Spain campaign strategies/hints

[Bloodstar]

Hi Total War friends :)

I am experienced Total War player and I finished twice ETW, once as Ottomans, once as France, other factions are not so interesting to me, but Spain although have really lousy King and I have read some AAR's but anyway they could be maybe fun, interesting choice because numerous reasons... Well, you gotta fight in Europe and America, and India later but they are naval power so it could be interesting... Maybe I will trade that possesion in Holland for Ceylon?

Position of Spain is interesting because Italian holdings as well. Galleon is very decent ship, not very fast but it is tough so that will bring some good naval battles and I like them...
I am putting my French Napoleon campaign on hold so I ask for any good tips and strategies for Spain - I am not noob (played MTW2 on VH/VH) so give me some good advices from experienced players who have done Spanish campaigns. No need for exploits of ai as I will play relaxed game on Normal just for fun. You can point me to any good AAR's as well or strategy guide. Thank you!

edit: playing against those Indians is a lot of fun in ETW :)

and I think that I will not make any revolutions, is it doable as Spain to remain monarchy?

[Alwyn]

Hi Bloodstar! You asked about Spain AARs, you could look watch a Let's Play here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?733204-Let-s-Play-as-Spain and read a Spanish AAR here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?336840-ETW-AAR-What-if-Charles-the-quot-D-oh!-quot-Lived-for-83-years. It would be great to see a new Spanish AAR on TWC, if you would like to write/create one. I hope that your Spanish campaign goes well. I agree that Spain has an interesting starting position and that galleons are powerful. I like playing relaxed campaigns on Normal too (and also enjoy naval battles). I imagine that it will be doable for Spain to remain a monarchy; obviously, you might need to build happiness buildings in Spain to avoid a rebellion there.

[Inardesco]

When you start, your economy is worse than anything you could imagine.

* Get rid of Milan and Flanders, these will only drag you into wars that will drain your coffers.
* Focus on the New Spain mission, once completed, you'll get all the New Spain colonies added to your empire.
* Build up your underdeveloped regions and your economy.
* Spain's King has a tremendous negative impact on your relations with other nations.

Once you've done that, you should be around 1715-1725. From there on, you can think about expanding.

[Bloodstar]

Originally posted by Alwyn:

Hi Bloodstar! You asked about Spain AARs, you could look watch a Let's Play here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?733204-Let-s-Play-as-Spain and read a Spanish AAR here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?336840-ETW-AAR-What-if-Charles-the-quot-D-oh!-quot-Lived-for-83-years. It would be great to see a new Spanish AAR on TWC, if you would like to write/create one. I hope that your Spanish campaign goes well. I agree that Spain has an interesting starting position and that galleons are powerful. I like playing relaxed campaigns on Normal too (and also enjoy naval battles). I imagine that it will be doable for Spain to remain a monarchy; obviously, you might need to build happiness buildings in Spain to avoid a rebellion there.

Many thanks Alwyn!

I will watch those Let's play and read that AAR - hope that there will be some challenge and uncertanity ;-)
Maybe I will do an AAR - don't make any promises - I have done some AAR's in the past for some other games - we will see - if I get in the mood of writing AAR, I will let you know.... ;-)

This will be interesting! As much as I've enjoyed Napoleon: Total War there is something in Empire that draws me - I think that is is whole world affair and you cannot but laugh when fighting Cherokees and other Natives. I was thinking about Maratha as well (elephants, camels, good melee units etc...) but opted to play Spain, so be it Spain. Will play it till it becomes too boring and that is at least 1750 or more depends on my success.

Now to read some more about Spanish hehe looking forward to that game, especially battles well my Japan game in Hearts of Iron 3 is on hold (unsinkable subs etc :)

[Bloodstar]

Originally posted by Inardesco:

When you start, your economy is worse than anything you could imagine.

* Get rid of Milan and Flanders, these will only drag you into wars that will drain your coffers.
* Focus on the New Spain mission, once completed, you'll get all the New Spain colonies added to your empire.
* Build up your underdeveloped regions and your economy.
* Spain's King has a tremendous negative impact on your relations with other nations.

Once you've done that, you should be around 1715-1725. From there on, you can think about expanding.

Thanks! Those are very good advices - I will see if I am gonna do it as it is unhistorical and in fact I never ever traded my territory - I see the reasoning there because upkeep will hurt my economy and in fact it will be a much more better that garrisons don't surpass value that brings that region - but you must also have navy, field armies... Will think it over, if this will take away too much from the game will not do it - I know that I cannot lose on normal it doesn't need to be easier, even if I lose some city that could be also good as an experience. I will see about that as I must go to war with United Province one day anyway. Will make decision tonight when I catch some playing time.

[HazardHawk]

Originally posted by Inardesco:

When you start, your economy is worse than anything you could imagine.

* Get rid of Milan and Flanders, these will only drag you into wars that will drain your coffers.
* Focus on the New Spain mission, once completed, you'll get all the New Spain colonies added to your empire.
* Build up your underdeveloped regions and your economy.
* Spain's King has a tremendous negative impact on your relations with other nations.

Once you've done that, you should be around 1715-1725. From there on, you can think about expanding.

Turn one, the very beginning, before you hit end turn, United Provinces will trade you off Flanders for their Island possession you need to aquire to pick up South and Central America. It will also reposition those few troops to Milan so you dont have to get rid of it. I do suggest you build a unit each turn in southern Italy until you have at least a half stack to go with the garrison you get in development or you can trade off Milan to Italy. I personally keep Milan, build an army there and one south and just take out Italian states as soon as you can to end threats of wars there for the most part.

[Bloodstar]

Originally posted by HazardHawk:

Originally posted by Inardesco:

When you start, your economy is worse than anything you could imagine.

* Get rid of Milan and Flanders, these will only drag you into wars that will drain your coffers.
* Focus on the New Spain mission, once completed, you'll get all the New Spain colonies added to your empire.
* Build up your underdeveloped regions and your economy.
* Spain's King has a tremendous negative impact on your relations with other nations.

Once you've done that, you should be around 1715-1725. From there on, you can think about expanding.

Turn one, the very beginning, before you hit end turn, United Provinces will trade you off Flanders for their Island possession you need to aquire to pick up South and Central America. It will also reposition those few troops to Milan so you dont have to get rid of it. I do suggest you build a unit each turn in southern Italy until you have at least a half stack to go with the garrison you get in development or you can trade off Milan to Italy. I personally keep Milan, build an army there and one south and just take out Italian states as soon as you can to end threats of wars there for the most part.

That's very good advices. I am good at defense so either I will save Milan or those soldiers will die gloriously :o))
Of course I will try to get New Spain as soon as possible. Last game with France I was also fast in getting those colonies. Maybe I will take that advice and lower taxes for all dunno.
I am planning to get and early foothold in India like in my last game as France when Ceylon went to Rebels as I destroyed UP. Then I've sent a fleet there just in time to check rampaging Maratha, if I waited a little longer NOBODY would stop Maratha. But I've beat them and Mysore I think or whatever with only one army (not even full stack).

Other than that I am planning ussual Spain conquest: Morroco, maybe Portugal hm, or other opportunity.

Of to play some Empire Total War not Warhammer Total War... Creative Assembly make Mad Max Total War or LOTR Total War, or James Bond Total War (now that's VERY British!).

[Insaniac]

Trade Belgium to the Dutch in exchange for Curcao. Rapidly complete your starting mission, and from there your campaign is very very easy. Spain isn't that special in terms of unit roster, but your nation's financial and military growth increases exponentially so you can pretty quickly start fielding massive armies and just curbstomp other countries.

[Bloodstar]

Originally posted by Kumelowski:

Trade Belgium to the Dutch in exchange for Curcao. Rapidly complete your starting mission, and from there your campaign is very very easy. Spain isn't that special in terms of unit roster, but your nation's financial and military growth increases exponentially so you can pretty quickly start fielding massive armies and just curbstomp other countries.

I have done just that, exchanged Flanders for Curacao . In fact only finished first turn, no battles yet. It will be interesting.

[Inardesco]

Originally posted by Bloodstar:

Originally posted by Kumelowski:

Trade Belgium to the Dutch in exchange for Curcao. Rapidly complete your starting mission, and from there your campaign is very very easy. Spain isn't that special in terms of unit roster, but your nation's financial and military growth increases exponentially so you can pretty quickly start fielding massive armies and just curbstomp other countries.

I have done just that, exchanged Flanders for Curacao . In fact only finished first turn, no battles yet. It will be interesting.

The first wars are declared between 1702-1705. So between turn 4-10

[Bloodstar]

That is nice if I would have some breathing space hehe... well I have lowered taxes, it will be tough (in all other games i kept taxes at medium but now I will let my cites grow faster but will have less money). In Napoleon TW nobody have attacked trade ships in Mediterran in fact UK didn't even sent any ship there. Well now we will see how Spaniard fare under my generalship. :o)

[Inardesco]

If you don't take out the Pirates in the Caribean they will mess up trade pretty well in all regions, sending fleets all over the place.

Next to that, Galleon's are capeable of handling themselves fairly well untill third/fourth rates.

[Bloodstar]

Originally posted by Inardesco:

If you don't take out the Pirates in the Caribean they will mess up trade pretty well in all regions, sending fleets all over the place.

Next to that, Galleon's are capeable of handling themselves fairly well untill third/fourth rates.

Yeah, didn't have much time to play, I will play more tonight. Right now I have occupied one pirate isle blowing pirates with my artyllery... Barbary States same old pissing poor strategic AI sends one light galley, my two galleons and a brig intercept it, I manually (so that i am sure that it is captured) I capture it and sell it for 380. phew. I took those bastards blitzkrieg in Morroco. Hm, Portugal is quite for now. I have chased some Moroccan rebels, that army needs to be around Madrid for a while as I am almost defensless at Madrid (few regiments or Irish Reg and rest mob). I still didn't attacked Cherokees LOL maybe I should I think that my defenses of Florida are inadequant. Well... Hmm, were ti find escort for trading zones? Do I need it LOL?

I plan to eredicate those BlackBearded Pirates from Carribean once and for all. Hmmm, I need to take Texas or Tejas, must find some agent to remove fog of war. It is too early,,,

I will post my progress here, if you don't mind? I will make like small AAR so maybe some will get an spark to play Empire again?

Spain is not so bad choice, strategically well suited. Well, I would play Maratha maybe for a kick, Elephants and all that but somehow they're unit roster is lacking with good rifle units what Empire is all about. Turkish empire was interesting because you can find Afghan and Kurdish, long time ago I have played so forgive me for not knowing exact name.

[Inardesco]

Maratha Confederacy is a lot of fun, especially when you figure out how effective sword infantry still is in late game!

[Bloodstar]

Originally posted by Inardesco:

Maratha Confederacy is a lot of fun, especially when you figure out how effective sword infantry still is in late game!

I will play them some time later. Now I will see if I can do something with Spain. My income is low. My priest in Morroco is killed, But income is really low, I have lowered taxes in Europe and America but maybe that was not so great idea but will stick to this for now. Will play now some more.

[Inardesco]

Originally posted by Bloodstar:

Originally posted by Inardesco:

Maratha Confederacy is a lot of fun, especially when you figure out how effective sword infantry still is in late game!

I will play them some time later. Now I will see if I can do something with Spain. My income is low. My priest in Morroco is killed, But income is really low, I have lowered taxes in Europe and America but maybe that was not so great idea but will stick to this for now. Will play now some more.

First thing you want to develop are the Americas, these will be your main income because Spain is a rather poor region. Naples and Sicily, once developed do provide some income but mainly, the European regions that are in the hands of Spain or easy to reach (Morocco-Barbary States) are poor regions.