Drunk-Monk
Chieftain
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2008
- Messages
- 56
Colonial competition often revolved around warfare. The less successful colonial powers (Sweden, Courland) found their colonies destroyed, and one of the triggers for the Wars of Independence, were periods of intensive warfare involving the mother country; the Seven Years War for the U.S.A, the French Revolution for Haiti and the Napoleonic Wars for Latin America.
I feel that war is one of the areas, that could be far better developed in the mod. I think there should be more events surrounding war with other powers, rather than the case now where the King suddenly decides to declare war or peace and you follow or not. For example, there should be more events about war tension, or some indication of the relations between the Kings in Europe. This would allow the player and the AI to have more information about the conflict, allowing the colonies to receive reinforcements and allow you and the AI to start preparing war material. At the moment, it is often very easy to defeat the other AI colonies, as they have very few troops deployed. Also, the player has almost no information, as to when a war is going to begin or end, and what nations are going to present a threat or an opportunity.
As many wars in this period were fought in coalitions, with shifting alliances, this can also be introduced, rather than the situation now where Wars seem to be 1vs1. This would also make it harder to maintain friendships with the other powers, which would balance the end game, whereas of now you receive a great deal of support.
Wars would occur via events and the diplo screen, where the King would make his requests. The King would ask you for troops, you would have the option of contributing, and the King could reward you such as by improving his relations with the player and possibly freezing your tax. Or if you did not contribute, punishing you. There would be a risk reward dynamic, as your troops would gain experience and FF points but also have the possibility of dying. Their experience and quality would reflect their survival chance. You also have the dilemmas of contributing troops and thus leaving your colonies underprotected, the risks to your units of destruction, in the Naval War there could be the possibility of increased privateer activity, or markets being blocked for several turns, and you could choose to sit back and make profit from selling war material but run the risk of facing punishment.
My proposal for war events includes three different types of conflict. A European War, representing the incessant conflicts that plagued Europe in the period. A Naval War, representing conflicts that were primarily fought at sea, like the Anglo-Dutch wars and finally the World War, representing large scale conflicts like the Seven Years War or the Napoleonic Wars.
In the first, the target would be an offscreen European power (1), prices would rise for War material in Europe (Guns, Blades, Cannon, Horses, Soldiers). The King would ask you for men.
In the Second, the target would be an offscreen European power, prices would rise for Nautical material (Sails, Ropes, Wood, Cannons, Ships). The King would ask you for ships.
In the third, the World war would be a more detailed version of the existing War event, where you have to attack a rival colony, but it would most likely feature coalitions of nations. Prices would rise for all War and Nautical material (Guns, Blades, Cannon, Horses, Soldiers, Sails, Ropes, Wood, Cannons, Ships).
Of course, you can also have the option of starting a war that is unapproved by your King, but this would generate a very negative response from both your own and the rivals King.
Feel free, to ask any questions if you need more clarification.
(1) Offscreen powers, would be those players that are absent in the game, or if all Nations are utilized, others that are not represented in the game. For example, Poland for Northern Europe, the Ottomans for Southern Europe and Austria for England and France. The Barbary Pirates could be a Naval antagonist. We wouldn’t necessarily need a leader head, as it would all be accounted for in the event.
I feel that war is one of the areas, that could be far better developed in the mod. I think there should be more events surrounding war with other powers, rather than the case now where the King suddenly decides to declare war or peace and you follow or not. For example, there should be more events about war tension, or some indication of the relations between the Kings in Europe. This would allow the player and the AI to have more information about the conflict, allowing the colonies to receive reinforcements and allow you and the AI to start preparing war material. At the moment, it is often very easy to defeat the other AI colonies, as they have very few troops deployed. Also, the player has almost no information, as to when a war is going to begin or end, and what nations are going to present a threat or an opportunity.
As many wars in this period were fought in coalitions, with shifting alliances, this can also be introduced, rather than the situation now where Wars seem to be 1vs1. This would also make it harder to maintain friendships with the other powers, which would balance the end game, whereas of now you receive a great deal of support.
Wars would occur via events and the diplo screen, where the King would make his requests. The King would ask you for troops, you would have the option of contributing, and the King could reward you such as by improving his relations with the player and possibly freezing your tax. Or if you did not contribute, punishing you. There would be a risk reward dynamic, as your troops would gain experience and FF points but also have the possibility of dying. Their experience and quality would reflect their survival chance. You also have the dilemmas of contributing troops and thus leaving your colonies underprotected, the risks to your units of destruction, in the Naval War there could be the possibility of increased privateer activity, or markets being blocked for several turns, and you could choose to sit back and make profit from selling war material but run the risk of facing punishment.
My proposal for war events includes three different types of conflict. A European War, representing the incessant conflicts that plagued Europe in the period. A Naval War, representing conflicts that were primarily fought at sea, like the Anglo-Dutch wars and finally the World War, representing large scale conflicts like the Seven Years War or the Napoleonic Wars.
In the first, the target would be an offscreen European power (1), prices would rise for War material in Europe (Guns, Blades, Cannon, Horses, Soldiers). The King would ask you for men.
In the Second, the target would be an offscreen European power, prices would rise for Nautical material (Sails, Ropes, Wood, Cannons, Ships). The King would ask you for ships.
In the third, the World war would be a more detailed version of the existing War event, where you have to attack a rival colony, but it would most likely feature coalitions of nations. Prices would rise for all War and Nautical material (Guns, Blades, Cannon, Horses, Soldiers, Sails, Ropes, Wood, Cannons, Ships).
Of course, you can also have the option of starting a war that is unapproved by your King, but this would generate a very negative response from both your own and the rivals King.
Feel free, to ask any questions if you need more clarification.
(1) Offscreen powers, would be those players that are absent in the game, or if all Nations are utilized, others that are not represented in the game. For example, Poland for Northern Europe, the Ottomans for Southern Europe and Austria for England and France. The Barbary Pirates could be a Naval antagonist. We wouldn’t necessarily need a leader head, as it would all be accounted for in the event.