It is important to build two embassies, one for each side and monitor your relations there. Then in the World Wars you can trade with the Axis or Allies. In the Colonial era you can only trade with the Crown Trading Company, the Smugglers or the Pirates. The trade deals are more of a diplomatic tool and a way to sell specific goods well above market value and to get fixed contracts. No, freighters come regardless of trade deals. That's what happened to me, so trying to build all the cool stuff in the Modern era was pointless since I couldn't get any damn workers and my pops were becoming educated and I had a large middle class and decent sized upper class while my raw materials went un-gathered thanks to a gutted lower class (became educated). A well run island with emphasis on growth can be well over 1000 pops by the end of the World Wars and should easily be at the 2000 limit by end of Cold War.

just a lot easier to lose that election in T5. The elections are the same that they've been since T1. Depending on how many times you side with one of them, you may end up with an additional mission that you have to fulfill or face a revolt from he/she and their supporters.

The competitions between the dynasty members arise from two of them having a dispute.

They don't act as Generals on the battlefield but I had one die from an invasion once. There are competitions between dynasty members and dynasty members can die.

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