Empire Total War: Dutch

[Icaria909]

I've been playing this game for a few weeks now and played as several nations, but now I am having trouble with the dutch. I've played and won as the Spanish, the Austrians, the Swedes, and the British, but I can't seem to progress very far as the dutch.

I play on normal/normal (I play on higher difficulties in the other Total War series but I'm still getting used to naval combat) and on long campaign. I usually start the game by declaring war on New Spain so I am only at war with Spain and New Spain rather than France, Spain and New Spain. I can capture Belgium, New Andalusia, Trinidad y Tobago, and Antilles in the first few turns. I then spend several turns beefing up my economy, encouraging growth in my carribean possessions, and building up a nice navy in Amsterdam. I also burn down one of the towns in Belgium to make another school so I can research a few military techs, and then philosophy and naval techs.

My problem comes that around 1710 Spain has remilitarized and brings a giant fleet of galleons and a large army into the carribean and begins stealing back all the land I had grabbed from it in the first war. Not to mention that France usually attacks with a large army in Belgium and the Ottoman Empire begins to attack my trade around India and Indonesia.

In another game I could focus my resources in one or maybe two theaters, but how do I contend with war in every major theater (Europe, Americas, and India), what areas (european or carribean territories)are more important for future growth, and how large should be my navy in comparison to my land armies? any help and random advice about how to play as the Dutch by more experienced players would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Treynottray]

I have almost completed the world domination Dutch campaign (4 territories away from victory) on h/h.

First, secure your capital! I built maximum fortifications in Amsterdam so that I could hold off any invaders (Once you have forts your capital is extremely easy to hold)

Second, dont build a good navy... build a great one! First turn of game pirates blockade your trade routes and every nation that doesn't like you (Spain, France and some other random nations) have large navies. The dutch start off the game with a great trade fleet (and can build flyuts as well) but this will do you no good if your trade route is raided. My first invasion plans are usually to conquer the pirates to prevent them from constantly harrassing my trade lines (and the islands are useful too).

Once your trading is secure you have 2 real options

1) war with Spain and possibly France in Europe/America

2) war In India


1)Warring with Spain and France make an already hard faction to play extremely difficult. Britain will most likely come to your aid but the AI sometimes fails to help you against their navies and will not help you defend your home province. And seeing as you will most likely go bankrupt if your trade routes are blockaded, this action is unwise (unless you are well prepared and can win the sea battle)

If you do war them take Spanish and French possessions in America as they can be defended by your navy and offer excellent trade/tax income (another reason to have a navy!)

If you can take France and Spain as well, as doing so will pretty much clear your Western border and provide you with income/research.


2) Or you can build a sizable force in Europe to deter Spanish and French attacks and conquer India. Ceylon is very upgradable and is pretty much a safe haven from attack for the first 20-40 turns. I usually build up my forces, conquer the single territory nation near the tip of india and then invade the martha confederacy when they have control of roughly 2/3 of India. At that point, the mughuls have enough power to help you fight the marthas. Once the marthas are gone the mughuls will fall very easily. Once you have India you will have the economy to do what you want.



Thats pretty much how I play the Dutch. They can be very challenging but it is also very rewarding to win with them

 

[Elta]

Playing as the Dutch - Kick Spain out of the low countries.

Then hold out for peace.

Meanwhile conquer India and stack the trade zones in the Indonesia/south east asia area with Trade ships. 10 or 15 in a stack at each anchor. Put some 3rd rates in to protect them from pirates if need be.

I've made 30K + per turn with this strategy.

If you take over India you can build and immense amount of schools with ease.

After you have taken all of India taking Europe etc is very easy.

 

[Maniacal]

Hah, peace in a total war game, hah hah nice one!

Both Spain and France didn't want any of their regions back, so France was destroyed a bit sooner than expected and Spain is still "fighting" on.

 

[Elta]

It's easy! Just show them that you can beat them battle after battle, then give them two techs and they will leave you alone.


I don't like to mess around in Europe early, too rebellious.

It's a money sink.

India and trade are the way to go

 

[Maniacal]

Ah yes, I didn't figure out that the only way to make a bloody damn diplomatic deal was to give them tech every bleeping time until recently.

Its odd though, either there is a limit on what tech you can give or the Barbary states somehow has the same tech level as Britain in the 1760s.

 

[Elta]

Indeed they do, other countries trade with them for peace.

Take a look at who their enemies are, they get less and less every decade or so.


Also, remember that the amount of money the pc ask for in an agreement is always a percentage of your current treasury.

So spend, spend, spend before making agreements.

 

[Maniacal]

They haven't sent me anything in ages, except some begging for land in ******** claims (yes, you, a puny nation, is going to THREATEN Great Britain which controls half of Western Europe, half of India and nearly half of North America, is nearly undefeated, has a very high level of tech, etc, into giving you a piece of land that I have no interest in giving up. Because that makes sense.)

I always end up spending almost all my money anyways, if its not on replacing casualties and building new ships its upgrading buildings.