No elder statesmen?

[Narajin]

I just finished my second game which I won by independence.

The weird thing with this game was that I haven't seen a single elder statesman produced from the docks of Europe and being Dutch I have bought maybe 20 or so units from there. It was about the last 100 turns to declare, so I decided to just go for the FF who gives 3 elder statesmen and from there I trained the others.

But if I didn't get this, it would have been a bit harder to declare independence.

I was just wondering if any one also experienced this and if so, what other strategies would they have done besides going for the founding father with 3 elder statesmen.

So far, another specialization which is hard to get is the sugar planter from what I've heard. Could this be a balancing issue or bug?

 

[Wheldrake]

Elder statesman: as with any other specialist with the exception of planter specialists, you can simply buy these guys from the Europe screen.

Sugar planter: if you can't find a native village that trains sugar planters *anywhere* on the map, then you can have a regular unit (free colonist, criminal, indentured servant or indian) work as a sugar planter and eventually he will change into an expert sugar planter. This is also true of other professions as well, but it only works if you *never* move the guy from that particular job or square.

Cheers, --- Wheldrake

 

[Narajin]

I guess you missed my point. Yes I know where to buy elder statesmen but NONE appeared at the docks whatsoever as I was approaching about 50 turns to independence.

 

[Elliot]

What appears on the docks is random. Sometimes you are unlucky.

 

[Narajin]

Yes, lol.

Just found out about the button to buy directly the unit you want.

 

[Malkaviel]

I just finished my second game which I won by independence.

The weird thing with this game was that I haven't seen a single elder statesman produced from the docks of Europe and being Dutch I have bought maybe 20 or so units from there. It was about the last 100 turns to declare, so I decided to just go for the FF who gives 3 elder statesmen and from there I trained the others.

But if I didn't get this, it would have been a bit harder to declare independence.

I was just wondering if any one also experienced this and if so, what other strategies would they have done besides going for the founding father with 3 elder statesmen.

So far, another specialization which is hard to get is the sugar planter from what I've heard. Could this be a balancing issue or bug?

It's random. I rarely depend on the dock. Actually unless I'm lucky to get a finished goods specialist I particularly need, most dock immigrants become dragoons.

Generally I'll buy one elder statesman and put him in a city with a college and excess food. Graduation time is reasonable without university if you're only using it for statesmen and the end cost is 500 each.