Thats what i said with 3. Theyll make fun of you the same way but remain firm for you are in the right.

When 4 came out, it was clearly superior to 3
After like 3-4 years of bloat, I’d decided that 4 was done and I hopped off the DLC treadmill
5 remains to be seen, I’m interested in it but giving it some more time in the oven before I dig in

File: 1771512524287173.gif (2.3 MB)

2.3 MB GIF

Kinda concluded my Netherlands run. There isnt much to do when u have a million ducats so I decided to conquer all Germanic and Francien provinces + some great projects.

File: 1771589810950580.jpg (56.1 KB)

56.1 KB JPG

>>2348145
Also wish there was more to do than beat up AI and deal with overextension rebels in late game.

File: 34567890987654.jpg (523 KB)

523 KB JPG

my sweden game, I'm scared of giga england

>>2348331
play with the xorme mod the ai builds like players in MP do

>>2348505
Can I add it to existing savefile?

>>2348500
Kill their navy and theyre easy to deal with.
I must admit I Iove decimating AI navies though.

>>2348071
You are playing a glorified spreadsheet with modifiers and bonuses. That's the gameplay. Just gather bonuses and make blob bigger. Like hoi4, I don't understand the popularity.

I'LL MURDER ALL SHITALIANS FROM THE PO TO THE TOE

>>2348682
They’re both only fun if you roleplay, imo. I can’t imagine the senseless ahistorical blobbing just because it’s there.

>>2348786
After 1650 or so you can dev up your own province +1 for 100 mana or conquer and state a 30+ dev province for 100 mana which is just silly.

>>2348938
Dev ruined EU4. Such a stupid and arbitrary, gamey mechanic. It was only good for its first couple years and then got ruined with DLC bloat. Same with HOI4.

Whats a good country for a combination of:
Innovative, humanist, economic, aristocratic, mercenary, naval, influence ideas. Cause I never use those.

>>2348946
They just never figured out how to make 'playing tall' and role playing viable. You can make shittons of money and never be able to use it for anything useful. Developing your own provinces gets too expensive too quickly. In the end all thats left is coonqing the world and even that is stopped by government capacity. Also AI WILL try to blob.

>>2348953
I remember how not so long ago there wasn't such a thing as governing capacity and every country had a state limit instead. Then if you had more territories than your states, you'd get "territorial corruption" malus. I liked how that incentivized taking full states and deving what you already had rather than blobbing and going for optimal but ugly borders. But that system was pretty broken because trade companies didn't count towards the territory limit. Mercs also worked different so my colonial Netherlands runs were absolutely crazy back then. I had no use for manpower because my entire army was mercs and I could instantly spam more of them anywhere I wanted if a war wasn't going well enough.

File: Screenshot_20260218_152412.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Resuming my A(inu)AR after a break. I Showed Strength against Khodynt again.

File: Screenshot_20260218_153325.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

Time to mop up central America.

File: Screenshot_20260218_154954.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Meanwhile, Japan want to war with Oirat over my rightful clay.

File: Screenshot_20260218_155412.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

Purapecha was the first to go.

File: Screenshot_20260218_175944.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

And then the Aztecs.

File: Screenshot_20260218_180137.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Gotta culture-convert this to Ainu immediately. You'll see why soon.

File: Screenshot_20260218_180526.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

I'll also take out this OPM while we're at it.

File: Screenshot_20260218_181818.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

I've struck gold while Ming is imploding.

File: Screenshot_20260218_182031.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

I need those provinces with Colonialism.

File: Screenshot_20260218_182139.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

I got cucked :(

File: Screenshot_20260218_182613.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

Here we go. This is what I've been waiting for.

File: Screenshot_20260218_182638.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

We've seen the light of Quetzalcoatl and we get no doom + every religious reform for free because our tech group isn't American.

File: Screenshot_20260218_183610.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

I'll repay Mesoamericans for showing me the true way by expelling the Spanish.

File: Screenshot_20260223_175629.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

I'll probably spend a few years chilling out because:
1. My manpower is low.
2. My governing capacity is 199/200 even with only about half of Mexico stated (Siberian Native Council can't upgrade their government rank from a Duchy btw),
3. I lack paper mana and only about 7 provinces in Mexico are full cores.
Another Show Strength war is still a good idea, though.

File: Screenshot_20260223_175935.png (2.3 MB)

2.3 MB PNG

Ming falling apart as always.

File: Screenshot_20260223_180214.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

This sucks because I'll need a lot of bird mana soon. That cuck event lied to me about the stats of the new consort, btw.

File: Screenshot_20260223_180416.png (2.4 MB)

2.4 MB PNG

Big fat Shun.

File: Screenshot_20260223_180556.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

The best China.

File: Screenshot_20260223_180915.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

Time to start executing the first steps of my master plan. I'll start by discarding Exploration Ideas. I can already reach anywhere I want and I'll still have some leftover explorers and conquistadors for now. The colonist is actually the main reason why I converted to Nahuatl, although other bonuses are nice. I need to be able to colonize, even if slowly.

File: Screenshot_20260223_181320.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

Exploration will be replaced with Diplomatic, which I need to fill out as fast as possible.
Dubs can choose my next idea group, it must be military.

>>2349694
Offensive, for offending others.

File: 20260223151014_1.jpg (550.2 KB)

550.2 KB JPG

>>2348953
Playing tall is viable it's just not very fun
>>2348086
Yeah it needs more time to cook and I'm hoping PDX optimizes it better (lmao) or some autists makes a mod to get it to run better on toasters
>>2349694
Naval

>>2348953
>play as any italian tag
>take a few states
>you have so much mana you have to dev because you're already 10 years ahead on tech and your ideas are capped out
>constantly going over gov cap because italian provinces are super easy to develop and everyone has the too much mana problem.
Playing tall is a problem that goes both ways because I've formed sardinia piedmont and have been the #1 great power with just north italy. Yet I have to wait for gov cap techs to take the rest of italy while I desperately search for non development mana sinks so I don't go even more over cap.

>>2349741
>>2349936
Neither of you got dubs so I'll just roll using this post.
1 or 2 Aristocratic
3 or 4 Offensive
5 or 6 Defensive
7 or 8 Quality
9 or 0 Quantity
Even dubs Naval
Odd dubs Mercenary

File: Screenshot_20260224_094515.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

>>2349741
Well, you got what you wanted.

File: 1731264676418910.jpg (57 KB)

57 KB JPG

>>2350157
Hooray!
Be sure to use Send an Insult a lot for maximum offense.

File: Screenshot_20260224_095112.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

I peaced out Kamchadals.

>>2350485
Not much reason to do that right now because I get a lot of PP from Showing Strength against other Siberian tribes and taking provinces from my rivals. I'll probably do it more once I graduate from this shitty government form.

File: Screenshot_20260224_100433.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

I decided to launch an expedition into the Andes because Portugal had already started to expand there and I had to act fast if I didn't want South Americans to be gobbled up into Portuguese Peru.

File: Screenshot_20260224_101608.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

I took out a few loans to embrace colonialism.

File: Screenshot_20260224_101750.png (1.6 MB)

1.6 MB PNG

Which made me a great power.

File: Screenshot_20260224_104329.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

I full-annexed Ichma.

File: Screenshot_20260224_105245.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

And then Quito.

File: Screenshot_20260224_110135.png (1.7 MB)

1.7 MB PNG

I released Quito as a vassal because I was over gov cap. I kept Lima for myself for naval range.

File: Screenshot_20260224_115227.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

Cuzco was likewise fully annexed.

File: Screenshot_20260224_115826.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

My gov cap situation had not gotten any better in the meantime so I released them and also fed them some provinces from OPMs I conquered.

File: Screenshot_20260224_122435.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

Another Show Strength war against Khodynt. This one turned out to be the last one because those bastards changed their government form to monarchy.

File: Screenshot_20260224_151909.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Serves you right, lol.

File: Screenshot_20260224_152101.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

I filled out Diplomatic Ideas and attempted to do the Siberian Native Council exploit strategy for infinite mana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wV29HDpyuk

File: Screenshot_20260224_153203.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

The only viable Siberian minor left was Kamchadals. Others switched their government forms in the meantime, but Kamchadals decided to stay a Siberian Native Council. It was unfortunate because the travel distance cost between those two Kamchatkan provinces is pretty steep. I conquered Chavchuveny to make it easier for myself.

File: Screenshot_20260224_160407.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

I did it a few times, but things were not going as well as they could. There are a few weak points in this exploit strategy that I was unaware of. Travel distance is one of them. Eventually I brought more troops and some ships over there to make it easier and was able to get decent efficiency that way, but I fumbled a lot at the beginning. Second was the Internal Conflicts disaster. This disaster will start ticking up no matter what if stability is less than 0 and unrest is more than 0, so it's guaranteed to tick up in my case. War exhaustion is guaranteed to reach 20 and it raises unrest. Stability can only be kept at -2 at most to farm paper mana efficiently. Worse still, I had below 100% religious unity, which added an additional +1 monthly tick. My efficiency sucked at the beginning. It became very obvious very soon that I wouldn't be able to get as much from it as I had hoped.

File: Screenshot_20260224_170310.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

Eventually I had to stop because the Internal Conflicts disaster almost started and it would have been a catastrophe if it did. I also noticed that Japan would join the coalition if I trucebroke again, which I really didn't want. Looking back at it, I should have started improving relations with them much earlier. That was another mistake. The good thing was that I could instantly stop the disaster by stabbing up 3 times and using diplo to reduce war exhaustion until my unrest was above 0 again. I only did 10 trucebreak Show Strength wars against Kamchadals. My stab cost was 21 and barrage + storm cost was 54 so I should have gotten 79 x 10 = 790 admin, 100 x 10 = 1000 diplo and 46 x 10 = 460 military points. However, I had to spend some of the diplo to reduce war exhaustion at the end. I also had to hire mercenaries and go into debt a lot in order to stop rebellions cropping up all over my country. Not a very good result overall, I'm not sure if it was worth it. I'll prepare better and try again later.

File: Screenshot_20260224_174208.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

My economy didn't really recover, but I decided to attack New Spain again anyway.

File: Screenshot_20260224_175125.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

I released Zapotec and made them transfer trade because gov cap is hard to come by these days. Aztec and Chichimeca left the coalition, so naturally I declared war on them. While I was fighting them, France declared on me.

File: Screenshot_20260224_180142.png (1.4 MB)

1.4 MB PNG

I knew that I had to peace out as soon as saw those doomstacks making their way across the Andes. I could have tried to fight them, but I believe that I would have been worse off economically even if I succeeded (especially since they didn't ask for a lot of money).

File: Screenshot_20260224_180412.png (1.7 MB)

1.7 MB PNG

They made me give up Zapotec as a vassal and release Tonala, but whatever. I'll conquer them later on anyway. I think (or at least I hope) that they still count as primitives so I won't have to pay the diplo cost for provinces. They're also Nahuatl, so no one else will care.

File: Screenshot_20260224_182416.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

At least I finally finished the Aztecs off.

Did France attack new world without any colonies? Also spain never enforced pt while you're fighting new spain ?

File: Screenshot_20260224_183601.png (2.3 MB)

2.3 MB PNG

I've not looked at China for a while and it's a mess. Wu is the new Emperor and they don't have any of the three great cities.

>>2351056
>Did France attack new world without any colonies?
No, they had a colony in Columbia. They colonized some provinces and conquered most of Muisca. Idk if they had the colonial range to take Mexico from me, probably not lmao. I think they would have asked for it if they had. AI LOVES to fabricate a claim and declare wars on whoever holds Mexico regardless if they can actually take it or not.
>Also spain never enforced pt while you're fighting new spain ?
The AI doesn't do that. They could, they just never do. I imagine Paradox hardcoded the AI to never do that because there would have been no end to complaints from people doing American native runs otherwise.

Does AI ever get to be hegemon?

is there a mod that gets rid of estates, and reworks technology and development to not require mana? those are the most annoying things about the game

>>2351054
>>2351051
>>2351053
Why not let them wander around uncolonised provinces wasting manpower to attrition and when length of war modifier ticks down to peace out a favorable/less costly deal, I think you should colonise panama asap as a choke point fort if navy is too expensive to ward off European invasions from sea

>>2348953
>>2348786
>I can’t imagine the senseless ahistorical blobbing just because it’s there.
lmao
literally what else is there to even do in this game? sit there and watch the money go up and AI blob out at x5 speed?

>>2351936
I decided to play beyond 1821 in my Netherlands game and now theres a giant Mughals, Ottomans, Adal, Bengals and Commonwealth with a big Swedish PU.
Basically the game can only end in a clash of blobs and the rest gets gobbled up over time.

>>2351961
the AI can do whatever it wants.
the point is that if you're not blobbing then you may as well not even be playing the game.

>>2351251
I've seen late game France/ Spain get military a few times

What are some fun mods?

File: Screenshot_20260225_164232.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Cont.

I finally finished my colony in Kenai when I got this event. It's gonna be important later on.

File: Screenshot_20260225_165331.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

Time to try this exploit one more time. This time I've prepared much better.

File: Screenshot_20260225_170308.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

My stab cost is really low, my religious unity is above 100%, relations with Japan have been maxed out to prevent them from joining the coalition and I realized that I don't even need a fleet in the area to get optimal efficiency. The trick is to rotate two armies. Once the fort has been successfully stormed, I tell the other spare army to go to the Kamchadal province and then sign peace immediately. The army that just stormed the fort will become exiled BUT the other spare army will continue walking into Kamchadal territory. If I'm at peace with Kamchadals on the day when the army is supposed to arrive, they will just stop. BUT if I'm at war with them again, they will arrive normally and I can use them to storm the fort again. Ironically, this works because the travel distance cost between those two provinces is so high. The other exiled army should arrive in my territory by the time the fort falls again and I can send them there before signing peace again. A single war takes 2 months at the minimum because of diplomat cooldown to declare war and sign peace, so storming speed is actually not that important.

File: Screenshot_20260225_182200.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

I decided to enter Golden Era to spend the points from Showing Strength more efficiently.

File: Screenshot_20260226_185808.png (2.5 MB)

2.5 MB PNG

I've never had this event before, pretty neat.

>>2348071
Are EU4 updates and patches completely done? Does that make it easier for mods to settle after all these years?

File: Screenshot_20260226_190019.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

Battles of the Isonzo River have nothing on this. Unfortunately, this had to be the last one because Japan had so much AE that they would have entered the coalition despite maxed out relations. This attempt was much better overall. I'm behind by just one tech in administrative and diplomatic right now and up to date with military, I've completed all three idea groups and I developed some of my gold mines.

File: Screenshot_20260226_191156.png (1.5 MB)

1.5 MB PNG

FFS. I scutage them to prevent the French armies from walking in there again and it doesn't even matter. They called in Spain, too.

File: Screenshot_20260226_193333.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

You know what? I'll let you have all of this.

File: Screenshot_20260226_193703.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

You thought I was actually gonna honor the truce when stab is so cheap?

File: Screenshot_20260226_194516.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

I'm gonna trucebreak you too, because why not?

File: Screenshot_20260226_200654.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

Much better.

File: Screenshot_20260226_201357.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

I'm gonna declare on the French colony, too. I don't have a truce with France anymore but they're busy with the league war and they're not gonna attach me.

File: Screenshot_20260226_203932.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

I'm only going to take the Colombian part and not Guiana because there aren't any native cores in Guiana and I wouldn't be able to create a vassal there.

File: Screenshot_20260226_204004.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

By constrast, New Spain is going to be left as an OPM.

File: Screenshot_20260226_204535.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

Now it's time to release vassals.

File: Screenshot_20260226_210302.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

And now I'm gonna go bankrupt again. Now is the single best time to do this because I still have truces with Spain and Portugal until 1579 even though I've just utterly raped their colonies and France is still busy with the league war so they will not bother me.

File: Screenshot_20260226_210351.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Time to become Alaska. This is what I've wanted to do this whole time. It's why I colonized those provinces and also why I left my capital in the Cascadia colonial region. Alaskan ideas are really good and include -20% CCR.

File: Screenshot_20260226_210441.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

The new color also looks really nice, doesn't it? Forming Alaska also let me recover a bit of prestige to placate some of my vassals. Unfortunately, something else changed later and Quito stayed disloyal at about 51%. I don't think that's a huge problem, though.

File: Screenshot_20260226_210657.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Okay. Now it's time to chill out for a few years (maybe even decades). I'm still a Siberian Native Council so my country rank is still locked to Duchy. I have to reduce inflation and then start making states and full cores and reducing autonomy to get more government progress faster. Some buildings would also come in handy. I'll start blobbing again once I finally leave this shitty government form. That exploit doesn't make it overpowered at all. In fact, I'd argue that it's necessary to use it to even keep up with other government forms. If I started as a monarchy or a republic, I'd be better off right now because I would be an Empire and have a lot of more gov cap and states and money.

Also, I HATE the Dharma government reform system. Together with governing capacity, it actively punishes the player for playing the game and doing interesting things instead of letting the game run at speed 5 while doing nothing. Oh, you wanna conquer some land? Better leave it as territory because you don't have enough gov cap to make it a state. Oh, your average autonomy sucks? No reform progress for you :^) Oh, one of your missions is locked behind reforms? Too bad, lol. I've hated it in every playthrough now that I think of it, but it's been the WORST during this one because Siberian Native Council is locked to Duchy rank.

File: Screenshot_20260226_213738.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

In other news: Bohemia is the Emperor of the HRE and is about to lose the League War to Saxony.

Should i play EUIV? I have both EUIV and EUV and i'm having a better time with EUV desu, but i have like 150 hours on EUIV and want to see what it is like.

I got all the DLCs from the 3 month subscription. I will barely leave my house :)

File: 1770787945764706.png (93.5 KB)

93.5 KB PNG

>>2352744
Thanks for funding paracucks kind stranger

File: eu41.jpg (643.7 KB)

643.7 KB JPG

what could have been...

>>2352688
You missed the boat. The golden age of
EU4 was 10 years ago, and it’s been a bloated corpse for years. Remains to be seen if EU5 will top it.

>>2352688
Play anbennar

>>2353498
anbennar sucks don't listen to this retard

File: Now watch them lose.jpg (347.1 KB)

347.1 KB JPG

Always fun to look East and see whats going on

>get back into the game
>playing as France
>Castile don't hate me, strong ally
>finally getting down the England strategy, have a bunch of cores on their mainland
>heir dies in hunting accident
>my king dies less than 5 years afterwards, end up in PU under Castille
>huge succession war fires
I feel like I'm cursed

>>2353550
Unironically kino

What's currently the best map graphics mod for EU4?

Are Stellaris or Imperator like EU4?

>>2354785
No, EU4 is risk + mana.

Timurids never stop being fun

>>2353726
>What's currently the best map graphics mod for EU4?
Imperator

>>2354827
EU4 with imperator map would be better than EU5. Some people just want to blob on a pretty map.

File: eu4_68.png (3.5 MB)

3.5 MB PNG

I'm unstoppable
I'm a porsche with no break
I'm invincible
I win every single game

File: least wealthy dutchman.png (1.1 MB)

1.1 MB PNG

Teach me your ways senpais. How do I abuse The Netherlands' NIs and become disgustingly rich and employ armies of mercs? Give me your idea groups and overall strat to squeeze them all dry.

File: david-bowie-zoom-in.gif (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB GIF

>>2348071
>6/6/4 heir
>Event: Heir will die. 50% chance to save him if you pay 1000+ ducats
>Pay the money
>Heir dies anyways
>New heir 1/2/0
This fucking game sometimes...

>>2348071
My first PDX game was EU4 and no other game they made came close. I loved it so much and then I went through a period that I feel all go through where you start to see the flaws in the game and long for a game which fixes all these. I then learnt to accept the game how it was and got thousands of hours of enjoyment from it. PDX announced EU5 and I followed all the dev blogs and livestreams and the game looked amazing, I played it for a while after it came out and honestly it just made me realise how you do need a game to be a game rather than a heavy sim.

>Start date too late, fucks colonisation timing
>No national ideas meaning every country feels the same
>Every country is just cookie clicker RGO's
>UI/Graphics/Portraits lack the soul of EU4
>Music is good tho

I went back to play a few campaigns of EU4 and I had much more fun.

File: 20260305212816_1.jpg (573.9 KB)

573.9 KB JPG

>>2355325
>mogs your empire
heh.... nothing personnel kid....

>>2356303
Post economy and troop size chud, I was caring for money and stability too

File: 20260305220116_1.jpg (536 KB)

536 KB JPG

>>2356314
>eco
I'm at 85% oe right now so my trade income is cut in half

File: 20260305220138_1.jpg (462.6 KB)

462.6 KB JPG

>>2356314
>army
next wars are going to be finishing off china and persia then forming yuan/mongol empire

>>2353498
>troonbennar

File: Reformist Russia MEIOU.jpg (281.9 KB)

281.9 KB JPG

>>2352688
Play MEIOU for EU4. It's basically EU5 but polished. EU5 hired some devs from the MEIOU team and even stole entire concepts and mechanics from the mod, the current EU5 right now is just a bleak clone of MEIOU

I'm over a decade late to the party and started learning EU4 recently. Just finished a Lubeck/Hansa game and it was fun as fuck.

File: 4321908765432.png (1.6 MB)

1.6 MB PNG

>hindu britain
autonomy begone

File: 20260307094314_1.jpg (559.4 KB)

559.4 KB JPG

>dabbing on the ottomans
offensive ideas are a meme btw. how fares the campaign anons?

>>2349614
How did you get started out, Ainubro? I've tried them once or twice but never really knew how to get the ball rolling.
Looks like you immediately went for colonization.

File: eu4_70.png (3.4 MB)

3.4 MB PNG

100 years of Timurid dominion

>>2357996
Why Egypt?

>>2358205
I formed them to get their mission tree bonuses and westernization

They also have an insane mission that gives you triple manpower recovery when that war with heretics or heathens

>>2358215
Oh, and the free suez too

>>2348086
>When 4 came out, it was clearly superior to 3

File: how to win the wars of religion.jpg (100 KB)

100 KB JPG

Peak ai

>>2359053
UPDATE they lost the siege and then all just wandered off somewhere

File: eu4_431.jpg (904.8 KB)

904.8 KB JPG

EU5 is too complex for my smooth brain so I'm back with EU4 and the standard Ottoman world conquest

What's the Byz strat these days?
>>2359512
Why are you green?

>>2359514
>Why are you green?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_qZtLu52nM

>>2359514
>Why are you green?
To answer properly it's a Steam workshop mod

1700 hours and I finally understand how trade works.
>be Persia
>try to spawn global trade
>have every coastal center of trade in India
>wonder why my trade node is only at 80 and cant beat 100 in english channel
>try everything
>realize this embargo mechanic
>never tried it before because the game warns you that it decreases your trade efficiency if you embargo people who arent your rival
>embargo everyone in india
>the debuff isn't even that much
>trade in my node shoots up to 130, infinite income per month

File: Screenshot 2026-03-13 141338.jpg (556.7 KB)

556.7 KB JPG

>Protestant Reformation in 1538 because I dismantled the HRE
Lmao, I was starting to think it'd never fire. Reform desire is only 107%
>Utretch is my vassal
Lol that removes 1 CoR

File: eu4_72.png (3.5 MB)

3.5 MB PNG

1700s and the revolution is spreading inside Yuan territory exclusively as the center spawned in Cairo, the Great Yuan after swiping all of the steppes, Russia, Poland, the mediterranean and the sinosphere decided to take hands against the Europeans who were no match for the horsemen of Yuan, soon enough Europe will be but a peninsula of Asia

File: eu4_73.png (3.6 MB)

3.6 MB PNG

-1000 AE why are they so butthurt?

File: Screenshot 2026-03-14 094909.jpg (463.5 KB)

463.5 KB JPG

Should I stop being such a pussy and just pop the coalition? They've got 781k total manpower and the Pope and I have 666k
Also, are Regimental Camps worth building? I never do, but I think I could get an extra ~25k in force limit from them

How do I fight ming who's 3-4 times of my manpower and 3 mil techs ahead, I just finished an existential war with ottomans in the west and only 3 loans away from bankruptcy, I'm golden horde already with equipped with offensive and quality, there are no choke point forts nor infantry dominated army like ottoman war, they can afford proper stacks filled with artillery

>>2361784
>3 mil techs ahead,
Literally impossible. Mil techs are all huge, even being 1 behind is a problem.
As a horde, the general strategy is to engage enemy armies only in flat land to shockmaxx until the Ming are out of manpower, then start sieging. But again that's a moot point when you're 3 mil techs behind.

>>2361784
If they're coming for you maybe take the L anb become a tributary for a bit there are worse things while you fix yourself up and expand away from them. If you mean when should you attack them wait until their mandate is tanked and go all in fighting them on flatlands and try and pump up devastation.

>>2361775
Why is AI blobbing so much in your playthrough? It's genuinely odd to see Europe so consolidated as early as 1565. It looks like an MP playthrough. Are you playing with mods? To answer your question, I'd wait until some countries in the coalition are at war with each other so that it becomes smaller.

>>2361784
How did you get so far behind as Golden Horde? Embracing Feudalism ASAP should be opening strategy priority and you get so much monarch power from razing.

File: Screenshot_20260227_092708.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

Protestants won the League War.

>>2361846
>Why is AI blobbing so much in your playthrough?
I dissolved the HRE in 1500. That caused a German free for all
>Are you playing with mods?
None that alter the AI
>To answer your question, I'd wait until some countries in the coalition are at war with each other so that it becomes smaller.
Britain left, Austria PUed Saxony, and Poland has been warring in the East. I think I'm going to stop being a pussy and just do it. I've been at peace for about 10 years. But I have more questions. My army is currently 7 stacks of 35k inf/cav and 1 stack of 30 artillery that I break up for sieges. I have a spare 40 land force limit. Should I build another inf/cav stack for battles, or another arty stack for sieges? And, as for my artillery, should I keep them in concentrated stacks, or disperse them amongst my armies? Keeping them concentrated is much more convenient for sieges, but dispersing them means it's easier to make sure I have artillery in battles.

File: Screenshot_20260227_103648.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

I embraced Printing Press from provinces conquered from New Spain.

>>2357662
It's not an easy start. As I've said before, I consider them harder to play than Ryukyu. The plan was to exile myself to the New World from the very beginning. Colonies are expensive so my initial land acquisitions were from wars against North American tribes. Early game was an endless debt spiral. I went bankrupt twice and still had above 40 inflation until fairly recently (I got lucky with the gold, too!). It didn't help that I had too many territories and kept the Native Siberian Council government for too long. Even with the infinite mana cheese, it was barely worth it. I feel like I usually come out worse off at the end of those exile playthroughs than I do when I keep playing in my starting region, but I still keep going for the Americas from time to time because it's cool. In this case I probably would have gotten better results staying in Asia, trying to kill the Jurchens and Oirat, and then stating all of that land. I would have gotten rid of that awful government form much earlier and I still would have been able to do the mana exploit many times over.

>>2361856
I'd build another combat width stack of artillery and break it up after wrecking their armies in battles a few times.

File: Screenshot_20260302_143257.png (1.7 MB)

1.7 MB PNG

I declared war on Kamchadals again because I want a foothold in Asia. I lost those provinces when I became Alaska. I decided not to do the cheese for the third time, though.

>>2357662
Here's an archive link to the previous thread where my current playthroough started btw, I forgot to link it in the previous post: https://arch.b4k.dev/vst/thread/2295364/#q2345113

File: Screenshot_20260302_143855.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

I did some cleanup in Central American at the same time.

File: Screenshot_20260305_181547.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

Shortly after I killed off the remaining Mayan tags, my subject decided to just abandon some of their land. I think it happened because they passed a religious reform. Never make Mayan vassals, friends, anons. Sadly I didn't release Zapotec again before because I already had cores on some of their cores.

File: Screenshot_20260305_181640.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Now, this is where the fun begins.

File: Screenshot_20260305_182418.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

God bless universal CBs.

File: Screenshot_20260312_094949.png (2.4 MB)

2.4 MB PNG

Separatists made a Spanish Caribbean CN core appear on one of my provinces. So I just waited until Spain was at peace. Then, I just gave away that province.

File: Screenshot_20260312_095347.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

Now I border that CN, which gives my Tribal Conquest CB against them.

File: Screenshot_20260312_100854.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

And just like that, all of Caribbean with not a single diplo point spent and 0% OE (I still don't understand how OE for overseas provinces works and what counts as overseas). Also no separatism for some reason (maybe because their cores disappeared?). You might think that going horde so late is a mistake, but it was actually a great decision. I can raze all of this and keep it uncored as long as I want. I made a lot of mana through this war and the subsequent ones.

File: Screenshot_20260312_204443.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

Cuzco has been annexed...

File: Screenshot_20260313_114725.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

...which gave me an opportunity to ruin Portugal's colonies in the region.

File: Screenshot_20260313_120349.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

The French will not be spared, either.

File: Screenshot_20260313_120517.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

I can finally see Europe and it looks pretty interesting. Spain seems to have gotten Burgundian Inheritance but Burgundy still exists, Ottomans own Southern Italy and Kiev, England kept Gascony and Normandy, France is really weak, Saxony is the protestant HRE emperor, Russia is pretty strong.

File: Screenshot_20260313_120657.png (2.6 MB)

2.6 MB PNG

It's intriguing how the protestant reformation went almost the exact same way as it did in real world history (as long as you discount for England staying on the continent and all of HRE turning protestant after the League War).

File: Screenshot_20260313_121518.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Anyway, back to conquering.

File: Screenshot_20260313_160258.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

And now it's time to finally link up Cascadia and California with Mexico. I think I forgot to mention, but Spain went right into the uncolonized Miskito tribal land released from my subject and split Alaskan Mexico from Alaskan Yucatan. I'm not worried because they will make a new Mexican subject soon and I'll attack them to take it back.

File: Screenshot_20260314_124419.png (2.4 MB)

2.4 MB PNG

AI formed Italy!

File: Screenshot_20260314_180105.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

It looks like this for now. Vassals are in the process of being annexed so I'm going to make new ones in Brazil and North America. I'll conquer Japan and try to make my borders prettier before I get bored and abandon this playthrough.

>playing comfy Bohemia game, become Emperor
>rare game where Hungaria isn't under PU with Austia, take some provinces
>start war with Poland, pretty close but I'm making games
>suddenly Castile DOW
>get confused, look around
>apparently now have Muscovy under PU, 100% disloyal as expected
>eventually take provinces from Poland, too weak to push much against Castile, just pay them off to peace
>allies all exhausted
>suddenly Austria DOWs, none of my allies join
I can really feel that this game has a weird sense of humour at times. I need a break from that game anyways but what's the strategy for having a big nation under PU? Last time I had one, they were disloyal constantly because my rivals would just support independence and there wasn't much I could do. In this case, the lesser partner is disloyal by itself

File: Protectorate.jpg (93.8 KB)

93.8 KB JPG

Does this not go away? I thought I was meant to get a restoration of the monarchy event after Cromwell dies (funnily his death was what finally made me inherit Ireland) but its been 3 months and some random is in charge now

>>2362288
You can use favors on your vassal to raise trust and to lower the opinion of the supporters of independence which will break the support eventually.

File: Screenshot 2026-03-16 132705.jpg (460.1 KB)

460.1 KB JPG

>carving up Germany
>Spain's king dies
>their new king is a Valois with a weak heir
>immediately claim their throne and attack through the truce
The Napoleon RP is hitting so hard right now. Spain and I have been allies since day 1 and now their whole empire will fall into my hands. The best part is that they're PUed Naples, which means I will be able to complete the Papal Italy tree all at once

File: Screenshot 2026-03-16 140402.jpg (556.2 KB)

556.2 KB JPG

>I_can't_hold_all_these_subjects.webp
It might've been a mistake to grab Spain&Naples... the Kingdom of God is way more disloyal than I would've thought and that's jacking up Switzerland's LD. I was sure that the KoG would've gotten a "historical friends" modifier like Lithuania gets with Poland, but I guess not. Plus, I'm a little concerned about what will happen with my German subjects once I stop feeding them land. The Rhine is basically at it's final borders.
I'm not going to bother conquering Britain or Portugal, but should I take Jerusalem? I don't really want more subjects since I'm already at 7/5 relations (I have Espionage and Diplomatic ideas), though I'm not above using the console to give Naples to Spain since I could justify that with RP.
If you're wondering why Saxony is still alive, that's because Austria PUed them decades ago and German provinces are expensive as shit to take even with Diplo ideas. I still need to absorb the Polish and Austrian parts of Germany

EU4 sisters are you feeling smug about knowing about Hormuz prior to all the normies knowing about it from the news

>Kingdom of God has 900 development
>at 53% LD even with a -100% LD from events
Fuck this shit, NEVER make a Dutch or Italian puppet, anons. Learn from my mistake, those regions have too much development to ever have a loyal subject

Should I release the EIC or keep the provinces in India for myself as trade companies?

File: Screenshot 2026-03-16 233709.jpg (483.6 KB)

483.6 KB JPG

Yeah, that's game. Even I'm getting bored at this point of pure map painting. Imagine the Danube Republic owning Bavaria and Austria Proper. Also, apparently Spain gets cores on Portugal, so give them that too.
German provinces are so goddamn expensive that I can't take more than 10 per war, which makes expansion super slow. IIRC, absolutism will help with that, but I'm not waiting that long

>>2363388
What's the name of the map mod?

>>2363401
NII's Graphical Pack

Hey, I am thinking about playing pacifist Korea and just chilling out whilst the world fragments around me.

>>2363797
I did a run where I played pacifist Korea until Mingsplosion happened, then tag switched to Wu so I could play as them. Tall Korea is so fucking boring

>>2363825
I had a Korea game where Ashikaga and all of the Daimyos jumped me and that was pretty fun.

got that itch to play something burgundian succession related. any newer overhaul mods lately?

Ashikaga always wins it's so boring, I wish for a historical game Tokugawa wins

FROM THE PO TO THE TOE ALL SHITALIANS WILL FACE THE ROPE

TSD

>>2364310
Calm down, Hannibal

playing third odyssey, any tips?

File: eu4_map_O00_1657_03_27_1.png (294.4 KB)

294.4 KB PNG

After +10 years, I've finally learned about this save map feature they added to the game

>>2364822
How?

>>2361784
debase your currency you get infinite mana points as a horde anyways

>>2364822
Ah yo what a crazy ass map, you're playing denmark right?

>>2364858
f10 for me

>>2365005
yah as evidenced by the nonexistence of sweden

>>2364822
>they added
Has been a thing since EU3...

File: eu4_439.jpg (998.5 KB)

998.5 KB JPG

Basically conquered most of the world, can't be assed with cleaning up the rest. Inca is #2 great power and then Portugal and Castile but only because their colonies haven't been conquered yet. I gave my colonies fun roleplaying names. Fun roleplaying campaign. Used a mod to make Ottomans more dark green and also change their flag and also changed the name of The Caliphate

File: Black hole of Calcutta.jpg (846.8 KB)

846.8 KB JPG

>152 years
Thats the longest lasting cb I've ever seen

>>2366088
Eyalets are totally fair and balanced btw

File: 1748820068384242.png (3.2 MB)

3.2 MB PNG

El Dorado found, although the province itself produces coffee

File: 1745902456730503.png (3.4 MB)

3.4 MB PNG

AI Inca forms, I don't know if that's rare or not

File: 1744842105474687.png (3.5 MB)

3.5 MB PNG

Also, here is gigafrance in 1500

>>2367604
They really want control of the English Channel trade node damn

File: Screenshot_20260315_112327.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

A(inu)AR part ???
I decided that I'm ready to move my main trade port to Panama. That way I can also pull trade from some of South America.

>>2367603
Not rare at all, though I've not seem them do that in my last couple of runs. Inti countries can and are encouraged to expand normally. They don't get a bad modifier that scales with their number of owned provinces like unreformed Nahuatl tags and they don't completely implode like Mayan tags when they pass a reform. Big Aztecs or Maya are much rarer.

>>2367604
They claimed all of Burgundy and beat Austria in the war over it, didn't they?

>>2363388
You could probably get to 100 pretty fast by focusing on mil and harsh treating small rebel groups (always gives 1 point). Strengthen government has the same conversion ratio, it gives 2 points for 100 mil mana. Very useful if you can get your legitimacy to decay naturally to get to 99 points every 2 months or so, but that's not always possible. You should already have plenty of absolutism right now because it's been 10+ years since the age started. You should also pick the age ability that gives +5% admin efficiency if you've not done that yet. Admin efficiency is the actual modifier that makes taking and coring provinces cheaper war score- and mana-wise. 1 point of absolutism = 0.3 points of admin efficiency, so that age advancement is worth the equivalent of 16.66 absolutism in of itself. It's much better to pick it first rather than +1 yearly absolutism. Realistically, 10-15 years is going to pass before you can select the first ability and then another 16+ years from that point you should already hit your cap anyway. Oh, and lower autonomy if you can. It also gives absolutism. It's useful to keep yourself from lowering it for a while before the AoA begins for this reason.

File: Screenshot_20260315_114931.png (2.3 MB)

2.3 MB PNG

My ruler died while my heir was still underage, I got a tribal succession crisis and now I'm ruled by Russians.

>>2367808
This is a problem common to all postcolonial formables. They have default colonial parents set, which influences their default ruler/heir culture/religion, their general names, and their graphics, and all the rest of that sort of thing. Even if it doesn't match your actual culture/religion. And for some reason it's actually outright impossible to reset. Even if you edit the save to remove all such references, they'll come back the next time you save unless you rewrite it to make your innate colonial parent someone else instead

File: Screenshot_20260315_115536.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

I decided to finally clean up this bordergore. I'm leaving New Spain with one province because that way the provinces that Spain hypothetically colonizes will still automatically go to them and I don't have to fight Spain itself.

File: Screenshot_20260315_120206.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Time for an invasion of Thirteen Colonies.

>>2367811
Interesting, I didn't know about this. I think Spanish names also came up fairly often in my Irish playthrough after I flipped to Texas, but I assumed it was because I owned a lot of Castilian culture provinces. Also checked.

File: Screenshot_20260315_122850.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

Over.

File: Screenshot_20260315_123836.png (2.5 MB)

2.5 MB PNG

White House is a very good monument because of global state governing cost decrease. I'll be keeping this province.

File: Screenshot_20260315_125144.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

Thirteen Colonies have been turned into Three Tribes.

File: Screenshot_20260315_130556.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Time for Brazil now.

File: Screenshot_20260315_130819.png (2.3 MB)

2.3 MB PNG

I also need to link up Three Tribes with Mesoamerica.

File: Screenshot_20260315_131332.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

It was at this point that a coalition started to form against me.

File: Screenshot_20260315_131429.png (2.3 MB)

2.3 MB PNG

So I just declared on it before it got too big.

File: Screenshot_20260316_103721.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

And then England declared on me.

File: Screenshot_20260316_111431.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

The other wars were going pretty well.

File: Screenshot_20260316_115442.png (1.8 MB)

1.8 MB PNG

England brought over more troops than I anticipated and they even occupied my capital for a moment. Fortunately, I trapped one of their armies on this island and beat the rest.

File: Screenshot_20260316_121857.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

They also invaded the Yucatan, but I restored control eventually.

File: Screenshot_20260316_123153.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

...And then Spain declared on me.

File: Screenshot_20260316_123244.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

I wasn't coring these provinces that I conquered before because I planned on feeding them to vassals. I wouldn't be able to core them anyway because I was in another war with CNs that I'd just fought. I was pretty strong at this point so the wars themselves weren't a challenge. A much bigger problem was being stuck around 100% OE for way longer than I should, and without being able to do anything about it.

File: Screenshot_20260316_124906.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

I also had to do this. Losing professionalism sucks, but I'd run out of men to fight these wars otherwise.

File: Screenshot_20260316_130811.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

I signed a lukewarm peace treaty with England because I didn't have the men to lose in frozen Canadian wastes.

File: Screenshot_20260318_121808.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

On the other hand, the war with Spain and Portugal (who's their junior PU partner) was quite productive because it allowed me to take some of their non-CN colonies. They lost all of their remaining trade power in Panama, which is great.

File: Screenshot_20260318_130246.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

I released some more native vassals in North America and Brazil after the war with Spain ended, I forgot to take the screenshots of that. I seized land from one of my vassals to get a border with Canada and then I declared on them.

File: Screenshot_20260318_130755.png (2.4 MB)

2.4 MB PNG

Then I declared on what remained of Thirteen Colonies.

File: Screenshot_20260318_154032.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

And then England tried to enforce peace on me! It turns out that AI colonial overlords can do this, I've just gotten lucky until this point. In any case, they can only do it in one of the wars you have against their CNs. In my case England joined the war with Canada but not the war with Thirteen Colonies.

File: Screenshot_20260318_155151.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

I also annexed this tribe in the meantime because they were in the Panama trade node and they were hurting my trade income.

File: Screenshot_20260318_161819.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

Thirteen Colonies is gone for good.

File: Screenshot_20260318_165213.png (2.3 MB)

2.3 MB PNG

I peaced out England mainly for money because I knew I'd have to embrace Global Trade soon. Besides, I can declare on just Canada again soon in the future.

File: Screenshot_20260319_160358.png (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB PNG

I decided to clean up my borders a bit by taking some land from this native federation.

File: Screenshot_20260322_080759.png (2.3 MB)

2.3 MB PNG

I also embraced Global Trade.

File: Screenshot_20260322_084453.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Time for a final solution to the CN question.

File: Screenshot_20260322_085029.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

I'm also ready to restore Japan to rightful Jomon rule.

File: Screenshot_20260322_091030.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

All of the Americas shall be mine.

File: Screenshot_20260322_092947.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

Nice province name.

File: Screenshot_20260322_093537.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

Unfortunately, Portugal started colonizing a province in the Brazilian colonial region after I already wrapped up the war with Brazil. I'll have to declare on them separately soon.

File: Screenshot_20260322_093749.png (1.6 MB)

1.6 MB PNG

I'm already on the Japanese mainland.

File: Screenshot_20260322_095458.png (1.7 MB)

1.7 MB PNG

Japan actually defeated my army two times, but each time it was a Pyrrhic victory with them losing more men. The Mutsu fort guarded Tsugaru Strait crossing, so my army could just retreat to Hokkaido and reinforce while Japan quickly ran out of manpower.

File: Screenshot_20260322_095806.png (2.4 MB)

2.4 MB PNG

Last Portuguese CN.

File: Screenshot_20260322_100040.png (1.6 MB)

1.6 MB PNG

Korea sent their fleet to invade Alaska proper.

File: Screenshot_20260322_103530.png (1.7 MB)

1.7 MB PNG

Russia took Sakhalin from Japan in the meantime.

File: Screenshot_20260322_104053.png (1.7 MB)

1.7 MB PNG

Kyoto has fallen.

File: Screenshot_20260322_104403.png (2.4 MB)

2.4 MB PNG

Time to expel the Brits now.

File: Screenshot_20260322_110713.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

I'll wrap up the war with Japan for now. I can't get to their other islands or invade Korea because their combined navies are stronger than mine.

File: Screenshot_20260322_111743.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

Looking good.

File: Screenshot_20260323_113805.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

My wars triggered the Golden Age of Piracy.

File: Screenshot_20260323_114525.png (2.4 MB)

2.4 MB PNG

Now, I've already fulfilled most of my goals for this campaign. Annexing the rest of Japan and getting rid of remaining CNs is a formality. Should I tag switch to New Providence and try to do another exodus, possible to Europe or Africa? Dubs decide.

File: eu4_441.jpg (1.3 MB)

1.3 MB JPG

Making a mod which adds 'Unify Islam'-type decisions to all other religions. The Confucian decision renames the country to 'Land of Harmony' and turns it yellow (yellow is linked with heaven in China). If anyone has any objections to the country's colour being changed to piss-yellow then there is a decision to return to the country's previous colour.

>>2367904
Probably too late for me to say but I would just play as the pirates, you can't do more as Alaska imo

>>2367904
>Should I tag switch to New Providence and try to do another exodus
Sure, if you think your campaign is getting a bit stale. But your post reminds me of something I've been meaning to ask

Would it be a fun idea to play a tall game as an HRE OPM or something until the Ottomans subjugate Egypt, then switching to Egypt? I have kinda wanted to play an Egypt game for a while, but the Mamluks start off so strong that it's a bit boring. And taking over an AI country that just lost a huge war seems kinda fun. I've never tried turning around an AI nation before. But if I do, who should I play while I wait? Being a Free City seems really boring, so I was thinking of playing as Ireland and unifying the island

>>2367972
I like the idea. I've wanted to make a mod that changes the Protestant religion to Lutheran for a while now, but I can't be fucked with all the work. It's just just replacing all mentions of Protestant with Lutheran since some uses of Prot are correct.
I also tried making a mod that re-added Russian culture upon the formation of Russia. The idea was to have all the Novgorodian, Muscovite, and Ryazanian culture provinces in your borders change to Russian culture when you formed it. That way the culture mapmode would look a lot nicer. But I was too stupid to make that work

how hard is it to WC as Spain?

>>2368117
As Spain you probably should just rely on vassals / PUs / colonies since you won't get any core-cost reduction from national ideas. It's probably a little bit harder than Austria since you aren't HRE-focused but you can still join the HRE of course and do a world conquest that way

>decide to try a brandenburg campaign
>for some fucking reason wolgast always allies denmark or bohemia, even after restarting a million times
this game is actual rape

>>2368117
Why would you try it as Spain? It's very mid for WC

File: eu4_77.png (3.7 MB)

3.7 MB PNG

Mid 1600s and here is how the game looks
Primary goal now is destroying the Mamluks so I form it myself

>>2368427
>>for some fucking reason wolgast always allies denmark or bohemia,
At this point, you should be well aware that the AI behaves differently when around the player. Small nations who border you at the start will ALWAYS get large allies. I'll never forget when I played as Ardabil and Shirvan allied the Ottomans. Learn to use allies to isolate your enemies
>Brandenburg
Man, I always feel like the idea of brandenburg is always more fun than actually playing it. I start campaigns with ideas of being tiny small Prussia up against big strong Austria, Denmark, Poland, etc. But by 1500 I'm a GP in total control of my destiny

File: 20260327143020_1.jpg (525.5 KB)

525.5 KB JPG

>>2368521
The only way the AI behaves differently against a player on game start is when deciding rivals, which will influence early game diplo. The real reason it seems like AI always cucks your expansion is because of the hidden modifier called 'threat level' which is essentially a value for how much you've expanded relative to your starting dev. When your threat level crosses a certain threshhold relative to the target country it will start taking actions (like allying your neighbours or paths of expansion) to try to slow you down. AI has a threat level too but a human player is much more efficient and usually will be the highest threat after the first 10 years
>>2368445
Based, do you plan on having any colonies? What are your goals?

>>2348086
>When 4 came out, it was clearly superior to 3
LMFAO

>decide to play as Egypt as soon as the Ottomans subjugate them
>in the meantime, play a tall Switzerland game
>1561 and the Ottomans have never been to war with the Mamluks once
Holy fuck, the ONE time I want the Ottos to expand, and they fucking don't. I might actually just use the console to gimp the Mamluks so the Ottomans move in because at some point I want to fucking play as Egypt

Just start as the Ottomans and do it yourself no? This way you can make a endboss nation for you to fight

>>2368981
You do realize you can form egypt earlier tbrough the mamluk mission tree right?

>>2368987
I suppose that would've been smarter. I just thought it'd be more fun if I didn't touch the region at all
>>2368988
The point is not forming Egypt, it's that the Mamluks in 1444 are too strong to be a challenge. I want to take over an AI nation that's in the doldrums and try and put them back on course

>>2368992
I see

>>2368992
1444 memeluks are too trivial you're right basically ally poland and austria and gangbang the osman and you already won the game

>>2368995
Tbdesu, I might just take over France or Russia in my current game while I wait. England surrendered Maine then took over more of northern Iberia and Burgundy chose the Habsburg prince, so France is in a tough spot

File: eu4_445.jpg (1.3 MB)

1.3 MB JPG

Need a Vaj majority in order to convert so I can become Emperor of China. Let's fucking goooooo

File: eu4_447.jpg (1.4 MB)

1.4 MB JPG

>>2369090
It is done. Now I wait for Ming truce to finish and then I can claim heavenly mandate or something

>>2362822
Funnily enough, I was having similar problems with my current game as Austria. Bohemia was rebellious for barely any time until Venice supported them, followed by France and then the Ottomans just to add insult to injury. I ended up just going to war with them
Venice was weak, but the Ottomans war started to drag out a bit until France threatened to intervene. I white peaced the Ottomans (got pulled into another war while fighting the Ottomans) and then just declared on France to take back HRE land. Finally got Bohemia loyal after that.
It is funny how the AI does target you like that, though

>>2368874
Honestly idk. Might just unify islam and call it a day as I'm already bored of this campaign thanks to power creep

File: eu4_78.png (3.7 MB)

3.7 MB PNG

Westernization complete, also Osman threw a tantrum over me taking Iraq and broke alliance

File: Screenshot_20260328_172442.png (2 MB)

2 MB PNG

>>2367972
>>2368003
Neither of you got it, so I'll roll on my own. Evens I stay as Alaska, odds I switch to New Providence.

File: Screenshot_20260328_172719.png (1.9 MB)

1.9 MB PNG

>>2369392
So it goes.

>>2368987
I hit 1575 as Switzerland and the Ottomans still hadn't attacked the Mamluks, so I'm just doing this. I haven't played the Ottomans in years, so it's not totally boring. I'm actually kinda annoyed that they have almost no cash and manpower day 1. I want to consolidate the Balkans and Anatolia before moving into Egypt

Is crazy how EU5 has only two good soundtracks (Pain is Salvation and The Black Death), still, not nearly as good as The Stonemasons

>>2369384
Damn Egypt has a beautiful map color, might be top 5 favorites (losing only to Leon, Angevin, Rum and La Serenisima)

>>2369090
>>2369102
>dont own parts of persia
>war with hungary
im confused who did you start as?

File: eu4_2026-03-28_23-12-14.jpg (1.7 MB)

1.7 MB JPG

That's gonna be a juicy league war.

So i just won my first war against my former overlord as karabakh and took all the provinces the first mission gives you.
Im waiting for them to core. My ally is the mamluks, aq and Samtskhe, shirvan is allied to ajam. I could attack some iranian minor sincr they are allied only to aq and maybe get my cores from them.
Any tips?