So on normal difficulty, I have yet to come across a winning Imp2 strategy that doesn't involve grabbing diamonds or gems in the new world. If I fail to grab any, then I pretty much always restart since it seems like a doomed effort.

Has anyone else won without gems or diamonds? The goods trading aspect seems so hobbled compared to Imp1 that your only hope of raking in enough cash comes from precious materials.

It's pretty easy to win on I2 on normal difficulty - don't worry about not having diamonds; I have multiple games won without even holding one province in the new world.

The things I concentrate on are:

1. Spies to keep up on tech
2. Ensuring that I have a source of iron, wood, wool, tin & copper (self or trade)
3. Having a couple of minor nations as steady trade partners (if not more)

The key tech I see is galleons which allows you to build merchant marine and shipping at the same time.

The minor nations joining you will supply enough military to keep you in the game - make sure you sign non- aggression pacts so that minor nations under attack can request you to help! Often if their favourite nation doesn't help you may be called upon giving you territory (votes), resources and army in one go.

Just remember you will not be able to go on the offensive for quite some time as your units will likely be inferior in quality and quantity until you catch up with your diplomacy. Just remember to concentrate on minor nations especially ones which border your nation as those will give you free resources including food. Overseas provinces require merchant marine and can be disrupted during wartime.

It is possible if you play smart (although not going to lie, diamonds help ALOT)

Reading up on these forums, one of the best tips I received was the following:

As soon as possible, take an new world providence capital (and only the capital)

Why?
- The capital has a port pre-built
- The capital comes with a 'town', even if you don't have a research.

If you a lucky enough to capture a capital that is surrounded by 4 forest squares you immediate gain 1 manufactured wood - at the beginning of the game you are so resource starved this is a MASSIVE boon.