Holland and Netherlands Ideas

[VoiceGS]

Hey all

I'm alternating between a Saxony and a Netherlands game. On my Netherlands game I'm starting as Holland and I could use some advice on ideas.

I read a lot of post that suggest to get Trade for my first idea. But, I really want to get to the New World ASAP. So I was thinking of going Administrative first for the cost and maintenance reduction of mercs. (As I doubt my forcelimit or even my manpower pool will be exciting.) Then going Exploration for my second idea. Then Trade for third with a Naval or Maritime coming in 4th or 5th where I could possibly change that around with a different Military idea instead.

Do you think that's ok? Or should I change something around?

Also for a Trade Empire would you suggest I get both Naval and Martime ideas or one or the other?

If I'm lucky to get a advisor that boosts colonial range should I try and cut of Britain from Canada and the eastern coastline of America or try and get Carribean? It's been a long time since I have played EU4 so I have forgotten whats possible when it comes to the Colonial race.

My goal is to try and stay within the Dutch region with no other counties in Europe under my control. (Unless I get a PU with someone.) So because of that what ideas would be beneficial for me to take that can help me with African, Indonesian and Asia countries? Would Humanist be a good choice for the -10 years of seperation. Plus the accepted culture thresshold and nation unrest reduction are pretty good as well.

Any tips would be great!

Voice

[Crim]

If you want to colonize a fair chunk of America before Portugal, Castille and even France or England pollute the area. I suggest going Exploration first.

As far as military goes, you're under the protection of Brandenburg. You will be fine.

[Surimi]

Interesting thing to start thinking about, which religious denomination will you go?

If you're going catholic or protestant you should probably take humanist ideas at some point, and while it might seem strange I would seriously consider setting your national focus to administrative and picking it as a first idea purely for the improved relations over time. Conquering the Netherlands region will rack up seriously huge aggressive expansion, and anything to help burn that off is good. Humanist also has a few benefits which make it easier to expand without raising autonomy, which is good because it means you can become stronger more quickly. Finally, it means when the reformation hits you can just ignore it as you'll be fairly close to getting full tolerance of heretics regardless of whether you go Catholic or Protestant.

If you're going reformed, then humanist ideas will be overkill. You might consider influence ideas for the same effect, but that would mean you couldn't take exploration second. Administrative is good but one interesting possibility would be to get expansion first and only go to the second idea which gives you a free merchant. This not only means you're free to focus on teching admin, but also means once you do reach the new world (diplomatic tech 9, unless you conquer a base somewhere) you'll be able to expand really fast.

Maritime is essential for a trade empire. Naval took a fairly substantial buff with common sense, but is still optional. It will definately help you to rule the seas, but as long as you don't mind bringing ships home in wartime maritime will be enough.

[Aeru]

I actually think a smart move would be going for quantity first, than exploration, than expansion. Expansion+Quantity is granting an extra colonist. Since you cant reach anything within the first 7 dipl. levels (and than you still need to find a way to steal iceland) - and for the start you got some extra manpower and stuff. i never went for maritime or trade with the dutch... when you get 5 to max 12 colonies with 10 landstrips - you'll have more merchs than smart places to put them and quantity grants some extra ship limit.

[Aeru]

BTW in my latest playthrough it seemed to me, that oversea colonies didnt't appear in the base tax chart and therefore can never be considered accepted - but just something i assume (i was alreay to big in europe when getting pieces in india). probably also because one uses trading companies, which reduce base tax to 0 - i usually prefer religious over humanism. but both are nice to have

[VoiceGS]

Hey

Thanks for the replies.

My idea was to go Protestant so that I could try the new mechanics with that religion. So I will take Humanist. I do prefer that to Relgious. I will probably take that first then. I got lucky when I went indpendent as I got a 5/4/5 22 y/o ruler. So I'm getting 10 adm points enough which ain't to bad. Just hope he lives a long time as my heir kinda sucks.

So I won't be able to reach America's at 7 then? Even with a colonial advisor? If so I will probably take Exploration 2nd and stop at the colonist and push to tech 9.

I don't see myself being able to take Iceland.

It will really be a race to cut off England. Just hope they get some sucky rulers.

Voice

[Aeru]

You can check the needed range: http://www.eu4wiki.com/Colonization#Strategies ; i think that is still valid with the newest update. When i played with common sense, to me it seems, that the reformation is comin later than it used to (around 1500 i had reformation earliere, now by 1550). Keep in mind, that your colonies are having the religion, that u have, when they were formed.

[N311]

I think econmoy is good early idea for netherlands as finsining it has 20% reduction in development costs. As well has reducing interest on your loans that has proven vital for my play through when involved in wars against austria.

With economy and dutch ideas your capital has -40% development costs. Add the protostant church aspect that gives 5% development reduction. You can build tall while still keeping up i techs.

[Surimi]

Originally posted by Aeru:

When i played with common sense, to me it seems, that the reformation is comin later than it used to (around 1500 i had reformation earliere, now by 1550). Keep in mind, that your colonies are having the religion, that u have, when they were formed.

It depends on the papal states, I believe. They have some new events related to things like the sale of indulgences and simony where they can choose to either gain a permanent source of income or seriously push back the reformation desire.