Diary of a Mad King - An Imperialism II AAR

[Thorn]

Does minor nations improve their lands? Or will Italy stay like the way it is now?

Yeah, you sure do have a lot of mountains and hills. How will you judge your territory? Too little of forrests and cattle? Regarding cattle and fish, what are they required for (if you don't have complex food option turned on)?

The minor nations won't improve their land but you can do it for them. It's a way to get their goods on the world market or if you are going to invade them later, it's sometimes a good idea to build roads to their food sources so you can start feeding your new citizens after the invasion.

 

[Polycrates]

You know you've got me hooked on this game again now myself, dammit!

Damn! That's not a nice landscape there! At least you should be okay for ore and copper, probably a tin too.
The lack of timber isn't too bad though; pretty much everyone sells it (which is nice for your relations too) and there's heaps in the new world. Sucks to have to waste merchant marine on something like that though. Early lack of ore is way worse.

Superior hull design is a good move - leads to galleons! Galleons are awesome since they've got great cargo capacity and so you can double up on your merchant marine and navy at the same time

Other early goals that are good - though the level 2 timber tech is kinda useless for you, it leads to printing press that gives +22% research; and level 2 forts leads to level 2 mines and then level 2 roads; and the light artillery techs

I'd be getting hordes of explorers before worrying about spies; if you can find diamonds or even gold, they can fund half your early economy on their own...

 

[Polycrates]

The minor nations won't improve their land but you can do it for them. It's a way to get their goods on the world market or if you are going to invade them later, it's sometimes a good idea to build roads to their food sources so you can start feeding your new citizens after the invasion.

Fun thing with minors...if you get a pact with them, you automatically get all their territory when another major declares war on them (as long as you choose not to break the pact). Nice easy way to get good old world territory the easy way, since majors seem to surprisingly amenable to a quick peace in this game.

 

[Thorn]

You know you've got me hooked on this game again now myself, dammit!

My nefarious plan- to get people addicted to Imperialism so that we finally get enough interest in Imperialism III!
Now somebody contact Bill Spieth...

 

[Maniacal]

We don't need Imperialism 3, we just need an updated Imp2. I don't want 3d graphics, new and better isometric whatever the current ones are yes, but not 3D.

 

[Thorn]

We don't need Imperialism 3, we just need an updated Imp2. I don't want 3d graphics, new and better isometric whatever the current ones are yes, but not 3D.

I could live with that.

 

[Thorn]

Chapter 3 - 1516 AD​

People are buying timber! I included this screenshot to show the trade book. The offering nations are shown on the left along with the order of countries that they will sell to first. I haven't offered any trade subsidies yet so that's why I'm almost the last person they want to sell to. I'm going to try to change that by offering a 10% subsidy to both Italy and Denmark.

Lumber Sale!​

I have decided to enlist another explorer to send to the New World. I've already encountered other Great Powers in the New World. They are exploring like mad. There are a lot of riches in there and I need to find out where they are.

Some New World News​

1514 AD brings some good news. Iron ore is discovered in southern England! So far I'm disappointed in my search for metals. Seven hills/mountains explored and only one source of iron ore. Oh well, there's a lot more to go.

Iron Ore Mine Under Construction​

I'm also meeting my food needs now. But that's not going to be good enough. I need to get more food in order to build up my workforce and army. Look out grain and meats, here I come! I've also finished researching Diplomatic Expertise. The Academy of Sciences has been instructed to start looking into Saw Mills. I won't be able to benefit from the extra lumber but Saw Mill leads to Printing Press and that's a good thing.
And then some ominous news arrives. Spain has started it's conquest of the New World. Word arrives that the Cherokee province of Bronco is now under Spanish control. I'm thinking about joining the land grab. Everyone else will!

Spain 'negotiates' with the Cherokee​

Looking around the New World I am considering taking over the province in the screenshot below. It has lots of sugar cane, cotton and tobacco. It also has some hills and a swamp (that I can see). I'm going to finish exploring the area with my explorer to see what forces I may be facing. The only problem is- if I remember correctly the port shown at the mouth of the river indicates that the capital of the tribe is upstream. This could be the capital province of the Mayans. If so, I'm certain I can't take it by force with the small army I have now.

Future Home of Jamestown?​

A final screenshot shows a scene that players familiar with Imperialism II will like. Note the amount of desert land near the Pueblo. Desert land is famous for having diamonds. Diamonds = BIG money. You can bet the other Great Powers will explore those areas soon.

Future Home of De Beers?​

 

[Maniacal]

I've never been able to find diamonds yet, I just stole Holand and France's diamonds

 

[Polycrates]

Looking good! At this rate you'll have Europe sewn up in no time!

I wouldn't be too worried about the lack of ore so far, there's bound to be more turning up with the number of mountains you've got. I'd still be subsidising and buying it up like crazy from the minors though

But New World! There's plenty of it, and I'd advise looking around a bit more before committing to any attacks...the last thing you want is a whole string of separated colonies with lots of hostile borders that all need defending, and it takes a while before you can really exploit new world resources to the fullest anyway (diamonds excepted), so there's no real rush.

Timber is your lifeblood and you'll need a lot of it from the new world. Ore may or not be essential. Tin is probably going to be a big priority. You don't go through a huge amount of cloth, and you've got enough sheep that cotton should be pretty irrelevant. Sugar cane is okay, but apprentices are barely worth it, even with your fairly low food supply (they really only give 1 extra production after the cost of sugar refining, and half of that is taken up by merchant marine costs). Tobacco is great, but not relevant till later, and not really worth rushing for. Fur is so good later that it might be worth taking a polar colony or two, or at least buying with a merchant.

Anyway, the colony you've picked has pluses and minuses. Defensively it's perfect, it has a port prebuilt, and it will eventually have a fantastic town. But I don't reckon it's worth grabbing a sugar/tobacco colony at this stage. It's definitely a capital (though I was surprised to find that on normal level capitals are actually very takeable with your starting troops if you attack them before other provinces) - but AIs seem very slow to attack capitals, so I reckon the opportunity will be there for quite a while.

So yeah, I'm for still looking, taking any diamond or gem colonies instantly regardless of any other factors, and trying for an easily-defended area with more of your immediately useful resources. But you're the king!

 

[Maniacal]

Yeah I looked for forests and metals and furs when I went after my colonies.

 

[Olav]

It will be interesting to see how you will expand in the New World, especially if you do it the peaceful way. In a recent game, the AI used merchants to buy a lot of land from a Native nation, and they expanded the infrastructure. Then I moved in with an army and captured everything. Couldn't the AI do anything to stop this?

Also, what will you do if you find diamonds/gems/etc? If you buy the land with a merchant, will the Natives get some of the value from it?

 

[Yeekim]

the last thing you want is a whole string of separated colonies with lots of hostile borders that all need defending

Timber is your lifeblood and you'll need a lot of it from the new world.

You don't go through a huge amount of cloth, and you've got enough sheep that cotton should be pretty irrelevant.

Fur is so good later that it might be worth taking a polar colony or two, or at least buying with a merchant.

I was surprised to find that on normal level capitals are actually very takeable with your starting troops if you attack them before other provinces

All excellent points, so QFT

 

[Thorn]

Chapter 4 - 1524 AD​

More lumber deals! Without a nice supply of lumber I continue to buy it from the world market. It does help my relations with others. In this case, it makes Denmark all giddy with my merchants.

We Love Danish Furniture!​

Sweden, on the other hand, seems to interested in taking what doesn't belong to them. I'm behind in technology (as we will see later) but they must be interested in something. They dare try my patience?

Ambassador Asbjørn, May I help you with something?​

But good news does arrive from the south. The royal explorer has reported yet another source of iron ore! That makes two so far and there are still many mountains and hills left to explore. Not to mention swamps.

Grey gold! Northumberland tea! Move, Jed, move!​

Now that my food supply is improving I need to recruit a few more peasants. To do that I need more fabric. So, I'm having my paper industry shut down and I'm sending those workers to the fabric mills.

Sure you know paper, but do you know the working end of a sheep?​

In the New World Spain continues to follow it's historical role. They march into yet another province. I still haven't make any moves in the New World. My explorer is still looking around for prime real estate. I can't wait much longer though.

Hey, we're conquistadors. It's what we do!​

Locally, I've decided not to neglect Germany. Their provinces are on my continent (island?) so they should be mine, right? I'll try wooing them with devonshire cream and scones. I open a trade consulate in Berlin.

I say, have you even been to a Sconebucks?​

Meanwhile, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that Italy has signed a Pact with Holland. We are not amused. The Academy of Sciences has also turned in it's annual report:

We know what we're doing. Really.​

Finally, a screen I haven't included to date. It's the Overall Ranking screen for the major powers. Below that are the screenies for Industry, Labor, Technological Advancement and Military Strength. They speak for themselves. The last screenshot shows the world as we know it.

You tell him, you're the Prime Minister!​

I'm going to be away for about a week so there won't be an update for a short while. I'll still be able to check the forums (I'm taking a netbook with me) but I don't think I'll get a chance to play. That should give time to Parliament (you guys!) to offer advice on how to keep the empire on course.

 

[Olav]

Hmm, no iron left in the warehouse. That can't be good. At least you will get one source hooked up very soon.

That should give time to Parliament (you guys!) to offer advice on how to keep the empire on course.

What about sending a small army to the New World? Have your explorer found anything interesting there yet? Maybe the provinces with the deserts would be a good target...

 

[Yeekim]

Will someone brush up my memory...what was paper good for?

 

[Olav]

You need 3 paper for builders/engineers/spies/merchants etc. Also, you need it for upgrading labourers to apprentices/journeymen/masters.

 

[Maniacal]

However once you build several builders/engineers/spies/a merchant in the early game you can switch the worker to something mroe improtant. And the game likes to put people on paper production during it's reshuffling of the workforce when something runs dry. The AI is not nesecaraly self-sustainable (and that's on human controlled...).

 

[Thorn]

Chapter 5 - 1536 AD​

Sorry about the long delay. Just a short update to show I'm still here. I will finish this AAR one way or another!
I'm fresh out of iron and iron ore now. I'm bidding on both in the world market. The lack of cast iron means that I cannot continue improving my infrastructure. Not good at all.

For want of a nail...​

The news concerning iron isn't all bad though. I have now found five sources of iron in England. Once they are properly connected to my transportation network the shortage will be over. In the meantime I will continue to buy it since it's so important to have right now.

I've found some more, Sire! This is getting easier!​

I started researching Improved Sea Routes. It's a prerequisite to Convoying and Convoying will get me Galleons. I need Galleons! To prove that point, France decided to join Spain in taking land in the New World. I really need to decide what to do there myself. It appears the land grab is well under way.

I'm French! Why do think I have this outrageous accent, you silly king-a?!​

And another update from the Academy of Science. I'm now looking into how a Printing Press works. That will lead to a 22% increase in research.

Soon we shall be able to print out the user's manual!​

And again the French are on the march...

Go and boil your bottoms, you sons of silly persons!​

Finally a parting screenie of southern England. I'm working towards hooking up my iron. I'll now start looking to find copper and tin and other goodies.

Opening soon: Skyline Drive!​

Sorry for the short update but I wanted post something. I'm thinking the updates might get a little longer in the future. Hopefully people who are using the AAR to help learn the game are catching on. I'll try keep highlighting key events.

 

[Olav]

Nice to see this back.

It's a good thing that you got those iron sources hooked up. Looks like you have a steady supply of wheat as well, but what about cattle/fish?

And how long are you going to wait before you start expanding in the New World? Are you waiting for your explorer(s) to find some valuable mines?

 

[Thorn]

Nice to see this back.

It's a good thing that you got those iron sources hooked up. Looks like you have a steady supply of wheat as well, but what about cattle/fish?

And how long are you going to wait before you start expanding in the New World? Are you waiting for your explorer(s) to find some valuable mines?

I've got a small surplus of meat so I'm okay for now. But I do need more in order to grow my workforce and army. As far as the New World goes, I need to decide now. I was using my explorer to look for valuable diamonds but so far he's found nothing. What to do...