The new game, like the original game, will be turn-based, and will unfold over the course of 300 turns as you explore the new world under the banner of an imperialist European power.
And since the game has a limited timeframe of 300 turns, you can't decide to declare independence with only 10 turns left, since you simply won't have enough time to turn away the tide.
I read that earlier (although it didn't click at the time) and I wonder if the basic timeline has changed from the original. That wouldn't be too surprising except that from looking at all the reviews, they're trying to keep most of the gameplay the same as before.
Kay. In the original, you started in 1492, one turn per year. Then in 1600, it went to two turns per year. If you hadn't declared independence by 1800 the game ended, and then you had until 1850 to win the war.
Unless my math is all farbled up, that's 608 turns total. Does anybody know if they simplified it to one turn per year from 1500 to 1800, end of story?