I don't like sand question

[Octopuses]

Do subjects and colonies count for I don't like sand achievement? If I have less development than my subjects, do I still get the achievement?

[grotaclas]

I think subjects don't count towards your development and it does not matter which terrain they have. But they must not have a higher development than you

[Marquoz]

One note: I strongly recommend doing this as the Mamluks. The wiki's Ajuuraan recommendation takes much longer than my Mamluk run did (I finished in the late 1400s or early 1500s). The Mamluks start so much stronger that it doesn't matter that they can't develop desert as well as Ajuuraan. They just conquer everything they need, smash the Ottomans or anyone else who has more dev, and then feed their non-desert territory to vassals.

Quick and easy.

Edit: the wiki has been updated and now lists the Mamluks as the second good choice. It's actually best, but still, an improvement.

[Octopuses]

Originally posted by Marquoz:

One note: I strongly recommend doing this as the Mamluks. The wiki's Ajuuraan recommendation takes much longer than my Mamluk run did (I finished in the late 1400s or early 1500s). The Mamluks start so much stronger that it doesn't matter that they can't develop desert as well as Ajuuraan. They just conquer everything they need, smash the Ottomans or anyone else who has more dev, and then feed their non-desert territory to vassals.

Quick and easy.

Edit: the wiki has been updated and now lists the Mamluks as the second good choice. It's actually best, but still, an improvement.

I have a WC save I could go back to but I'm not sure how to give away some of the islands away that don't border anything. Also, one of the colonies is just under 1000 development so I'm not sure if I will have enough sand development.

[Marquoz]

It's easy to run a new Mamluk campaign for this achievement. Conquer desert, wait for Ming-splosion and/or smash Ottomans if necessary, give away non-desert provinces to vassals, done.

[Octopuses]

Originally posted by Marquoz:

It's easy to run a new Mamluk campaign for this achievement. Conquer desert, wait for Ming-splosion and/or smash Ottomans if necessary, give away non-desert provinces to vassals, done.

Did you have to develop at all?

[Mr.M]

Originally posted by Octopuses:

I have a WC save I could go back to but I'm not sure how to give away some of the islands away that don't border anything. Also, one of the colonies is just under 1000 development so I'm not sure if I will have enough sand development.

...you can release satellite states from any provinces.

But i highly doubt you get more enjoyment from releasing hundreds of subjects as compared to just starting a new game.

[Octopuses]

Originally posted by Mr.M:

Originally posted by Octopuses:

I have a WC save I could go back to but I'm not sure how to give away some of the islands away that don't border anything. Also, one of the colonies is just under 1000 development so I'm not sure if I will have enough sand development.

...you can release satellite states from any provinces.

But i highly doubt you get more enjoyment from releasing hundreds of subjects as compared to just starting a new game.

I passed that reform to make all HRE my vassals and I can't move my capital outside of HRE, and it's impossible to create client states in overseas provinces. So if there is no way to move the capital it looks like I'll just do the Mamluks game.

[Mr.M]

True, didnt know that... i never use them...

Alternative is to 100% occupy a nation and then give them the provinces in the peacedeal.

[Marquoz]

Originally posted by Octopuses:

Originally posted by Marquoz:

It's easy to run a new Mamluk campaign for this achievement. Conquer desert, wait for Ming-splosion and/or smash Ottomans if necessary, give away non-desert provinces to vassals, done.

Did you have to develop at all?

Only a bit. For example, I force spawned a couple institutions. When I did, I made sure to do so in desert terrain. But that was it. The rest of the achievement was accomplished by crippling the Ottomans (my alliance web kept them from ever making it to eastern Anatolia) and Ming exploding.

[Seryu Ubiquitous]

Idea: play as Najd and combine it with the "desert power" the "jihad" and "sworn felty" achievements if you havnt done them already.

[Mr.M]

Originally posted by Marquoz:

The Mamluks start so much stronger that it doesn't matter that they can't develop desert as well as Ajuuraan.

...newest update gave the Mamluks access to "hydraulic rights". So the only thing they miss compared to Ajuraan now is that measly -10% dev.

[Octopuses]

So I decided I'll just go with Mamluks and crush the Ottomans and the French if needed. I could get it in WC run but it wouldn't be fun, especially having to lose a war or 2 and then over an hour of giving away provinces. Mamluks will take longer but will be fun.

I'm guessing I want to rush Arabia and Sahel region?

[Marquoz]

Originally posted by Octopuses:

I'm guessing I want to rush Arabia and Sahel region?

Is there desert there? Then rush it. :-)

[Marquoz]

Originally posted by Mr.M:

Originally posted by Marquoz:

The Mamluks start so much stronger that it doesn't matter that they can't develop desert as well as Ajuuraan.

...newest update gave the Mamluks access to "hydraulic rights". So the only thing they miss compared to Ajuraan now is that measly -10% dev.

Even when they didn't have hydraulic rights, the Mamluks were so much stronger they were clearly the best choice. When the achievement first released, I read posts from many players about their Ajuuraaan runs. They were certain it was the best nation for earning "sand"--but it took them many decades longer than my Mamluk run did.

[Mr.M]

Originally posted by Marquoz:

...

...and nevermind, i forgot that you can easily form egypt nowadays who gets -10% dev cost.

So Mamluks are basically the same as Ajuraan now, just with more dev to start ;)