pgroves said:
Hi - if you've seen my previous thread, you'll see that I'm a newcomer to playing Muscovy/Russia (in AGCEEP), though a long-time EU2 player. Anyway, I was wondering what the best slider strategy for Muscovy/Russia was and whether this changes over time (e.g. maybe high innovativeness of 7 or 9 initially for random manufactories and better tech costs, but narrowminded 2 later for religious conversion events and extra missionaries - if so, when best to switch direction?)
My thinking is Muscovy/Russia needs:
- Aristocracy - high, maybe even 10, for improved diplo-annex attempts, more diplomats (something Orthodox countries don't get masses of) and cheaper cavalry, though production and trade will suffer
- Centralisation - high, again maybe even 10, for the production and tech bonuses, of course keeping it high may not be so easy...
- Innovativeness - a more tricky one, maybe aiming for high innovativeness of 7 or 9 initially for random manufactories and better tech costs (though higher stab costs...), but narrowminded 2 later for religious conversion events, extra missionaries and colonial dynamism event - if so, when best to switch direction?
- Mercantilism - am a bit more unsure of this one, maybe low (i.e. Free Trade) for the extra colonists, espc. if following a high innovativeness strategy initially, but would be interest to hear what others think. Another alternative would be exactly 7 for the Monopoly Company Forms random event possibility
- Offensive - I think ideally quite high for the morale boost, but am not sure that the the +1 leader shock value for 9+ is worth losing the +1 siege bonus some Russian generals have - anything to make sieges shorter in winter has to be good, though I guess assaults are possible later and +1 shock might help with this?
- Quality - am a bit unsure about this one, possibly somewhere in the middle, as Russia can lose lots of troops to attrition, so doesn't want them too expensive, but on the other hand, doesn't want to lose battles due to low morale, espc. if serfdom as serfdom might be high
- Land - a no brainer, I think, max Land (which you can get to early on by events only) for the morale and production boosts, also it doesn't actually hurt naval morale only trade (and overseas tax and no. of colonists...)
- Serfdom - a little unsure of exactly where to leave the slider for this, though I'm guess it should probably be pretty high for cheap troops and stab costs, though will decrease morale and production. Maybe 7 to avoid the extra set of "Unhappiness among the Peasants" random events?
Anyway, would be very interested to hear what other players think and why!
Also, what should be the intial slider priorities? Thanks
first, welcome to the best eu2 mod
my best achivments as russia were, generally ,by means of implemening those above sliders you mentione already. however a few points:
- russia needs to stay small untill after the "time of trouble". generally, by then , you can easilly rich infra/trade 5 and land 18. ONLY when you have a great trade income(or possible to get as such) , the siberian corridor has any "worth" to it (in any mod). also the siberian gold provinces are non- important here since you get the actual gold only around 1700's( bu means of events increasing mines productions). and even then is quiet irrelevant (comes in too late from game play perspective).
- the stability costs: yes of UTMOST importance as always but especially as russia. need a high innovative( 10 is desired) and thus 10 serfdom as well. in such manner costs for 1 stab point takes about 5-6 months to recover IF always manage to stay under 5 bb, do not go on a crusade in the east until trade/infra 5, do not colonize the basetax 1 colonies(2 or 3 of them since start). also please note: teutons and prussia should not be diplo annexed, sweeden has to be ignored.
- all russia's efforts have to be directed against lithuania. the first 1 or 2 DEFENSIVE wars( her alliance will always attack you or your vassals, at some point before 1500,s). in first war strip her of ukraine. in second of all the rest orthodox provinces( while leave 1 core as to have cb). the sooner can vassal poland the better. and then as alliance leader can control, her expansion(as not to get too big or even loose western provinces). the vassal lithuania and both should be diploannexed around 1500's when you get the only good diplomatic AND administrative monarch( in the period 1450 to 1600 i mean). therfore you have about 20 years to convert all those catholics.( also having poland annexed by 1600's will save you of quiet a few bad events that DEPEND on poland existing or not...
- generally i go innovative slider in first 30 years or more, then the militarry ones(having quality does make a diffrence, costs troops are not important as russia, since you should NOT have more then 3-4 wars from 1419 to 1600's).
- the golden horde area is tricky in agceep. as you have to show interest in conquering them but not fully doing so due to stability costs and tech costs.
note : from 1590 to 1600 you get a great administartive monarch that could make a LOT of diffrence. usually by then i revert back to 4-5 inno. or even lower, depending on how random events go as well.
in conclusion, as russia, all sliders should be to the left at least in the earlly period( merchantil 10 due to expensive mechant costs earlly on, and since after 1500's russia NEEDS to "safelly" start trading and get that infra/trade 5)
ALL initial research should go into land until LT 14 or so( if 10 inno and centra , and stay small, infra 3 can be achived by default way before 1500's thus making those random manus a posibility but not something to BET on). usually russia gets manus by events only after 1600;s regarding of inno sliders( i know that high inno/infra 3 should prove otherwise, but for some reason the eu2 engine always makes sure that russia does not have to many manus. earlly on, just a practical observation).
and before i forget, serdom needs to be 10 before 1500's( helps NOT to do so before that when diploannexing lithuania and poland, since you get the militarry moral bonus and increased production.). but post 1500's is crucial that russia has serfdom 10( not 9 or 8 or 7...).
if want, check my russian game in my signature link bellow.
