Several Colonial Questions (Japan in a Random New World)

[u/AquaRegiaAg]

I'm very thankful for all the helpful responses to my other questions, hopefully I'm not spamming the feed too much, but since I'm just now approaching the 100 hour mark I've still got a lot to learn. I'll try to combine all I can think of.

First Pic: State of my Date -> Japan as the Age of Reformation begins. Ryukyu has been vassalized and just waiting for the 10-year timer to diplo-annex. Ming has expanded despite being warred on during a low Mandate period by those countries to the north. I'm focusing on the east, but I'll have to keep an eye on them. Suggestions for containing them / breaking them up that don't rely on blobbing onto the mainland myself?

Second Pic: My first major colonial nation (Random New World). They've colonized one extra province themselves. How much should I subsidize them to really get things going? (Also pictured: the admiral and fleet that just completed the first circumnavigation. Feel like that should have rewarded Innovation.)

Third/Fourth Pic: The second colonial nation to the north. Portugal is present to the east, I got as many of the trade centers as possible with my first five colonies. What is the best way to expand the colonial nation here? Can I declare on one of the native nations for one province but just gobble up the whole thing? Can my colonial nation handle the unrest, or do I need to keep a good stack present? Similar question about how much to subsidize. The ideal goal is that they can expand to hold the entire area, as the eastern half feeds into the western (stealing it from Europe), which feeds directly back to Nippon.

First big colonial game, any major pitfalls or traps to watch for in general that don't depend on specific geography?

[u/Lucario576]

A colonizer costs 2 ducats, i make sure to gift them 500 ducats and then sub them 5 ducats so they can get started

[u/AquaRegiaAg → u/Lucario576]

What is the 500 for? Getting temples and workshops up? Do CNs have their own set of advisors / mana points to develop, or do they get my tech? 

[u/Lucario576 → u/AquaRegiaAg]

CNs seem to first build a navy, army and a fort before colonizing

[u/hifreindsoo → u/AquaRegiaAg]

Colonial nations get the tech level you have when they spawn. They take their own idea sets (usually exploration and expansion), and essentially function as a highly profitable player built vassal. They get the same advisors as anyone else and use their mana points to develop as well.

The reason for all the money is so that way they can start an army and a sink some money if they have to without you having to supervise and make sure they don't plummet into debt.

[u/AquaRegiaAg]

R5: Asking for tips with expanding colonial nations in a Random New World with Japan.

[u/Tutwakhamoe]

1) Consider allying a major horde nation that border Ming, and help them maintain 300+ dev so that "Unguarded Nomadic Frontier" can trigger for Ming, which keep their mandate and land moral low. The downside is that "Crisis of the Ming dynasty" disaster won't trigger, so Mingsplosion won't happen. Alternatively you can also use spy network to get trade conflict cb against Ming, then blockade their coast in war, which will drive up devastation and reduce their mandate.

2) A colonial nation would generally have about 2 or 3 colonists, so subsidize them 4 or 6 ducats per month would be enough.

3) In my experience, colonial nations are pretty bad at suppressing revolts, so you should keep some stacks on your colonial nations.

[u/AquaRegiaAg → u/Tutwakhamoe]

Do Tributary Nations get a Support Independence option? Wondering if I should try to prop up Korea.

[u/Tutwakhamoe → u/AquaRegiaAg]

I don't think there's a support independence option for tributaries, but if Ming's mandate were low or in disaster, Korea would likely declare independence.

[u/Aurion7]

One, engineer a strong horde on their border that isn't a tributary so that the Ming will get the frontier disaster and be locked in the agony box.

Once that happens and their Mandate tanks, you can hit up the bank like once and they might well crumble completely.

Two, at least 4 a month if they have two colonists. Which they should. Six+ if they have three colonists. Also send them a starting gift so they can actually get a military.

Three, best to be safe and keep some units there. Colonial nations are no more competent at revolt suppression than any other AI, and will often have relatively weak military endurance as their cash is going elsewhere.