Capturing Rival City: Raze or Install New Governor?

[BossArky]

When you capture a rival city do you typically Raze or Install New Governor?

If I install a new governor the land tiles which I would typically farm/mine/grow tobacco/etc are destroyed. Do you need to get a Pioneer in to fix the land or what? i.e. how do I make this land productive again?

I find it slightly annoying to have to put soldiers or dragoons into a newly captured city to protect it when they could be out rampaging finishing off the rival who have fled to the surrounding country side. Much better to just raze and track them down!

If I install a new governor do the colonists associated with that rival city now all come under my control?

I read the manual cover to cover but it didn't go into detail on this Raze vs Install topic.

Thanks for any info!

 

[Robert Surcouf]

Hi BossArky,

I usually prefer installing a new governor... The land isn't destroyed. You seem to think that the improvements are destroyed. I don't think so, unless someone has pillaged them. In that case a pioneer can fix them.

I think you're confusing "land destruction" and "rebellion". You don't actually gain the control of the colony instantly. You have to wait a few turns (e.g. 5 in standard speed I think). During those turns, the colonists are unproductive, which is logical... After that you gain control of all the colonists. (yet one might have died defending the colony)

You seem a little impatient... Of course, installing a new governor can slow you down in your war. But razing colonies gives you diplomatic penalties. You must choose wisely.

 

[BossArky]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the reply!

Agh ok, I didn't realise that the colony would revert back to its productive self following my invasion.

'll try it out!

Cheers.

 

[agaro]

Captured cities are also unproductive if they are still surrounded by the enemy's cultural area. You have to force their cultural boundary back as well by capturing more cities until the boundary rolls back.

You also have the option to evacuate and use the city as bait. The AI forces will usually come rushing back to retake the city at which time you can take them out again.

The only times I raze cities are if they are too close together in the first place and I want to spread them out. If 2 cities are 1 square apart the enemy can attack from one city in one move with cannons via roads. This makes it difficult to hold a captured city and his cannons are protected in his other city so you can't get at them. In this case capturing and immediate razing of one city might be the best option.

 

[reddishrecue]

Typically install a new governor. You dont need to fix only if you want. Bring pioneers to fix for a lot more resources and food. When the city is yours, everyone that was inside is also yours.

 

[flytopp]

If the rival city is near your own colonies, install a new governor and keep it.

If the rival city is either far from your colonies, or on another island completely, consider installing a new governor, looting it of all valuable built up resources and specialized poplulation, then giving it back in a peace offering to the rival nation.

Keep in mind that, if you keep it, and it is within their cultural influence, you will not get much production from it, and have to garrison it from both native and rival attacks.

Much better to give it back in case you want to raid it again later in the game for resources and specialist population .

Raiding is one of my favorite build strategies. Either buy or build a galleon early, load up the troops, and go raid rival port settlements. Often you can pick up expensive specialist population for free, and the commodities siezed will more than pay your costs of the raid, or pay for the purchase of a few frigates for bombardment in the next raid. In addition, it knocks down your rivals, and increases your troop training level.

Gift their settlements back after the raid, and they will love you for it.

 

[agaro]

If the rival city is near your own colonies, install a new governor and keep it.

If the rival city is either far from your colonies, or on another island completely, consider installing a new governor, looting it of all valuable built up resources and specialized poplulation, then giving it back in a peace offering to the rival nation.

Keep in mind that, if you keep it, and it is within their cultural influence, you will not get much production from it, and have to garrison it from both native and rival attacks.

Much better to give it back in case you want to raid it again later in the game for resources and specialist population .

Raiding is one of my favorite build strategies. Either buy or build a galleon early, load up the troops, and go raid rival port settlements. Often you can pick up expensive specialist population for free, and the commodities siezed will more than pay your costs of the raid, or pay for the purchase of a few frigates for bombardment in the next raid. In addition, it knocks down your rivals, and increases your troop training level.

Gift their settlements back after the raid, and they will love you for it.

Also consider gifting it to some other European power that you want to go to war with the European power that had the settlement originally. It might take a little while but it almost always works. Making your rivals fight with each other is a good way to slowing their progress.