Not sure if this is the place to ask but hey, i am asking it anyway.
What are some good (preferably smaller) nations to start out with when you are trying to learn the game?
I have decided to try to learn the game the correct way (without resorting to cheats) and i am trying to teach a mate of mine the game at the same time.
And personally i don't like to start with bigger nations because the scope will make me crazy
Honestly, for learning the game I would always suggest Castille. Bigger nations = more room for error, and more things to work with. That's just a fact.
If you really want to try a smaller nation, I would say something like Denmark, Sweden, Brandenburg, the Teutonic Order or Holland.
Denmark/Sweden: Unite Scandinavia, trade, perhaps PU some north germans and pick a fight with the emperor.. then go colonial and establish an empire in America or Asia.
Brandenburg: Learn the Empire mechanics.. this one is very fun and rewarding. Start out by moving your army to Luxemburg, declare war and siege them then peace out (vassalize them) before the emperor finishes sieging your provinces. Now it's time to pick a fight with your neighbors in any way possible while avoiding the ire of Bohemia and Poland. Use any CB you can get, warn, ally (alliance CB will help a lot in the early game) -- the Conquer Pommeria mission is also excellent since it gives you a CB -- never, ever actually conquer Pommeria (you will get unlawful terrotory.. nasty stuff) but use the opportunity to vassalize all of Pommerns allies. Soon enough you will have a network of vassals in northern germany (if you did it correctly). Now sit back and wait, force Personal Unions on your vassals whenever you can, use core missions, establish your north german empire. It's not easy for a new player, but you really learn the alliance and Personal Union mechanics.
The Teutonic Order: Much the same as above, but you start out stronger and have other challenges (sweden/denmark, the golden horde and Russia, mainly).
Holland: Learn to trade.. become ultra rich, be opportunistic and eventually form the Netherlands. Then go colonial.