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Being Edison This is where much of the money ended up: research. There are a few possible strategies for the order things are researched in. I started with the industry, gathering (production of developed tiles) and research improvements. However I knew by bitter experience, that navy and army - especially the dreaded horseartillery - has to follow closely after.
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Just a small part of the research screen. Three items (later 4) can be researched at any time. A desired goal is used to find out which inventions to research to reach the goal (here: sugar planting and refining). Research is expensive! But luckily, that's the reason why I have spies (not shown in the above) - cuts down the research time considerably if any other great power has allready invented the item. Reap the advantages of backwardness - realistic and fun!. |
Out of money - trade is no longer an option! "Aber dann haben wir anderen Methoden" (but then we have other ways. Heinrich Himmler, was it?)
Doing diplomacy with europeans is a delicate business. In the New World, it's an entirely different matter. You don't even have to declare war, so I didn't - I just attacked! A good strategy seems to be to decide early on which tribes to be nice to and where to simply invade. Basically, tribes that other great powers try to invest in, is a good place to wage war instead of trading. Have to stay clear of their investments of course or the war will get out of hand. | ||
At the left the A-team. This small group conquered lots of territory. They have been awarded medals (which shows experience) for killing indians. Above the A-team reinforced by the notorious horseartillery (just to make sure...) is dealing with a group of indians. Somehow they just won't surrender their land peacefully!? |
Getting ready for some real action Soon, most of the new world had either been conquered by armies or monopolised by landpurchase. By 1578 - which was 76 years (or 38 turns) from the beginning - the economy was accumulating and it was time to think more carefully about the future. I tried to conquer land in a way to cut off the possible routes of conquest by other great powers. I still had territories that could be conquered, but progress was slow because attacking costs money. A look at the world map was reassuring, but didn't give any promise of an uncomplicated future.
The world in 1578. I had conquered the orange areas (Sioux and Inca territory). Iroquois and Aztecs were next. The belgian territory is part of Spain from the beginning. I'm being friendly to the Kwakiuti and Hurons. They are just being exploited - not killed :) |
To ally or not to ally, that is the question (William Shakesbeard) During the years that had passed, I had had several offers of alliances. It was tempting to accept, but also dangerous. From previous experiences I knew, that in some cases, alliances was followed immediately by the new ally declaring war on somebody. An then I would be in the mess: either go along and risk the war or decline and be VERY unpopular with the then former ally. Judging by the diplomacy info on the nations relative strengths and relations, I finally accepeted alliances with Holland and France. Portugal and England were allready allied. | |
Accepting an alliance with Holland in 1578. This left Sweden as the only great power with no allies. A fact that was to have significant importance later on. |
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