VH/Furious: The Ivory Empire AAR

[Yozhik]

Yup, you guessed correctly, Portugal. This AAR should not interfere with my Russian AAR; I am simply pausing on that one in case some feedback appears in the thread.

EU 1.10 => ICG 2.3; 1492, VH, Furious, Random and Historical, No Dynamic, Chaos Maims, Free Ireland/Bretain/Norway, Free/Aus Lowlands, Pskov Ingermanland, Moldovian Bujak, all 5 unrests, Balkanization

Starting stats:
- tech: 2,4,+3,2,3
- troops: 24,000 inf, 6,000 cav, 21 warship, 5 transports
- commanders: land: regimental only (2,0,1,1), navy: Diaz (6,5,4) and squadron only (2,0,1).
- 500 gold
- 5 provinces, 1 colony, 4 trading posts
- 1 (+5/yr) merchants, 3 (+3/yr) settlers, 1(+5/yr) diplomats

1-1-1492:

Religion: Catholic 100/Moslem 50/Orthodox 0
Royal marriage with Spain
Sink 18 warships in Tago
Sink 2 warships in Cape Verde
Research: Land 100%
Maintenance: Land 100%, Naval 50%

I played Portugal enough to know how hard is cash to come by early-to-mid game... Natives do not have ships anyway, as for bigger empires, I do not think they are going to come by Africa, rather landing in Iberia. As far as attrition is concerned, I am not planning any long voyages.

4-15-1492:

Fleets combined in Tangiers
The last warship sunk
10,000 infantry moved to Tangiers
Bailiffs initiated in all cities (5 total)
Royal marriage with England

6-6-1492 - 9-2-1492:

Royal marriages with Denmark and Scotland fail through

9-26-1492:

The first Spanish (1 ally) - French (5 allies) war.

11-1-1492:

Land 3 tech researched. Research emphasis to infrastructure. Royal marriages with the Netherlands and Papal states fall through.

3-15-1493:

The Titans are growing stronger. France annexes Milan, Spain annexes Navarra. Hanseatic league, and allies (2) offer alliance, which is politely turned down. To appease the good neighbors (ugh... by water?), marriage is proposed, to which Hanseatic league agrees. Legal counsels initiated in Tago and Oporto. I am yet to colonize anything, still waiting for the conquistadors.

5-26-1493:

Russia annexes Kazan.

11-7-1493:

Royal marriages with Pommerania, Venice.

12-26-1493:

The first French (4 allies) - English (6 allies including Austria) war. This means France is fighting three Titans at the moment.

4-2-1494:

Royal marriage with Austria. Royal marriages with Bavaria and Scotland fall through.

4-22-1494:

The first Polish (1 ally) - Russian (4 allies) war.

6-20-1494:

France annexes Lorraine.

9-13-1494:

Turkey wins a major victory against Mamelukes (3 provinces).

1-12-1495:

France surrenders to Spain (-1 province). Royal marriages with Helvetia, Hanover, TO, and Russia fall through.

4-28-1495:

The first Polish-Russian war ends with a white peace.

8-20-1495:

The attempt to renew our marriage with France falls through.

1-2-1496:

Initiated the 3rd Legal Counselor in Algarve. Still waiting for a single conquistador.

4-2-1496:

Royal marriage with Moldovia. Royal marriages with France, Hungary, Serbia and Greece fall through.

1-1-1497:

My first conquistador, Camoens (6-1-1-0) with 1,000 men. Time to boogie.

6-20-1497:

Austria surrenders to France losing 3 provinces. Camoens is en route to Africa with 10,000 followers.

7-13-1497:

New explorer, Da Gama (6-3-4) with 3 warships. 2 warships sunk. Sent to Cape Verde at once.

8-1-1497:

After 6 failed marriage attempts (France, Scotland, Thuringen, Sweden, Prussia, Poland-Lithuania) the foreign minister is replaced with de Osoyro, previously in charge of the Tangiers Corps.

11-10-1497:

The first battle of Nouakchott, 3rd province south of Morocco, 804 men lost, at least 950 natives killed, and the colony is purged of inhabitants. The Crown is surpised to see Camoens fight natives in a slave-producing colony, however it is celebrated anyway. Camoens is urged to move south.

3-1-1498:

Louga is discovered, 4th province south of Morocco. Due to the fact that natives are low in aggresiveness, some voice that they should be spared, but the majority disagrees. Some 2,000 natives are killed, about 100 Portuguese die as well. Da Gama arrives at Cape Verde and his ship is sunk; his highness is reassigned to the mighty fleet of 5 transports commanded by 2 explorers now.

4-1-1498:

Infrastructure 4 tech researched. New emphasis: Land.

8-4-1498:

Louga is a colony level 1 now. England and France sign a white peace.

11-6-1498:

Another 6 marriages are botched: Tuscany, France, Papal States, Wurtemburg, Netherlands, Bohemia. De Osoyro is sent back to Tangiers "to investigate the rumors of new Moslem activities".

2-1-1499:

New Conquistador, de Albuquerque (5-5-5). Land 4 tech researched. New emphasis: Infrastructure.

9-26-1499:

Spanish units are spotted in Tassaret, 1st province south of Morocco. Our monarch is troubled.

1-2-1500:

Nouadibuh is discovered, 2nd province south of Morocco. Yet another victory over natives; 75 men are lost.

4-15-1500:

Louga is a colony level 2 now, although it starts losing population due to being in a desert. Our monarch is concerned. The united fleet is sent to Tago to pick up two new leaders: An explorer Cabra (5-4-4) with 3 warships and a conquistador Almeida (6-4-5-3) with 1,000 men.
Almeida has +3 to Siege value. This is the highest siege mod I have ever seen. It is also interesting how conquistador values skyrocket in the new world.

5-13-1500:

Two new explorers, brothers de Corte Real (5-3-3) with 6 warships.

6-22-1500:

The 9 warships sunk, the others sail away for Cape Verde. Diaz dies.

10-20-1500: Gambia is discovered, the 7th province south from Morocco. We now have the thorough maps of seven provinces south of Morocco. Of course, we're interested only in Louga and Senegal, the 4th and the 5th ones south from Morocco. Cape Verde is finally a city.

5-3-1501: Casamance is discovered, the 8th province south from Morocco. Fighting with natives takes its toll on our troops; of 21,000 men we sent, 2042 are no longer with us, only 100 of those due to hunger.

2-9-1502: Brittany is annexed by France. Guinea, the 9th province south from Morocco is discovered.

12-1-1502: Senegal is colonized up to level 2, a surprisingly cheaper (37 gold versus 74) place than Louga. We now know of 11 provinces south of Morocco.

2-1-1503: Two explorers die; I am down to 2 explorers and 3 conquistadors.

9-6-1503: 309 colonists in Senegal, 198 in Louga. Our monarch divided the lands among the governors as follows:
- from Morocco to Senegal river: Port. N. Africa, capital: Tangiers, governor: colonel Figueira
- from Senegal river to Niger river: Port C. Africa, capital: Cape Verde, governor: brigadier Almeida
- from Niger river south: Port S. Africa, temporary capital: Cape Verde, governor: general de Albuquerque

6-25-1504:

The second Polish (2 allies) - Russian (1 ally) war.

9-1-1506:

Trade 3 tech researched. Senegal has 606 colonists, Louga - 197. Our southern conquistador expedition is 3 provinces away from Cape of Good Will.

4-7-1507:

We discovered a continent to the west, yet our monarch chose not to support an expedition to explore it. Senegal is a city now.

5-29-1508:

Denmark annexed Holstein. Senegal has 804 colonists, Louga - 196. Our conquistador expedition discovered Table and Karroo, two provinces on the southernmost tip of the continent; of course the expedition is now down from 10,000 men to merely 55 hundred. Marriage attempts with Austria, France, Poland and Russia failed.

11-8-1509:

Things are rather uneventful. Senegal is up to 902 colonists, our men explose south-east Africa (and find it rather poor), and another conquistador joined our ranks.

5-7-1510:

Senegal has 1002 colonists and finally achieved a positive growth. My last explorer died, but I have 4 conquistadors now. Trade, anyone?

8-15-1510:

Russia annexes the Golden Horde.

8-26-1512:

Our furthest expedition came in sight of Oman. There is a huge war between the Moslem religions.

10-16-1514:

The great Moslem war ends, Persia loses 2 provinces. Our expedition reaches Ethiopia and is about to turn back.

5-22-1515:

They say every good thing has an end. Our expedition was ambushed, and, although won the battle, is down to 97 men. Our general died shortly thereafter. Stranded on the tip of Somalia, these men will never return home.

2-11-1516:

More troublesome news. Turkey defeats Mameluks and gains 2 more provinces. Just by just what we saw, they have captured 7 provinces total in the last 24 years. Russia annexes Astrakhan, which is not good as well.

2-3-1517:

This can not be believed - Turkey expanded two more provinces. Spain refused to renew our marriage.

3-1-1517:

The 3rd Polish-Russian war; 2 allies each. France refuses to renew the marriage, but England gladly does renew it. Netherlands finally agree to sign a marriage agreement as well.

2-11-1518: Poles surrender, giving two provinces to Russia. Land 5 tech researched.

7-22-1518: Pirates intercept our fleet off Senegal and beat it. We do not lose any vessels.

3-15-1519: Louga reaches 1085 colonists and finally has positive growth. Senegal has 1026 colonists.

That's it for now Comments? Suggestions?

 

[Brad1]

I think that it is very good and you should keep it up.

 

[unmerged(2073)]

And yet I would spend a lot less time colonising places like Africa and would have rushed out to find India. Portugal can survive quite adequately with its colonists if you send out lots of traders so that before long you'll have your own private CoT.

As it is, I think you've already lost a lot of traders through not sending them out before. But there's still time to recover. Work through India to get a base for future exploration and then you'll be able to get to the spice islands. After De Gama, you'll probably be short of explorers and then won't be able to get to China until Naval Tech 13.

 

[Yozhik]

Replies

Brad - Thanks

Coeur - I have to admit I am rather hesitant to do that. When I played Mughal, I reached Trade 8 (!) and I was still losing money on merchants! So in both of my AARs I am ignoring the merchant stuff completely. And if I ignore merchants I do not really need trading posts right? Why don't I make full-scale colonies instead - more revenue, fewer BBs? But I am a human being (at least that's what I want YOU to think... just kidding) so I do make mistakes... I'll gladly listen to anything you have to say on the matter.

Yozhik

 

[Yozhik]

March 5, 1519 - on

Current stats:
- tech: 5,4,+3,3,4
- troops: 16,063 inf, 6,000 cav, 3 warships, 3 transports
- commanders: land: Almeida (Conq, 6-4-5-3), Correos (Conq, 5-5-5-0); navy: De Queros (Expl, 4-3-3-0).
- 21 gold
- 8 cities, 3 trading posts
- 6 (+5/yr) merchants, 5 (+3/yr) settlers, 6(+5/yr) diplomats
- religion: Catholic 100/Moslem 100/Orthodox 0/Protestant 0
- research: Infrastructure
- maintenance: Land 50%, Naval 50%
- major enemies: France, Turkey, Morocco, Algiers, Oman; no wars yet

3-5-1519:

Marriage attempts: Pommerania (successful), France/Spain/Venice/Hungary/Denmark (unsuccessful).

7-21-1519:

An attempt to renew marriage with Austria fails.

1-1-1520:

Trade 4 tech researched.

8-18-1520:

Almeida dies. Current VP standings:
1 - Spain - 423
2 - Turkey - 327
3 - Russia - 254
4 - France - 218
6 - Portugal - 166

9-19-1520:

Austria, Spain and England with 5 allies attack Bavaria and Thuringen. Oh-kay.

4-8-1521:

Saw my trade value in Senegal go from 21 to 25 in a snap. The price of ivory is rising eh? According to the trade screen the price of 100 units is 25.01 gold. Wow. Sugar is 21.94, Chinaware is 25.99.

7-22-1521:

I get a random conquistador and three more warships. Russia wins 2 provinces from Crimea.

12-22-1521:

New monarch, with diplomatic skills at *****. Time to get more of my sons married. Spain/Naples/Venice/Denmark/Scotland refuse the opportunity, France agrees to for the hostage exchange - errr, marriage ceremony.

3-22-1522:

The new conquistador was Portella (3-0-1-1). Senegal up to 1434 colonists (11 tax - 25 trade), Louga - 1089 (9 tax - 25 trade).

7-8-1522:

Russia annexes Ryazan. I get 4 colonists a year now, even though I can afford to place only 1-2 a year.

1-1-1523:

Wurtemberg is the first Protestant state.

2-10-1523:

Austria annexes Bavaria.

9-30-1523:

Mamelukes surrender to Serbia. Hmmm. When Austria surrendered to Scotland a few years back it was just as... interesting.

9-1-1524:

Naval 5 tech researched.

10-16-1524:

Turkey annexes Mamelukes.

11-29-1524:

The first Polish (1 ally) - Turkish (4 allies) war.

1-14-1525:

Persia and 1 ally DoW Turkey (3 allies).

4-20-1525:

Saw three Spanish colonists sail out for the New World at once. Wow.

9-15-1525:

A new conquistador, Francois (6-1-1-0). Ivory prices go up, my colonies have a trade value of 26 now. Senegal still has a tax value of 11 even though its population is already 1950.

1-12-1526:

Ukraine rebels from Poland-Lithuania; they refuse a royal marriage however. A new CoT in Anglia.

1-1-1527:

Thuringen, Palatinate, Prussia turn protestant (2nd-4th to do so).

2-11-1527:

Trade value of ivory colonies goes up to 27. Wow. This was a worthy bet wasn't it? Ivory costs 27.62 per 100 units on the world market, Chinaware - 28.19. Perhaps it is time to open another colony?

10-1-1527:

The Portuguese African army moves to Casamance, burning down the native settlements in Gambia on the way. Fourteen days later, Correos dies.

1-1-1528:

Sweden becomes the fifth protestant state. Fourteen days later, Poland annexes Ukraine.

7-21-1528:

Casamance is colonized.

8-16-1528:

Royal marriage is played with the son of the Spanish king. Marriages are also played with Denmark and Austria. Modena/Poland/Scotland refuse our brides.

1-1-1529:

Hanseatic is the 7th protestant state. Damn heretics.

1-1-1530:

Hanover is the 8th protestant state.

6-11-1530:

De Queros, my only explorer, dies. The army with the new conquistador is forced to unload in a desert, and is eliminated.

11-26-1530:

Agricultural revolution: Portuguese taxation values increase by 1. The prive of ivory is up to 30.02 per 100. Chinaware is 30.86, Spices - 35.03.

1-1-1532:

Netherlands are the 9th protestant state. Spain is colonizing the New World like crazy.

3-25-1532:

The second Spanish/Austrian (4 allies) - French (2 allies) war.

12-1-1532:

Infrastructure 5 tech researched. New research emphasis: land.

1-16-1533:

France wins 1 province from Austria.

7-5-1533:

Portella dies. I am down to 1 conquistador and no explorers.

10-24-1533:

France and Spain sign a white peace.

1-1-1534:

Kleves and England turn protestant, the 10th and the 11th protestant states respectively. Uh oh.

8-9-1534:

Poland annexes Hungary.

1-5-1536:

Turkey wins 2 provinces from Persia. Seventeen days later Poland and 2 allies DoW Turkey (3 allies).

4-1-1536:

Casamance is a city now (794 colonists). Tropics are harsh.

4-7-1536:

Poland and 2 allies DoW Austria/Spain and 5 allies.

3-4-1537:

Land 6 tech researched. Russia DoWs Sibir.

2-6-1538:

The 4th Russian (2 allies) - Polish (1 ally) war. My navy is up to 15 warships, all through random events. Ivory costs 32.62 per 100, Chinaware - 33.52, Spices - 38.05... Maybe I ought to have concentrated on spices instead. Two days later Poland surrenders to Austria, losing a province.

5-5-1538:

Research emphasis switched to infrastructure.

1-6-1538:

Hungary rebels from Poland.

4-16-1538:

Poland surrenders to Russia, losing a province. A couple days earlier they lost a province to Sweden as well.

11-6-1538:

Poland surrenders to Turkey, losing a province.

3-8-1540:

England (1 ally) DoWs France/Poland (1 ally). I get a new conquistador. Casamance is above 1000 population but still has a negative growth.

10-21-1540:

The conquistador (Mem Da Sa, 5-4-5-3) safely makes it to Senegal.

1-21-1541:

Turkey annexes Crimea.

1-9-1541: Transylvania rebels from Poland.

That's it for now Comments?

 

[Yozhik]

Sept 2, 1541 - on

Current stats:
- tech: 6, 5, +3, 4, 5
- troops: 20,875 inf, 6,000 cav, 15 warships, 3 transports
- commanders: land: General Francois (6-1-1-0, Conq), Lt. General Mem Da Sa (5-4-5-3, Conq).
- 31 gold
- 9 cities, 3 trading posts
- 6 (+5/yr) merchants, 6 (+4/yr) settlers, 6(+5/yr) diplomats
- religion: Catholic 100/Moslem 0/Orthodox 0/Protestant 100
- research: Infrastructure
- maintenance: Land 50%, Naval 50%
- major enemies: Sweden, Turkey, Morocco, Algiers, Hafsid Empire, Hanover; no wars yet

Current VP standings:
1 - Spain - 701
2 - Turkey - 684
3 - Russia - 459
4 - France - 432
5 - Austria - 401
6 - Portugal - 250

1-10-1541:

Naval tech 6 researched.

10-16-1541:

Poland re-absorbs Transylvania

3-23-1542:

Poland re-absorbs Hungary

7-22-1542:

England surrenders to Savoy (heh) and France; France gains Calais and Bristol.

8-15-1542:

A rebellion in Tangiers; suppressed with ease.

7-20-1544:

The fifth Polish/Moldovan - Russian/Swedish/Pskovian war.

7-2-1545:

Austria and 2 allies DoW Poland.

12-27-1545:

Second Tangerian revolt; suppressed with ease.

3-2-1546:

Poland surrenders to Russia (2 provinces lost).

12-27-1546:

France/Eire/Scotland refuse royal marriages, but Savoy agrees to one.

6-1-1548:

Crimea rebels from Turkey.

6-25-1548:

Morocco and Algiers unite for the first time.

8-19-1548:

The first Russian/Swedish/Pskovian - Turkish war.

11-8-1548:

French conquistadors spotted south of Casamance.

11-26-1548:

Austria annexes Helvetia.

1-1-1549:

Hessen is the first Reformed state. Ten days later Austria annexes Wurtemberg.

2-26-1549:

Poland buy peace from Austria with some cash.

5-24-1549:

Turkey re-absorbs Crimea.

1-1-1550:

The Palatinat is the second Reformed state.

1-14-1550:

Poland loses two provinces to Brandenburg.

3-3-1550:

Turkey loses a province to Russia.

4-3-1550:

Casamance finally reaches 0% growth as opposed to -2%. This took 21 colonists total; a very expensive investment for a country like Portugal.

Comments? Ideas? Hints as to how to distinguish a tropical province without having to move troops in it?

 

[Lord Durham]

Interesting AAR. I almost feel like I have to be on 'speed' to read it. I can see what you mean by furious

One thing I noticed was all the failed Royal Marriage attempts. The AI never (in my experience) accepts a RM offer from you if the country is completely neutral toward you (-4 to +20). If the country is in that relation range then save your diplomat. Sometimes it will fail outside of that range, but not often. Keep writing.

 

[Yozhik]

To Lord Durham

Hi - thanks for dropping by.

The AI does accept RM even in negatives - the country just has to "feel" right for you I guess. Certain countries can't be appeased, certain ones can. At least that's been my experience.

RM is a nice way to get some + relation if you don't want to spend money - and I can't as Portugal (or Russia in my other AAR). On the other side I have loads of diplomats - too many

Anyways.

 

[Yozhik]

Apr 3, 1550 - on

Current stats:
- tech: 6, 6, +3, 4, 5
- troops: 20,164 inf, 5,858 cav, 15 warships, 3 transports
- commanders: land: General Francois (6-1-1-0, Conq), Lt. General Mem Da Sa (5-4-5-3, Conq).
- 18 gold
- 9 cities: Tago (30,165 +12%, 93/4), Oporto (16,888 +9%, 23/3), Algarve (20,266 +9%, 21/4), Tangiers (9,019 +7%, 17/3), The Azores (1,503 +7%, 13/3), Cape Verde (1,109 +10%, 9/3), Louga (1,131 +1%, 10/36), Senegal (2,427 +5%, 12/36), Casamance (2,055 +0%, 10/36).
- 3 trading posts: Nouakchott (level 3, 1/3), Palanas (level 4, 1/4), Fernando Po (level 1, 0/2)
- 6 (+5/yr) merchants, 6 (+4/yr) settlers, 6(+5/yr) diplomats
- religion: Catholic 100, Moslem 50, Orthodox 0, Protestant 100, Reformed 0
- research: Infrastructure
- maintenance: Land 50%, Naval 50%
- major enemies: East Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, North Africa

Current VP standings:
1 - Spain - 791
2 - Turkey - 735
3 - France - 581
4 - Russia - 561
------
8 - Portugal - 278

6-23-1550:

Marriage proposals turned down: France, Scotland, Eire, Venice.
There has got to be a pattern there... and once one gets it, it's easy to get the marriages you need. Hopefully my AAR helps someone

5-13-1551:

Yet another Polish/Moldovan - Russian/Swedish/Pskovian war.

12-9-1551:

Turkey gains yet two more provinces from Persia. Turkey owns 13+ provinces in Balkans/Caucasus and 6+ provinces east of Sinai.

1-1-1553:

Helvetia breaks away from Austria. Persia rallies up Nubia and Uzbeks for an obviously anti-Turkish alliance.

2-1-1553:

Helvetia is re-absorbed into Austria. I set up Mayors in all three homeland provinces.

3-1-1553:

Land tech 7 researched.

5-1-1553:

I get a weak explorer with 1 warship (random event): Commodore de Tavora, 3-0-0

8-24-1553:

Marriage renewed with Spain. Marriage failed to be renewed with Austria. Marriage with Denmark ends but is ineligible for a renewal. France/Modena/Knights/Naples do not wish to sign a marriage agreement.
597 french infantry stalks around Casamance, stuck between my city and a trading post.

1-1-1554:

England is now reformed. I go from 100% protestant tolerance to 100% reformed. Mayor instituted in Senegal. Ivory price on the world market: 38.45 - I am earning 57.7 a year producing it and further 10.1 trading it. Spices: 44.14, Chinaware: 39.52. Nothing else (of the resources known to me) is not even close. Poland surrenders to Russia losing 2 provinces. Poland owns 14 provinces west of Dniepr river and 6 east of it of the territory visible to me.

2-28-1555:

Francois dies. Mayor in Louga.

9-1-1555:

Spain annexes Knights. Mayor in Casablance.

11-3-1555:

Two British fleets spotted in Gulf of Guinea on the way back to Europe.

2-7-1559:

Agricultural revolution (+1 taxation values in each province). Bailiffs in the three mainland African cities.

3-21-1559:

England invites me to an alliance. I've turned down many, many offers before - from Savoy, from the Venetian allies, but England? *crosses fingers and hits accept*. Maybe they are going to share their discoveries with me now? Hah. Nice try.

2-3-1560:

Memdasa dies, leaving me with no conquistadors.

2-28-1560:

Spanish fleet spotted off the coast of South-east Africa.

4-25-1560:

The sea route to India is finally explored.

6-2-1560:

Losing 1,500 men, half of what was known as Memdasa detachment makes it to Senegal. The other half stayed back in Casablance, having already lost 1,400 men. The Indian expedition has lost 6 warships. This is a year of sorrow for us.

10-1-1560:

The Indian expedition returns home, down to 8 warships and 2 transports; 8 warships and 1 transport have been lost.

1-1-1561:

My Colonial dynamism is wearing off, for only 2 settlers appear per year, one due to the shipyard. Legal counseling is established in Senegal, more colonists sent to Casablance, achieving a 1% growth rate in population there. The Portuguese armies in Africa are finally balanced out against the terrain: 6,329 men are in Senegal and 4,987 in Casablance - that is out of 17,880 led by Membasa!

2-22-1563:

Yet another Polish/Moldovan - Russian/Pskovian/Swedish war. This is one tenacious theatre. I am pondering whether to sent out more colonists or not; sadly, without conquistadors it is going to be very expensive.

10-22-1563:

A world war: Austria/Spain + 3 allies versus France + 2 allies.

1-1-1564:

France turns out to have colonized Leone - another Ivory-producing province. I am tempted to invoke the Treaty of Tortesillas...

3-29-1564:

... and that I do. Please welcome the latest addition to the Portuguese empire, a level 1 trading post in Leone. Russia beats Poland again (2 more provinces). France annexes Cologne. Austria annexes Thuringen.

7-24-1564:

Spain/Austria keep rolling over various Baltic/Germanic minors. Leone is a level 1 colony now.

5-5-1565:

France surrenders to Spain. My last leader dies.

7-22-1565:

Austria annexes Baden.

12-25-1565:

Netherlands get the Hague from Austria. Go Flemish! About time...

1-1-1566:

Spain, Genoa, and the Netherlands become counter-reformed catholics.

12-1-1566:

Land tech 8 researched.

4-8-1568:

After 3 failed attempts to colonize, Leone is finally up to level 2 (209, -2%).

5-1-1569:

And another failed attempt. Not fun, considering I can send only 1 colonist a year. Austria, Scotland, and Papal States switch to counter-reformed catholics. 5,000-some Frenchmen are in Ivoria.
Naval tech 7 researched.

8-19-1569:

France defeats Austria, gains a province. Infrastructure tech 6 researched.

11-3-1569:

Another Russian/Swedish/Pskovian war versus Poland.

8-28-1570:

Poland loses 2 more provinces. East of Dniepr river Poland owns only Kursk, Mozyr, and Smolensk.

4-10-1573:

Spain/Austria and 2 allies DoW Turkey and 1 ally.

7-9-1573:

Netherlands get 2 more Dutch provinces from Austria. Yay!

9-1-1573:

Land tech 9 researched.

Phew. Enough for now. Comments?

 

[Yozhik]

9-4-1573 - on

Current stats:
- tech: 9, 7, +3, 4, 6
- troops: 15,611 inf, 5,858 cav, 6 warships, 2 transports
- leaders: none
- 33 gold, no loans
- 9 cities: Tago (40,858 +13%, 98/4), Oporto (21,303 +10%, 26/3), Algarve (25,538 +10%, 25/4), Tangiers (10,625 +7%, 19/3), The Azores (1,770 +7%, 14/2 The value actually decreased since 1550), Cape Verde (1,401 +10%, 10/2 Same situation as with The Azores), Louga (1,188 +2%, 15/42 I sure have been busy with my African holdings haven't I), Senegal (2,901 +8%, 19/42), Casamance (2,206 +1%, 16/42).
- 1 colony: Leone (306, -2%, 5/21)
- 3 trading posts: Nouakchott (level 3, 1/4), Palanas (level 4, 1/4), Fernando Po (level 1, 0/3)
- 6 (+5/yr) merchants, 6 (+2/yr) settlers, 6(+3/yr) diplomats
- religion: Catholic 100, Moslem 50, Orthodox 0, Protestant 0, Reformed 100
- research: Infrastructure
- maintenance: Land 50%, Naval 50%
- major enemies: East Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, North Africa, Northern Germany

Current VP standings:
1 - Spain - 1096
2 - Turkey - 949
3 - Russia - 840
4 - France - 772
4 - Russia - 561
------
10 - Portugal - 357

1-28-1574:

The French just never learn do they? Please welcome Ovambo, a level 2 trading post, yet another jewel in the Portuguese crown.

3-12-1574:

For 60-some years 95 of my men sat in Somalia... finally Persians took them off. Hmph.

4-2-1574:

Denmark annexes Hanseatic League. Venice annexes Ragusa. The only remaning 1-province independent state in Europe is Kleves.

2-1-1575:

Another Austrian/Spanish-French war.

11-7-1575:

A French-English war. I join on the English side by mistake - hit enter too soon.

3-1-1576:

Spain surrenders to Turkey. Another Russian-Polish war.

1-1-1577:

Holstein breaks away from Denmark.

6-29-1577:

Poland surrenders to Sweden (2 provinces).

11-30-1577:

Poland surrender to Russia (2 provinces).

1-1-1578:

New leader: General Antonio Dom Crato (3-3-2).

4-1-1578:

Leone becomes a city (702, -2%).

6-8-1578:

Austria loses 2 provinces to Turkey.

9-1-1578:

Spain refuses to renew our marriage.

10-29-1578:

Spain forces Palantinat to change its religion.

3-6-1580:

Austria loses 2 provinces to France.

1-7-1580:

Persian government falls.

11-25-1580:

Royal marriage with Modena. The first marriage offered to us and not initiated by us.

3-1-1581:

Spain loses 1 province to France.

4-14-1581:

3rd rebellion in Tangiers. Unsuccessful.

11-1-1581:

Land tech 10 researched. British ships pass by our colonies on a regular basis now.

9-7-1582:

France surrenders to England.

8-1-1584:

Naval tech 8 researched.

4-20-1587:

Netherlands gets the last Flemish province from France.

7-1-1587:

Austria annexes Holstein.

1-23-1588:

Austria/Spain-Turkish war.

5-20-1590:

French-Turkish war.

10-16-1590:

Spain devastates Hafsid empire, taking 3 provinces. Earlier they grabbed Flanders from the Netherlands.

2-1-1591:

Holstein breaks free from Austria.

8-16-1591:

Russian-Polish war.

10-14-1591:

Spanish-Turkish war ends.

3-15-1592:

Leone finally achieved 0% growth. It has 2066 colonists now.

5-10-1592:

Turkey loses a province to France.

5-12-1592:

Turkey founded several colonies in South Africa. A team is dispatched to "negotiate".

6-23-1592:

Poland loses Galicia to Russia.

12-7-1592:

The "negotiators" add Namaqua, a level 1 trading post that used to belong to Venice. Sadly, Turkish colonies refuse to cooperate.

1-22-1593:

Turkey surrenders a province to Austria.

7-1-1593:

Infrastructure tech 7 researched.

10-5-1593:

Hafsid empire established a colony in South Africa west of our easternmost outpost. Our monarch is enraged. The treaty of Tordesillas is cancelled.

 

[Yozhik]

10-5-1593 - on

Current stats:
- tech: 10, 9, +3, 4, 7
- troops: 14,901 inf, 5,817 cav, 2 warships, 2 transports
Boy I really need to stop thinking I am lucky... or smart or witty or whatever.
- leaders: none
- 19 gold, no loans
- 10 cities:
- - Lisbon in Tago (53,040 +13%, 100/4)
- - Porto in Oporto (26,039 +10%, 27/3)
- - Elvas in Algarve (31,216 +10%, 26/4)
- - Tangiers (12,228 +7%, 21/3)
- - The Azores (2,038 +7%, 15/2)
- - Cape Verde (1,713 +10%, 11/2)
- - Quelimane in Louga (1,245 +2%, 16/42)
- - Malabo in Senegal (3,429 +8%, 20/42)
- - Angoche (2,262 +1%, 17/42)
- - Elmina in Leone (2,068, +1%, 16/42)
- 3 trading posts:
- - Nouakchott (level 3, 1/4)
- - Palanas (level 4, 1/5)
- - Fernando Po (level 1, 0/3)
- 6 (+5/yr) merchants, 6 (+2/yr) settlers, 6(+3/yr) diplomats
- religion: Catholic 100, Moslem 50, Orthodox 0, Protestant 0, Reformed 100
- research: Infrastructure
- maintenance: Land 50%, Naval 50%
- major enemies: East Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, North Africa, Northern Germany, parts of Central Germany

Current VP standings:
1 - Spain - 1530
2 - Turkey - 1188
3 - Russia - 1054
4 - France - 987
------
10 - Portugal - 413

6-22-1594:

France, Austria, Poland, England, Netherlands, Spain reject marriage proposals.

9-3-1595:

Turkey gains 2 more provinces from Persia and 1 from Venice.

3-1-1596:

Naval tech 10 researched.

1-1-1597:

Turkish troops in Ivoria. Luckily, natives wipe them out.

6-2-1597:

Austria annexes Holstein.

9-28-1597:

World War I: Spain + Austria versus France + Poland + 5 allies.

6-7-1598:

Spain loses Kosovo to France.

9-19-1598:

Spain and Austria DoW me. I call England for help, switch research to land, and start building troops.

5-8-1599:

Not good. I really hate the "stability -3" game event... don't you? Spain besieges Oporto, Algarve, and Tangiers. A Portuguese counterattack liberates Algarve, even though they have to fight against superior forces.

10-9-1600:

Two trading posts are burnt, I am down to two. Tangiers under Spanish control.

8-11-1601:

Spanish siege of Oporto is relieved; their assaults across the continent seem to wither down.

6-1-1602:

Spanish are routed from Oporto, which just a year ago had 47,000 of them in its suburbs. Tangiers rebelled against the oppressors.

11-11-1602:

Portuguese troops besiege Leon and take it. Spanish have been completely thrown out of the country. In the meantime the Spanish ally, Austria, loses three provinces to France.

2-1-1603:

Spain comes back, taking Leon. Turkish government is broken by the rebels, Wallachia and Mamelukes gain independence. A huge war rages in the east as a few minors take on Polish=French alliance.

2-18-1603:

Peace is signed, I pay Spain 19 gold or about that much.

6-3-1603:

Poland and France DoW England. I bow out of the alliance for the need to rebuild is pressing.

2-15-1604:

Algiers battles Turkey. We pray Morocco joins them.

2-1-1605:

Land 11 tech researched. Current tech levels: 11, 12, +3, 4, 7. Uzbeks grab more provinces from Persia.

5-4-1606:

Turkey annexes Mamelukes. Mainland Portuguese army is increased up to 11,000 men and 20 guns.

9-10-1606:

Russia annexes Pskov.

4-1-1607:

Naval tech 13 researched.

6-1-1607:

A Swedish fleet sails past Libson. We stare, awestruck.

9-22-1608:

Austria gains a colony in South Africa. Turkish and Swedish fleets off West Africa no longer surprise anyone. Portuguese colonies are hastily fortified.

10-1-1610:

A Spanish fleet has been sitting off Tangiers for years now, not suffering any attrition. A show of strength? A week later Austria and Spain DoW Turkey.

2-1-1612:

Astrakhan breaks free from Russia.

8-24-1612:

Russia annexes Astrakhan.

11-12-1612:

Poland finally wins a war in the east, taking Smolensk from Sweden.

2-20-1613:

When you thought you've seen it all: An Uzbeki-Scottish-Turkish fleet off Senegal.

6-13-1613:

Dutch land just north of Portuguese mainland in Spain. We cheer them.

4-25-1614:

Russia gets 3 provinces from Sibir. The Dutch are wiped out from the Iberian peninsula.

10-20-1614:

Georgia gets 2 provinces off Persia. Is this a kick-a-Shiite milennium?

1-23-1616:

I get a conquistador (and had an explorer for a bit). All 4 African mainland possessions have minimal fortresses. 6 countries assault Persia.

7-1-1616:

Naval tech 14 researched.

9-10-1616:

The Hafsid trading post is gone from West Africa, but Algeria establishes one.

5-12-1617:

Senegal reaches 5,000 colonists. Austria grabs a province from Turkey.

12-21-1617:

France annexes Serbia.

3-1-1617:

I get hit with a "-3" stability event again. Spain loses Flanders to Netherlands. Austria/Spain DoW Poland/France. Land tech 12 researched. My troops get new uniform which makes me realize that Spain is probably a couple of tech levels above me.

5-17-1618:

France + Poland go after Turkey.

5-4-1619:

Ivoria colony started. The French do worry us, for their men appear regularly in the area.

7-20-1619:

The 2nd Russian-Turkish war. All main Portuguese cities have medium fortresses or better (Oporto - random event - a large fortress). A bit later Russia joins a war against Austria and Spain.

2-15-1620:

France loses Tyrol to Austria.

6-3-1620:

Algarve turns Protestant - and rebels.

5-3-1621:

Morocco DoWs me, Algiers and Oman jumping in. And I am still besieging Algarve...

3-7-1622:

Moroccan army crushed in Tangiers. Russia gains Azov from Turkey.

Enough for now...

 

[unmerged(3440)]

screenies, please

 

[unmerged(3525)]

IMO you cannot ignore trade if you play Portugal. Monthly income from trade can sometimes make up almost 2/3rds of total income. This is normally due to the fact that Portugal can have "huge" CoTs the are created in the East which then pull lots of trade from Chinese and Indian CoTs. If no-one else has explored the region, this can become a private CoT which can easily draw in up to 100D a month (depends on trade tech).

btw, I would avoid autosend merchants unless you've got plenty of cash

Concerning Royal Marriage, these will normally be accepted if relations are either -149 to -5 and better than +20. However, where the state religion is different you may have to be in the range +40 or better while the negative range is unchanged. What this means is that if relations are -150 or lower or if they are in range -4 to +19 (-4 to +39) a RM proposal will NOT be accepted. Test for yourself - although I won't guarantee any of the numbers they are more or less correct.

 

[Estonianzulu]

True, and sometimes the computer just likes to watch you suffer, with an overflow of diplomats. Also has anyone noticed the the Papal States won't R-M if it's a mission? Or mabye its just me. I had them a +50 and tried to RM, they didn't!

Anyway interesting AAR, Uzbecks have a fleet? Let alone one in the atlantic... interesting.

 

[unmerged(3440)]

The Papal States and the Knigths of St. John never RM

 

[Yozhik]

Replies

Gorion - am working on the screenies. For some reason Print Screen no longer works.

Lion - I don't know... as I said, I played Mughai, and, even with Trade 8, I kept losing money... what was I doing wrong? I monopolized 2-3 CoTs as them...

Estonian - to make it worse, none of those kids had a port in Atlantic... I've seen Norway there too...

 

[Yozhik]

The promised screenies

Thanks to Uglyduck for explaining this to me...

Ok.

The world in 1622:

 

[Lethke]

A CrC Dutch?
Didn't their provinces turn protestant?
Or reformed?

Sounds strange to me.

Great AAR though. I'm curently playing my first game as Portugal, and trust me the sugar provinces in Brazil are early in the game realy worth it.

 

[Yozhik]

For Lethke:

True, but sugar goes up in price only when breweries are built, while ivory / spices / chinaware / tobacco appreciate essentially when any new city is developed (to oversimplify it). Check the market price trends in my AAR.

Otherwise - luck!