Italy, 1614
[img]http://i.imgur.com/QzsSz.png[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/x3jvL.jpg[/img]
The years is 1614. I started as Milan. Spent the first good hundred years of the game vying for Holy Roman Emperor (for the prestige to expand my SoI) and annexing my neighbors (peacefully!). Contrary to my previous games, where I tried to quickly gain a universal cassus belli and subsequently went on a conquering rampage to fulfill my imperial goals, I tried instead in this game to acquire what I wanted diplomatically. I inherited Alencon accidentally in a huge mess of royal marriages, and then sold it to France for a massive sum of money. Almost inherited Navarra, but after I claimed the throne Austria said "OH GOD NO" and took over instead through a brief little war. I used my sphere of influence to convince Serbia, Albania, Croatia, Sardinia, Corsica, Savoy, Modena, Genoa, Mantua, and Urbino that independence outside of Italy isn't all it's cracked up to be.
This is a map with all of the regions I gained militarily outlined in orange. As you can see, most of my provinces were gained without bloodshed.
The Papal State was the first to go, within the first two years of the Grand Campaign. They decided it would be wise to attack Urbino (they usually do) so I allied with the Urbanites (?) before even one day into the game. Naples then got into a war with England, risking the sovereignty of
my future nation. Refusing my hospitality, they were brought under Milanese rule more forcefully. England, at this time, controlled Sicily and Malta. I had two wars and a long naval race before I finally was able to crack open Britain (with Scottish help) and deliver my demands directly to the royals in London.
Savoy got stomped in a war with France, releasing many states (which I vassalized soon afterwards, notably Corsica and Sardinia) and they were left weaker than Milan. I quickly jumped on our friendly relations and their humiliation to vassalize and annex them a decade later. Once I finished annexing everything, I had accomplished my goal for the game, and finally unified Italy, bringing my capital to Rome and outside of the HRE, ending my term as emperor. I switched over to Protestant, to sting Austria (the new emperor, although they would later follow suit) and it resulted in an odd turn of events that led to my amazingly productive and fruitful alliance with the shockingly fractured France. (is it just me, or is France ALWAYS at war with somebody?)
Built up a colonial empire rather quickly by annexing native tribal states while Spain (their ally) was busy in a war against Austria (Navarra... hurr). Recently switched from Empire to Noble Republic, soon to be Administrative Republic. Royal marriages have run out of their uses, and I want to pick my leader. I may go for presidential dictatorship. Can't remember why, but that government form was always my favourite.
I don't really know what to do next, as my only goal for this game has been realized. After I am done converting everybody on the peninsula to protestant, and removing the minor cores, there really will be nothing left to do. I wish I could "suggest" things for my allies to do, as I really want a powerful, united France to have my back against the big meanies to my east and north (Austria+Bohemia HRE tag-team). For some reason this game's French just don't want to unite their nation.
