Grand Strategy Yet another EU4 MP game

Pretty much. They're already close to the critical size, at which point stopping them is simply impossible (mercenary spamfest) and they spend the rest of the game conquering Europe.

 

Newcomers are welcome.

Now why should i care about the Ottomans power right now.

There is an Alliance between France, Russia, the HRE with England coming to the aid of France before. How is the Ottomans any concern to me and why should i care when there is a super blob on my borders and the HRE is actively trying to cut me of from any expansion in the form of Branden Burg vassalizing Oldenburg. cutting of my nation from my original plans.

Now that i am Expanding in Lithuania my only last option that i have left. I now have the Russians getting in my way and with a larger force can ignore the AE so they will gobble up large parts of that land cutting me off again.

As a non-aligned nation with no alliance's because there is no one to ally to (no raw if you force me to buy your soldiers in every fight your a merc not a ally). TO me it looks hilarious when several great powers complain about one. At least the Ottomans have not actively gotten in my way unlike almost every ohter great power in the game so far. Yes the Ottomans might be to big, but so is Russia, but no one cares about him so why should i care about the Ottomans growing.

 

If it also means this current session, I'm in. I take whatever nation is near/in Europe. Though launching an invasion from china would be entertaining.

 

Well I am poor as shit, what can I say. Income is the most important part of military adventure time.

 

I would recommend Portugal or Poland/Lithuania.
Custodian/Castile is expanding into Africa pretty much unchecked down there, and they have the means to become Otto 2.0 come 17th century. Some Portuguese meddling would be required.
Poland/Lithuania just lost a war but are still a major land power, beating Crimson/Denmark in hounourable 1on1 (and then they called in Muscovy).
Then there is Naples, which is going pretty strong and unmolested, occupying 2/3rds of the Italian peninsula. The goal here would be to stop the expanding Sulimo/Milan and take Italy for yourself.

 

The problem with Poland is it has lost its union with Lithuania and is surrounded on all sides by WAY stronger enemies. Not new player friendly.

There is but one playable nations in Europe and that is Portugal. Now is the best time too since colonization is about to start full scale.

And speaking of balance of power I have not given you any reason to hate me. I vassalized three Balkan minors and intend to annex them but that puts me at my natural borders. Expanding into Hungary, especially with this much opposition, is simply not worth it. Perhaps Ragusa and Istria to even out the borders.

Add me on steam, nick same as here.

This is 100% true. You guys waste your time and resources throwing away hundreds of thousands of troops and thousands of gold at me when I am the strongest due to superior troops and discipline. At the same time you ally with each other naturally undercutting some of you. France? If France does not start either colonizing or go after HRE it will soon be a regional power at best. Austria and BBurg will gobble up the HRE until there is nothing left. Denmark is already almost cut off and Russia is finishing its isolation. England has nowhere to expand either.

 

I'm sure alliances will shift next game. I agree though that France probably should be more aggressive, and I'm saying that as someone who has a lot to lose from Noodly attacking HRE.

Don't be too cocky though Mal, if the allies fleet had been better that yours you would have been defeated. This is the case for any power atm, if everyone gangs up on them they're fucked.

 

Well there was a small window of opportunity when French fleet defeated my fleet (mainly due to me not checking French fleets size and splitting my galleys into two fleets) when the coalition could have tried to cross the straits. Not sure how it would go and perhaps with my fleet reigning supreme for the rest of the war this could end in disaster with a lot of cut off troops but there was a chance. Instead it ended with this strange sitzkrieg with around 100k troops sitting on three provinces near Thrace while I moved my troops everywhere. The war ended with a huge battle going on in Constantinople that may have well caused the collapse of the entire front too. But then I would have to take the fight to Austria and that never was my goal.

I am not getting cocky, its fairly obvious that I need to have naval superiority in order to ensure my safety. Russia wont field a big fleet any time soon, neither will Austria. I need to maintain close ties with England/Spain/Denmark and outproduce/outgun the French fleet.

Its a big IF but if English fleet came to the Aegean the war could have ended the other way. Fortunately raw isnt actually interested in committing.

 

I understand it well. The balance was strongly against me and Ottomans is the only one that been friendly with me. Even if I seem to remember you gave me some money back in the day.

My only chance of expansion is shit provinces to the South with with wrong relgion and expensive coring. although I haven't played Castille before, so I don't know how powerful colonization really will be.

 

this is what I am saying. While some tried to make it look like the Ottomans are unstoppable. In a multiplayer game none is unstoppable and if they become to strong then even their most staunch allies will turn against them. Because working for your best interest is also not having someone at a postion were he can do whatever he want.

this is a problem that easily can come up with players for France, Russia or Ottos.

By the way, the reformation has been ... interesting so far. Most of the protestant provinces being in Austria and NONE in Denmark/Scandinavia when I last looked.

 

Powerscale:

1. Ottomans (Most land and best Tech right now)
2. France (its France, big and united)
3. Muscowny (Manpower and growing east)
4. Austria (although might be locked down with religious problems)
5. England. (Have a nice Collection of the richest provinces)
6. Spain. (just starting to do something right)
7. Denmark (weak Manpower, but easy to defend.)

IMO.

 

Actually Im one tech behind in land right now but I will catch up i few months. Not sure if Im biggest either gotta check that.

 

If more of my provinces flip protestant I might consider the switch so I have -20% idea cost (-10% from protestant, -10% from Milanese ideas), will make me a technological powerhouse. Milan is slow to get started, but once the planets align properly you can tech like noone else.

 

Also here is my personal ranking of power atm:
1. Ottoman Empire - currently at the height of the power curve due to Ottoman ideas and superior troops. Will have to westernize soon or die.
2. Muscovy - strong and growing. Literally cant be invaded. Limitless manpower and force limits.
3. Austria - strong diplomatically, HRE bonuses, huge manpower, rich, almost finished integrating Hungary.
4. France - French borders, good manpower and income but surrounded on all sides by players, cant expand into HRE without confronting Austria.
5. Denmark - quite secure position in the north, good income. Army on the small side but that comes with attacking strong ai nations.
6. England - best fleet, good army, good income, no stability issues.
7. Castille - time and time again frustrated by France, lost most of its islands, didnt make much gains in North Africa but is colonizing and attacking natives in central Africa. Much growth potential and soon to form Spain.
8. Brandenburg - medium army and income, good diplomatic position. Inevitable conflicts with Austria and Denmark soon.
9. Milan - very much behind in every aspect, decent income but small army. Obvious candidate for the tech powerhouse. Will soon be surrounded. Forming Italy will give it some military power but at the cost of tech advantages.

 

The sun is Rising over Spain again.

Spain has seen some dark days, but dawn was coming. Still in war with Naples she could make someone pay for all the unjustice that had been brought down on her. As so she did, so she did. Her worthless ally "Aragon" got back her half of Sicily and glorious Castille got the tip of the Italian boot. All the Castillian children was cured of the cancer they was afflicted with in the last session. Then she sat and did nothing, except hording claims on the evil North Africans, which was differnt than the friendly muslim Döner kebab. Sure sitting there she was concerned seeing all her strong neighboors in a big alliance even if they didn't show any hostility to her. But they could all (okay not England alone) beat her around like abusing husbands so she sat there and waited to say "yes massah". That France also had her on a warning didn't feel promising.

But as the great war started she felt confident enough to bully some Burka-bearers and start colonizing Africa. Her old harem-loving friends already was asking for future support. She was reluctant, cause there was much to lose. And England was yet to commit. But after the African was she moved up positions to be ready if something was needed to be done. The great war was turning into a stalemate as the big alliance was on a Pyrrhic victory position. That her only real ally then should be forced to release three vassals/countries felt way to harsh and I think Castille would readily have agreed on a Peace were Kebab released one vassal. In fact she was a big unsure what everyone said about in these Peace negotiations and with a promise from Denmark about joining her in a intervention she did. and with that everyone rushed to the table to talk Peace again. she only said that she wanted nothing for herself, but wanted a fair peace. Apparently the bathing muslims got just what she wanted and as soon as that was finished they opened up a new Turkish bath in Egypt.

The coming years Castille finally could do some real colonising and started killing muslim negros. She was in good hands now, but still has no ideas what to do about the... european problem.

 

If you with "soon" mean in about 50 years. I had 1 or 0 admin regents for the entirerity of this game. And with a Admin idea and need for lvl10 Tech I don't Think we will see Spain very soon.

I do have plenty of room to expand though... it is just that those provinces will bring so little income and manpower.

 

ps. I think it would be really interesting to see what Austria will make of this religious problem.

 

I am faiirly sure he will have to convert them to catholic again. Austria cant really convert itself since it would mean losing the HRE especially if Brandenburg stays catholic. And HRE Brandenburg can beat Austria.

 

A protestant current Austria+Hungary would be stronger than a current HRE Brandenburg. If he do rebel force conversion trick. Of course most Austrian players want to "be the HRE". anyway, this will keep him occupied.

 

Malakal Sent an friend request. Name is: '' More Fruits Mein Fuhrer? ''

 

You're the most powerful colonizer in the game. Unchecked Castile can easily turn into Ottos 2.0.

 

You're giving those 3 provinces way too much weight. They're more for display than real income. Also, keep in mind that I had retard king for the first 60 years, I am incredibly backwater. I'd rate myself worse than Spain, maybe on toe with DK. I also have 10% inflation.

 

Yeah, my paths to expansion are pretty much nil unless I want to fight Austria or cripple Spain. I have a few more vassals to absorb, but that's it. Maybe I'll go into North Africa...

BTW, I will not be available next week. If newbie wants to sub for me that's fine.