Explorers and Forced Annexation

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I recently purchased EU and am playing Portugal in the CG. I have two questions and would appreciate any answers and feedback: (1) in the options, what is 'forced annexation?' and what happens if I activate 'Yes' or 'No?' (2) With explorers, is it better to send them out as far as possible even though they die, or be more conservative with them and explore a little at a time and return them to a base?

As Portugal, I used of my first explorers to discover the tip of southern Africa, but realized that trying to send them back to Cape Verde (closest port) wouldn't matter since they died getting back. I know explorers continue arriving periodically so I've been sending them as far as possible to discover the route to the Spice Islands. I also have establised colonies at Fernando Po and southern Africa for future bases.

 

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1)forced annexation

It decides if your allowed to annex minors by conquest in war or not.

(2) With explorers, is it better to send them out as far as possible even though they die, or be more conservative with them and explore a little at a time and return them to a base?

They die of old age anyway so ... (at least the will in patch 1.08)

 

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1. At first, it may seem a good idea to choose forced annexation off, as it prevent some unrealistic behavior like an unification of Germany under an Austrian powermonger, or the complete annexation of Italy by Spain or France (not taking into account the badboy penalty).

But it causes more harm than good for some countries. Especially, Spain is forced to live with Granada, and Russia has to use great amount of cash to peacefully acquire a lot of its neighbours. I can't stand to see an independent Moslem state in the Iberian Peninsula at a time where Spain is supposed to squash the Protestant deviant in the Netherlands... So I would advise to play with forced annexation on

2. IMHO, it is best to send a large fleet led by an explorer on a suicide run, especially if the explorer is a good one. A good explorer must do a great deal of exploration. If he spends his time going back and from Europe, it is a loss. And attrition will strike your fleet in the long run. I had some Portuguese explorer loose its last ship in the sea adjacent to the port in the Acores, after coming back from the Indian Ocean, loosing his six ships saved for the trip back home. It could have explorer a dozen sea zone instead... So I would say, yes, sacrifice them, especially if you have a lot of them (Spain, Portugal). After all, they often died during those long trip in some far away island if you're playing England, use Cabot with care and a lot of ships : he is the key to North America.

One a lighter note, who is really sending Columbus with only three ships to America ?

 

[Oranje]

Originally posted by Richelieu
1. At first, it may seem a good idea to choose forced annexation off, But it causes more harm than good for some countries. Especially, Spain is forced to live with Granada, and Russia has to use great amount of cash to peacefully acquire a lot of its neighbours. I can't stand to see an independent Moslem state in the Iberian Peninsula at a time where Spain is supposed to squash the Protestant deviant in the Netherlands... So I would advise to play with forced annexation on

I would have expected a little more consideration from someone with such a beautiful nick,
Spain is not supposed to squash the protestants in the Netherlands, you've got your history upside down

 

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Mmm, let's say that Spain is supposed to be TRYING to squash the Protestant --- of course, to no avail, then

BTW, while we're speaking of it, is there any reason from Spain to try to keep the Netherlands as they tried historically ? When the Dutch Nationalism is in effect, massive rebellion are occurring so frequently that Spain has better to give up early. Am I wrong ? Are there special missions to 'keep Holland' available for the Spanish player that might entice him ?