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After two false starts, I won my first game last night. Large New World map, Conquistador difficulty, Normal speed. Played with the SnoopyDale mod version 1.02. Won the revolutionary war in 1714.
Here's how I did it:
Played as the Dutch charismatic leader.
Established three colonies:
New Amsterdam: Large and on the coast. I had two expert lumberjacks, two master carpenters, a master blacksmith, and a master gunsmith here. I heavily industrialized, building a Blacksmith Shop, Shipyard, and Armory. It was about size 14 by the revolution including converted natives.
Fort Orange. Inland. Produced cigars for export and food for New Amsterdam. Size 4.
Fort Nassau. Inland. Produced ore for New Amsterdam and tobacco for Fort Orange. Size 4.
Early in the game, I got scouts exploring the entire continent for goodie huts. I also traded guns and horses to the natives for cash. Early profits were invested in industrialization. Later, I bought guns and tools to add to those I was producing. Just before the revolution I bought three cannon.
I held several parties in the early game on things like food and lumber. My tax was about 33% just before the revolution.
After I industrialized in New Amsterdam, I built three Ships of the Line, a Frigate, and a Privateer.
As others have suggested, I did no liberty bell production at all until very late game. Specifically, I got an Elder Statesman and then trained three more in a college in Fort Orange. While doing this, I rushed newspapers in all colonies. When they graduated, I spread them around and went to 50% revolutionary in just a few turns. I had literally no garrison or field troops at this point, just stockpiled muskets and those three cannon I bought.
On all of those turns, the king built up the REF. However, because I avoided any liberty bell producion until late in the game, the overall size of the REF was still small. Only four MOW in the Royal Navy.
My total navy at the start of the revolution was three SOTL and two privateers. I lost the Frigate in combat with a raiding privateer sometime earlier. By attacking en masse, I was able to destroy three of the Royal Navy MOW in exchange for the total loss of my own fleet. I probably could have destroyed the fourth if I had one or two more ships.
Cutting down the Royal Navy was very helpful as it meant I only had to deal with one landing at a time. The REF's ground troops still numbered approximately 20 units, but only 4 were landed at a time.
I kept New Amsterdam functioning throughout the war as much as possible as I could make 25 guns per turn there. The REF twice captured the city, but each time my cannon defeated them as is discussed in the Cannon Exploit thread. For the record, I'm not sure that's an exploit.
I hid most of my soldiers in inland forests and attacked the REF units shortly after they landed. I used converted natives as roadblocks and defenders after I got Chief Powhatan as a FF.
I went with all men are free for the Constitution to get some more warm bodies to hold guns. I also went with Elections, Native Rights, Right to Bear Arms, and Theocracy.
By the end of the war all cities were under 4 population because I had put lots of militia in the field. I was getting a massive +50% revolutionary sentiment bonus with my troops. I got a Great General who I put on a Dragoon unit. This became a very powerful hit-and-run attacker.
Overall, the war was challenging but not impossible and I think I got good value for my Ships of the Line. With a little more planning on my part it could have been a walkover in my favor.
Next game, I'm trying a different civ!
Here's how I did it:
Played as the Dutch charismatic leader.
Established three colonies:
New Amsterdam: Large and on the coast. I had two expert lumberjacks, two master carpenters, a master blacksmith, and a master gunsmith here. I heavily industrialized, building a Blacksmith Shop, Shipyard, and Armory. It was about size 14 by the revolution including converted natives.
Fort Orange. Inland. Produced cigars for export and food for New Amsterdam. Size 4.
Fort Nassau. Inland. Produced ore for New Amsterdam and tobacco for Fort Orange. Size 4.
Early in the game, I got scouts exploring the entire continent for goodie huts. I also traded guns and horses to the natives for cash. Early profits were invested in industrialization. Later, I bought guns and tools to add to those I was producing. Just before the revolution I bought three cannon.
I held several parties in the early game on things like food and lumber. My tax was about 33% just before the revolution.
After I industrialized in New Amsterdam, I built three Ships of the Line, a Frigate, and a Privateer.
As others have suggested, I did no liberty bell production at all until very late game. Specifically, I got an Elder Statesman and then trained three more in a college in Fort Orange. While doing this, I rushed newspapers in all colonies. When they graduated, I spread them around and went to 50% revolutionary in just a few turns. I had literally no garrison or field troops at this point, just stockpiled muskets and those three cannon I bought.
On all of those turns, the king built up the REF. However, because I avoided any liberty bell producion until late in the game, the overall size of the REF was still small. Only four MOW in the Royal Navy.
My total navy at the start of the revolution was three SOTL and two privateers. I lost the Frigate in combat with a raiding privateer sometime earlier. By attacking en masse, I was able to destroy three of the Royal Navy MOW in exchange for the total loss of my own fleet. I probably could have destroyed the fourth if I had one or two more ships.
Cutting down the Royal Navy was very helpful as it meant I only had to deal with one landing at a time. The REF's ground troops still numbered approximately 20 units, but only 4 were landed at a time.
I kept New Amsterdam functioning throughout the war as much as possible as I could make 25 guns per turn there. The REF twice captured the city, but each time my cannon defeated them as is discussed in the Cannon Exploit thread. For the record, I'm not sure that's an exploit.
I hid most of my soldiers in inland forests and attacked the REF units shortly after they landed. I used converted natives as roadblocks and defenders after I got Chief Powhatan as a FF.
I went with all men are free for the Constitution to get some more warm bodies to hold guns. I also went with Elections, Native Rights, Right to Bear Arms, and Theocracy.
By the end of the war all cities were under 4 population because I had put lots of militia in the field. I was getting a massive +50% revolutionary sentiment bonus with my troops. I got a Great General who I put on a Dragoon unit. This became a very powerful hit-and-run attacker.
Overall, the war was challenging but not impossible and I think I got good value for my Ships of the Line. With a little more planning on my part it could have been a walkover in my favor.
Next game, I'm trying a different civ!
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