Tipps and Tricks

[Swarbs]

Some good ideas... thanks for the tips. So how can/do you consistently get lots of CG? I think of one of my European allies sold me a few. Other than that no idea how to get more.

You rarely get a lot of them tbh, that's why I prefer to specialise them. I think the most I've ever had is six, when my colonies were on a peninsula right at the north so I had no shared borders or wars with other Europeans, and used trade to get open borders with all of them.

In my last WOI I never lost a city at all, considering my coastal cities were my main cities. Perhaps a better idea is have your main cities inland? And perhaps it's ok to let the REF take coastal cities so they'll move inland towards your inland cities and navigate through large areas of forests? I wonder if that will work?

What difficulty do you play? Have never encountered a feasible scenario in Revolutionary where you can hold all coastal colonies against the massive waves of RLI and all their naval bombardments. Although I generally never try to defend the coastal colonies due to the +50% bonus RLI get when attacking them.

I usually have at least some of main military production colonies inland - the ones which produce food, horses, blades and guns. That way I can always win the WoI without risk as I can defend them against any REF incursions.

One last question: I've always repelled REF waves each time. Do they actually go after your inland cities if your coastal cities are still there?

They always have for me, at least I assume that's what they are doing when they move out. They definitely don't just sit in the coastal cities, though they may be moving out to attack others.

 

[Derek Brown]

How about bell production. Do you guys avoid it until about 1700 to keep the REF down or do you start producing early on to get FF’s?

 

[Swarbs]

I go for bells straight away. Some of the FFs are a strong enough multiplier to the game to justify the larger REF.

Like if you get Thomas Hooker (3 expert preachers) your immigration will be massively boosted and you'll be much larger with more production sooner. Or if you get one of the political or military ones with a free promotion (the guy who gives HG1 is a good one) then that's a bonus to your entire military strength for the whole game.

 

[PPanda0421]

You rarely get a lot of them tbh, that's why I prefer to specialise them. I think the most I've ever had is six, when my colonies were on a peninsula right at the north so I had no shared borders or wars with other Europeans, and used trade to get open borders with all of them.



What difficulty do you play? Have never encountered a feasible scenario in Revolutionary where you can hold all coastal colonies against the massive waves of RLI and all their naval bombardments. Although I generally never try to defend the coastal colonies due to the +50% bonus RLI get when attacking them.

I usually have at least some of main military production colonies inland - the ones which produce food, horses, blades and guns. That way I can always win the WoI without risk as I can defend them against any REF incursions.



They always have for me, at least I assume that's what they are doing when they move out. They definitely don't just sit in the coastal cities, though they may be moving out to attack others.

I just recently started playing revolutionary level so it's definitely below that. I think it was 2 levels before that - can't remember the name right now. Naval bombardment is expected as king's naval units vastly outnumber yours. Again to me the king's killer unit is the RLI.

When fighting WOI I switch all production to food, horses, blades and guns/cannons. Coastal cities are changed to create SOL when I lose a couple and light cannons for defense. With 2 tile cities each city can easily output war products in addition to the normal goods for sale at Port Royal, custom houses, or domestic market.

So the takeaway is expect to lose coastal cities on higher difficulties, gotcha.

I'm taking a break from this game due to burnout. Will consider the new ideas/strategies when I get back into the game again. Thanks!

 

[Vorpal+5]

I have a question about cavalry (dragoon) in general, I don't find them that useful, how do you use them? In the end, I have too many horses

 

[PPanda0421]

I have a question about cavalry (dragoon) in general, I don't find them that useful, how do you use them? In the end, I have too many horses

Calvary and dragoons are two different units with Calvary being more powerful and require swords to create as well. Both have 3 movement points which is higher than the scout. If you don't have transports to transfer units like the carriage or stagecoach than use them to travel long didstances. Higher level roads like the plastered
roads extend travel capabilities. Cal/Drag also have a withdrawal chance when they lost a battle. I think it's 30% and can be increased with promotions but it seems higher than that to me. With certain terrain and with roads, you can attack something and regardless of outcome (except actually dying) retreat immediately. Lastly they have
bonuses against artillery and bonuses when fight in flat tiles like grassland, savannah, etc. In my last WOI I defeated all king's REF mainly using veteran calvary and veteran infantry turned into calvary.

You should turn your colonist into scouts. Last line of defense....

 

[Schmiddie]

Dragoons are very useful for reconnaissance, slave or criminal hunting, generally spoken they are a fast border patrol unit. They have the right balance between a heavy unit and a scout (well armed, strong and fast). If you are at war you can use the dragoons to ride into the colonies of your enemy for capturing units. You can also station some of them outside your border. When an enemy army comes around you have time to reorganize your troops. They have multiple functions and I use them all. The dragoons are very useful...

 

[Swarbs]

Dragoons are also good for responding quickly to evolving battle situations. As combat in WTP isn't all or nothing, you may well find that after an AI attacks your stack with theirs then both sides can have many damaged units left over. Dragoons can rush to the combat quickly to reinforce your stack, and save you from losing units, as well as to wipe out the damaged units in their stack.

Particularly if you train Veteran Dragoons and promote them to FMII, so they have 4 movement, -2 terrain movement cost and can use enemy roads. Then they can go pretty much anywhere and attack enemies at their weakest.

 

[Swarbs]

So the takeaway is expect to lose coastal cities on higher difficulties, gotcha.

For me, it's not so much expecting to lose coastal cities, but recognising that the cost of defending them may not be worth it in the long run.

You can hold them, at least in the first couple of waves, but there comes a point at which doing so will cost you some of your strongest units, as the defences are reduced and the RLI get their +50%. So often it's best to retreat from the colony and the coast, establish a strong position in a forest or on a hill where they will have to pass to reach the next colony, and fight them from there.

 

[rap33042]

I need a little advice regarding REF size and how many units I should have relative to the number of units the king has. I've seen recommendations like 70% dragoons. What about the other King's units?
---
Also, I have a local Indian tribe attacking me, taking my gold, and generally being a nuisance, but we are not at war-- he is merely annoyed with me. What's up with that?

 

[Raubwuerger]

I need a little advice regarding REF size and how many units I should have relative to the number of units the king has. I've seen recommendations like 70% dragoons. What about the other King's units?

This question is not so easy to answer because it heavily depends on how much costal cities you own. If you've ~5 cities on one continent you can easily defend the REF with 10% line infantry and 10% cannons in each city.
Plus an quick reaction force of

• ~20% line infantry
  
• ~20% cannons
• ~20% dragoons
• ~20% cavalry
  
• and all your elite units (Continental Guard, Hessians, units with generals, ...)
  
• and enough troop transporters to move this units to the current hot spot.

If you will loose cities to the King you've also to build an certain amount of heavy artillery to recapture these cities.

The more coastal cities you have, the more units you will need. If the coastal cities are on different islands it get even more worse, because the REF will rule the sea with its Man-O-Wars and you will definitely loose some cities.
And be sure, the REF will know the weekest city in your colonial empire ...

When I prepare for WOI I do the following for each threatened cities

• Fortify them to the max
• Build the best hospital (extra heal for your units)
  
• Put at least one unit with the heal promotion in the city (extra heal for your units)
  
• Put at least one wagon train with food in it (If your city is sieged your farmers can not harvest on the occupied plots)
  
• If it's a production city I also put wagon trains with lumber and ore inside to continue war production
• Put a bunch of pioneers in the back to be able to repair streets within one turn

Also, I have a local Indian tribe attacking me, taking my gold, and generally being a nuisance, but we are not at war-- he is merely annoyed with me. What's up with that?

That's because your cities get more and more, bigger and bigger, and your cultural borders increase heavily. Have in mind that the land belongs to the natives ...
I think you will also not be happy if strangers occupie dooryard ...

 

[rap33042]

This question is not so easy to answer because it heavily depends on how much costal cities you own. If you've ~5 cities on one continent you can easily defend the REF with 10% line infantry and 10% cannons in each city.
Plus an quick reaction force of

• ~20% line infantry
  
• ~20% cannons
• ~20% dragoons
• ~20% cavalry
  
• and all your elite units (Continental Guard, Hessians, units with generals, ...)
  
• and enough troop transporters to move this units to the current hot spot.

If you will loose cities to the King you've also to build an certain amount of heavy artillery to recapture these cities.

The more coastal cities you have, the more units you will need. If the coastal cities are on different islands it get even more worse, because the REF will rule the sea with its Man-O-Wars and you will definitely loose some cities.
And be sure, the REF will know the weekest city in your colonial empire ...

When I prepare for WOI I do the following for each threatened cities

• Fortify them to the max
• Build the best hospital (extra heal for your units)
  
• Put at least one unit with the heal promotion in the city (extra heal for your units)
  
• Put at least one wagon train with food in it (If your city is sieged your farmers can not harvest on the occupied plots)
  
• If it's a production city I also put wagon trains with lumber and ore inside to continue war production
• Put a bunch of pioneers in the back to be able to repair streets within one turn

That's because your cities get more and more, bigger and bigger, and your cultural borders increase heavily. Have in mind that the land belongs to the natives ...
I think you will also not be happy if strangers occupie dooryard ...

Thank you for the quick reply! It is very helpful.

 

[rap33042]

That's because your cities get more and more, bigger and bigger, and your cultural borders increase heavily. Have in mind that the land belongs to the natives ...
I think you will also not be happy if strangers occupie dooryard ...

I've tried giving them gold and I have bolstered my military in the two colonies that I have but the "raiding parties" keep attacking and stealing my treasure.
I understand the concept, but it is still aggravating. What can I do, other than going to war, to put a stop to this behavior?
Thanks in advance,
Richard

 

[ConjurerDragon]

I've tried giving them gold and I have bolstered my military in the two colonies that I have but the "raiding parties" keep attacking and stealing my treasure.
I understand the concept, but it is still aggravating. What can I do, other than going to war, to put a stop to this behavior?
Thanks in advance,
Richard

Start a new game as France (that creates less unrest in the natives when expanding from the start). Create political points and get Founding Fathers that reduce the natives aggressiveness like Pocahontas. Do not build too close to the natives villages. Build missions in the villages closest to you. Trade often with the natives either by ship or wagon and try not to bargain too hard (so that they won´t stop bartering for a while) to aquire positive reputation with that tribe. Build fortifications in your colonies.

 

[rap33042]

Start a new game as France (that creates less unrest in the natives when expanding from the start). Create political points and get Founding Fathers that reduce the natives aggressiveness like Pocahontas. Do not build too close to the natives villages. Build missions in the villages closest to you. Trade often with the natives either by ship or wagon and try not to bargain too hard (so that they won´t stop bartering for a while) to aquire positive reputation with that tribe. Build fortifications in your colonies.

I have never tried the French. I've always played the Dutch for their Fluyt and commerce abilities.

I try to do everything you have said. The only point where I might be weak is trading with the Indians and when I do, I always accept their price, good or bad. Sometimes I flat out give them gold; other times, I'll pick up some Trade Goods (or whatever they want) in Europe to sell. I never trade horses or guns with them.

I've never had a game like this where they are attacking me nearly every turn and not declaring war. In fact, I can't remember a game where I had this much trouble with the natives. Very strange...
Thanks for your tips,
Richard

 

[Mr. ZorG]

I recommend building a monastery between the colony and the village of the natives and fortifying the missionary there. for some reason many people forget about it ...

 

[rap33042]

I recommend building a monastery between the colony and the village of the natives and fortifying the missionary there. for some reason many people forget about it ...

I have never built a Monastery or Fort. I will have to read up on Monasteries and how they work.

Thanks for the tip!
Richard

 

[Tugboatspotter]

I have never tried the French. I've always played the Dutch for their Fluyt and commerce abilities.

I try to do everything you have said. The only point where I might be weak is trading with the Indians and when I do, I always accept their price, good or bad. Sometimes I flat out give them gold; other times, I'll pick up some Trade Goods (or whatever they want) in Europe to sell. I never trade horses or guns with them.

I've never had a game like this where they are attacking me nearly every turn and not declaring war. In fact, I can't remember a game where I had this much trouble with the natives. Very strange...
Thanks for your tips,
Richard

It also depends who the natives are.

Generally speaking, if you have the wrong neighbours and they don't abandon their settlements fairly quickly, you should eliminate them with military. The alternative is constant annoying raids.If you check the relations screen you will see when relations with natives are so bad that it is not recoverable, no matter how nice you treat them.

 

[rap33042]

It also depends who the natives are.

Generally speaking, if you have the wrong neighbours and they don't abandon their settlements fairly quickly, you should eliminate them with military. The alternative is constant annoying raids.If you check the relations screen you will see when relations with natives are so bad that it is not recoverable, no matter how nice you treat them.

At what point do you deem it unrecoverable?

 

[raystuttgart]

Generally you can do a lot to prevent or help considering Native Raids.

1. Do not overexagerate your expansion - thus taking away land from Natives - too early.
2. Build Missions and Trade Posts in Native Villages
3. Trade a lot of goods with them by Wagon Trains
4. There are several Python Events that improve their attitude towards you.
5. Build Monasteries or Forts (at strategically good positions) because they have features against raids.
6. Build Stockades or their upgrades in your cities because they will prevent the worst when raids occur.

And yes, some Native Tribes are more aggressive than others and thus also raid more.
Of course it also depends on Difficulty Setting you play on.