Yin Runs England!

[yin26]

My strategy was a bit more obvious, I guess: I paid off France through Letters of Introduction and now they have me in their military alliance! Hard to imagine France and England with a +200 relationship. They never even tried to take Calais, so this leaves me lots of options.

I have decided NOT to colonize in this game, which is really making things tougher on me for sure. However, I think that will make for a far more interesting game from a strategic point of view...though it's a much slower pace.

[Victor Galis]

Eschewing colonization In the short term that allows you more resources for colonial domination, but the quickest route to fantastic wealth is discovering China and taking their CoT with your merchants.

[yin26]

Hmmmm, I think getting a monopoly in China is fair enough. That I'll do if I can, but I got too easy a game with colonies as Spain last time, so I'm trying to keep it a challenge.

[Victor Galis]

Maybe, but as England you don't quite have the same ability as Spain to colonize. With their head start it should make for some more interesting colonial wars that way, but then I like colonies for their own sake... I own the Eastern seaboard from Penobscot to the Carolinas as Russia (yeah... really). Most of these were peacefully acquired when the previous owner of a tradepost found himself suddenly without a tradepost, and with a 3rd party (me) colonizing the province. Only Carolina was captured from the Spanish, becuase they will not stop declaring war on me, and will not drop their trade embargo. Fools! I already am in position to defeat them in Europe in the mountains of Helvetia and on battlefields of Belgium, and as soon as I overrun France, I will be able to attack their heartland, and finish the task that Aragon and Granada began!

[St Leo]

All throughout I was struggling not to mentally replace "Baron Yin" with "Edmund Blackadder"

Why not George or Baldric?

[Shadowstrike]

With England, I find myself diploannexing Germany, one minor at a time, then wait out till EoT before unifying my two beachheads into one single English buffer zone against French/Austrian/Spainish imperialism.

[Victor Galis]

Bah, Germany is to be militarily annexed five minors at a time

[Shadowstrike]

I find the subtleness of diplo annexation much more satisfying. Brtue force and machoism is fun, but not after you've done it ad nauseum. *cough*Russian world conquest*cough*

[Victor Galis]

"I find the subtleness of diplo annexation much more satisfying."

-No one is stupid enough to let themselves be annexed by me... well there were about 4 powers in 300 yrs.

"*cough*Russian world conquest*cough*"

-It's so much easier at France. Russia is much more complex, though you get to kick the Muslim's ***es. (No stability hit once you convince them to put a trade embargo on you.)

[shawng1]

My usual start with England is unification of the Isles. I simply refuse to allow Scotland to make the "Old Alliance" with France. Military-annex it before they can make the Alliance. Norfolk is a good enough general to ensure ultimate victory.

From there, (after the requisite putting down of revolts), its consolidation until the Reformation. I convert first opportunity, then I start making alliances with the German states as they convert. Hannover is the best bet. Vassilize them quickly, ally with Brandenburg, and then you have a workable Prot. alliance against any conceivable religious war.

I usually grow by diplomacy and colonization (NA first, then Africa, then Asia). Favorite provinces are Newfoundland, Isle Royale, Manhatten, California, Table, and everyone's fave, Mekong.

Once I think I'm ready to get warlike, my favorite things to do are to resume hostilities with the French (of course), and remove the Pope from Rome.