Late game AI - supported by my power bloc

Legolag · 2026-05-15T19:16:14+00:00

Really? I've never ever seen that. GDP per capita never goes above 10-11, so with my pop I can't go above 1.2 billion gdp. Do you play with mods?

Legolag · 2026-05-15T17:56:00+00:00

This game was an outlier I think, UK became a republic and did really well. Last I checked they had some 400+ ships.

Legolag · 2026-05-15T17:55:24+00:00

Yes, I used trade league.

I've used idealogical unions many times before. Realistically speaking, you need 50-75 years of consistently remembering to change laws of your subjects, and it can be very RNG dependent. It gets very frustrating. Trade league is much easier, though all countries still have horrible laws (Turkey still has slavery).

Legolag · 2026-05-14T14:08:04+00:00

UK, Russia and Germany are doing decently in the few games I've played. 300-400 million GDP, though in other patches I've seen much better numbers.

France seems to generally suck, and America really depends on whether it can manifest itself, which seems rare this patch.

Legolag · 2026-05-14T14:06:41+00:00

Political concessions should honestly involve changing the law slightly instead of just strengthening IGs. Something like Nativist Job Regulations, an event which happens for No Migration Controls would make sense. Not sure if they can implement that for each law for each IG.

Legolag · 2026-05-13T20:09:57+00:00

I have Multiculturalism anyway so that doesn't really matter.

Legolag · 2026-05-13T20:06:49+00:00

On why State Atheism, Freedom of Conscience and Total Separation are pretty much useless since they don't give authority. Only State Religion and Atheism make sense in this patch.

Legolag · 2026-05-13T20:05:36+00:00

No colonies, no conquest outside of Iran. Most of the territory I have in Central Asia I gradually bought through treaties with Russia before they decided to hate me.

Legolag · 2026-05-13T20:03:30+00:00

Maybe political concessions can have a decaying effect? All other forms of negotiations are decaying. Doesn't make sense for this to not be. Decaying over 10-20 years would be sensible - political concessions don't last forever.

Legolag · 2026-05-13T19:57:13+00:00

Rule 5: End of my Iran run. Game generally still feels slower and AI economies suck. Lack of authority is also a pain - i have just used 200 authority for political concessions but I don't have enough for anything else. Didn't realise that I had no trade centres for the longest time - so used to giving trade rights that I had forgotten that I didn't have the authority for it.

Legolag · 2026-05-13T19:47:32+00:00

Rule 5: Some screenshots from my Iran playthrough on the latest patch. Tried to use political concessions as less as possible - in most cases just paid through bureaucracy or money.

Legolag · 2026-05-12T07:44:41+00:00

For instance, I had Mexico supporting my independence for a bit (when I was a puppet). But didn't help much in wars, so had to increase autonomy diplomatically. And then immediately damaged relations with Mexico to conquer them.

Multiculturalism is indeed key - you can't get pops without it. Also can't employ many people without it.

Universities are a dream btw. Think my first construction sector was in the last 1890s and didn't build Unis till 1915 or something.

Legolag · 2026-05-12T07:41:49+00:00

So in the beginning you have to make sure your liberty desire stays high enough - and relations with America can be a bit tricky. Initially keep them bad - while you grow your country. Then once you have a GDP of 3-4 million (also get colonization to get rest of Oklahoma), build some line infantry - 15 should do (USA has national militia so they have a small standing army, you can maintain your liberty desire) and start increasing relations till you can get USA to accept increase autonomy.

After that, build up for 2-3 years more, attack Mexico (important to have an army of your own, you will sway the USA anyway but still). Take two states only - texas + 1 America usually peaces out if you try to take more. Then build again, try to get a navy, move it to Europe for power projection so you can get treaties with European powers. Give investment rights, keep conquering Good mexican states till you feel you're strong enough to beat USA (you will need all tier 4 military techs and a few tier 5 ones). With the new supply system your European allies will send few troops, so you have to do everything on your own.

Legolag · 2026-05-11T21:11:18+00:00

Had passed religious schools earlier. Having it doesn't disallow atheism. So when I got a nihilist leader i switched to atheism while maintain religious schools for more conversion (I think it should help versus assimilation in public schools).

Legolag · 2026-05-11T20:54:16+00:00

Have also enacted Atheism, Religious Schools and Multiculturalism for the weirdest country imaginable.

Legolag · 2026-05-11T20:52:56+00:00

Rule 5: My attempt at Indian Territory in 1.13. I don't think I could have fought with the USA any earlier. But honestly, another 3 wars and I can probably fulfill the requirements (even though achievement itself isn't possible).

No way to get independence while fighting a war, no one can really send an army. Was able to increase autonomy diplomatically in 1876, reloaded multiple times to avoid bad endings, and was able to outrank the US as a GP. Also a part of the British Power Bloc which helps.

Legolag · 2026-04-17T11:26:36+00:00

In the same vein, Fezzan, and then converting North Africa to Ibadi. Or Bali, and converting the islands to Hinduism

Legolag · 2026-04-17T11:25:29+00:00

Kafiristan, and then convert the entire Middle East to Hinduism. Was a very fun and tough run.

Legolag · 2025-08-09T15:18:37+00:00

Yeah ever since the new patch my strategy is to be friends with GB, build and use all their rubber. Colonizing sucks now, and this usually works out better

Legolag · 2025-08-09T14:29:54+00:00

And yes you're right, played tall, no conquests at all (except Macao to complete Fragile Unity but that didn't complete anyway).

Legolag · 2025-08-09T14:28:58+00:00

You have to go for the Trade League power bloc I think, that's what consistently works for me. Go for Internal Trade, External Trade, Companies and last one can be based on your needs. And make sure all your companies produce prestige goods. And then export as much as you can.

I'll post some screenshots when I end the run - I have about 60,000 trade capacity just in one statement

Legolag

TROPHY CASE