Portugal role playing campain, questions?

**General Tony** · February 21, 2009, 02:14 PM

Ok so later today I want to start a role playing campain as Portugal. I know how I want to build my empire more or less but still would like some input from all of you. So what what I want to do is build a colonial empire meaningI want to control mostly provinces that border the sea for trade with one ore two land locked provinces in my control as long as they connect to one of my sea bordered territories. I will also ofcourse hold as many islands as I can. My first question for now is should i just control what I start with in iberia or try to take it over?.....I will ask more questions later and answer any you may have on my strategy or anything else. Also I welcome ant tips and recomendations you may offer. Thanks for your time

**Pink Beard** · February 21, 2009, 02:19 PM

So, if I understand you correctly, you want to build a somewhat historical campaign that focusses mainly on role-playing (i.e no blitzing/fast play)?
Well my suggestion would be to play slowly and help Spain in their Reconquista (take it easy, no need to wipe out Moors in turn 2) as well as colonizing some of the mediterean Islands

**Last of the Mohawks** · February 21, 2009, 02:38 PM

I'd say block the Gibraltar straits and build up 2 half stacks with artillery and hit Leon and Toledo in the same turn (Yes this is blitzing, or you can call it Intelligence), then consolidate Iberia.

**General Tony** · February 21, 2009, 03:19 PM

Pink Beard: You are correct what I want to do is play a somewhat historical roll playing game. With as you said no fast play, the only fast moves I will do is in the early game to grab some rebel islands and sea bordered territories. Last if the Mohawks: I dont think I will block the straight as I have done this before and it maked iberia rather uneventful since the moors cant send in reinforcments. Im also not sure if I want to attack spain or atleast not as early as you mentioed.

**claudius2007** · February 21, 2009, 05:51 PM

Those islands you will grab will surely bring plenty of preying eyes so I am no sure you will be able to keep the historical accuracy entirely. Plan your moves carefully and use diplomacy to your advantage if you are going to turtle in Iberia. Good luck!

**General Tony** · February 21, 2009, 06:53 PM

Well I dont think I can be very historical in this campain as quite a bit of land Portugal held isnt on the map. The historical part im after is simply haceing a colinial empire focusing on trade. It will also allow me to gain more expirience with the naval part of the game.

I might also have to raid a bit witch is something I tend not to do.

**Muagan_ra** · February 21, 2009, 08:08 PM

Well, a colonial Empire is something that interests me too, but I find that there is one major problem with it.

To take those profitable coastal settlements, you're going to have to go to war with whoever owns it. Chances are that whoever owns this port is going to own most of the surrounding territories - and if you're at war with them, you can't trade with them.

You may have to indulge in territory "swapping" - conquer inland territories, and exchange them for coastal ones.

**★Bandiera Rossa☭** · February 21, 2009, 08:12 PM

conquer all the lands and sell them to allies?

**Muagan_ra** · February 21, 2009, 08:16 PM

Being allied dosn't mean

in this game, you'll be betrayed. The only deterrant for this is to keep a large garrison, but even then you'll probably find yourself at war thanks to those irritating, illogical one-turn blockades the AI is so fond of doing.

**DeMolay** · February 21, 2009, 08:23 PM

Yep , i also experience this at the moment , the last 3-4 campaigns i played , my allies always betray me when i get too rich or powerful .

It's interesting to role play with faction and try to hold a "reasonable" amount of territories , in vanilla Portugal is just one settlement , but playing with stainless steel , i think it can be more interesting cause Portugal has 4 cities if i remember well , so you can "turtle" in Iberia like said Claudius , make some benefits and launch a few crusades occasionally , have a more or less reliable alliance with Castillans and wait for the "world is round" event , then try to make your colonial empire in south america . What's cool with Iberian factions is that you can send your merchants near Timbuktu where there is gold and other stuffs ,it's not that far from Iberia , you never get attacked by other faction's merchant and make crazy cash , last time i did it with Aragon faction , i could make nearly 4000 a turn with just 3 merchants , these 3 guys were funding my whole war campaign against Milan who wanted to steal me Palma island

**General Tony** · February 21, 2009, 11:17 PM

Hmmm yes being surrounded by the enemy will be a problem. Hopefully though I can grab most if not all the islands near italy and the rebel province in africa just outside of moorish land. This will hopefully give me a good enough economy to support one or two of my legions, see my thread on battle planning to read about my legions, and then the legion will defend my new territory from the surrounding enemy. If the enemy is to much trouble though I can sack the city for cash then return later and hopefully my enemy wont be too interested in it since i left it in shambles.

**Pink Beard** · February 22, 2009, 02:11 AM

Best to do this campaign with a reasonable AI mod that won't back stab you whenever possible. I have played (still playing) alot of mods where allies truely mean allies. The chance that those allies will backstab you is as lickely as your king is going to die of old age at 30... The only way you have a chance of invoking a war is annoying your neighbours or having very poor relationships with them.

example: I've been playing Scotland in the kingdoms grand campaign mod and Ireland's only neighbour is me. In vanilla being the only neighbour means war and they don't give a

about relations.
Yet were allied for about 50 turns now (very good relationships) and they haven't even attacked me yet (better yet, they are at war with our common enemy England and they occasionally attack via sea!).
So short said if u get a mod there's a fairly high chance you can live very peacefully (without having to wipe out Spain etc.)

**General Tony** · February 22, 2009, 07:38 AM

Yes unfortuantly I have dial-up internet and am not able to get any mods at this time. So I guess playing this campain on plain vannila will allow me to practice and perfect some new strategies and ideas, hopefully lol