When to start cranking LB?

[Howler93]

After reading many of the posts here, it sounds like its a good idea to delay LB production until late in the game and then crank em out with newspapers and elder statesmen. Could anyone recommend a good timeframe to start this process? Any help here would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[ctmarco3]

In my experience (which is only a few games ) if you have all your cities with a newspaper, 1 or 2 statesmen in your larger cities I was able to claim independence in only several turns and keep the REF to a minimum, this was about mid 1600s. In my smaller cities I didn't even need statesman, just 3 random citizens in the town hall. If you had more statesman it would be even quicker.
Personally I would recommend claiming independence as soon as you feel you have enough guns/cannons to kill off the REF. I could have probably starts in the late 1500s early 1600s if I had thought about it...but some of my cities I had guns and cannons for never were even attacked. I suppose it was better to be prepared though.

 

[Howler93]

Thanks! I appreciate the advice. I've started probably around 10 games and I finally feel like I've got a good one going. THe last thing I wanted to do was muck it up by mistiming my push for Independence!

 

[Antilogic]

I generally get 5 colonies founded in the first 50-60 turns, build up my economy for the next 100 turns (and maybe build/capture another couple colonies), and then start pushing liberty bells around turns 150-170. My independence is normally declared between turns 170 and at the latest 200, depending on when I start the push. The WoI takes about 20-25 turns, but the last third is waiting for the REF to land the final wave so you can win the game. Maybe if your REF builds more ships it would be quicker.

Also, I don't rebel unless I have 1000 horses and at least 1500 muskets stocked up. So far, this strategy hasn't failed.