Great Britain - Gameplay Discussion

[Pdguru]

It's interesting how different the games can turn out. I'm forty years into a GB campaign and had to give up the Americas by 1720 because I was immediately and constantly attacked the local indian factions, the French, and an army landed by the Spanish. The Spanish and French simultaneously blockaded my home ports - which dried up most of my income... so I could neither effectively protect the colonies or keep Britain secure. Added to that, the pirates created several full stack fleets and have destroyed any and all trading fleets I sent out. And I mean, all of them, since the beginning of the campaign.

So, I was left to the money I could create out of homeland taxes and focused on revenge against France... which I executed with precision, first taking Flanders from the Spanish and then using it to launch an invasion of France. I swiftly took Paris while the French were focussed consolidating their American holdings - which I made a hollow victory as their homelands fell under my control! To further add to my pleasure, Madrid fell to the Austrians, leaving the Franco-Spanish alliance devoid of their home territories! Hussah!

Shortly thereafter, I took Alsace, pushing France to a single foothold to the south. But my celebrations were shortlived however, when the Dutch stabbed me in the back, declaring war and marching on Flanders without warning. Unable to keep Alsace, I offered it up to the mighty Marathas (I banked on my enemies not wanting to take them on) for cash... which I used to crush the Dutch and take (and dismantle) Amsterdam and its entire region in a fit of revenge, as well as capturing the wealthy region around Cologne.

Just as I was looking forward to some peace and income, Poland, who had been steadily conquering central Europe and most recently Hannover (the fools should have accepted my offer of a Protectorate), marched even further west with three armies at Cologne and Flanders. Fortunately, the Dutch and Poles would not fight alongside each other, enabling me to wear the Dutch down and, reluctantly, sue for peace so I could concentrate on defending my new territories from the dastardly marauding Poles.

And that's where I am today - I have spent the last three years fighting Poland while they sytematically destroy the infrastructure from which I hoped to glean hard earned monies. Meanwhile, I jealously eye my former American colonies with and hope that if I can secure my European position, I can launch an invasion from Hispaniola, my one remaining Americas territory.

[Roberth1]

Hi
No I was playing on medium/hard like you

[Roberth1]

Thanks fatpaul for the tips about the cannon you start with i got rid of those.
40K per turn is so impressive I have never achieved that much every one says build up the economy, but would you go for farm improvements first or industry or roads. Each item costs quite a bit when you also have America to consider, I understand it should be balanced but to get the improvements you have to research the various technologies, and the universitys are not cheap.
I know the game has to make you think, I have tried going for farms first to increase tax income but this does not seem to be a good route

[Spazza]

I was reading with interest as I am playing GB too. It is around 1740 and I have been at war with France for sometime I have landed several stacks over the past years and won some good battles and lost a few too, the struggle continues with both of us blockading each other ports. I was building in the Americas (Ruperts) and was attacked by Indian uprising, but have managed to stave of defeat. However I lost Jamaica recently to Spain after they landed an half stack army.....I had already deployed the Jamaican army to support my North American forces.........Spain and I slogged it out both in Europe and The America's but we managed to get a peace treaty after I took Cuba...............Now the Marathas have landed in Cuba twice and been twice defeated, but there is another invasion on the way....... This GB campaign has been by far the best playing this nation.......Well done IS modders for a quality product, can't wait for 2.2

[fatpaul]

Originally Posted by Roberth1

Thanks fatpaul for the tips about the cannon you start with i got rid of those.
40K per turn is so impressive I have never achieved that much every one says build up the economy, but would you go for farm improvements first or industry or roads. Each item costs quite a bit when you also have America to consider, I understand it should be balanced but to get the improvements you have to research the various technologies, and the universitys are not cheap.
I know the game has to make you think, I have tried going for farms first to increase tax income but this does not seem to be a good route

it depends really. I always check what the increase in funds is going to be compared to how much I have to spend before building it in terms of what the payback is i.e. the number of turns it takes before the upgrade has paid for itself - it will vary depending on what and where it is. for example upgrading your ironworks in england brings you substantially more money than a 'very poor' iron works somewhere else. You have to prioritise based on more than simply the type of building you're upgrading. bear in mind with farms though that they give you a population boost as well and a higher population leads to more money. also always bear in mind that the money it says it earns if for the region - you'll only get your tax %age of that.

I've noticed that one of the best upgrades though is your trading ports. not only do you get the additional province bonus but the increase in trade flowing through the port is substantial - seems to almost double in value with some ports. On a similar tack, you should also replace the trading port in ireland with a fishery. Its not doing any trade as its not connected to england and since its quite wealthy you get loads of cash from it as a fishery as well as a population boost.

Also as your other ports emerge on england think about whether you need more trade partners. I try to keep 5 or 6 running so that if someone gets blockaded I don't lose a huge amount of money. you will lose money more often this way as you have more partners to be blocked but you won't have the crippling effect that I've read some complain about. Really, the 3 you start with ought to be enough as upgrades bring more trade slots so each new one to emerge is best made a fishery to bring in more income and also boost population.

another tip that may help is the government type. by around 1720ish my home regions were starting to get restless due mainly to clamour for reform (I replaced the church school with a school on the first turn to boost research). the effect of this was that I either needed to reduce taxes or garrison more troops to counter it - both were expensive. instead I encouraged a revolution and changed to a republic. clamour for reform drops, taxes can go up, everyone's happy.

[Moggy Cattermole]

this may sound daft, but i've noticed that highlanders are not available to build for GB in scotland anymore. This is a shame, as I enjoyed having a mix of highland line (not black watch) and standard line. What is mildly annoying is that apparently the UP can recruit highlanders (or scottische infanterie or something along those lines), but even holding Scotland as GB, i cannot. Is that meant to be the case?

Irrespective, i've loved using GB in IS. It's been a real challenge, and great fun too!

[Erunion Telcontar]

That's not right. You should be able to recruit Highland Regiment (militia). It just comes with a later tier barrack.
It's one of my favourite units too, it has guards level stats in both melee and shooting, but has militia status and can only ever mass fire.
Costs a lot though.

[Roberth1]

Originally Posted by fatpaul

it depends really. I always check what the increase in funds is going to be compared to how much I have to spend before building it in terms of what the payback is i.e. the number of turns it takes before the upgrade has paid for itself - it will vary depending on what and where it is. for example upgrading your ironworks in england brings you substantially more money than a 'very poor' iron works somewhere else. You have to prioritise based on more than simply the type of building you're upgrading. bear in mind with farms though that they give you a population boost as well and a higher population leads to more money. also always bear in mind that the money it says it earns if for the region - you'll only get your tax %age of that.

I've noticed that one of the best upgrades though is your trading ports. not only do you get the additional province bonus but the increase in trade flowing through the port is substantial - seems to almost double in value with some ports. On a similar tack, you should also replace the trading port in ireland with a fishery. Its not doing any trade as its not connected to england and since its quite wealthy you get loads of cash from it as a fishery as well as a population boost.

Also as your other ports emerge on england think about whether you need more trade partners. I try to keep 5 or 6 running so that if someone gets blockaded I don't lose a huge amount of money. you will lose money more often this way as you have more partners to be blocked but you won't have the crippling effect that I've read some complain about. Really, the 3 you start with ought to be enough as upgrades bring more trade slots so each new one to emerge is best made a fishery to bring in more income and also boost population.

another tip that may help is the government type. by around 1720ish my home regions were starting to get restless due mainly to clamour for reform (I replaced the church school with a school on the first turn to boost research). the effect of this was that I either needed to reduce taxes or garrison more troops to counter it - both were expensive. instead I encouraged a revolution and changed to a republic. clamour for reform drops, taxes can go up, everyone's happy.

Thanks for this fatpaul
I had also sussed out that the port in Ireland could be turned into a fishing port.
How do you start a revolution?
Your points about the trading ports are most helpful
Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post
Have got to 1720 now but still not managed 40K per turn which is just so impressive
Robert

[Moggy Cattermole]

Originally Posted by Erunion Telcontar

That's not right. You should be able to recruit Highland Regiment (militia). It just comes with a later tier barrack.
It's one of my favourite units too, it has guards level stats in both melee and shooting, but has militia status and can only ever mass fire.
Costs a lot though.

Oh ok, cheers!

[fatpaul]

revolution is fairly simple...annoy the populace.

you ideally want a republic to quash the 'clamour for reform' penalty so ramp up taxes on the poor - best to exempt ireland and scotland (and any other euro provinces you have) or they'll revolt as well when all you want is england to revolt. This should be enough to get the people good and angry but if not knock down any buildings you might have that improve public order or put someone useless in charge of your justice ministry.

Move any standing armies you have out of england or your rebel force may have to fight them too.

It should then take 3 turns. turn 1 - workers on strike, turn 2 - workers riot, turn 3 - revolution.

as this point you'll be given a choice as to whether you side with the rebels or the government. If you choose the rebels (which you should since thats the whole point of this) you'll be given control of the randomly spawned rebel army that should appear in england somewhere (I got something useful like a general, 4 units of dragoons and 5 sets of canon - but no infantry...thanks). I've not sided with the government yet but assume you'd have to crush the rebellion with standing armies (like the one you moved out of the way before you started this).

Anyhoo, march on london, which should just have some militia units in it and take the town - which should be easy enough...even without any infantry...and hey presto...revolution. After that all your old armies revert to your control and you carry on as before but with a different government type and a new flag....which is rubbish for GB by the way.