Cheaper Army

[Claudius Aetius]

I All,

Does anyone knows good tips to make a cheaper army? Perhaps a specific Tech or Idea, or a better economic strategy...

[Psychotic Fury]

Taking admin ideas and quantity both reduce costs iirc.

Also only have your army at max maintenance while your at war/about to declare war/lots of rebels.
You dont need to pay for them if your not using them.

[Zornvel]

Defensive ideas has a -5% Land maintenance modifier also Economic ideas has the same, as your income will be increased with the Economic ideas. Also Quantity ideas makes your units cheaper. Admin reduces the costs for merc and you can make more core states so more money.

However I only would take Defensive or Quantity but not both of them (as early as possible, best as second idea because the mil tech is at the begin more important then mil ideas, the bonus from tech it to high).
Economic will make you richer at the begin and even more rich later. I personely think that with the new 1.25 version there is even more money then it was even if now the units were more expensive.

Also so your playstile can make you rich. A colonize with 5-6 colonies or 5-6 trade companies, will get extra traders and money. Also so controling the big trade nodes can make you rich.

[Claudius Aetius]

Thank you all. Yes, I suppose I should prioritize the economy in the beginning and find out ways to enrich myself in order to afford an Army... It is still difficult to me to gain money in this game.

[neofutur]

I choose to use economic and quantity in most of my games.

[neofutur]

also wars are a necessary source of money, always take tribute and war reparations

[Joshwerds]

Try looking for idea groups with maintenance modifer and regiment cost reductions. Since maintenance is based of regiment cost it works as maintenance reduction as well. The quantity idea group is best for this since it has both for an effective -20% troopmaintenance. Reducing army maintenance during peace time will save cash but you won't be abble to drill them. Generally in EU4 you shouldn't be thinking "How do I make my troops cheaper" but "How to I make more money". Early on income may a difficult thing to manage but as you expand readily troop costs and income shouldn't really be a problem.

[billy]

its more money you need to make rather than a cheaper army.

I wouldnt pick idea's to get a cheaper army , they are a nice filler idea but dont pick for them . Pick an economy idea and have a lot more money.

I think in single player quantity is the best military idea and that reduces army cost. Defensive can be good especially if your army has no morale boost.

The problem with army cost reduction as well is by the time its value for money its useless as your often rich anyway. If your doing well being rich is inevitable.

I pick trade almost every game i think , unless i dont have many trade nodes to put them in. Though if your expanding well you always end up with trade nodes for merchants

what countries are you playing , some are a lot richer or poorer than others . Even a country like spain is poor at the start and doesnt become super rich for a little while.