United Provinces (ETW Faction)
Overview
Starting Position
The United Provinces start with the Netherlands in the European theatre, Curaçao and Dutch Guyana in the American theatre and Ceylon in the Indian theatre. The also begin with a trade fleet in the East Indies trade theatre. The Dutch start allied to Great Britain and Austria. The start with trade agreements with the Mughal Empire, the Maratha Confederacy and Great Britain. Good starting moves for the Dutch are to consolidate control of Flanders - under Spanish Rule - and either Westphalia to the South or Hannover to the East. This will give the Dutch a strong hold over Northern Europe. Wiping out the French by taking Paris early is also a good plan, and allows the Dutch forces in the Carribean and Southern America to take French colonies without being too worried about the situation back home in Europe. Expansion in India is also a lucrative idea, and taking Southern India - especially Mysore - will help fund the expansion in other theatres which do not make as much money as this one. Another easy way of generating funds quickly is to send fleets of Fluyts - the special Dutch trading ship - to either Brazil or the Ivory Coast. This will bring in an awful lot of money to help fund exapansion. The Dutch have a hard starting position at first glance, but a closer inspection shows that a careful choice of alliances can assure the Dutch easy conquest and easy financial gain.
Victory Conditions
Units
Special Units
The Dutch special units are the Fluyt - a heavily armed trading vessel comparable to a fifth rate ship of the line - and the V.O.C. Infantrymen and Cavalrymen in the India theatre. These are independent soldiers who are comparable to Line Infantry or Colonial Line Infantry in the other two theatres of war.
