I ' m trying to recollect my memories . I think what I did was trying to take all conquerable lands in blue and green Superregioneastindies . png before moving on to the orange areas . While I was doing that I colonized provinces with enough development points or strategic importance for me to care , and then Australia . Some Western colonialist nation usually Spain will come and colonize the provinces you left uncolonized when time comes so be ready for that . Eventually you ' ll have to fight that nation and take those provinces from them if you can . If you can ally their rival that would help greatly . You ' ll need a pretty strong navy too and pause the game all the time during the war to spot where their transports are . If a Mingplosion happens it ' s a perfect opportunity . Then the rest is colonizing America , and steamrolling everyone in Asia . I wish I still had my screenshots . I only have my Byzantine screenshots are those aren ' t cool anymore .