A couple newbie questions...

[yturk39]

1) How quickly does the REF show up after you've declared independence? Do you need to be ready to go in the next few turns?

2) How highly promoted are the REF units, on average? Do they all start with Veteran 1 and Leadership?

3) Does declaring independence void defensive pacts with natives (the same way delcaring war within the colonies does?)

4) Is there a cap on the growth of the King's REF? If so, how many units is it? Are units weighted differently, or does a Man-o-War rank the same as a Regular?

 

[dalgo]

1) How quickly does the REF show up after you've declared independence? Do you need to be ready to go in the next few turns??

It depends how far your colonies are from the sea lanes. If they are close the REF will arrive in two turns.

2) How highly promoted are the REF units, on average? Do they all start with Veteran 1 and Leadership??

Their Soldiers and Dragoons start with two or three promotions each.

3) Does declaring independence void defensive pacts with natives (the same way delcaring war within the colonies does?)?

If you choose the Native Rights freedom they will honor their pact with you and declare war on the King. This also ends any current wars.

4) Is there a cap on the growth of the King's REF? If so, how many units is it? Are units weighted differently, or does a Man-o-War rank the same as a Regular?

I don't think there is a cap (I have seen 1000+ units), and both the REF Man-o-War and Artillery are stronger than your equivalent units.