History Videogame / Colonization

*** On top of this, you attract new colonists to your colony by employing people as preachers, whose religious message generates holy points (crosses), and every N crosses attracts a new colonist. In reality, this model really only makes sense for the English (see {{Americentrism}} above); the Spanish wanted to plunder and convert the natives, the French and Dutch wanted to expand industry and trade.

** Even for an old and abstract game, its version of events leaves big hole. A gaping hole. A black hole, if you will, with no mention of the role that slavery played in the European colonial development. This is an EnforcedTrope brought by ExecutiveMeddling, as Sid Meier had planned to include slave labor in the game, but was overruled by Microprose for fear of offending black people.

** In the Americas map, European nations are randomly assigned starting positions on the Atlantic Ocean (which gives extra irony because UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia colonized the Americas from the Pacific Ocean) for their ships. [[spoiler: The locations of these starting positions (near Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Hispaniola, the Falklands, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maranh%C3%A3o Maranhão]], Venezuela, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Paulo_(state) State of São Paulo]], and the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%ADo_de_la_Plata La Plata Delta]] ) mean that unlike real life where what is now Mexico and the 13 original US states became densely populated as early as the 1650s, these areas often are the last to be colonized. This also means that UsefulNotes/{{Brazil}}, UsefulNotes/{{Argentina}}, UsefulNotes/{{Uruguay}}, UsefulNotes/{{Venezuela}}, UsefulNotes/{{Panama}}, UsefulNotes/{{Guyana}}, UsefulNotes/{{Colombia}}, UsefulNotes/{{Haiti}}, the UsefulNotes/DominicanRepublic get heavy European settlement and thus receive the most developed infrastructure. This also creates an [[TruthInTelevision realistic unfair playing field for colonial powers]] because starting in the La Plata Delta or São Paulo is advantageous due to good farming land and easy mobility; starting in Maranhão or Venezuela hinders expansion due to the abysmal mobility and food production from the [[HungryJungle Amazon Rainforest]] (but starting in Venezuela makes it easy to expand to {{Panama}} and build a settlement to serve as a Panama Canal, [[GameBreaker which is a boon to everything]], or to [[GoldFever mine the Andes mountains for Silver]]); starting in Hispaniola allows for easy colonization of the Caribbean, has a massive sugar production (as in real life), and serves as a base for colonizing the North American mainland (as [[UsefulNotes/HernanCortez Hernán Cortés]] did when destroying the Aztec Empire), if you could be bothered to do so; starting in [[HollywoodNewEngland Nova Scotia]] or [[CanadaEh Newfoundland]] gives you plenty of timber and furs but hinders everything else due to the [[SnowMeansDeath cold climate's low (but not abysmal) food production and mobility points]] and inability to produce Silver, Tobacco, Cotton or Sugar; finally, starting in the Falklands is the least desirable because you have low food production (like in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland), the need to transport everything by sea (like in Hispaniola) and that even if you decide to settle further west in [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace Tierra del Fuego]], you still have the same [[SnowMeansDeath cold climate issues]], plus limited mobility and resources from having the Andes Mountains and the [[ThirstyDesert Atacama Desert]] nearby. Then there is the possibility of [[WrongTurnAtAlbuquerque missing Newfoundland or Nova Scotia]] and settling {{Greenland}} instead, a place with [[EpicFail no trees]] [[DeathWorld to speak off]] [[SnowMeansDeath due to the cold climate]] taken {{up to eleven}}, meaning that [[HaveANiceDeath you're]] [[PlaceWorseThanDeath screwed]]. ]]

** In the Americas map, European nations are randomly assigned starting positions on the Atlantic Ocean (which gives extra irony because UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia colonized the Americas from the Pacific Ocean) for their ships. [[spoiler: The locations of these starting positions (near Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Hispaniola, the Falklands, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maranh%C3%A3o Maranhão]], Venezuela, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Paulo_(state) State of São Paulo]], and the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%ADo_de_la_Plata La Plata Delta]] ) mean that unlike real life where what is now Mexico and the 13 original US states became densely populated as early as the 1650s, these areas often are the last to be colonized. This also means that {{Brazil}}, {{Argentina}}, {{Uruguay}}, {{Venezuela}}, {{Panama}}, {{Guyana}}, {{Colombia}}, {{Haiti}}, the {{Dominican Republic}} get heavy European settlement and thus receive the most developed infrastructure. This also creates an [[TruthInTelevision realistic unfair playing field for colonial powers]] because starting in the La Plata Delta or São Paulo is advantageous due to good farming land and easy mobility; starting in Maranhão or Venezuela hinders expansion due to the abysmal mobility and food production from the [[HungryJungle Amazon Rainforest]] (but starting in Venezuela makes it easy to expand to {{Panama}} and build a settlement to serve as a Panama Canal, [[GameBreaker which is a boon to everything]], or to [[GoldFever mine the Andes mountains for Silver]]); starting in Hispaniola allows for easy colonization of the Caribbean, has a massive sugar production (as in real life), and serves as a base for colonizing the North American mainland (as [[UsefulNotes/HernanCortez Hernán Cortés]] did when destroying the Aztec Empire), if you could be bothered to do so; starting in [[HollywoodNewEngland Nova Scotia]] or [[CanadaEh Newfoundland]] gives you plenty of timber and furs but hinders everything else due to the [[SnowMeansDeath cold climate's low (but not abysmal) food production and mobility points]] and inability to produce Silver, Tobacco, Cotton or Sugar; finally, starting in the Falklands is the least desirable because you have low food production (like in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland), the need to transport everything by sea (like in Hispaniola) and that even if you decide to settle further west in [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace Tierra del Fuego]], you still have the same [[SnowMeansDeath cold climate issues]], plus limited mobility and resources from having the Andes Mountains and the [[ThirstyDesert Atacama Desert]] nearby. Then there is the possibility of [[WrongTurnAtAlbuquerque missing Newfoundland or Nova Scotia]] and settling {{Greenland}} instead, a place with [[EpicFail no trees]] [[DeathWorld to speak off]] [[SnowMeansDeath due to the cold climate]] taken {{up to eleven}}, meaning that [[HaveANiceDeath you're]] [[PlaceWorseThanDeath screwed]]. ]]

** Combined with {{Insane Forgiveness}} when dealing with other Europeans: You can send scouts to European colonies you are at war with, and you can negotiate an alliance just like that (other Europeans ''don't'' {{shoot the messenger}} of nations they are at war with, unlike the natives), then you can backstab them, then reproclaim the alliance, [[RunningGag rinse and repeat]], and they will always be happy to reproclaim the alliance regardless of how many times you've backstabbed them or how much damage you've caused to them.

** Freecol adds Portugal, Sweden, Denmark and Russia. For example, Russia in 1492 was the [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchy_of_Moscow Grand Duchy of Moscow]], which occupied only what is now European Russia and was in no way a great power or able to colonise the Americas. A [[Justified]] example however to allow for 8 player games.

** Freecol adds Portugal, Sweden, Denmark and Russia. For example, Russia in 1492 was the [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchy_of_Moscow Grand Duchy of Moscow]], which occupied only what is now European Russia and was in no way a great power or able to colonise the Americas.

** In the Americas map, European nations are randomly assigned starting positions on the Atlantic Ocean (which gives extra irony because {{Tsarist Russia}} colonized the Americas from the Pacific Ocean) for their ships. [[spoiler: The locations of these starting positions (near Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Hispaniola, the Falklands, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maranh%C3%A3o Maranhão]], Venezuela, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Paulo_(state) State of São Paulo]], and the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%ADo_de_la_Plata La Plata Delta]] ) mean that unlike real life where what is now Mexico and the 13 original US states became densely populated as early as the 1650s, these areas often are the last to be colonized. This also means that {{Brazil}}, {{Argentina}}, {{Uruguay}}, {{Venezuela}}, {{Panama}}, {{Guyana}}, {{Colombia}}, {{Haiti}}, the {{Dominican Republic}} get heavy European settlement and thus receive the most developed infrastructure. This also creates an [[TruthInTelevision realistic unfair playing field for colonial powers]] because starting in the La Plata Delta or São Paulo is advantageous due to good farming land and easy mobility; starting in Maranhão or Venezuela hinders expansion due to the abysmal mobility and food production from the [[HungryJungle Amazon Rainforest]] (but starting in Venezuela makes it easy to expand to {{Panama}} and build a settlement to serve as a Panama Canal, [[GameBreaker which is a boon to everything]], or to [[GoldFever mine the Andes mountains for Silver]]); starting in Hispaniola allows for easy colonization of the Caribbean, has a massive sugar production (as in real life), and serves as a base for colonizing the North American mainland (as [[UsefulNotes/HernanCortez Hernán Cortés]] did when destroying the Aztec Empire), if you could be bothered to do so; starting in [[HollywoodNewEngland Nova Scotia]] or [[CanadaEh Newfoundland]] gives you plenty of timber and furs but hinders everything else due to the [[SnowMeansDeath cold climate's low (but not abysmal) food production and mobility points]] and inability to produce Silver, Tobacco, Cotton or Sugar; finally, starting in the Falklands is the least desirable because you have low food production (like in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland), the need to transport everything by sea (like in Hispaniola) and that even if you decide to settle further west in [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace Tierra del Fuego]], you still have the same [[SnowMeansDeath cold climate issues]], plus limited mobility and resources from having the Andes Mountains and the [[ThirstyDesert Atacama Desert]] nearby. Then there is the possibility of [[WrongTurnAtAlbuquerque missing Newfoundland or Nova Scotia]] and settling {{Greenland}} instead, a place with [[EpicFail no trees]] [[DeathWorld to speak off]] [[SnowMeansDeath due to the cold climate]] taken {{up to eleven}}, meaning that [[HaveANiceDeath you're]] [[PlaceWorseThanDeath screwed]]. ]]

* LaResistance: When you declare independence, this is essentially what you become.
** If you waged war on a native tribe but didn't exterminate it, the survivors will likely team up with the king after you declare independence. This will leave you on the receiving end of this trope.
* LesCollaborateurs: If Tory sentiment is high in a colony and you've declared independence, there's a chance of a royalist militia uprising occurring.

** Virtually the ''entire'' premise of victory, from the oppressively high taxes to the inevitable revolution that follows is based off American history.

* TechTree: Surprisingly for a FourX game, averted. There is no research in the game. The Founding Father mechanism could be seen as a substitute, as you get Founding Fathers who give you various bonuses.

* CoolBoat: The ships in the game come in three sizes: 200 ton, 400 ton, and 600 ton; and in two types: merchant and naval. All of them are potentially available to you to buy, or even to make -- ''except,'' of course, the 600 ton (or more importantly, 6 unit) naval ship: the Man-o-war. Aside from being lucky enough to get one from your European allies during your Revolution, the only way for you to get one is to use the cheat codes (no matter what, you can't buy or build them). Of course, your mother country's navy probably has a half dozen of them, and they are tough to beat -- only Frigates (the 400 ton naval ship) stand a chance, and that's if they shoot first.

** If you elect {{George Washington}} to the Continental Congress, field promotions are granted to every unit that wins a battle, including those in self defense. This makes it easy to get a petty criminal all the way to Veteran Soldier or Continental Army just by arming and mounting them, then leaving them to fortify themselves in one of your forts that is about to be attacked.

* InexplicableTreasureChests: Lost Cities, which are this game's take on the classic "goody huts." With the founding father Hernando de Soto, the IndianBurialGround pretty much functions like this, too.
* InstantMilitia: You can arm any unit with muskets for a quick military force, and / or give them horses to make them Scouts or Dragoons. Of course, they don't perform as well as Veteran Soldiers or Seasoned Scouts in these roles. Also, if a colony with no garrison but a musket stockpile is attacked the citizens will automatically arm themselves and "Man the stockade!" Only happens if you have the founding father Paul Revere, however.

** If you waged war on a native tribe but didn't exterminate it, the survivors will likely team up with the king after you declare independence. This will leave you on the receiving end of theis trope.

** There's a delayed payoff for one example: Sacking Aztec and Inca cities for the loot may provide a quick and dirty boost to your economy, but for every treasure train you send back to Europe, the King will take his cut (which, if you take the lazy way, includes ''half'' the total amount ''before'' deducting taxes on the other half) and use the proceeds to help finance additions to his Expeditionary Force. If you're not careful, you may find that you've basically funded your own asskicking further down the road.

* [[AliensSpeakingEnglish Natives Speaking English]]: Every native you meet is apparently Squanto.
* WeAllLiveInAmerica: When you declare independence, your colony flags become American flags, regardless of your mother country.

** In the Americas map, European nations are randomly assigned starting positions on the Atlantic Ocean (which gives extra irony because {{Tsarist Russia}} colonized the Americas from the Pacific Ocean) for their ships. [[spoiler: The locations of these starting positions (near Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Hispaniola, the Falklands, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maranh%C3%A3o Maranhão]], Venezuela, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Paulo_(state) State of São Paulo]], and the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%ADo_de_la_Plata La Plata Delta]] ) mean that unlike real life where what is now Mexico and the 13 original US states became densely populated as early as the 1650s, these areas often are the last to be colonized. This also means that {{Brazil}}, {{Argentina}}, {{Uruguay}}, {{Venezuela}}, {{Panama}}, {{Guyana}}, {{Colombia}}, {{Haiti}}, the {{Dominican Republic}} get heavy European settlement and thus receive the most developed infrastructure. This also creates an [[TruthInTelevision realistic unfair playing field for colonial powers]] because starting in the La Plata Delta or São Paulo is advantageous due to good farming land and easy mobility; starting in Maranhão or Venezuela hinders expansion due to the abysmal mobility and food production from the [[HungryJungle Amazon Rainforest]] (but starting in Venezuela makes it easy to expand to {{Panama}} and build a settlement to serve as a Panama Canal, [[GameBreaker which is a boon to everything]], or to [[GoldFever mine the Andes mountains for Silver]]); starting in Hispaniola allows for easy colonization of the Caribbean, has a massive sugar production (as in real life), and serves as a base for colonizing the North American mainland (as [[UsefulNotes/HernanCortez Hernán Cortés]] did when destroying the Aztec Empire), if you could be bothered to do so; starting in [[HollywoodNewEngland Nova Scotia]] or [[CanadaEh Newfoundland]] gives you plenty of timber and furs but hinders everything else due to the [[SnowMeansDeath cold climate's low (but not abysmal) food production and mobility points]] and inability to produce Silver, Tobacco, Cotton or Sugar; finally, starting in the Falklands is the least desirable because you have low food production (like in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland), the need to transport everything by sea (like in Hispaniola) and that even if you decide to settle further west in [[IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace Tierra del Fuego]], you still have the same [[SnowMeansDeath cold climate issues]], plus limited mobility and resources from having the Andes Mountains and the [[ThirstyDesert Atacama Desert]] nearby. Then there is the possibility of [[WrongTurnAtAlbuquerque missing Newfoundland or Nova Scotia]] and settling {{Greenland}} instead, a place with [[EpicFail no trees to speak off]], meaning that [[HaveANiceDeath you're]] [[PlaceWorseThanDeath screwed]]. ]]

* FieldPromotion: If a unit wins a combat, there is a chance that it improves in social/skill rank (petty criminal -> indentured servant -> free colonist -> expert specialist / veteran soldier).

* LesCollaborateurs: If Tory sentiment is high in a colony and you've declared independence, there's a chance of a royalist militia uprising occuring.
* TheMissionary: You can use missionaries to set up missions in native settlements, which will reduce their alarm rate and occasionally provide you with converts to work in your colonies. The expert-level unit is the Jesuit Missionary, [[ArtisticLicenseHistory even for the English and Dutch]].

* FantasticRacism: [[TruthInTelevision Based on what happened]] in {{Real Life}}. Unless Bartolomeo de las Casas is added to your Continental Congress, Indian Converts are treated somewhat distrustingly, perhaps [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves for leaving their native tribe to join your colony]]. This treatment includes not having a chance to be taught useful skills, not being allowed to ride horses and [[StupidEvil not being allowed to handle muskets even if the survival of them and your colony depends on it]].

* GenreSavvy: When you first made contact with the natives, they will be happy to buy European trade goods (which are basely worthless trinkets) from you and sell [[WorthlessYellowRocks silver]] to you at a bargain price, allowing you to make a nice profit selling it back to Europe. However, they will quickly figure out that you are ripping them off, and by mid game, they will most likely sell things to you at only slightly below market price, and not longer accept trade goods, instead, they demand you sell them other more useful European products, such as guns and horses.
** Another example is your king. As your colonists' rebel sentiment rises, he will start adding troops to his expeditionary force.

** FantasticRacism: [[TruthInTelevision Based on what happened]] in {{Real Life}}. Unless Bartolomeo de las Casas is added to your Continental Congress, Indian Converts are treated somewhat distrustingly, perhaps [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves for leaving their native tribe to join your colony]]. This treatment includes not having a chance to be taught useful skills, not being allowed to ride horses and [[StupidEvil not being allowed to handle muskets even if the survival of them and your colony depends on it]].

* BenevolentAlienInvasion: If you decide to not go with the Conqueror[=/=]Manifest Destiny route, you can try to peacefully co-exist with the natives -- trading and sending your colonists to live with them, actually paying them for the land that you occupied, and using your missionaries to covert part of their population to live with your colonists. However, no matter what you do, you will still end up destroying their traditional way of life as your borders expand and eventually push out their settlements while your missionaries lure their young men out into your own colonies.