Question about Victory Points and "Napoleon's Ambition"

[unmerged(174561)]

Hi I just got this game about a week ago and have the 1.09 patch installed (vanilla no mods). I won my first game "Fantasia" as Mughal Empire but as that was very boring I wanted a challenge and tried out Spain in "Napoleon's Ambition." This was indeed a challenge for me and I had to fail twice before I finally won but only by 1 VP 0.0 over Russia.
Now I'm trying it again as Spain hoping to do a little better but I already start out at war with France which puts me in a difficult spot since making peace requires that I give up a few territories and alot of VP's while on the other hand I face a very difficult military campaign against a much better French military if I decide to keep going with the war. Has anyone tried this campaign as Spain and won by a fairly safe margin over the other nations (specifically Russia)? Any tips would be vastly appreciated. I'm stuck 0.o
Also, I have searched both these forums and all over the internet AND the manual but have yet to find a comprehensive guide about Victory Points that really breaks down how much you get for doing what; i.e. in the previous campaign I mention, Russia always wallops me in the "Economy" and "Discoveries" score and would like to know how much and in what ways you get VP's for "Economy" or "Discoveries" just as an example.
I know that's alot of questions but there seems to be a lack of resources on the internet about this stuff. Thanks.

 

[Emperor_krk]

These days hardly anyone plays this game to get Victory Points methinks .

"Discoveries" VPs are given for, well, discovering and/or colonizing provinces. Economy, I'd guess, is about successfully placing merchants, advancing in infrastructure, trade, etc.

I've never played Spain in Napoleon's Ambition scenario, so I can't give you many hints on that precise situation. The best thing to do is to peace out as soon as possible; also, try to perhaps siege a few French provinces without intercepting their armies, and in the peace deal you may have to give up less.

Try other scenarios though; for a beginner who wants a challenge, go for e.g. Lithuania in the Grand Campaign.

 

[unmerged(174561)]

The best thing to do is to peace out as soon as possible; also, try to perhaps siege a few French provinces without intercepting their armies, and in the peace deal you may have to give up less.

that's just the thing though; I'm up 14% on the warscore as I hold all their North American holdings and they have nothing on me but they won't even accept peace when I tribute gold to them 0.o; I tried a save and reload thing just to test at what point they accept peace when I'm up 14% and it's when I give them 1000 gold .... what the jesus?

 

[unmerged(95243)]

14% is really not that much. Sometimes. See, some nations are programmed to be ferocious, meaning they will negotiate peace treaties tough. They won't cede more than 3 provinces unless you have 100% warscore. I believe France is 1 such nation and OE too. not sure 'though.

But even if the beaten nation is not programmmed ferocious ai, 14% really is not much warscore. Try to get more. Also when you sue for peace, ask a little money always; if there's money involved (even just 25 golden dukats) the AI will be more likely to accept.

Also, AI will be more likely to accept peace with low warscore if they have no more armies or ships left. Even the smallest transporter ship, lost in the pacific somewhere will disrupt your peace-plan, however.

Lastly, Peace with low warscore is also possible if the target nation is at war with another alliance/nation and that other alliance/nation has a high warscore on them.

 

[unmerged(174613)]

It's not a case of warscore. France has the Napoléonic AI, which means it will rarely accept peace at all

 

[Stoertebecker]

As I haven't played Spain in NA, I can't give you precise Tipps. But I'd have some general hints: You start with a fairly poor Landtech, if I remember right. That makes it hard to compete with all those super-powers. And you won't have the time to catch up a lot, I think.

So you have to concentrate on annexing pagans, developing your colonies and trading. Trade is super-important in the lategame. Invest in it. Don't hesitate to mint money for colonies.
Try to get a lot of royal marriages for Victory Points.
And if you're really looking for victory points: Release all those south american nations just before the scenario ends: That should give you a lot.

 

[unmerged(174561)]

Ok, I'll give this another shot this time with a less militaristic approach; thanks for the tip guys.

*Edit* WOOOOOOHOOOOO after giving France Gerona, Navarra and Biloxi in return for peace at start of game, I came back to win it by over 100 pts even without the vassal trick mentioned by Stoerte. Solidified my economy a bit with tax collectors and governors and grabbed monopolies in some rich CoTs; had to annex two Native American tribes in North America and then I went to war against Portugal just for the stupid "Gain 30 VP for conquering Opporto" mission and not only got Opporto but like 6 more provinces along with it. That pretty much put me over the top at 1815 and by that time I was just too exhausted and let it run down on max speed to 1820 xD. Anyways, thanks so much for your tips guys, now I need a long break from EU2 because this scenario pretty much stole my week lol..