Discussions on this topic, to me, have been clear as mud.
My impression is that the Europe victory condition means you have to survive the reactive onslaught from the crown, Time means you just get the highest overall score, and Independence means you just have to get the sufficient amount of rebel sentiment and declare.
Can anyone confirm once and for all? Am I just dense?
Also, what's really unsettling is that you can choose more than one of these options. How does that make sense in the slightest? I mean, one or both of the Europe and Independence conditions completely negates the Time one. I can see never being unable to declare Independence for whatever reason(s)and just racking up the points when you choose those two, but if you add Europe, the crown is definitely going to take the initiative, eventually, forcing the reckoning and precluding a time/tally result. WTH?