Help a noob like me

[GePap]

Currently I am playing my third game of EU2-which makes me a noob-my first game, as China went badly, with revolts everywhere. Then I played Spain, and got bored because wile I knew very little I conquered the Aztec and saw money coming in...

Then I am trying China again...and I am doing OK, but stillI have a few questions:

-How can you battle inflation prior to infra (4)-it is almost 50% and that is hurting.

-quick moneymaking tips

[Sandman]

I've not played for a while, so recent patches may have changed things, but:

China is a poor choice for a new player; the revolt events it gets are just killer. Their inferior tech isn't much fun either.

The only way to lower inflation prior to infra 4 is by event (random or scripted). Just keep the treasury slider at a very low level most of the time. Annual census taxes don't contribute to inflation; these should make up the bulk of your spending in normal circumstances. Promote tax collectors in most provinces to get at that lovely inflation free income.

You should always keep your armies on half wages, except during wartime. Many nations start out with armies that are totally beyond their means to afford; either use them up in an early war, or disband them. Transports are also of questionable use: galleys and warships can usually carry all the troops you need, and transports are dirt cheap anyway, so I usually disband them.

Unless you have a colonial Centre of Trade that no-one else knows about, it's extremely wasteful to try and maintain a monopoly. The Ai will try to force you out relentlessly. Just settle for a large share spread over lots of CoTs. Trade agreements lower you trading efficiency; don't make them unless you're absolutely sure you want to.

Minimize your spending on stability by:

Only taking provinces with your religion. Pagan provinces are especially crippling for Christian nations.

Making stability enhancing domestic policy decisions.

Converting provinces to your state religion with missionaries. Pagan and state culture provinces are easiest to convert, especially if you have an good monarch.

[GePap]

Interestingly enough, on the second time, I got control over the revolt issues pretty decisively.

But I did not know that regular tax revenue did not raise inflation-I though it did. I know I had a few too many loans, and some vast war tax increases-might explain the 50% inflation

[pg]

one way to make easy money is wars especially vs weak contries you can over run easily. you just occupy them 100% then demand money and they must accept iirc.

the way to keep inflation down is to live year to year off your census taxes and keep your money spending to 0.0 to 0.1 inflation increase per month. i save money in the beggining by not sending many traders and keeping my army/navy at half maintence and very small.

[Sandman]

As well as the inflation free census taxes, you also get normal taxes throughout the year which are added to your normal monthly income, so the tax value of a province is effectively doubled.

If a country is a vassal, then half of these non-census taxes are given to the suzerain. Vassalizing is great because a) If they are your co-religionists, you can bribe 'em up and diploannex them and b) if they are not your co-religionists, they make a good, low risk source of income.

[Dauphin]

Having vassals also helps you avoid paying stability costs. That is the cost of improving stabililty is related to the number of provinces you have. I usually vassalize states with low tax incomes and diplo annex when my BB rating is ok.