Alright, for some reason I took somewhere in the number of 52 screenshots for this update, but since Steam apparently hates me, I only have one measly screenshot from when I started the savegame. None of the other screenshots are working (maybe later I'll go back and see if I can get them).
For now, I can only offer this small look at Sweden when I stopped playing in 1467:
EDIT: The above can be ignored, screenshots started working midway through the post and I forgot to delete it
The story of how we got there...
In 1460, I managed to get an event that boosted money for a while, which I used to invest in another building.
I spammed Lubeck with merchants and got into a tiny merchant war with the Russians. (This took up so many screenshots I'm not even going to bother with them) In July 1461 the Order annexed Lithuania. Not unexpected, really. I took the advice of some on here and threw my slider to go straight into Land tech. If I wanted an advantage over the Russians and Danes I'd need it.
I noticed Denmark adopted Military Drill (dear god) and now corruption...
Meanwhile Italy got even more complex...
I felt confident enough to drop my monthly income to -2 ducats without running into deficits, but I'd have to spend my money very carefully...
Smugglers. I hate them.
Thankfully at least one of the disadvantages was offset by a trade station in Stockholm.
And increased tax! Wonderful!
Even though Novgorod had a higher tech, I had the bigger allies. I upped my military maintenance and declared war. Otsk, Poland and Moscow joined them, while I gain the Order and Scotland on my side.
And right when I declared war, this pops up. Since I couldn't afford another loss in stability, I had to gain the decentralization.
As I assaulted Kexholm, the Novgorodian Navy made their appearance. With the Teutons already engaging, I sent the Swedish Fleet to engage them.
It didn't end well for Novgorod.
My Sheriff died and I recruited a Scottish Theologen to take his place.
The Teutons were being assaulted by Polish and Otsk forces and sieging in Otsk and Poland proper. I was starting to wonder where the Scots were...
The Novgorods asked for white peace which I declined almost instantly.
Otsk took what was left of Lithuania...I was a bit worried, to be honest.
I took Neva and began to march towards Ingermanland, which should be rightfully Swedish!
Found the Scots!
The Polish were continuing to worry me. The Teutons need to get on their game if they want anything!
The Scots landed and....began to siege Estland. If they took it, my chances of getting it again were shot.
Later, the Muscovites took Pskov, and the Teutons took Polotsk proper and began to move against Otsk forces. The Muscovites retreated and Otsk asked for white peace, which I accepted. Novgorod had lost an ally now, this should easily weaken them. In 1467 I began to assault the Russian capital of Novgorod. The Poles offered a ridiculous peace offer which I declined instantly while I took Novgorod. Since my original goal for this war (Estland) was besieged by the Scots I settled for taking Neva and Ingermanland.
Like good little subjugated Russians, they accepted and I gained the two rich provinces of Neva and Ingermanland. Next I'll have to recover my economy so I can support missionaries to convert the heathens to Catholicism!
Portugal offered an alliance, but since they had the French take a province, I wasn't too keen on allying with them. The last thing I need at this point is a ridiculous colonial war...
The World, June 24th, 1467
Again, no war analysis because so little actual combat took place. The Teutons were a tad useless, and the Scots sieged the wrong province...and Otsk betrayed me, so now I need to find a new ally.