building up there army, its well over 200,000 men now and still building. I think they may be on the verge of DoWing France but im not sure.
 
1508-1520-The next step

1508-1517-Modernization
My basic goals for this period were to become a factor in trade while also boosting my home economy. To do whatever I could to weaken France, and too a lesser extent Spain. Get my country modernized with higher techs and lots of Tax Collectors. And above all keep the peace. The entire period had Rebellions in Azores, Picardie, Holstein mainly with a few in Cape Verde and Bremen. I also had to take 3 loans to continue a previous one (took seperate then paid, not extended).

ARMIES (in units) Kent-6 Lincoln-8 Bremen and Holstein-7 and Picardie-1, I had 23 ships. 23 pieces of arty total the rest infantry.

1508-1509- This period started with the signing over of Caux and Picardie too me. Cabot came around and I sent him off. I also commishoned 13 new warships to help rebuild my weak navy. 221 gold came in 1509 so I commishioned Tax Collectors in Bremen, Picardie, Caux, Calais. Those damn french showed up in Santee, just in armies though. June brought Henry VIII as king. The rest of the summer saw me send merchants to Holstein and Flandres, both packed and trade level 3, by getting the good goverment RE. By Novemeber I had a monopoly in Flandres (although it never lasted long) and infrastructure 3, if only I had wine. Denmark DoW'd parma for some unknown reason in 1509, then France, Genoa and The Knights jumped in.

1510-Income-28.8 from tax. 8.4 from goods trade was getting me 2.5. My army had 32 units (2 arty 30 infantry) A navy of 39 ships.

1510-1516- I finished my Tax Collector updates here by getting them in Anglia Kent, Wessex, Cornwall, Bristol and Wales, the Midlands, The Marches,Yorkshire and finally the Azores in 1511, thus making tax collectors in all provinces but Cape Verde and the Irish ones, (just not profitable). I then really got ahead when I appointed my first chief Judge in Caux in 1511. New forts in Lincoln and Cape Verde fortified all my provinces except the Irish ones.
During this period I arranged RM's with Portugal, Saxony, Hessen, and tried to get a few others to join my alliance like Savoy and Navarra but no-luck.
Cabot died in 1512 after showing me the entire American coast from Nava Scotia all the way to the start of Mexico, about 5 or so provinces, and I failed a Colonization in Delaware.
I reached Navy 4om 1512 but thats all my techs got to, so Im at 5/4/3/3 right now.
I had a HUGE trade war between me, Spain, France and Portugal. I was the "winner" if you could say as I reached consistat monopolies even though non lasted too long. France is the biggest looser as they were competed out completely 3 or 4 times loosing around 8 merchants just too me. Portugal and Spain lost a few each but each took a few of mine, they wern't able to get past 4 too often though. The "war" died off in intensity around 1517.
On the military front I received 2 leaders, Brandon and Howell, Brandon died in 2 years fighting rebels, what a waste. But I still had good ole Norfolk. I added alot of troops in the end of the period 2/0/0 in the Azores, 9/1/0 for my Army in France, 25/0/0 for my home defence in Kent, 8/0/0 for my German armies.
The reformation occured in 1513 (thought it cant happen till 1517, can anyone help) and alot of provinces turned Protestant, so max too Catholic and Protestant zero too Moslem and Orthodox.
September of 1516 brought a DoW from the H.L. too the French...now is my time to act.

The 2nd Hanseatic War 1517-1520.
My first step was too sure up my troops with 2/0/2 to Holstein and 3/0/2 in Bremen. My armies in Germany had 2 units, 13/0/2 in Bremen and 6/0/2 in Holstein.
Economically I looked like this Total/month-42.0, Tax-30
Goods-9.3 trade-2.6.
May 10th the DoW came to the Hans and I mobilized my troops, 15 units to West Pommerania and the 8 units to Mecklemburg. I felt no need to call my allies, and when the league did Navarra did not respond. I had sieges in both provincesby the end of 1517. Navarra paid cash to France for peace also in 1517.
It took me till January of 1518 too take Mecklemburg and after reinforcing my armies in West Pommerania with 3/0/0 and a year and a half of sieging, on Febuary 1st 1519 I annexed the Hans. The war brought doubled my trade income to 5.0/month and gave me 10 new warships. I lost 8 guns and 9,000 foot during the war, while inheriting 10 ships (5 war 5 transport). So I had immediatly gained money by doing this. 50+ gold. Carlos I was elected HRE in 1519. 1520 I stationed a fort in caux with a warship to match, with 0/2/3 in Picardie and after a failed invasion (lost naval battle) I gave the portugeese 1 gold for piece.

Stats- Tax-Up too 250 down too 193 and in 1520 209.
Techs-5/4/3/3.
Armies-73 units or so. 62/3/8
Navy-42 ships (estimate)
.


Notes-I lost 160D when I annexed them why is this. I decided too pay Portugal there 1D just too end it. I was going for Tangiers, but it was about too fall to France. Im pretty happy with my economy could use a little boost but nothing huge. Im still a 2nd rate power, above all other 2nd ranks but probabally 5th overall. I have 10% inflation, is that high. France and 1 other country has it higher but a few countries have it alot lower. Portugal really made me mad by not taking a white peace so they'll get theres in the end.
Somehow Denmark and France are still at war, its only been about 12 years. Spain is fighting a no intensity war with Genoa still.
I was definatly the big winner in the trade war, since I was able to keep 5 merchants at most times and kicked out a huge amount from everyone else.
 
IA--

(1) Post screenshots. It'll help us keep track of where you stand!

(2) Check your BB value and see whether you are the highest in Europe. If so, I would suggest laying low and staying out of war for a long time until that changes!

(3) Strategically, I can see annexing the Hanse (there's a COT in Mecklemburg, right?) but if I am picturing this correctly you are now stretched out in a thin line along the coast of Northern Europe. That complicates your movement of troops and supply lines, and makes it easy for a variety of big players to knock down your doors. While I have done such things before (like the land bridge I built across France to connect the Iberian Peninsula with the Lowlands in my Spanish IGC) it's usually from a stronger position. (And I think I had fewer potential hostile neighbors.)

It also means that your navy will be stretched even thinner, as you have miles and miles of coastline to defend and will probably be using ships to ferry troops...

Which direction do you plan to expand in Europe, or are you going to be opportunistic about it? (The latter is usually more fun but will often cause great pain in the long run! ;) )

(4) No idea why you lost 160d on annexation. Are you sure that a loan didn't come due and automatically get paid out of your treasury?

(5) Inflation of 10% at this point seems on the high side of what I'd ideally like, but certainly manageable. Just work on getting governors appointed!

Comparing your inflation to other countries will be meaningless. I believe that the AI inflation is tied to your own with a fairly high correlation. If you had 200% inflation they'd all be gasping for air too.

(6) More interesting question -- while at peace, what percentage of your total monthly income is eaten up by military maintenance (assuming 100% maintenance)?

While playing a big major, I like to try to keep it below 15% while the empire is still modest, and under 20% later in the game. Up to 25% is acceptable, but past that I feel like I'm doing something wrong. (During war, the military maintenance costs double, so if they are 25% at peace, they will be 50% at war, and I will be hemorrhaging cash!).

(7) The Dutch are coming. Get ready to start losing those trade wars and getting your colonists elbowed aside. ;)
 
Morlac-

1-dont know how
3-The cots in Holstein in the non-IGC. I have a narrow strip yea, BUT i have Saxony and Brandenburg to help me out and I have decent relationships with PL and Denmark. I can tell you I dont plan on going to deep into France/Netherlands region, or grabbing much in the Iberian Penninsula or North Africa. Getting those ships from the Hanse makes movement easier as my Navy grew stronger and I have a Baltic fleet that can go to the Isles and patrol my north coast also.
4-Wasn't a loan....did I pay my allies who I didn't call in or something? Maybe I paid for my new navy??
6-13% or so in matenience not too high I think.
7-GULP....Ill just have to help France beat em.
 
IA

re:

(1) Follow this link to see how to do screenshots I use the advice given by Mr T for a tripod account and it works fine. However I already had a page up on tripod, using their software, so all I had to do was use their file manager to upload the pics to a new directory and rename them as .txt files. I didn't have to muck with the HTML as he does to create a basic page for them.

Taking the shot in the first place requires you to press F11 with the screen exactly as you want it. There is absolutely no feedback for it, so don't keep pressing the button -- you'll get a billion identical screenies.

The shots will be stored as something like screenshot001.bmp in the EU directory. You need to convert the bmp to a jpg with an image/photo editor, and I usually crop mine as well to show just the map. It sounds intimidating, but it's pretty easy once you get the knack, and once you start it's addicting. (You'll have to hold yourself back from overposting pics and ticking off the people with slower connections! ;) )


(3) Don't count on decent relations to help you out if it comes to fighting. If, for example, Sweden decides to make an example out of you and is allied with Denmark, Denmark will consider its relations with each of you and your relative strengths. I have found that good relations don't get you as far as you'd think in that calculation. And once you have a high BB score as well, it's hopeless. In my current game I have at various points tried kissing up to Portugal and China, bringing my relations with them close to +200. In each case, that didn't reliably stop them from entering wars against me. (China never wavered over about three wars; Portugal declined to DOW me when her allies called once out of two or three times)

My general rule is -- anybody who isn't your ally is someone you have to be prepared to fight. And anyone who is your ally will only remain so as long as you keep good relations and never give them a pretext to end the alliance. (That's why I usually don't call for allies during BB wars. The last thing I need is for them to decline, get kicked out of the alliance, and then DOW me themselves before I can get them back in!)

Even your vassals will declare war on you in the right circumstances. In a previous GC I was playing France and had vassalized Venice. I was experimenting with the diplomacy system and deliberately let the alliance lapse after vassalizing them, then didn't invite them back. This meant they were unable to join another alliance, but (I thought) unlikely to attack me. It worked beautifully for almost a whole century...

Then at one point during a big BB war I had annexed two other countries and my relations with Venice fell to about +100. The treacherous fools broke the vassalization and DOW'd me!

(4) No, your allies don't get paid off, and you don't pay for the new navy. You aren't getting fooled by the AI peace treaty thing, are you? (When you demand 250 from the AI for peace and they accept, they can only give you as much as they have, up to the 250. Unlike a human player, they don't have to take out a loan to get their treasury up to the 250...)

(6) Yeah, 13% maintenance is right around what I'd expect at that period -- maybe even a little low considering your size and how spread out you are, and that you are trying to keep a navy as well as an army. (I usually ignore navies until much later in the game.)

(7) You can keep track of roughly when the Dutch revolts will start by going to the religion screen and looking at the little event entry on the bottom right. When it gets to Calvin 100% the Calvin event occurs, reformed religion becomes possible, and the Lowlands explode. Should be around 1550.

Assuming that Spain holds the lowlands, the Netherlands will get into a war with them after declaring independence. Spain rarely seems to successfully prosecute that war. And if they do manage a complete victory and reannex the whole thing, the revolts will start all over again!

In the thread for my AAR, check out the first set of tech levels I listed for the Netherlands. (I think it was 11/9/5/6) That should be pretty close to what they started with...

On a more general note, you mentioned at the outset that you'd be following a strategy you hadn't seen others use yet. I'm not clear on what your overall strategy and goals are. I can see that you've ignored Scotland to make a run at the Baltic, and you haven't done much exploration/colonization -- but other than that I don't see where you are steering. Take over Scandinavia?

It seems that you dug into the weakest of the majors early (Portugal) and have taken a bite out of France, while not touching Spain. I think that if your goal is aggressive, it's a good idea to really just flatten either Spain or France as early as possible, while ideally making a strong alliance with one or more of the other majors. Those two have such rich provinces and big manpower pools (as well as huge colonial advantages) that it's tough to take both of them on in the mid game when they've had a chance to swallow a few of their neighbors. Just my opinion...
 
It seems that you dug into the weakest of the majors early (Portugal) and have taken a bite out of France, while not touching Spain. I think that if your goal is aggressive, it's a good idea to really just flatten either Spain or France as early as possible, while ideally making a strong alliance with one or more of the other majors. Those two have such rich provinces and big manpower pools (as well as huge colonial advantages) that it's tough to take both of them on in the mid game when they've had a chance to swallow a few of their neighbors. Just my opinion...

Couldn't agree more. I prefer knocking out Spain first, or at least damaging them a LOT so they can't afford to colonise Central/South America. See my France AAR for an example. :)
 
About touching Spain:

I did have tentative plans too attack them, a few years after portugese war, but France DoW'd me so that never happened. I was unsure if I would be able too attack them anyways, but it was a definite possibility, take some of the netherlands from them. But again that French DoW really hurt.
 
Originally posted by Imperial Army
About touching Spain:

I did have tentative plans too attack them, a few years after portugese war, but France DoW'd me so that never happened. I was unsure if I would be able too attack them anyways, but it was a definite possibility, take some of the netherlands from them. But again that French DoW really hurt.

I absolutely, positively, would not even bother taking anything in the Netherlands except possibly the fringe states that don't get revolt risk during the Dutch revolts, but which can be "dragged along" if taken by roving bands of rebels (I think Luxembourg and the province just west of it, for example). You are close enough to the revolts that you will simply lose the province shortly after you acquire it.

Most of the Iberian peninsula is rich territory worth taking, but of course the two absolutely key ones are Andalusia for the shipyards and Toledo for the gold. If you can, being England, I think you might also want to make Gibraltar a secondary objective, as it would enable you to really dominate the straits of gibraltar with your navy. (Do you also control Algiers now?) Remember that in the Straits, your patrolling fleets automatically intercept enemy fleets trying to pass through! (As opposed to only having a chance of doing so...)

Since you are not using the IGC, that is almost pathetically easy -- the fortifications in all those territories is very low, and I think Murcia and Estramaduras are completely unfortified at the start of the game (inexcusable!). Since even the capital is underfortified, at the outset Spain has a gigantic "Kick Me!" sign posted on the palace doors... :D

Without the huge cash boost of Toledo and the colonist of the shipyards, Spain's colonial efforts will be seriously impaired... (Not to mention that as a naval power, having shipyards is a good thing for you...)

The main problem with this strategy is that you will then have major holdings at opposite ends of Europe. (Just keep sweeping inland and meet in Ile de France! ;) )
 
Cant do anything to Spain now without risking major territory in France (they got 90,000 plus sitting in Flandres) and most of my German possessions (poland is there ally). I hope to make a run at them after a nice war with France, but im not sure as of yet.
 
Originally posted by Imperial Army
Cant do anything to Spain now without risking major territory in France (they got 90,000 plus sitting in Flandres) and most of my German possessions (poland is there ally). I hope to make a run at them after a nice war with France, but im not sure as of yet.

Understood. Anyway, I would guess you have a high BB score right now and would want to recuperate for awhile.

I'd bet that Spain and Poland don't remain allied for too long unless they get trapped in one of those low intensity never ending wars that keeps their alliance going forever.

Anyway, with sufficient money and diplomats it's not a problem. As soon as Poland enters the war offer them a truckload of money to go away. 250 often works, and 500 is very hard to resist...

Your biggest window of opportunity comes with the Dutch Revolts, but that's in the 1550's, far ahead of where you are posting. Then again, you are probably playing ahead of your posts...

Spain can easily get into a self-destructive cycle trying to cope with the revolts, building big armies and constantly trying to siege and retake lost provinces. (And being just successful enough to keep the Netherlands from forming, guaranteeing that the revolts last for 50 years!) That period is a good one for assaulting Spain, but by then they will already have a nice empire going.

Anyway -- it also goes back to our stylistic differences. I'd try to run a lightning fast assault run on Spain to pluck those provinces quickly, (load up my navy with assault forces and position them right off the shore of andalusia before declaring, with a secondary force waiting for pickup in the closest possible province). I'd be counting on speed and ruthlessness--let Spain park a 90k stack in siege of one of my territories. He'll waste away from attrition, then take it. But meanwhile I'll have taken 3-4 of his...
 
1520-1529-Peace.

This was the most boring 10 years ever.
Ill just do all 10 years in a lump.

My army did nothing but rebuild and put down a few rebellions. 4,000 foot found there way to the Azores, 2/4/3 went to Caux, 4/1/1 in Holstein. My army stands at 71 units ruffly 61,000 men and 100 cannon. I have a few thousand in Cape Verde and America that Im not counting. During this period I put small forts in West Pommerania, Holstein, Mecklemburg, Caux, Picardie, Calais, Anglia, Bristol, Kent, Wessex and Cornwall. So Im pretty well fortified. My Navy had a disaster loosing 13 warships to a fire. So I had to restation 11/0/1 in 1529. Howell and Norfolk also died, Howell saw no action at all..
Several countries turned Protestant at different points including: Sweeden, Wuttemburg (first) Hessen, Prussia, Palatinat, Thurgien, Hanover.
Europe finally saw the end to there low intensity wars for the most part. Denmark pain France 244D, Spain payed Parma 140D (wtf, they lost). Russia got money from the Horde, The Aztecs are being anhilated by the Spanish. Portugal is still fighting France allegedly, just a few occasional landings are beaten off by France.
Every country hates me except for my allies, so who cares. I slapped an embargo on Denmark because they keep messing up my position in Holstein, maybe ill get lucky and get DoW'd by them.
My Techs are doing well, Im up to trade 4 and Infra 4. Land Tech reached 6 and Naval Tech reached 5 (well in 1530). I got up to stability 2, then lost a point with the embargo.
I finally paid back my loan. I've been earning 220D per year at stab+1 and 230 at stab+2.

Like I said, nothing happened. I was bored playing it. I've been taking -.1 or +.1 a month so my techs are getting maxed. My religious slider are max Protestant and Catholic and 0 for the rest.

Ask any questions you want (except Morlac, jk).
 
Originally posted by Imperial Army
1520-1529-Peace.

My Techs are doing well, Im up to trade 4 and Infra 4. Land Tech reached 6 and Naval Tech reached 5 (well in 1530). I got up to stability 2, then lost a point with the embargo.

Ask any questions you want (except Morlac, jk).

:p

(1) Why not embargo during wartime? Whether it's a bug or not, I'm not sure, but you don't lose the stability point if you do it during war. Can't see it being worthwhile for a european cot otherwise... (Keep in mind that each embargo also costs you a bit each month out of your trade research and the embargo ends as soon as you make anything but a victorious war with them (even a white peace will kill the embargo).

(2) Why max tech over stability? Not taking the extra point of stability from 2 to 3 is costing you population growth throughout the empire, revolt risk, and an extra 15% of your tax income... (same for 1 to 2 except only 10% of tax income)
 
Im trying to egg them into DoWing me, so I dont lose the stab.

I max the techs because Im still richer then the countries around me in the wealth page (well maybe spain is a little ahead, but constant war is killing them) so getting a nice tech lead will alow me to invest full in stab when its really needed (say RE -3 inflation or something)