Bertie said:
...However, I notice that Spain will not charge us any gold for a MA against France if we also enter into a MA with them against India (Spain is at war with India). I'd like to save the gold if I could. However, I'd prefer not to wait too long before we enter into MAs with other nations against France.
What is the earliest time you'd feel comfortable with a declaration of war against India? I guess we could always pay Spain for a French MA, then when we're ready to declare on India, see if they'll pay us for a MA against India.
Dear Consul Bertie,
In reply to your question in the CoAF thread: first of all this is an intrigueing idea, very imaginative!
I cannot check the save right now, but based on screenshots my guess is we
could declare on the present turn if needed. We seem to be able to take out the Indian archers roaming our lands. Not sure about the workers, but they can wait.
Of course this may delay operations vs the Dutch somewhat, especially around Auchtermuchty, as part of Army Group West will have to be committed to deal with threats from Delhi, Bangalore and Karachi. Also the Sebadoh attack may be delayed by 1 or 2 turns if its horses are needed to secure our lands. It could very well be that the Dutch War can still be ended in 290AD, I'll have to check (Middelburg is the critical one regarding time).
I do not think we will be ready for offensive operations against India any sooner than 290AD. Our forces have to march quite a bit; even in the northwest our road network is not very good.
Postponing the alliance with Spain vs France, or signing that alliance now but postponing the alliance vs India would solve any military drawbacks, but may have other disadvantages (in the first case France could ally with Spain, in the second Spain could spend or allocate the money before we can get it back).
The main problem with your idea (that I can see) is that we will have to keep India alive for the duration of the alliance, or until Spain destroys them. Spain may be able to reach some of their towns out East. We could always leave India with Karachi for 20 turns, the main drawback would be possible war weariness (only if we switch to republic, maybe not likely to happen within 20 turns time) and flip risks.
From a military point of view a declaration of war before we can go on the offensive has no benefits, although in this case the damage would be rather minimal. I will leave it in your hands - where it properly belongs - to decide whether the benefits to diplomacy outweigh the disadvantages I have outlined above.