Newbie questions

[jmc003]

So, I've just gotten EU, and I've been knocking my head against it a bit as the Russians for the Grand Campaign (yeah, I'm a masochist).

I have a few questions, or at least need some advice.

#1: (Question) In one game, I declared war against Astrakhan and managed to annex them... but not before my ally Denmark had managed to march in and take a few provinces for his own. I now know not to call for ally help against a country I wish to subsume, but that's not my question.

Later on, I managed to take over Crimea. In the intervening time, the two Danish-held Astrakhani provinces had fallen completely to rebels- the Danes coudln't- or wouldn't- send troops to retake the area, so I had two large Rebel Scum held provinces next door to my new Crimean provinces.

My Crimean provinces went into near constant uprising against me- I know part of this was that I was Orthodox and not giving the Muslims a bit of tolerance (as my tolerance had to go to the Catholics to keep Eastern Europe from allying against me), but was the fact that Demark had two rebel provinces nearby any sort of factor? If so, what could I have done, save declaring war on Denmark and stealing those rebel provinces for my own?

#2- (Advice) I have a serious money-flow problem; I rarely manage to get more than 200 ducats a year in taxes. I put tax collectors in my larger provinces, and send out traders ASAP (and had 5 merchants in each of the five largest markets by end of 1512). Is there a better way of making money that I'm ignoring? I'm loathe to actually take a monthly income- the 2 or 3 ducats a month I could make seems worthless when compared to the inflation it would cause, and as Russia I have enough trouble catching up to my neighbors in terms of research.

 

[BiB]

Neighbouring rebels up the revolt risk rate with 2% I think. Add to that non tolerance of muslims and u have regular revolts. U could get into a war, call on Denmark and then go kill the rebels urself and then manouver the Danish in such a way that after the war they withdraw their troops to those 2 provinces where they can stop rebels themselves.

Or declare war on Denmark.

 

[jmc003]

Easier said than done, of course; having conquered Astrakhan, Kazan, Crimea, and taken two of the Knights' three provinces, my next war against Georgia (Orthodox to assimilate, but more importantly, dragging Persia and the Gold Province of Armenia into a war) pushed me into serious Bad Boy levels, and PL declared war upon me.

Two game months later, and the folly of an all-infantry army was made *very* clear to me. A 40-strength PL army (with 25 cav) waded through my 80-strength Infantry (rested and in full morale) like butter.

But now I know better, and will space my wars better, put some cavalry into my armies, and not invite my allies to attack countries I plan to eat up.

 

[Vulture]

One learns by mistakes mate... We all made mistakes.
The Knights? I suppose you mean the Teutonic Order?

 

[jmc003]

Yeah, the Teutonic Order. Thanks again for the help (and the consolation!).

One other question- is there any way to rename the armies you create? Trying to remember whether it was the Army of Finland or the Imperial Guard that was my main strike force (i.e., with the cavalry, rather than the one with massive infantry and guns for fort-busting) will eventually drive me crazy.

 

[jmc003]

And if it's not horrendous form to follow up one's post with another post, let me muse upon Russian strategy, and see if anyone catches a flaw in my planning.

It seems to me, war-wise, Russia's first goal must be taking some provinces from Kazan; this is because without taking some Kazan provinces, one cannot attack Astrakhazan. And since Astrakhazan has a gold-producing province, it is a mighty boost to the starting Russian economy. Therefore, first rush through Kazan, then annex Astrakhazan.

After (or during) that, make alliances in the hopes of a war against the Teutons or Sweden (and preferably keeping P-L out of it). The need here is to grab a coastal province so that you can start getting colonists (and thus convert the northern colonies from Catholicism to Orthodox before they get big, as well as start worming your way east and into Siberia).

Beyond that... well, once I get a *stable* Russia beyond that, I'll get back to you.

 

[unmerged(4854)]

In my first game as Russia I started by annexing Kazan, then Astrakahn, Pskov and Golden Horde. I had a few years between wars so this was done by about 1510. Amazingly I didn't have any BB wars yet and I was lucky in that Denmark asked me to join it's alliance with Sweden.

I built up a lot of troops for when I would declare war on Sibir because I knew this time I would get BB wars all over the place.

When I declared war on Sibir around 1518 I ended up getting Ingemarland, a couple polish provinces, and annexed Crimea, Georga, and Sibir.

My alliance broke up and so I spent the next 160 years in relative peace, only one short war. I spent that time colonising Siberia.

 

[unmerged(1764)]

Corrado,

You might try taking all the provinces from Astrakhan but the capital. That way you get all the Orthodox provinces, and access to Sibir, without the BB hit from annexation. And you keep the religion problem minimalized. I had success with this strategy, as well as leaving Crimea alone (for the religion issue again). Siberia has the great wealth for Russia, so why not exploit it and avoid the BB wars?

Oh, and I *start* by taking Ingermanland from the TO, in order to get the colonists going immediately. Important for those three northern provinces, esp. in defense against Swedish aggression. Having Pskov as an ally is critical in this regard (makes a great vassal too).

 

[jmc003]

jl- that's an interesting thought, but how long did it take after fighting the Teuts to turn around and take over Kazan and the Horde? Personally, I'd prefer to have the gold mine first, and *then* the colonists... colonists don't do me much good when I don't have the money to send them anywhere, after all. And after the first series of wars (against either the Kaz/Horde or the Teut), the army needs to be built back up, so money's more immediately necessary than colonists.

But again, my opinion will probably be more valid once I've gotten a game past 1530.

You're right, though, about avoiding Astrakhan proper- at least, until after the colonists are rolling in and there's a *chance* of converting.

 

[BiB]

Play the IGC and start with Ingermanland