Help.. I give up... How does one start off the game properly

[unmerged(1724)]

Hi people

I am getting very frustrated...

I am an experienced strategy gamer, but even when I play on easy, I cannot do anything properly.

I played england for 5 years, the Grand Campaign, and could not do anything properly...

1-I tried attacking Scotland with 30 troops or so, declared war and they attacked me, massacring my troops easily...

What gives ? I am in a defense position, I have more troops, they win, easily

2- I try out Portugal, I attack a measly african country with 19,000 troops, they win again...

Imagine... 2-3000 tribesmen win against 19,000 portuguese soldiers ? Huh ?

3- Also, how does one explore new provinces for Portugal ?

Ships passing in the adjacent sea area do not discover ** anything **

4- What happens if an adjacent country loses some province (like spain), I declare war against it's opponent (grenada) and win (by miracle, see above...) one or more of it's provinces... ? Do I get to keep them ?

Thx in advance

Jean

 

[Olaf the Unsure]

3. Explorers (ship captains with the sextant symbol next to their name) can uncover provinces as they sail by them, though it sometimes takes several passes. Try sailing down the coast of Africa with Diaz or Corte. Eventually some coastal territory will open up. Plant some traders in some of the ivory-producing provinces and colonize a stop or two along the way to give your explorers a nearby port to use as a base. Fernando Po is a good spot for this purpose in the early going. Good luck.

 

[unmerged(1492)]

Believe me....... uch david vs Goliath battles(in hich david won) are all over history. Thermoplayae,Punic wars,Sparticus,Philadelphia,Bull Run,Barbarossa, Korean war.


Example- At Bull run a Confedrate army of 35,000 defeated an American Army of 160,000.Such batles happen in every war.


However i suggest not invading in the first place. I always get crushed on my first operation also, I decide now to delay till about 1530. Bye then ive built up way to many troops and am Positive, My war will be succesful (make sure 1st war is on small nation also). Ive made one too many mistakes when i play Sweden, Especially when i decide to take a trip into Russia. 9/10 armys i send in, come back with barely 1k

 

[Fossa]

I usually start as England by building all the troops I can in 1492. I build infantry only.

In jan. or feb. 1493 I declare war on the scots and let my army with my historical leader (Norfolk?) invade. I have another army south of the Marshes stading by. Try to take all scottish provinces so you can force annex all of Scotland. Try making it a short war by storming the provinces.

I try to let the French have Calais, that way not one country has a CB against me.

After that build up your infrastructure and use diplomacy. Discover the world. Have fun.

 

[unmerged(1333)]

I am sorry to keep doing this, but someone keeps qouting Civil War facts totally wrong. At Bull Run, the forces engaged were roughly equal. Plz read up on this stuff before you post.

Anyway, bud, I feel your pain. You need to read the directions a little more and read this BB very carefully. Good luck to ya.

 

[unmerged(496)]

Gauthijm, I think you are not playing the right way.
In EU you must be patient, you cannot say you have played England for 5 years only and you couln't do anything properly...
Sometimes wars take 10-15 years to come to an end, and estabilishing colonies in the new world cannot be achieved in a few years.

When I played EU the first times, I realized I made the same mistake; in fact, I thought I should always be doing everything fast (war, annexations, colonies).
Now, instead, I am conscious I must play this game more oriented towards obtaining results in the long period.

I don't mean you should sit and wait, but you cannot play this game at the same game-speed for 300 years. Sometimes you must wait many years before you recover economically or militarly from a previous action. In these periods you should play with a faster game speed and concentrate on ecomnomical and diplomatical actions (and to take a look at what's happening in the rest of the world).

I hope I have explained correctly my thoughts

 

[unmerged(1724)]

Impressive posts

That is all great info.

The reason I thought I needed to be 'doing' something is that spain for example manages to conquer 1 or 2 provinces every time, like Grenada and whatever else in the new world...

Question 1: How come scotland massacres me so easily ?
Do I need much higher land technology ? If so, by what date can I launch an attack... ?

Question 2: If I do get an explorer, HOW do I send him to Brazil then ? Do I make him move 1 sea area at a time, going towards where I think the americas are ?

Question 3: Do I resupply at TP's or only on colonies... If so, I guess I will have to setup colonies along the way in africa right ?

Question 4: Is attrition of ships always so high ? Or do explorers REALLY cut down on that ?


Thanks in advance

Thanks to all the GREAT people here helping this 'confused' canadian <g>

Take care
Jean

 

[unmerged(496)]

1) Depends. Many factors are involved, like the strenght of the Leader, the terrain advantage, the experience of the troops, the land technology.
You can beat them with superior numbers, of course. I suggest you to declare war to Scotland and place a big army in 'the Marches', where you can wait and crush the first Scots'army. Then you will face a long war of attrition. Try to pick up all the provinces one by one (my last war against the scots lasted 12 years!!! But i am not an experienced player, surely other people perform better).

2)Yes, but you can make him move more than one sea zone at once.

3)Yes, i think you are right.

4)YES!

 

[Syt]

England is one of my favorite countries to play. A typical start for me is the following:

- Stay out if wars that involve France and Scotland. Rather seek new allies than risk fighting a two front war. (However, France will attack you sooner or later for Calais.)

- Improve infrastructure (promotions, manufactories, trade).

- Build a force to defend the island in case of an invasion.

- With explorers, discover North America, colonize a foothold or two in Canada for further explorations.

- Maintain good relationship with Scotland and attempt diplomatical annexion when the right moment presents.

- Trade maps, change to Reformed, colonize, expand.

I usually keep out of European affairs and care about my colonial Empire.

And most of all: have patience. Unlike Civ you can't just go and lead one Blitzkrieg after the other. Adminstration of your territories is as important (if not more important) as expansion.

 

[Fossa]

Re: Impressive posts

Originally posted by Gauthijm
That is all great info.

The reason I thought I needed to be 'doing' something is that spain for example manages to conquer 1 or 2 provinces every time, like Grenada and whatever else in the new world...

Question 1: How come scotland massacres me so easily ?
Do I need much higher land technology ? If so, by what date can I launch an attack... ?

Question 2: If I do get an explorer, HOW do I send him to Brazil then ? Do I make him move 1 sea area at a time, going towards where I think the americas are ?

Question 3: Do I resupply at TP's or only on colonies... If so, I guess I will have to setup colonies along the way in africa right ?

Question 4: Is attrition of ships always so high ? Or do explorers REALLY cut down on that ?


Thanks in advance

Thanks to all the GREAT people here helping this 'confused' canadian <g>

Take care
Jean

1 It's probably a question of leaders and morale. Use historical leaders for land battles. As England you start with Norfolk (I think). As for morale don't send newly reqruited armies to fight. It might be a question of cavalry too. (tip: read Huszics FAQ)
2&4 I usually let explorers discover 3-4 unknown seazones before sending them back to a harbor. The higher the navaltech the lower the attrition. Explorers and conquistadors lowers the attrition for navies and armies.
3 Colonies only. I try to get 'coaling-stations' in St. Helena and the Falklands when discovering the way to India and western Americas.

 

[unmerged(1724)]

Wow

Great advice people

This BB is great

This game, with some annoyances is great as well

It's a tough game though, much much tougher than Imperialism II ever was...

I guess that's a ringing endorsement why europe was never dominated, although I do think the turcs are too powerful and would not have been stopped at Vienna in this game....compared to history

Question 5: When you get an explorer, do you click in the middle of terra incognita, ot do the 1 sea area at a time ?

Question 6: How will I be able to discover the eastern seaboard if attrition is so bad ? There are no pitshops in the middle of the atlantic !

Take care everyone
Jean

 

[unmerged(1673)]

5. Advance one blind territory at a time in case you forget about them and they run into a storm
6. With your first explorer you can hop across the pond, discover a few territories and hop back. A fleet of about 6 ships will see most back in one piece provided you are not at sea for too long. Once you have your first colony in America you can head straight for it, re-supply (ie wait a month) then set off into the wild blue yonder once again.

NB With your fleet selected, hover the mouse over the skull icon. It will tell you how much longer you can be at sea before attrition might occur