In general what is the most profitable/effective way to expand? I,e., conquering European minors, conquering african countries, asian countries, or trying to form colonies in the americas and unexplored african territories?
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The best way to expand is to conquer core provinces ideally with (one of your) state culture(s), second best is to diploannex (for low badboy) or conquer same culture, third best is rich same religion provinces. Colonisation and expansion into not really rich areas is usually only worth it after consolidating your core provinces like building a few manufactories and such. Expansion can slow you down in the tech race, which will hamper you economically. A good example for the latter is Russia: only after aquiring a lot of colonies/cores in Siberia does it really pay off and you're usually rather backwards for a long time.
For France e.g. I'd say that only Italy, the Netherlands and Germany up to the Rhine are really worth it, colonies are mainly flavour unless you go for a really large colonial empire or really rich colonies. For Spain on the other hand colonies are crucial - without them you're a noone geopolitically.
For France e.g. I'd say that only Italy, the Netherlands and Germany up to the Rhine are really worth it, colonies are mainly flavour unless you go for a really large colonial empire or really rich colonies. For Spain on the other hand colonies are crucial - without them you're a noone geopolitically.
In terms of colonization, the best place to go is obviously America. Click on the uncolonized province to check the base tax there. The best provinces are in northern modern USA, (edit: in fact, the South is also a good place to go with its cotton provinces) with some getting to base tax of 7, which is great. Brazil is also a good place to go and I guess the Caribbean, but I never played with Spain so that region is a bit of a mistery to me.
The approach to take depends very much on which country your playing, did you have any particular ones in mind? Most of my experience is with Portugal, England and Muscovy/Russia. Also have some experience with Venice and am currently learning how to play Poland (see my current AAR, though it's a little behind my actual game...). Never force annex, unless you have to. Try to have a CB before going to war with anyone. Try to minimise the number of different religions, and for the the provinces that aren't your own religion, they better either be easier to convert (e.g. your culture, pagan or less than 5,000 pop) or very rich (the latter is one of the exceptions Portugal often has to make...). As England I like to conquer the low countries (you can gain a few cores early on), then convert to reformed later (which most of the low countries do, as well as Scotland...) and then colonise the USA. I mostly ignore France proper, though try to hang onto Calais, unless I decide I want to win the 100 years war and take over the whole of France, but it gets very boring after that...
Of all the colonizers, though, I find Portugal the most fun to play.
Of all the colonizers, though, I find Portugal the most fun to play.
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it's true that colonies in themselves aren't worth much, but if you can just enough of them in one area, there is a chance they will spawn a CoT, which you will have almost exclusive acces to. Controlling New World CoTs is one of the biggest income generators middle-to-late game, and it's even possible to do for nations behind in the trade tech race.
Well, let's spread some of my wisdom in this thread too (lol).
1.) Core provinces - no matter wat take them once you're able to. Core provinces are core provinces and they're yours by the right of FtG!
2.) Same/accepted culture province - yeah, -30% to tax from cultural difference won't appear here so go on! Also you can convert is easily once your monarch has a nice ADM skill.
3.) Claim provinces - well, it really depends. Sometimes province might have different religion and culture so it's not always worth it. But free core in next 30 years is always temtping...I'd place them after same/accepted culture in most cases, it depends really. Often your claims have your culture already so it works together.
4.) Rich spots - mostly CoTs and provinces with gold. Ones in Asia like Malacca or Guangzhou are a jackpots but it involves you having some navy
Also ones with nice basetax when starting out colonial empire, like Table/Cape Town/whatever the name is, Quebec, etc.
5.) Colonies - you won't get much base tax out of them, but it's certainly good way later on.
6.) Aestethic needs - I ain't surely the only one who conquers some provinces just to make his country look aestethic are I?
1.) Core provinces - no matter wat take them once you're able to. Core provinces are core provinces and they're yours by the right of FtG!
2.) Same/accepted culture province - yeah, -30% to tax from cultural difference won't appear here so go on! Also you can convert is easily once your monarch has a nice ADM skill.
3.) Claim provinces - well, it really depends. Sometimes province might have different religion and culture so it's not always worth it. But free core in next 30 years is always temtping...I'd place them after same/accepted culture in most cases, it depends really. Often your claims have your culture already so it works together.
4.) Rich spots - mostly CoTs and provinces with gold. Ones in Asia like Malacca or Guangzhou are a jackpots but it involves you having some navy
Also ones with nice basetax when starting out colonial empire, like Table/Cape Town/whatever the name is, Quebec, etc.
5.) Colonies - you won't get much base tax out of them, but it's certainly good way later on.
6.) Aestethic needs - I ain't surely the only one who conquers some provinces just to make his country look aestethic are I?
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On an economical basis:
1) CoTs: Income in itself is high, control over embargoes
2) Gold provinces: Money straight into your treasury
3) Core + accepted culture + state religion: High income, low BB, high man power
4) Either core, accepted culture or state religion province: Same as above
5) Pagan provinces: Can be converted to the above
6) High base+tax + strategic resource for manufactories: Usually worth it, despite -30% tax penalty and higher RR
8) Colonies in provinces with high base tax and/or strategic resource: Not as rich as continental provinces, but can spawn CoTs
9) Trade posts in provinces with high value goods: Helps boost CoTs in your control
1) CoTs: Income in itself is high, control over embargoes
2) Gold provinces: Money straight into your treasury
3) Core + accepted culture + state religion: High income, low BB, high man power
4) Either core, accepted culture or state religion province: Same as above
5) Pagan provinces: Can be converted to the above
6) High base+tax + strategic resource for manufactories: Usually worth it, despite -30% tax penalty and higher RR
8) Colonies in provinces with high base tax and/or strategic resource: Not as rich as continental provinces, but can spawn CoTs
9) Trade posts in provinces with high value goods: Helps boost CoTs in your control
Hum? What do you mean? Are those side effects of manufactories I've never read before?
Sometimes it isn't bad to snatch non-accepted culture and religion province with iron or wine to build a manufactory there. Well, sometimes it is a good choice indeed.
ah, thanks for all the advice. and dies the cultural difference penalty apply if other cultures are accepted. also how severe is the penalty?
I think the state-religion provinces are the first prority to conquer, as I usually set up 100% tolerance for the state religion and only build bailiffs there (yearly income extremely important). Cultures are not so important. I only regard it as a religious game.
No,it doesn't apply to accepted cultures. The penalty is increased revolt risk (1 at peace and 2 at war), -30% tax in the province and a manpower loss, I don't remember how high though.