The game has definetly hardened up. In Httt I already owned central Italy and parts of Scotland and Iceland at that time, playing Tyrone > Ireland... (everything on normal, monthly autosave due to frequent cpu-crashes because of shaky SLI)
Ireland 1474.
I followed Castille against Granada and managed to control the sieges of Almeira and Gibraltar. So I was able to annex the entire nation.
Then I continued with Castille against Morocco getting Cetua and Tangiers. I sold Granada to Castille over 10 years for roughly 1,100 gold.
When England was at war with France I funded spies in Meath which defected to me.
I formed Ireland when I intervened in a war with the other Irish nations. (took Connaught and Munster, vassalized Leinster, diploannexed it 10 years later).
The other gains in Africa and Europe were vulturing when nations were at war with others.
Morocco was partially taken by Castille, but when it was excommunicated and at war with many other nations I took Morocco and castillian Morocco.
After my first NI I focused on Trade for QFTNW. Got it in 1447. But before colonizing I followed Scotland, Burgundy and Portugal into war against England (well I used the Alliance CB, so I could decide when the war ended). BB never crossed the limit.
The rest ist obvious.
Problem is my leader right now. A 3/3/3 (We have been cursed!!! God have merci on us all! *ggg*)
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/6646/85013829.jpg
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/5967/98422653.jpg