Colonies vs. Trading Posts?

[unmerged(1312)]

I'm playing the Portuguese in my first GC, and I'm making my merry way down the western coast of Africa. I have quite a few provinces open, and i have been making the vast majority of them trading outposts instead of colonies, for money's sake, basically. My question is, is this the correct way to go about it? Should I be making them colonies instead, despite the increased cost? What are the benefits of one over the other, besides the fact that a colony can have a working port, but a trading post can't?

Thanks very much in advance! The economic model in this game is quite tough to get my hands around, but it's that depth of gameplay that has me absolutely fascinated!

 

[Olaf the Unsure]

From what I understand (and this is definitely the blind leading the blind here), it's generally better over the long haul to build colonies because they provide much more income from production, etc. However, in your particular case, colonies may be a problem. Colonies only become profitable if they grow, which requires (among other things) a healthy climate, which Africa ain't got. Colonies there might never grow enough to justify the investment. The only reason, then, to colonize in that area is to provide an occasional port and resting place for your naval and army units in the area.

At least, that's what I think I've figured out so far.

Can someone who really knows what they're talking about confirm this?

 

[Dark Knight]

Colonies are very expensive to develop and in many areas, such as the tropical African coast, have negative growth rates until they reach about 1,000 people in the city. However, when colonies reach 700 people in their city, they become basically the same as a normal province and so you can build fortifications to protect them and use them to raise armies and fleets. Thus, it makes sense to mostly build trade posts, but don't forget to build a few colonies (1 at a time) in strategic locations. Build each one up to a city as fast as possible and use them to protect your trading empire (trading posts don't provide ports, so you can't even base a fleet from the home country abroad unless you have a colony).

 

[unmerged(502)]

also remember that trading posts can be burned by your enemies during the war. Colonies cannot. And, during negotiations your provinces with colonies are equal to european provinces (no more than 3 at a time after a war) - it makes it really difficult to conquer your colonial empire if you have lots of colonies. If you only have trading posts - you are very vulnerable to any attack. I used it once against the Dutch - burned all their trading posts and immideately built colonies in that provinces - very effective.

 

[unmerged(1057)]

I use tradingposts as a sort of claim of the property. The TP:s with potential I try to develop into cities as quickly as possible, cities can be fortified, armies can be raised and You will need armies to defend your colonies later, You can take my word for that. Portugal already has got a 'resting place' at the beginning of the GC (Cap Verde) but I usually try to establish a colony with a port somewhere in Southern Africa (Table, Karroo or Ciskei). In the indian ocean there are a few valuable islands like Mahe, Socotra and Reunion or Bourbon. Try to get your hands on some of these early on.

 

[unmerged(90)]

Ok, I've just finished yet another Portuguese GC and here is my opinion.

You need trade posts because :
- they are cheaper
- they earn you more money
- Africa sucks for colonies

BUT you need at least two colonies with harbour to extand your fleets' range.
As continental African colonies are an heavy investment, you must carefully chose the two provinces.
My best choice is St Helena because you place one colonists only and it has a positive growth rate.
My second choice is Table (Cape Town) because it's the way to the Indian Ocean.

When you are at it, in the Indian Ocean, build colonies in the three small islands East of Madagascar for the same reason as St Helena (Mahe, Reunion, Bourbon). From there, reaching India is a peace of cake.

 

[unmerged(1312)]

Thanks!

Thanks, everybody, for your great answers!