So I took a look at one of the screenshots where the Royal Expeditionary Force for England are landing against their former colony. It appeared to me that the Colonials still had the flag of England and the Royals had a red banner with a black crown. Does that makes sense? Shouldn't the colonies get a new flag upon declaring independence?

They should, but it appears the colonies keep their flags, and the King's consists of a black crown against a coloured background (which depends on the corresponding nation). I don't know whether they'll keep things like that or change them before release. After all, the game's still a month away.

that is a good point. It is easy to think that what we see now is done and unchangeable.

Since several wars of independence can take place at the same time, it would be pretty confusing if the flags were changed. This small detail could seriously mess up the game:

Imagine that you are playing playing as the French and are at war with New England. You are constantly attacking their ships to keep them from trading goods to their homeport. Suddenly New England declares independence. If the flag was changed, you may end up attacking the English fleet instead and thereby end up helping New England to achieve their goal...!

Since several wars of independence can take place at the same time, it would be pretty confusing if the flags were changed. This small detail could seriously mess up the game:

Imagine that you are playing playing as the French and are at war with New England. You are constantly attacking their ships to keep them from trading goods to their homeport. Suddenly New England declares independence. If the flag was changed, you may end up attacking the English fleet instead and thereby end up helping New England to achieve their goal...!

Thats why I think each civilization should get their own revolutionary flag. England would get the US, France would get Canada or Quebec, Spain would get Mexico and Holland would get Guyana. If Portugal is ever added, they could get the Brazilian Flag. The Expeditionary Forces would then keep their own countries' flags. The player should then get a notice when another colony revolts, so they know what happened.

Are you guys sure more than one war of independence can be fought at the same time? In the original, you lost if any AI reached the declaration, and in the remake, only your king appears in the Foreign Advisor screen.

However... Nations you haven't contacted don't appear there, and it might be possible that there's no way to 'establish contact' with another civ's king. Hmm.

In the original, you lost if any AI reached the declaration, and in the remake, only your king appears in the Foreign Advisor screen.

WRONG.

There was a multiplier that increased your overall score if you got first, but it was more important to create a huge empire. I think it worked like this:

+25% Two prior nations
+50% One prior nation
+75% No prior nations

Different nations doesn't solve the problem.

To make it clearer...

In the beginning:
New England - English flag

During the war of independence:
New England - American flag
English forces - English flag

If you are at war with New England you shouldn't have to worry about their units changing flag and attack their enemy (who probably is your ally) by mistake.

Huh. I had only read about it, and it seems that info was wrong. I never allowed the AIs to get ahead of me in that regard, personally. :p

But how did it specifically work in the original then? Did you see the AI fighting its REF? Did their flags change? Wouldn't that have conflicted with your own flag changes?

But how did it specifically work in the original then? Did you see the AI fighting its REF?
The AI was granted independence for free. It didn't have to fight for it. :mad:
At some point in the game, you would get a message like this: "the King of Spain / England / ... is considering granting independence to his colonies in X turns". And after X turns, it was done.

PS it was +100% for the first player, and there was a time bonus to your score if you got independence before 1700.

In the original colonization the other european contries were given independence once they got enough rebels. If you killed off your competetors then they would probably not recieve independence at all.

But colonization 2 is different. It can be played online, therefore there can indeed be multiple independence wars at once. And if you play online be sure that you will be attacked by other players if you are in a possition to win independence. If one other player gets independence then it is instant loss for the other players. Therefore it will be very hard to get independence when playing an online game, unless you are truly alot stronger then they are like 2x any other player.

There is another victory condition, it is called high score, by a ended game. whoever has the highest score wins. + if you truly are a better player then the others and get slightly ahead, just kill off your nearest nabours. Most games online will be won by killing off your enemy colonial powers.
If your nearest nabours are killed, the one around the other part of the map will not reach you in time.

And if you play online be sure that you will be attacked by other players if you are in a possition to win independence. If one other player gets independence then it is instant loss for the other players. Therefore it will be very hard to get independence when playing an online game, unless you are truly alot stronger then they are like 2x any other player.
Which is why it's important that they add different victory conditions; though they won't. Also, get your spacebar to the doctor.

Thats why I think each civilization should get their own revolutionary flag. England would get the US, France would get Canada or Quebec, Spain would get Mexico and Holland would get Guyana. If Portugal is ever added, they could get the Brazilian Flag. The Expeditionary Forces would then keep their own countries' flags. The player should then get a notice when another colony revolts, so they know what happened.

I think something along these lines make complete sense. If, as a colony, you fly the flag of your motherland, then when you declare independence, you should not be flying the same flag, but a new one. It will really bother me if that doesn't happen. Unfortunately, I am incapable of doing anything about it other than complaining if it does happen. Laughable computer skills and all that.

Two new victory conditions should be added:

Conquest victory : Defeat all the other colonies and 75 % of Native american forces.

Influence: Gain the approval of 51% of the home parliament. Althoguh this would add a complete new twist with the motherland, I see it feasable, by gaining it three ways - bribing politicians (with gold or doing a quest i.e. intercept 5 dutch trade ships that can be completed any time), sending founding fathers to the motherland (each founding father will give you 5% extra support but you cannot use their bonus, so use wisely), and sending certain goods requested by Parliament.

Influence: Gain the approval of 51% of the home parliament. Althoguh this would add a complete new twist with the motherland, I see it feasable, by gaining it three ways - bribing politicians, sending founding fathers to the motherland and send certain goods requested by Parliament or something like that.
I rather like that; but of course, the "parliament" bit would be complicated to implement, because while England had one, France didn't, and I don't know about the two others. France had very little at that time to balance the king's power. Well, except his mistresses, perhaps.

Are you forgetting France was (one of the) the first republics?(until Napoleon tore that apart!). From 1581 and 1795 the the Dutch were a republic - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Republic. i'm unsure about Spain, but I'm sure there was one.

The French First Republic was proclaimed in 1792... the year the game ends. :p

And the Spanish Republic existed only a short while in the previous century, IIRC.

Okay eliminate the parliament. You have to influence nobles, who played a key part in society. And they were involved in warfare so a few favours like sinking one or two trade ships should appease them!

The French First Republic was proclaimed in 1792... the year the game ends. :p

BTW, I suppose this isn't a coincidence? ;)

doesn't the game end in 1850??

doesn't the game end in 1850??

Col Classic ends in 1850; this version ends in 1792 (under normal speed).

oh thats where i mixed it up! thanks.