Protectorate Farming - How many countries do you have?

[Warmessiah]

Tired of rebellions in that 6000 wealth region? Need to hide behind a conveniant buffer state? Mabye keep your borders without having to keep that costly ol' stack of line infantry on service. Mabye you just like seeing 60 different flags on the scoreboard, or mabye you just want a trade partner because no real nations want to trade with you, ya' damn faygit.

This is a real life tried and tested recepie for success. The USSR did it, and they won't be forgotten anytime soon! So, next time you have a rebellion, let it happen. Mabye liberate some states during your conquest, then wipe their coffers with notorious trade deals, and drag your protectorates in wars they don't want to take part in. Everyone's happier that way!

Of course, the 1.5 patch makes it hard to get protectorates, but if you follow it closely, you can get a Commonwealth of multicoloured flags to adorn your nation with!


Step One: Preparation
Make sure you have a good economy (5000-10000 gold per turn) as well as happiness in the regions you DO want to keep. Also, make sure your country isn't ebbing on re-elections or public servant deaths. Also, keep good relations with people. We don't want a major nation sticking up for the little guy now, do we? Now, make 1-2 full stacks near the territory/territories you want to liberate.

1) Protectorising an existing nation:
Take over all of their regions, save one. Then, siege their main city, with odds about 50/50, or at most, 75/25 in your favour. Destroy any towns and block off trade routes for good measure. When the enemy attacks you, win a heroic victory. It is vest to kill as much as you can - the fewer units, the better, but be careful - we don't want to wipe out the whole enemy force. Now, with any luck, said nation will beg you to become their protector. If not, haggle with them. Throw a couple of regions into the bargain, but make sure said territories are near the protectorate-to-be's territory. This helps with realism, but also, more importantly, makes the protectorate easier to control.

2) Protectorising an emergent
Usually, this will happen if you have a troublesome region(s). First, DEMOLISH ANY CITY DEFENSES. This will make the battle-to-be so much easier. Then, siege and (nearly) destroy the enemy army. Take nation under your wing, trade with them (good idea to build a trade port if possible) and sell techs (be sure to raze any schools and replace them with workshops. The more income for them, the more tribute for you!).

Step Two: Managing Protectorates
It is important to keep protectorates safe. Most emergent factions have safe locations and it should be easy to defend them. Look out for tensions between protectorates and wars between them. Usually it amounts to little, mabye a trade route blockade, but still, be careful.

Protectorate advantages:
A great military deterrant if you have 24 allies spread around Europe, or anywhere else for that metter.
No rebellions to deal with.
Fewer military units needed to protect borders.
Can block off a major chokepoint by giving it to a neutral faction.
Increased trade (double whammy if you get a few indiaman stacks to seriously rack up those trade goods)
Can tech-trade (emergents start off with a fair amount of money that you can part them with.
Better overall diplomatic relationship.
Government changes will have less impact (if you have only 10 or so regions, it is easier to deal with if lower classes get pushed over the edge).

Part Three: Terra Forma
Imagine, when you nation is old, huge and rich, and you have basically beasted the game, what do you do next? Give most of your territories away and reshape Europe as you see
fit! Imagine almost re-playing the game, except the nations' sizes were all dictated by you when you gave them land. Incredibly challanging to make everyone your protectorate, but it adds a new dimension and it incredibly fun naking minor nations (such as Georgia, Norway and Saxony) new world superpowers.



God, that was a lot to type up on an iPod...

So, TWF, let's have a chat about the seemingly unheard of protectorate farm. Now I've told you how to do it, what do you think about this style of gameplay?

[YD23]

Moved to Gameplay and Strategy Discussion.

This is seriously one of the best things I've ever read! +rep!

[Princess Cadance]

Very good idea.I'll try it in my next game.

[British-Bulldog]

A fantastic read! Well done. Just one quick thing, it's most likely very obvious; but it always gets me. When I besiege a nation and win my 'Heroic Victory' I normally end up actually occupying the region and not making it my protectorate, is this merely because I destroy too many of their units? Thanks in advance. .

[Warmessiah]

A fantastic read! Well done. Just one quick thing, it's most likely very obvious; but it always gets me. When I besiege a nation and win my 'Heroic Victory' I normally end up actually occupying the region and not making it my protectorate, is this merely because I destroy too many of their units? Thanks in advance. .

Unfortunately, the Empire Total War engine seems to add on a few casualties to the enemy force after victories (or so it seems, I play on 'normal' difficulty which apparantly harder to get protectorates with). Its a difficult trick to master, but a good idea to start is to whittle all of your opponent's units down to 40-60% strength. Kill as nany firelock-armed civilians as you can, the AI only takes into account its standing force when it 'thinks' about becoming a protectorate. If you are trying to protectorize a stubborn nation (e.g. In my case, the Irish) then after your first Heroic Victory then break the siege and wait for them to restock. Mabye even get a stubborn faction to pay you a good few thousand so you can leave them alone. If you keep the siege, however, it is bound to overkill second time round. If it does, might as well forget about said nation - give the region to your protectorate.

[British-Bulldog]

Unfortunately, the Empire Total War engine seems to add on a few casualties to the enemy force after victories (or so it seems, I play on 'normal' difficulty which apparantly harder to get protectorates with). Its a difficult trick to master, but a good idea to start is to whittle all of your opponent's units down to 40-60% strength. Kill as nany firelock-armed civilians as you can, the AI only takes into account its standing force when it 'thinks' about becoming a protectorate. If you are trying to protectorize a stubborn nation (e.g. In my case, the Irish) then after your first Heroic Victory then break the siege and wait for them to restock. Mabye even get a stubborn faction to pay you a good few thousand so you can leave them alone. If you keep the siege, however, it is bound to overkill second time round. If it does, might as well forget about said nation - give the region to your protectorate.

Ok, thanks for the reply and the advice. I'll give this a try and hopefully this time it will work eh? Thanks again.

[eXistenZ]

Good post! But ever since i liberated mainland europe from the french, as GB, and let some countries arise, i don't bother much with protectorates anymore. I payed 500K so hannover wouls be my protectorate, and 5 turns later they got smashed by Hessen.

But yeah you have a valid point that you can make the game more intresting by yourself. I took a lot of joy in liberating countries and letting new ones Arise.

[Schu]

Unfortunately, the Empire Total War engine seems to add on a few casualties to the enemy force after victories (or so it seems, I play on 'normal' difficulty which apparantly harder to get protectorates with). Its a difficult trick to master, but a good idea to start is to whittle all of your opponent's units down to 40-60% strength. Kill as nany firelock-armed civilians as you can, the AI only takes into account its standing force when it 'thinks' about becoming a protectorate. If you are trying to protectorize a stubborn nation (e.g. In my case, the Irish) then after your first Heroic Victory then break the siege and wait for them to restock. Mabye even get a stubborn faction to pay you a good few thousand so you can leave them alone. If you keep the siege, however, it is bound to overkill second time round. If it does, might as well forget about said nation - give the region to your protectorate.

It's easier just to conquer, move your forces out, let it rebel and then besiege it again. After you beat off the sally they'll become a protectorate. Just have to be careful that the sally doesn't come on the turn before you would occupy it anyway. Requires you to keep track and re-siege if it gets too close to capitulating.

[Prince of Darkness]

I love the new word you create.... protectorising.

[TiTiTimmy]

I always make a lot in my games, as they are good trading partners

[Sigfried]

first off, awesome post, i aint able to play now since i wont be home in the whole week, however this is what i was looking for.
now i got a question, is it harder to make countries protectorate while having really bad relations? im playing as venice and im in a point in the game when i had taken out many countries and im conquering part of america now, the problem is most (if not all) nations are hostile towards me (territorial expansion mostly) does it make harder to make them protectorates?
also, to make protectorates is war the only way? for me it had been but i havent had much success in making protectorates after 1.5 patch (only got barbary states which were then killed by portugal) and even as protectorates they were still hostile at me and it was even hard to get em into a trade agreement.. so ya.. that was the question, maybe if impossible a way to get my protectorates to be friendly with me?

[Warmessiah]

I see your point, but sometimes nations are very stubborn, even if they only just re-emerged. They would rater face your stack of line inf with 3 militia than be your protectorate

[Pikemen]

In my USA game I have liberated Mexico, Gran Columbia, and Quebec and they are all my protectorates. The whole American theater is at my command.

[Sigfried]

hmm well, i guess its nearly impossible to get a protectorate in a passive way rite? i mean i think that if the AI was right they should reconsider it considering their a single nation in the middle of my empire... its quite stupid to reject it imo..

[British-Bulldog]

hmm well, i guess its nearly impossible to get a protectorate in a passive way rite? i mean i think that if the AI was right they should reconsider it considering their a single nation in the middle of my empire... its quite stupid to reject it imo..

I agree, if the nation is surrounded by hostile nations it should take into account that perhaps it would be better for it to hand over sovereignty to a bigger nation than fall to invaders. The only time I've passively taken a protectorate is by offering it 100,000, as I tried to make more protectorates; the price just went up and up!

[English Total War Gamer]

As Great Britain I made the United States become my protectorate

[Pikemen]

As Great Britain I made the United States become my protectorate

As the United States, I made Great Britain my protectorate.

[British-Bulldog]

As Great Britain I made the United States become my protectorate

Why protectorise them when you can destroy them! >. No, but seriously; the US are awfully sneaky in my games, better off without 'em. (No offense to any American).

[Sigfried]

I agree, if the nation is surrounded by hostile nations it should take into account that perhaps it would be better for it to hand over sovereignty to a bigger nation than fall to invaders. The only time I've passively taken a protectorate is by offering it 100,000, as I tried to make more protectorates; the price just went up and up!

point is, cant giving that huge amount of cash to a protectorate be somewhat dangerous? i mean not dangerous, can prolly be taken down again easily, but just annoying? i mean i wouldnt like to spend 100k on an army to attack my regions.. lol

[Jimmy_Aus]

Has anyone tried to do this with darthmod enforced, i have and no matter how much force you use other countries will not become a protectorate. Any solutions?