Is it possible to block colonization?

[vogonistic]

I'm trying to figure out strategies for preventing other countries from putting their stubby little fingers in my pot.

Can you block other countries creating colonies by putting troops in the territories they want, or can you still send a colonist there? Does a ship blockading the port prevent colonist to get there? I haven't been able to try it yet, but I'm looking at a way to stop the French from taking more of North America. It's mine! All mine! =)

I realize that they could declare war and just wipe out my troops, or I might not be able to maintain enough troops to block off all the coastal territories and the ones bordering their current colony, but it might buy me the time I need if it's possible.

[Xara]

If you made it your strategy from the start, probably. If you rushed the exploration idea and finished it asap, you have free reign to attack the native americans without penalty. You can loot the inca, aztec, maya, zapotec, creek, cherokee, shawnee, huron, and iroquois for good amounts of gold every 5 years.

You can also liberate the maya or the creek (if they've been conquered) using the warscore, then turn around and attack them and vassalize them. Make rivals of the aztec and shawnee, improve relations with the vassals, and you can integrate in 10 years - that gives you cores you can use to start colonizing. Colonize all the coastline and the other europeans won't have a foothold - you can't colonize a landlocked province until you have that foothold.

Station all your troops in the americas and do you damndest to stay out of europe wars

[vogonistic]

I'm playing as Sweden and decided to go for colonization instead of breaking out of the personal union with Denmark, so currently I can't start wars and can't negotiate for myself even if I did insult anyone enough to provoke a war. Lately Denmark has been eagerly involving me in every major war in Europe and it's quickly getting tiresome since I have a lot of ports that can be blocked. I don't want to take my main fleet off the american coast unless I absolutely have to.

That said, I'll have to deal with Denmark soon since they are producing strong heir's like crazy. I was hoping that I'd get lucky and get my freedom without a war with Denmark.

But I take it you haven't tried occupying land with troops to prevent colonization?

[cz]

You can't keep everyone out of everywhere, however. Sometimes it's not so bad if another country grabs a couple provinces, though; you have to think it through. For example, if you're playing Spain it doesn't really matter if Portugal grabs a couple of Caribbean islands, since you'll both be routing trade straight to Sevilla. If England or France start sticking their fingers in your Caribbean, though, you might start worrying.

You can always conquer your rival's colonial possessions the old-fashioned way, too.

[Dr. G]

You can't block other countries from colonizing unoccupied coastal provinces (unless you send a colonist there yourself). I have had French colonists set up a colony right under my Spanish army. However, if you manage to colonize an entire coast (a difficult thing to do), they will not be able to colonize since you have to have a coastal colony before moving inland.

[vogonistic]

@cz: Yeah. I'm just looking for a way to delay or being able to force them into worse colonies without running into a huge tab for my colonization effort. In my case (playing as Sweden), I'm collecting from the trade nodes and don't want them to transfer all my shiny gold away.

@ThatWhichThinks: Thanks! Even though I was hoping nobody would have seen it happen, it's still good to know that it doesn't work. I've covered the entire Brazilian coastline before they started getting involved, but now there is a colonization rush going on in North America.

[Bandit17]

A good way to slow down a particular country from colonial expansion is with a good 'ol fashioned war. Not only can you take their colonies but they will usually drop colonial maintenance as well and thus slowing down the colonial march.

If your Sweden and your still in the PU trying to start a colonial empire you might be creating a problem for yourself. The Americas trade pretty much stops at Lubek meaning you will not be making much off of it unless you move your capital which is going to require a war anyways.

In my Sweden campaign I kicked Denmarks butt, united Scandinavia and started to make the Baltic my little private swimming pool. I than started my colonial empire only to realize I was not making much money off of it. All I was doing was making the Western most European powers richer. So I captured Lubek, changed it's culture and moved my capital there. This is when I started to become a very wealthy country:)

[vogonistic]

This is why I opted from cornering an entire trade node (Brazil), so that I could collect from it and not have any other nations taking anything away from it. It just gets more difficult with getting the rest of it. Maybe I can fund my war with my new riches and take over Denmark, who by now have annexed Norway and large parts of Hansa and Novogorod.

[Bandit17]

Originally posted by vogonistic:

This is why I opted from cornering an entire trade node (Brazil), so that I could collect from it and not have any other nations taking anything away from it. It just gets more difficult with getting the rest of it. Maybe I can fund my war with my new riches and take over Denmark, who by now have annexed Norway and large parts of Hansa and Novogorod.

Muscovy and Austria (HRE) could make good friends I'm guessing.

[Golwar]

As Spain you have the individual national idea to claim colonies. Quite helpful to stop competition. Nothing beats being fast though. This is the year 1573 in my current game. Portugal was the only other nation that colonized, I integrated them via PU.

http://i.imgur.com/Xe9N0Nc.png

Great Britain made its very first step on NA right now. Didn't decide yet if I'll push them away. It's probably not worth the trouble.

[Bandit17]

Originally posted by Golwar:

As Spain you have the individual national idea to claim colonies. Quite helpful to stop competition. Nothing beats being fast though. This is the year 1573 in my current game. Portugal was the only other nation that colonized, I integrated them via PU.

http://i.imgur.com/Xe9N0Nc.png

Great Britain made its very first step on NA right now. Didn't decide yet if I'll push them away. It's probably not worth the trouble. :income:

As long as they only colonize along the Huron (Canadian) trade node than it doesn't hurt you at all I'm thinking. You can't redirect that trade anyways so no real loss.

But if they get into the Chesapeak node than you might start seeing large fleets of British light ships soon...