[OCT99] How you Declare Independence and win, impossible to lose by Jonathan Lovell
If you want to see what it's like to Declare Independence then build a colony on an island only big enough to fit nothing but a colony in it so the Tories can't land beside your colony. I suggest you build two colonies so if that colony get's taken you can send soldiers over to the colony the Tories took over and make enough soldiers to last a while until you ring enough bells to get a gigantic army from a foreign power and then destroy the Tories with it and then you'll be your own country no King yeah!!!
I turn one City into a Fortress, and load it with Dragoons and Artillery.
I make a bunch of little Colonies with a population of 1 or 2, I just put the one guy to work making Liberty Bells.
If your other Colonies are very spread out and have some on Islands, the European Power will land Troops there and leave them there, the key is to hold out in your Fortress until European aid comes, since the Europeans have sent a large portion of there Expeditionary Force to your small Colonies there will be less attacks on your Fortress.*
*It is possible to win without European support but this is very hard.
*Be careful, sometimes your population 1 Colonies will betray and be loyal to the Crown.
Have as many Cities as possible be at 100% for rebellion. Each of these Cities will upgrade their Dragoons to Continental Army status [only if they are Veterans]. Thus, they get better attack and defence bonuses. The increased Liberty Bell production will also bring Foreign intervention on your behalf sooner.
In the coastal Cities, have at least 3 Artillery each. You can use them to deadly effect on the attacking Tories.
Most importantly, hit the Tories while they are on the beach as it were. Sentry Dragoons one tile away from the shoreline around each City. When the Tories land in front of you, attack them fast and furious using your ambush advantage. You can wipe out the whole attacking Tory force before they get a chance to hit the garrison in the City.
Almost as important as sentrying the Dragoons 1 tile off the ocean is to have the Natives fight on your side. The well mounted Natives almost always defeat the Tory Dragoons, who are no match for the Native fighting tactics.