I have a proposal for the next patch. It is about the problem of trading posts, that can cover half of the world map fastly at low cost, and latter never develop into colonies. In EU3 this problem was solved simply by kicking out the whole concept of trading post.
My idea is that a province with a trading post should be available for the colonization by another nation. So, trading posts provinces should also appear green on the colonization map, but the probability of building your own trading post over the post of another nation should be set to zero. However, it should still be possible to build your colony over it.
Building colony over a trading post of another nation would just become more expensive than usual and/or colonization probability would also decrease.
For example, you are England, and want to build a colony over a Spanish trading post in North America. If cost and probability of erecting a colony over that particular province when empty are 100 D and 50%, then they could be modified by 10% up and 10% down for each level of the present Spanish trading post like:
level cost probability(%)
1 110 45
2 121 40
3 133 36
4 146 32
5 160 29
6 176 26
this is a simple table of 10% up/down relative to the previos level of the present trading post. In more elaborate version, probabilities could depend on infra and/or trade levels of bouth countries and also on the number of their unfinished trading posts or colonies.
In addition, erecting a colony over a trading post of another nation would negativelly influence the diplomatic relations. For example, decrease of -10 for each trading post level. So, if you build colonies over 4 fully developed Spanish trading posts of level 6, you relations with Spain would go down by -240. They would definitelly hate you, and most probably declare war soon.
The only problem are Treaty of Tordesillas rules. If you build a colony over a Spanish or Portugees trading post, they can simply capture it by entering by troops (well, in the case of war or if having military access, of course).
My idea is that a province with a trading post should be available for the colonization by another nation. So, trading posts provinces should also appear green on the colonization map, but the probability of building your own trading post over the post of another nation should be set to zero. However, it should still be possible to build your colony over it.
Building colony over a trading post of another nation would just become more expensive than usual and/or colonization probability would also decrease.
For example, you are England, and want to build a colony over a Spanish trading post in North America. If cost and probability of erecting a colony over that particular province when empty are 100 D and 50%, then they could be modified by 10% up and 10% down for each level of the present Spanish trading post like:
level cost probability(%)
1 110 45
2 121 40
3 133 36
4 146 32
5 160 29
6 176 26
this is a simple table of 10% up/down relative to the previos level of the present trading post. In more elaborate version, probabilities could depend on infra and/or trade levels of bouth countries and also on the number of their unfinished trading posts or colonies.
In addition, erecting a colony over a trading post of another nation would negativelly influence the diplomatic relations. For example, decrease of -10 for each trading post level. So, if you build colonies over 4 fully developed Spanish trading posts of level 6, you relations with Spain would go down by -240. They would definitelly hate you, and most probably declare war soon.
The only problem are Treaty of Tordesillas rules. If you build a colony over a Spanish or Portugees trading post, they can simply capture it by entering by troops (well, in the case of war or if having military access, of course).
