Forming Colonies? IE the race for Africa

[miketr]

Are there any specific rules on how this is to work? 

Michael

[snip]

Yes...yes there are. Look, over there! Freedom!

*conviens mod huddle while everyone is distracted*

Seriously, I think its just PMing the mods saying "Hey, I want to invade here." and we go from that.

[Darman]

Yes...yes there are. Look, over there! Freedom!

*conviens mod huddle while everyone is distracted*

Seriously, I think its just PMing the mods saying "Hey, I want to invade here." and we go from that.

Why not require the invading country invest (at minimum) in a type 0 port, with some sort of moderator die roll that determines the success or failure of the attempt, with military support influencing the results of the roll. 

[miketr]

The requirement for a type 0 Port is fine for the first province.  But doesn't exactly work for any follow on provinces.  Especially as people push into the interior.

Michael

[Darman]

Perhaps the construction, or upfront payment for the construction, of a civilian transportation network i.e. IC) would be the answer?  Again, a variable of risk would be involved, whereby Britain wants to colonize into the Natal region so she invests in a railroad.  Well, the people of Natal don't like this and fight back, preventing the establishment of a colony (all determined by a do-or-die die roll) and Britain loses her initial investment.  Britain decides to try again.  Again, she invests in a railroad (or whatever you want your IC to represent) but this time I throw a brigade of troops into the fray as well.  Again, the people of Natal resist (possibly with outside support this time) and a die roll determines the success or failure of the venture.  The end result?  Up to the moderator's discretion as to what precisely happens (or they could pass that story-telling fluff on to the player involved).  In this case, the railroad expands northwards, native tribesmen rise up, the British infantry brigade that is sent in to protect the railroad is annihilated at a little place called Isandlwanna....

I don't think we need to have a set formula for determining the success of colonization efforts, simply leave it up to the moderators to make up the odds as they go along.  As long as they are fair about it of course.  And if one of the moderators wants to colonize someplace then they appoint a temporary honorary mod to confer with the remaining mod to determine its success. 

[Walter]

In this case, the railroad expands northwards, native tribesmen rise up, the British infantry brigade that is sent in to protect the railroad is annihilated at a little place called Isandlwanna....

Shows that you should have sent the railroad to the mission station of Rorke's Drift. :)

[Darman]

In this case, the railroad expands northwards, native tribesmen rise up, the British infantry brigade that is sent in to protect the railroad is annihilated at a little place called Isandlwanna....

Shows that you should have sent the railroad to the mission station of Rorke's Drift. :)

Nah, that would be too easy :p 

[miketr]

Most the African colonies, especially the central Africa ones were just economic black holes.  So I don't see much IC going up in any new African colonies we make.  My two bits.

Michael

[Darman]

I didn't actually mean for the IC to produce anything.  That was the cost of establishing the colony.  If you want it to produce more revenue then build more IC. 

[The Rock Doctor]

I'd suggest allowing for diplomatic means as well as military - in the sense of the usual one-sided treaties that see the local elites get some trinkets and nominal power in exchange for allegience to the King and title to most of the lands.

[snip]

The system we are looking at is one where you would pay a sum (probably in relation to the size of the territory you want to add) and there would be a roll (or more then one) that would determine the outcome. Depending on that result, things might be awarded (ports, rail lines, etc) in addition to the territory or further action might need to be taken to secure the territory in question. I think it could safely be assumed that all these action short of saying "Im sending my Army to take this by force, screw diplomacy." would be primarily diplomatic in nature. Any application of military force (think parking a Armored Cruiser off the little town where negotiations are taking place, stuff like that) prior to the establishment of the colony (short of taking it by invasion) would influence the roll, tho in what direction would depend on the location.

[miketr]

I have a suggestion.

Some amount of money is spent to setup a colonial administration.  Call it $5, half the price of a IC.  Having read the amount of money German sank into their colonies pre-ww1 I think this is actually low balling.  See my comment before on Africa being a blackhole in budget terms.  This covers ONE of the provinces on the map.  A die roll is made by the mods and you are told if the colonization effort paid off or not.  At which point in time you are told how many people are there; since the entire continent had like 100 million in 1900 (this includes North Africa and South Africa) I am not expecting much here; I figure most would be south of million more like multiples of 100,000. 

Possible bonus to the die roll.

1) Role play this covers things like Rockies Diplomatic efforts.
2) Sending (mobilized troops); not much is needed IMO.  I figure 12,500 (half a specialist or quarter of a infantry corps) is more than enough to overrun any of the native peoples to be found down there.  A joke I read was Africa was conquered by a pair of Europeans, a few dozen native porters and a Maxim Gun. 
3) Write a story of your take over.

Michael

[Darman]

I figure 12,500 (half a specialist or quarter of a infantry corps)

My understanding was that specialist and infantry base units are all 25,000 per division, 5,000 per brigade, and 50,000 per corps.