Spain (ETW Faction)
| Spain (ETW Faction) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | Spain |
| From Game: | Empire: Total War |
| Religion: | Catholic |
| Culture: | European |
| Playable: | |
Spain is one of the 11 playable nations in Empire: Total War's Grand Campaign. It is also a major faction in the game.
Contents
Overview
The Spanish have long been conquerors and colonisers in distant parts. Indeed, the Spanish and Portuguese signed a treaty in 1494 that neatly divided the world between themselves. The Spanish went conquering “for God, Spain and to get rich”. They succeeded, to a great degree, in all three aims.
Spain is a staunchly Catholic country, and the Church and the fearsome Spanish Inquisition still have their hold over men’s hearts. This partly explains why, for all its wealth, Spain is economically backward: the Church sees usury (money lending) as sinful. This may be so, but this lack of credit does not help the merchant classes. Economic growth is also not helped when it is beneath the dignity of any hidalgo gentleman to earn money or work. But a gentleman’s honour is worth defending and a nation’s glory is worth winning, so courage is not in short supply. Indeed, Spain is blessed with courageous men on both land and sea.
That Spain will need defending, and soon, is self-evident to many. Charles II, “El Hechizado” or “the Bewitched” is a feeble-minded and pathetic figure, a shadow of his Hapsburg ancestors, and childless. Spain has suffered from his weakness of mind and government, but Charles cannot live forever. When he dies, what forces will shape the destiny of the Empire? Will Spain once again face its Protestant rivals down? Will there be a new generation of conquistadores to plant the Spanish flag on distant shores? His successor will have much to ponder, but a brave nation to lead back to greatness!
Details
Spain has access to superior light infantry, such as guerrillas. Spain also begins the game with light infantry, although they cannot yet utilize light infantry behavior which makes them quite inferior to the final version. Spain also have access to galleons, expensive but superior trade ships.
Starting Position
Spain starts with the provinces Spain, Gibraltar, Lombardy, Belgium, Naples & Sicily and Sardinia in the European theatre, New Spain, Guatamala, Panama, New Granada, New Andalucia, Florida, Cuba and Hispaniola in the American theatre and no possessions in the Indian theatre. At the beginning of the game, the Spanish are allied to the French. Furthermore, the Spanish have a protecterate in New Spain, which can be made to join the Spanish Empire by completing the mission of taking Texas, Curaçao and Trinidad & Tobago. This is similar to the British and French missions that cause the Thirteen Colonies and Louisiana to join each of them respectively. On top of that, they have with trade agreements with New Spain, their protectorate, and their ally France.
The Spanish lands are widespread, and its protectorate, New Spain, is the richest in the Americas. Unfortunately, Spain is hampered by a poor monarch and ministers, and its disconnected lands can prove challenging to protect. In particular, the Dutch often attack Flanders, while the various nations that occupy the Italian peninsula can attack Spanish lands there with impunity. Spain itself has troublesome neighbors, the Portuguese and the Moroccans.
Spain's situation in America is also tenuous at best. The Pueblo Nations, Pirates, Cherokee, and the British all stand in the way of Spanish expansion. In order to succeed, Spain must defeat its opponents soundly in both arenas.
Politically speaking, the Spanish have few friends. Protestant nations disdain it for its Catholicism, while many Catholic nations, such as Austria, are historically unfriendly. Those few Catholic nations that are friendly towards Spain, the Italian States and Genoa, inexplicably almost always declare war on Spain within the first few turns. All Muslim nations are hostile towards Spain due to historical grievances. Fortunately, Spain has one very powerful and reliable ally: France. With a little Spanish help, the French can defeat nearly any opponent vying for entry into the Iberian peninsula from the North. In addition, the French navy is very active, and will prove a useful ally in dealing with British, Pirate, and Barbary ships.
Victory Conditions
Short Campaign
Capture and hold 25 regions by the end of the year 1750, including: Trinidad & Tobago, Austria, Spain, Texas, the Netherlands, Curaçao, Flanders, Lombardy, Naples, and Gibraltar.
Long Campaign
Capture and hold 35 regions by the end of the year 1799, including: Trinidad & Tobago, Austria, Spain, Texas, the Netherlands, Curaçao, Flanders, Lombardy, Naples, Gibraltar, Morocco, and Portugal.
World Domination
Capture and hold 50 regions by the end of the year 1799, including: Spain.
Basics at start
- Protectorates – New Spain
- Allies – France, Bavaria
- Trade Partners – New Spain, France, Venice
- Enemies – Cherokee Nations, Plains Nations, Barbary States, Pirates
- Religion – Catholic
- Government – Absolute Monarchy
- Ruler – Carlos II (King)
- Population – 17,218,596
- Prosperity – Affluent
- Prestige – Sublime
- Treasury – 7000
- Technology - None
- Missionaries – Gaspar Jimenez (Florida), Urbano Larino (Spain)
- Rakes – Bartolome Barleus (Flanders)
- Gentlemen – Juan Nunez de la Pena (Spain)
Europe Theatre
Madrid, Spain
- Starting Buildings – Barracks, Royal Palace, Conservatorium, Admiralty, Cannon Foundry, Settlement Fortifications
- Infrastructure - Basic Roads
- Population – 7,122,636
- Wealth – 3325
- Religion –Catholicism 100.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Navarra Farmland (Peasant Farms), Andalusia Farmland (Not Developed), Leon Mines (Iron Mine), La Mancha Vineyards (Vineyards), Barcelona (Coaching Inn), Salamanca (School), Granada (Craft Workshops Weavers), Cadiz (Shipyard), Cordoba (Craft Workshops Smiths), Sevilla (Church School), Cartagena (Trading Port)
- Later Villages/Ports – Andorra (Village), Bilbao (Port), Palma (Port)
Gibraltar, Gibraltar
- Starting Buildings – Magistrate
- Infrastructure - Basic Roads
- Population – 85,569
- Wealth – 150
- Religion –Catholicism 100.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Sandy Bay (Shipyard)
- Later Villages/Ports – None
Brussels, Flanders
- Starting Building – Governor’s Residence
- Infrastructure – Not Developed
- Population – 2,070,712
- Wealth – 2262
- Religion –Catholicism 55.0%, Protestantism 45.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Maas Farmland (Peasant Farms), Antwerp (Shipyard), Luxemburg (Craft Workshop Weavers), Ghent (Weaver’s Cottage)
- Later Villages/Ports – None
Milan, Lombardy
- Starting Building – Governor’s Residence
- Infrastructure – Not Developed
- Population – 2,065,724
- Wealth – 850
- Religion – Catholicism 100.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Cremona (Craft Workshop Smiths)
- Later Villages/Ports – None
Naples, Naples
- Starting Building – Magistrate
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 5,347,551
- Wealth – 2350
- Religion – Catholicism 100.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Calabria Vineyards (Vineyards), Apulia Farmland (Not Developed), Calinassetta Farmland (Peasant Farms), Marsala Vineyards (Vineyards), L’Aquila (Craft Workshops Smiths), Palermo (Church School)
- Later Villages/Ports – Potenza (Village), Taranto (Port), Siracusa (Port)
Cagliari, Sardinia
- Starting Building – Magistrate
- Infrastructure – Basic Roads
- Population – 318,520
- Wealth – 1625
- Religion –Catholicism 100.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Olbia Vineyards (Vineyards), Iglesias Mines (Silver Mine)
- Later Villages/Ports – Alghera (Port)
America Theatre
La Habana, Cuba
- Starting Building – Military Governor’s Encampment, Settlement Fortifications
- Infrastructure - Not Developed
- Population – 52,170
- Wealth – 594
- Religion – Catholicism 95.0%, Animism 5.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – San Cristobal Farmland (Peasant Farms), Santiago de Cuba (Trading Port)
- Later Villages/Ports – Puerto Principe (Village), Holguin (Port)
- Commodity Towns – None
- Plantations – Calaiguan Plantation (Small Tobacco), Ciego de Avilla (Small Sugar), San Nicolas (Small Tobacco Plantation)
St. Augustine, Florida
- Starting Building – Military Governor’s Barracks, Settlement Fortification
- Infrastructure - Not Developed
- Population – 3,228
- Wealth – 52
- Religion – Catholicism 95.0%, Animism 5.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Wewahitchka Farmland (Not Developed)
- Later Villages/Ports – St Marks (Village), Tequesta Mission (Village)
- Plantations – Immokalee Plantation (Small Sugar Plantation)
Santo Domingo, Hispaniola
- Starting Building – Magistrate
- Infrastructure – Not Developed
- Population – 152,485
- Wealth – 352
- Religion – Catholicism 95.0%, Animism 5.0%
- Starting Towns/Ports – Maniche Farmland (Peasant Farms), Port-de-Paix (Trading Port)
- Later Villages/Ports – Leogane (Port), Santiago de los Caballeros (Village), San Juan (Port)
- Plantations – San Pedro Plantation (Small Sugar Plantation), Pignon Plantation (Tobacco Not Developed), Puerto Rico Plantation (Coffee or Sugar; Not Developed)
Units
Artillery
- Sakers
- Demi-Cannons
- 4-inch Mortar Battery
- Rocket Troop
- 12-lber Howitzer Foot Artillery
- 24-lber Howitzer Foot Artillery
- 12-lber Foot Artillery
- 24-lber Foot Artillery
- Puckle Guns
- 3-lber Horse Artillery
- 6-lber Horse Artillery
Infantry
- Line Infantry
- Colonial Line Infantry
- Militia
- Colonial Militia
- Pikemen
- Republican Guard
- Guardias de Infanteria
- Walloon Guards
- 'Corso Terrestre' Guerillas
- Grenadiers
- Company Infantry
- Conscripts
- Frontiersmen
- Cazadores
- Pandours
- Ghoorkas
- Sepoys
- African Native Infantry
- Native Musketmen Auxiliary
- Native Warrior Auxiliary
- Native Bowmen Auxiliary
- Dahomey Amazons
Cavalry
- Cuirassiers
- Guardias de Corps
- Colonial Light Cavalry
- Carabineers
- Provincial Cavalry
- Company Cavalry
- Regiment of Horse
- General's Bodyguard
- Colonial Dragoons
- Light Dragoons
- Mounted Tribal Auxiliary
- Brig
- Sloop
- Admiral's Flagship, 5th Rate
- Fifth Rate
- Razee
- Sixth Rate
- Carronade Frigate
- Steamship
- Light Galley
- Galley
- Admiral's Flagship, 3rd Rate
- Admiral's Flagship, 1st Rate
- First Rate Ship of the Line
- Heavy First Rate
- Second Rate Ship of the Line
- Third Rate Ship of the Line
- Fourth Rate Ship of the Line
- Indiaman
- Bomb Ketch
- Rocket Ship
- Galleon
Spain fields an army which is similar to that of most other European nations. The kingdom's army consists of units such as line infantry, light infantry, hussars, militia and several standard artillery units. Later on, Spain gets access to stronger units such as guards and household cavalry. If a lower-class revolution succeeds in turning the absolute monarchy into a republic, Spain will be capable of training weak conscript units as well. The Spanish can also train a limited amount of elite guerrilla infantry.
Spain's navy has had its days but it is still rather big and on a level which is compareable to that of most other nations. It consists of the standard lineup which most other factions share. The Spanish fleet includes trade ships, weaker ones such as brigs and sloops but also strong first and second rate.
Special Units
Spain has access to several special units, such as Cazadores, Frontiersmen, the Irish Brigade and "Corso Terrestre" Guerillas, as well as the very powerful galleon trade ships - their power is comparable to a fourth rate ship of the line. While Spain's neighbor Portugal shares some of these units, they can still be considered unique.
