Harps and Exploration

[unmerged(2266)]

OK, these are actually two different questions which hopefully I haven't missed elsewhere in the forums.

1. Exploration: When an explorer moves int a sea zone adjacent to an unknown province then there is apparently some chance they will discover the particulars of that province. Does anyone have an idea how likely or unlikely this discovery is and is there any way to increase the chances of exploration (eg, hanging around, multiple explorers, etc)?

I've had Reunion in the Indian Ocean as a developed colony for over 40 years and yet with numerous explorers moving in and out of its sea zone I've still been unable to turn the adjacent island of Bourbon into anything other than Terra Incognito (and I'm paranoid the Dutch are gonna grab it). Likewise, it took Frobisher about 6 trips to the Hawaiian islands to uncover the particulars of Oahu and Hawaii. Kinda frustrating.

2. The Harp: What's up with that harp sound? I hear it at odd intervals but can never seem to match it to any event showing up in a pop-up window or in the scrolling events at the bottom of the screen. It's driving me crazy (and please don't tell me that no one else is hearing this sound or I'm gonna have to call the guys in the white suits).

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[unmerged(1450)]

Don't know what the odds are for a successful exploration, but it definitely is not automatic. If there is a piece of land that you really want to discover, keep the explorer moving back and forth by it.

Some territory is permanently "Terra Incognito", and is shown as such when a conquistodor tries to move into it. I don't think explorers can reveal this.

I've wondereed about the harp, too. I used to think it played when someone got a monopoly, but I don't think thats it either.

 

[Dawgboy]

On the harp music, general consensus on the forums is that someone got a Random Event. I've begged Patric to tell us a couple times but he's ignoring me.

 

[unmerged(1450)]

On 2nd thought, I think the harp indicates a victory point.

 

[Dawgboy]

Originally posted by Rudi Starnberg
On 2nd thought, I think the harp indicates a victory point.

Hmmm. don't think so. it'd be pinging unconrollably

C'mon Patric, fess up on what the harp is!

 

[Olaf the Unsure]

My guess: The harp sound is broken. I think it comes up too often and too randomly to have any significance.

 

[Oski]

It MAY have something to do with hitting max available numbers in diplomats, merchants, colonists, and/or especially troops. I know that when I'm playing semi-militaristically, buying troops and then letting them pile up again, I seem to hear the harp more often than otherwise.

But I'm still relatively new to the game, so my experience is limited.

 

[BiB]

Then again I don't seem to have that.