Empire: Total War - Part 4 - Boat Or Die 

Wait until Jon learns that if he right clicks on the minister, kings or generals he can learn the traits that person has instead of just guessing.

Jon: “Now let’s talk . . .” Us: Yesss Jon: “All about the things . .” Us: “It’s back! Here it comes!” Jon: “That Jon Just Didn’t Know.” Us: . . . .”New Series! Hell yes! 10/10: best episode ever!”

Strategies Jon should follow here: Take Gran Colombia. Now that Spain declared war, Gran Colombia is the gem you want. It's a real city with full infrastructure and a perfect base to take back the islands from. No more garrison militia, you get real Line Infantry. France: Sack Paris, and while you have it for a turn, burn every building in the towns, the walls, and all the other buildings. When they rebel, it will be worth nothing for a decade.

Jon, if a town only has a basic "grey" garrison you can demand them to surrender (provided it's not their last settlement or it's not their capital like Paris) and most of the time they will surrender if you have a overall good reputation, so you don't have to fight and lose units to firelock armed citizens Edit: Also, if you are an absolute monarchy, you can drag and drop a minister from the opposition if he's better than one of yours ;)

"Okay troops, stand down and leave the colony defenseless!" Spain: "Mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine!!"

In today's episode of "MATN plays a Total War game", Jon continues playing historically accurately (we all remember when the dutch conquered norway and denmark), and then proceeds to go into immense depth about some random thing that we didnt know about or particularly care about until right now. Stay perceptionless and awesome

Ships that were spoils of war getting sold was a pretty ordinary thing. The smaller ones usually got sold to private trading companies. The big (semi) militarized companies like the Hudson's Bay Company or the East India bought most of their fleet from the English navy. They had quite a lot of Spanish ships at one point.

Man, I remember playing this after foot surgery. I was supposed to sit for hours, and this was the perfect entertainment! I played as Sweden, and I eventually went on to conquer the entire map! Ah, the fun times...

It’s a genius play by Spain, what they could take from you in the Americas is worth far more than if it costs them Flanders. And then there’s France as a buffer between you and actual Spain to protect them

Wait until Jon realizes he can toggle ship broadside, turn off fire at will. They will load the cannon. Then toggle fire at will on and off and they will fire a well aimed volley.

Jon don't forget friendly fire exists! several of your battles you've killed more of your own men than the enemy have!

Jon an addition to the "shuffling people around" at 4:00 , you should click on the people and you can see their traits and what people would be good at. A 4 star guy in the treasury might have 3 unused trauts for military that would make him 5 starts in that category! Its super benificial to actually look at what traits people have

I love your total war series because I’m not a big history buff, so for me this series is equivalent to my history professor playing total war the whole period and trying to rationalize why starting a war with France is the logical thing to do.

I’d love to see longer episodes of this and more turns per episode. For a game like this and of this length, I’d be more than happy to watch a 2 hour video…

This has so quickly become my "Stay up and wait for upload" series. I hope it becomes a long series!

I guess one could say, Jon’s ‘brusselling’ some feathers this episode!

That cliffhanger...I don't suppose there's any way we can not wait three days before seeing the next part? Also, given the scale of the upcoming battle, I would absolutely accept the next episode just being an unedited run of the fight.

Jon, your ministers have traits that make them good or bad at their jobs. Right click on their portraits

Another tip jon, at 14:35 i beleive you can drag 1 battered unit over another battered unit of the same type, that combines as many troops as it can into 1 unit. So if the total a unit can be is 160, and you have 2 units of 90, you can fill up 1 unit to 160 and be left with a nearly dead one of 20 troops, which you can disband then if you want. I hope my math is right ive been drinking

Well ain't that a surprise. The second Jon decides that an army in the Americas isn't worth the upkeep and pulls down troop strength, the Spanish pounce. Who could have guessed the AI is basically scripted to opportunistically jump on you if it senses weakness.

"Advancing into cannons is not easy" basically describes the history of warfare from Gustavus Adophus in the 1620s until the invention of close-air support aircraft. And even then, it just changed the kinds of cannons that were a problem, which continues to be an issue now. Cannons: No one wants to advance into them.

Fun fact: pressing 'INS' while a ship is selected you can see the guys under the deck :)

"We need to cut costs" *fires a whole regiment of defenses* "Oh no Spain is attacking" *is attacked and now doesn't have enough defenses* "Wow Spain is really smart to hit Aruba!" Oh Jon..

I legitimately cannot explain how excited I am about this series. Your Rome and Medieval series were legendary. This will be another one.

Again it’s that thing that can feel overwhelming in this game when you’ve so many theatres and directions for expansion or to be attacked from and you can’t do everything at once and you pay dearly for what you don’t do

Life just Got good

I think i'm starting to understand why this game resonates so well with me. The whole trade talk, ship capturing and trade route raiding remind me of my time as trader and pirate in Uncharted Waters 2

I can't believe he left us with that cliffhanger. I'm so hyped for this big battle.

I can't get over how utterly cheerful General Koenraad's character portrait is.

I like that general that decided to stand on his own in front of your entire army. We may never know what strategy he was cooking.

Back for another amazing episode of ‘Toadle War’ 🤣

Great stuff, as always. You've probably provided me with more hours of quality entertainment over the last few years than any other single individual. Many thanks.

Jon, you inspire me to play games I haven’t touched in years. These developers should really pay you for your great work

Ships were sold at "Prize Auctions" to private citizens or companies of the capturing nation and/or their allies. Crews would get a share of the proceeds and the admiralty would also get a share.

This is the most chaotic start to a TW series I've seen, and I love it.

Jon: These ships can move quick and are more maneuverable. These big ships are less so Also Jon: Always moves all the ships together

In every TW game up to around napoleon. you can shift click the in game battle timer you can play the game anywhere from 0.1x speed to 1x speed. makes for really dramatic slow-mo scenes Eg: Cav Charges. I've never seen anyone point this out. but it exists Edit: You dont just have to use the preset 4 Speed Settings

Your making the right choice with using fire at will, it just generally is better. Unless you need a heavy broadside for morale reasons or shooting chain shot out of range for the extra height and distance. Quick tip, when dealing with brigs and Indian vessels, use grape shot as they have no protection for the crews and deals a lot of damage. Enables an easy capture and prize money.

There is no "sea police", but there are commercial organizations and other countries who would be very interested in buying lightly used ships and/or discount parts.

I am extremely disappointed that Jon didn't go for the obvious title "Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition"

Watching that Swedish ship just sitting of the coast of Norway, being all sketchy lol

Love, the total war series. Hope this one is a long playthrough, like medieval or Rome. A long term challenge/goal could be taking Russia like napoleon never could or retaking the 13 colonies for the Dutch instead. Love the series so far keep it up Jon!! 👍🏾💯

*Pirates: Raid crucial trade route* *Venice: "I got you homie"*

11:31: Well that's ballsy. The general going into the fight by himself.

This is a very basic tip that i am pretty sure you know.. focus research on Fire by rank. It allows all of a line infantry unit to fire, is spread to 3 ranks. it is devastating, if you get there 2-3 turns before the AI. And it reduces casualties since your men crouch to reload. Also the animation even in 2022 looks AMAZING. Warhammer can go suck it. I only mention it since you haven`t gone down that path yet. It is the one tech that revolutionizes land battles.

I think this is second time I've seen you lose a battle ever. Granted I don't watch every episode but the only other battle I remember you losing was at that bridge with that absolute Chad of a captain during Rome total war

I was inspired to return to this game after watching this ongoing series. I decided to also play as the Dutch and so far I conquered all French and Spanish possessions in the America's as well as France and Spain proper. Very historically accurate.

I never get bored when Jon plays history🤣

You can also look at the minister's traits to determine which positions they're best fit for (because some will have traits that only help if they are in the justice role, or the military role, but not for others). You can also shift in the guys in the "Opposition" tab below. As for the garrisons: The game treats them as if they don't exist until you attack the settlement itself.

I was just checking your account for a new video like half an haur ago and now after watching a meme video i see that you uploaded this. Thank you, love your videos

One of my favorite channels

French shouldn't take that sloop with 3 men and a dog. Montmorency and Harris will make them miserable They will be haunted till the end of their lives by funny songs that Harris sings

Would it have been a plan to seize the port or that small town in Flanders to draw Spain or France to come out and attack

I so glad I checked youtube again for this episode

So happy to see, favorite series on YT at the mo!

47:00 "not in terrible shape" less than 50% hull HP on one side.. Can`t beat your optimism!

When I find a siege of a settlement to be too risky and I am left with few moves, you can always just raid enemy facilities for shits and giggles.

watch Spain reinforce from behind of Jon's inf line!

If you put 1 militia unit in each port they can't land an army in the harbor and the spots can't damage port. They can still blockade. This also allows you to Keep your defensive ships just outside the port eating up the amount of area that the enemy ships can travel.

You can pick who gets any new function by dragging them! It's not just that you can move the hired amongst themselves.

"Explosions: Nature's way of spreading fire."

Got caught out in the Caribbean there, but you can consolidate in the corner in Southern America and push back island by island in one direction

There is a gem mine in Ceylon that still hasn't been built. Loosing out on a significant amount of money.

I love the ship explosions in this game and in shogun 2, so pretty

Jon, if I can offer some small advice on defending a town while outnumbered. First off, you had one unit of non-garrison line infantry that wasn't garrison, so they could put either earthworks or chevaux de frise before you started the battle. Latter if you put in the way of cavalry, they'll get wiped out. You can put your troops in buildings during deployment phase. If the building is big enough, you can order several units to enter the same building and the enemy will struggle to push them out. Lastly, if you need to charge with bayonets, don't do the rushing across the field yourself. Retreat behind some houses and wait for enemy to come to you. Edit: also, keep in mind what cannons enemies have when they're reinforcing. Were you to attack Brussels and the French were to aid them, they would have the garrison troops, yes. But they wouldn't have 3 units of cannons because this type can't be moved.

Hi Jon regarding the use of broadsides vs fire at will. A good broadside has a similar effect as a good charge to enemy morale. Its this shock thats more useful than the actual damage

The reason you can only sack one incompetent minister per turn is because each sacking is fraught with danger. You never know which minister won the heart of the duchess that rules over high society (whether in Paris, Berlin or Madrid...) and has the Queen's ear. Or perhaps the position was pay for secrecy about the King's ongoing affair with an opera singer. It takes serious investigation - possibly to the point of torture - to ensure one can safely sack even the most transparent numpty.

I've been waiting DAAAAAAYS for this, thank you!

Jon you sell the ships for parts materials and if they're in good conditions you take out their guns and sell them to merchants. You know, like cars after you get into car Canon fights

Explosion: nature's way of spreading fire.

While I'm totally on time with this one year later, I do think that it needs to be said. While the concept of prize money was largely a Royal Navy thing, the reason that it work across the board it that there was rather little difference between merchant and warships at the time. So a captured sloop or frigate could have easily been sold to a private party and converted to a merchantman. There are also numerous cases of ships of the line being cut down and converted to transports or hulks.

I'm glad to see the empire AI show it's true colours as a formidable force to outsmart Jon. I've had to deal with suicidal fort charges every turn from Courland as Sweden. Watched line infantry march up to a wall and exchanged fire with the men up there. See cavalry walk up to the walls and shout I guess? But end up ripped to shreds, Cannons getting abandoned so the gunners can act as melee infantry and die. To me, the Empire AI is stupid and easily outsmarted, as I have witnessed it bash it's head against a cannon armed brick wall again and again to no avail.

I would not want to be in Admiral Jon's Navy: Jon: Open fire on the....left side! Me: But sir, because of our formation, our other ships are on the other side of them. We'll kill our own men! Jon: That's their problem. OPEN FIRE!

I'm 99% sure for the government you can drag the opposition members into the available positions, where as the kick button gives you a completely random person.

loving this series

Hope he figures out that he can put his ships in an actual line formation and use the lead ship to direct the formation with the others following the path instead of like their drunk :p

Asymmetrical movement would make total war much better

Space bar makes troop movements go faster,...

For the ministers, you can also “shuffle” them with the opposition. At the beginning off the episode you hate a really good minister in the opposition, just drag him to a position where you have a 3 star minister now to fix your cabinet

Gotta wait 3 more days just for the fight omg D:

Been going mad for the last few minutes certain that this would upload tonight but it not being there and trying to count back from the last part to see if it was today and- Then it popped up 😌 Many a True Nerd total war content is absolute top tier RU-vid. I need to download this and give it another go with someone other than Britain

Not sure if you actually attempt to demand surrender off camera, but it is actually a really useful feature and seems to work with some sort of logic.

Jon's the greatest captain of the Queen's navy and his record will stand as proof!

Ahh, the fantastic series continues! :)

Whenever I play a naval nation in this game I have my commercial port pumping out trade ships non stop and sending them to all the trade nodes, it's a great way to just get a continually increased income.

Okay, I love this series

The first full stack army, now the insanity has really begun.

Really enjoying this series, Jon!

Ending on a cliff hanger! I look forward to seeing the Dutch face down the Franco-Spanish alliance in the next episode.

This is the first Total War game that made me actually want to go buy and play it, but I would just get so mad, I know I would. I have a low frustration tolerance for these kinds of games.

11:30 - Now the French will have nothing in South America loooollll

Damn you Jon! What a Cliffhanger. Damn

I just love that John his tactics arent even that great yet, and he's already full of splendor and happiness how good his tactics are :). U need to step up a bit on this part my man! still really love the vids! bring epi 5 asap pls :) [edit] your naval tactics are great, land, could use a bit of polish

Jon the French army in Flanders, has old cannons, if you attack spains army it would draw in the French, but their cannons wouldn't come

ah yes, "explosions: natures way of spreading fires"

I can't continue my Long Road East with Russia because my goddamn game crashes when I occupy a city! Ehh Keep this series alive my man ❤

It's always a joy to watch Jon completely destroy world history :D

Damn cliffhanger I don't wanna waitttt!

Hell yeah, brother.

Reminder that you can Give name to your units, just open the unit information card, you can insert or replace name (the default is like *number* Regiment of the line) if you feel to roleplay a bit and make some unit feel a bit special