Economic Problems

[lordklamath]

Hey guys,

back into SS after a break, I've tried a few games now with the Italian City States and my economy always seems to go down the crapper early in the game. I'm not new to MTW and I try to build up what I consider to be a good economic base. I'm currently playing on medium/Hard. Battles aren't a problem for me, but economics seem to be. Advice? Tips?

[Gazi Husrev-Beg]

Uhhh, well economy is tough. To build you cant raise armies, but than you might be potential target for your enemies. Build roads, merchant and ports, make trade agreements. Merchants can help if you send them far away to trade exotic goods. Watch loyalty of your generals, generals consume lot of money, more if they are disloyal and usally economy in cities they are suffers as there is lot of corruption and money slips away...note : get rid of disloyal ones. Playing medium, you should be able to get good income, especially if you play as Italian state. Milan generates money in buckets.

[lordklamath]

Uhhh, well economy is tough. To build you cant raise armies, but than you might be potential target for your enemies. Build roads, merchant and ports, make trade agreements. Merchants can help if you send them far away to trade exotic goods. Watch loyalty of your generals, generals consume lot of money, more if they are disloyal and usally economy in cities they are suffers as there is lot of corruption and money slips away...note : get rid of disloyal ones. Playing medium, you should be able to get good income, especially if you play as Italian state. Milan generates money in buckets.

I swear I already do all of that... it's bizarre. Even on medium the economy seems to be in the crapper by turn 30.

[Nightbringer]

i would say build in roughly this order. roads, ports, markets, religious buildings. i dont bother with erchants because it requires so much work and time to get a return on them. i also avoid any major conflict as it sucks away all my money. take as many rebel cityies as possible, and keep safe cities as lightly guarded as possible to save on upkeep cost. but it sounds like your pretty much alreaddy doing this so, ya

[whhyy]

Watch the scroll and make sure you don't go over your army upkeep limit.

That's my secret. After a while you develop an affinity for it and you will no longer need any help from the money scroll.

Here is what I do:

1st Religous buildings: Keeping the pope happy saves you money in the long term. You will be able to afford small churches in every city. Aviod unrest.

2nd Farms: They are cheap and quick to build, giving you income as swiftly as you need it. Build roads just after.

3rd Ports: Once you have captured some extra settlements you should be able to afford better Merchant docks.

4th Markets & Paved roads: Markets and paved roads should be avioded in the beginning, they cost much and often do little. Build them when you can afford it.

[nosjo78]

Turn 30 usually does produce a drop in your economy. Keep your army small. After the innitial blitzkrieg on the rebel settlements combine your armys down to 1 stack. Keep them out picking up more provinces. Make sure you get your trade agreements with EVERY faction ASAP. Ports make the most money but arent as usefull until other nations that u have trade agreements have ports. Being Italian faction that should mean off the start Venice, Genoa, Rome, Palermo, (cant remember if Naples starts with port). Build you merchants ASAP and sail them across to north africa and send them down to Timbuktu. Get out there and make more alliances if your doing resonably well and have picked up some settlements the other neighbors should be willing to make alliances/trade/map info/ plus anywhere from 1000 to 5000 florins for the alliance. Good luck.