Kilwa Ideas

[Kastall-MetZ]

What are good idea groups for the African nation Kilwa? I just unlocked my 1st idea slot and was thinking either exploration or trade?

Cheers

[Illyrien]

I am currently doing a Kilwa game aswell :) Going for Queen of Mercury archievement.

Exploration is always useful in southeast asia, both to conqured The Cape region and to step towards the east indies.

Trade isnt worth much until you have expanded a fair bit. Perhaps not even then, though I must add, that my trade income is my largest income, but I have maxed tradefleets and have conquered all the way up the east African coast.

Economy is very worth considering, especially for the development bonus, since you are going to have to buy the institutions the hard way.

I took out Madagascar quickly, it was pretty easy, consider doing that :)

[Kastall-MetZ]

Cheers for you reply
I'll take exploration then Economy

[Illyrien]

Oh, Economy also counters the inflation from the gold mines, which is a bit of a pain.

[c00lizz]

You have one of the strongest and most easily dominated trade nodes for early to mid game. Trade is nice but not really nessecary, you'll be rich regardless. Exploration is also nice but it doesn't help you steer more trade either since you'll be colonizing behind India.

I'd recommend you go for Influence/Admin or a Millitary idea so that you can conquer your way into the gulf of Aden so you can steal as much as possible of the Indian trade.

[Illyrien]

Got the achievement in 1551 and only managed to get two ideas into Defensive, thats all. Not starting with Feudalism is punishing! It was pretty wierd. About the time I got military tech 8, both my Admin and Diplo where still only level 3.

I relocated my capital to Madagascar, which I took very early. Developing it there was slightly cheaper then using the original Kilwa province

Taking both the Zanzibat and the Zambia trade nodes is reasonably easy and they provide a fair income of about 10ish.