Recovering from an economic collapse...

**AgentMulder** · March 24, 2009, 08:41 PM

So here's the skinny. My Sweden campaign was going well. I had just taken over Russia, and was moving forces to take out Poland. I disbanded all unnecessary forces, and have open trade relations with many major powers.

The problem? I can't make any money. My troop upkeep is sapping my income, and I cannot make any more troop cuts without compromising the security of my nation. I have raised both taxes to 4/5, and citizens are beginning to object to the taxes. I can't divert troops into my empire's interior, as that would compromise security.

So I'm kind of stuck. I've had to use what little cash I have to maintain trade relations, and keep troops at fighting strength. If I raise taxes, then I may have mass revolt on my hands, and I have neither the capital or military forces to deal with that.

What should I do? Try and survive on my current income? Raise taxes and pray? Consolidate my empire, selling off fringe regions to other nations? Thanks in advance.

**The Count(er)** · March 24, 2009, 08:57 PM

lowering taxes may actually help in the long run, as you'll get more of a economic and population growth, this means you'll have more and richer people to tax in the future, I know this is necessary in the beginning of the Ottoman campaign where many of your regions literally get you nothing and have declining economies

**the_mango55** · March 24, 2009, 09:28 PM

Check your ministers tab in the government browser. Make sure the guy with the most stars is your financial minister. And if anyone has less than 3 stars, fire him immediately.

If you find that one of your trade partners is getting blockaded very often, it might be best to just cancel your trade agreement, which frees up your trade goods to go to your more reliable partners.

You probably don't need as many soldiers as you think you do.

**Frederf** · March 25, 2009, 02:28 AM

Originally Posted by the_mango55

Check your ministers tab in the government browser. Make sure the guy with the most stars is your financial minister. And if anyone has less than 3 stars, fire him immediately.

If you find that one of your trade partners is getting blockaded very often, it might be best to just cancel your trade agreement, which frees up your trade goods to go to your more reliable partners.

You probably don't need as many soldiers as you think you do.

Ministers are not on a linear good-bad scale, they have specialties (as do Rakes and Gentlemen)! The same minister in one job can be 3-stars and moved he can be a 5-star! Read the attributes of your ministers and put the people to +X to Army as the Army minister and +y to Treasury to Treasury minister. Drag and drop them around. You can boot one minister per turn so knock off your worst minister until you have at least all 4 stars.

**Loiro** · March 25, 2009, 05:40 AM

Seeing that you are playing Sweden I guess you have a full monarchy, this gives you further liberty in minister choosing, as you can appoint even the appointees at the bottom. More control.

**the_mango55** · March 26, 2009, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by Frederf

Ministers are not on a linear good-bad scale, they have specialties (as do Rakes and Gentlemen)! The same minister in one job can be 3-stars and moved he can be a 5-star! Read the attributes of your ministers and put the people to +X to Army as the Army minister and +y to Treasury to Treasury minister. Drag and drop them around. You can boot one minister per turn so knock off your worst minister until you have at least all 4 stars.

True, but if I don't have problems with unrest, or don't have a big navy, I'll use a 6 star justice or navy minister to replace a mediocre finance minister, even if it costs a star.

**Hellman109** · March 24, 2009, 09:43 PM

Secure your boarders for a while (peace treaties) and recover your income.

Make peace with whoever is raiding your trade routes if at all possible.

And you only need military forces in boarder towns, unlike all other TW games.

**Severous** · March 25, 2009, 02:19 AM

Hi

Are you keeping order with lots of town watch? These are added automatically to try and keep order. I suspect your empire might be with such a high tax policy.

Ive found most of my recently captured regions (Indian campaign) cost more in town watch than they produce in income.

Have the national income summary open as you play with tax exemptions. You might be surprised that no tax means more net income due to lower town watch costs.

Good luck

**Frederf** · March 26, 2009, 01:41 AM

Of course putting a good minister in a job that he isn't the best suited for can be a good idea when the other post (and nation) needs him more than the one he's best suited for.

However I'm just trying to overcome the notion of "N-star Minister" where a minister's stars are because he's a great minister and not because he has a lot of stars in that role.