Overall, I really like what the patch did to the HRE. But I also think there is a series of strange choices and oversights that could use a second look.
One thing I don't get at all is the new state borders in the general area that will eventually become the kingdom of Prussia. Priegnitz belongs to Mecklenburg even though it historically never did; Uckermark to Mittelmark even though it formerly belonged to Pommerania, was part of the state and has a Pommeranian core; and Stettin has moved from Hinterpommern to Vorpommern even though it is the traditional regional capital of Hinterpommern (and therefore part of present day Poland). This seems like a weird unnecessary carousel. I would simply reverse this to Uckermark --> Vorpommern, Stettin --> Hinterpommern (might need some border adjustments to the province), Priegnitz --> Mittelmark. This would leave Mittelmark and Vorpommern with the same amount of provinces while Mecklenburg loses one and Hinterpommern gains one.
I also don't get the reassignment of Ermland from Western to Eastern Prussia - yes, it looks weird, but it represented the historical division between royal and ducal Prussia.
One nation I think has sadly been overlooked is Hesse. I would definitely count it among the more successful principalities of the time period. While probably mostly associated with Hessian Mercenaries serving in the American War of Independence, and thereby the general practice of renting out armies in that time period, they were relevant beyond that. They were one of the more consolidated states in the HRE, although they eventually faced similar problems with being divided amongst heirs as Saxony, led the Schmalkaldic League along with Saxony and were also one of the major members of the Protestant League. Hessen-Kassel eventually became an elector shortly before the dissolution of the HRE, while Hessen-Darmstadt became a Großherzogtum.
The House of Hessen was also fairly prestigious, descending from Dukes of Brabant who in turn descended from the House of Reginar, who were Dukes of Lorraine. One Landgrave, Friedrich of Hessen-Kassel, also ruled for over 30 years as King of Sweden after the abdication of his wife Ulrika Elonore. The modern day British House of Mountbatten is also descended from the House of Hessen.
Yet it didn't really get anything in the patch besides a new province, Fulda, in its homestate (which initially belongs to Würzburg though). It's a two province minor - as much as Baden without Breisgau, less than a freshly released Lusatia - with unique ideas (which it had before though) in an increasingly weird-looking state. I even kind of get where it's coming from: Darmstadt would need to be forced below Frankfurt and inbetween Mainz and Aschaffenburg, and Mainz later actually became part of Hesse-Darmstadt, so that's probably why we get Mainz in the state of Hesse. It might be possible to get in Darmstadt, but there are options beyond that too.
I'd propose splitting the current two Hessian provinces into three. The one inbetween would either become Ziegenhain (which technically only fell to Hesse a few years into the game but eh) or get Marburg as capital (Marburg in Oberhessen is placed way too low anyways) with Oberhessen getting Gießen as capital.
An alternate option would be to make Nassau smaller; the free room could be added to Berg which could in turn split off Mark, fully representing all the territories of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.
The new state of Hesse would then either consist of Kassel (Niederhessen) - Marburg - Gießen (Oberhessen) - Fulda - Frankfurt or Kassel (Niederhessen) - Marburg (Oberhessen) - Wiesbaden (Nassau) - Fulda - Frankfurt.
There's also the option of doing all of the above including putting in Darmstadt and then splitting the provinces into two states: Northern and Southern Hesse, as seen in the attached quick draft.
This would also make it possible to introduce an event chain similar to Saxony to represent the split into Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Darmstadt. Katzelnbogen could be a generic tag.
EDIT: fixed some obvious mistakes
Missions for Hesse could include conquering those provinces, building an army, developing the economy, the reformation, gaining an electorate. And more far-fetched ideas like claims on Thuringia (formerly united with Hesse under House Ludowinger), Brabant, the greater territory of Lorraine, and obviously just random neighbours like the Palatinate too.
There's also the possibility for some interesting events. There's already a Women in History event for Amalie Elisabeth, though it could use a more flavourful description. Another subject might be the Rothschild dynasty which started in Hesse-Kassel.
One thing I don't get at all is the new state borders in the general area that will eventually become the kingdom of Prussia. Priegnitz belongs to Mecklenburg even though it historically never did; Uckermark to Mittelmark even though it formerly belonged to Pommerania, was part of the state and has a Pommeranian core; and Stettin has moved from Hinterpommern to Vorpommern even though it is the traditional regional capital of Hinterpommern (and therefore part of present day Poland). This seems like a weird unnecessary carousel. I would simply reverse this to Uckermark --> Vorpommern, Stettin --> Hinterpommern (might need some border adjustments to the province), Priegnitz --> Mittelmark. This would leave Mittelmark and Vorpommern with the same amount of provinces while Mecklenburg loses one and Hinterpommern gains one.
I also don't get the reassignment of Ermland from Western to Eastern Prussia - yes, it looks weird, but it represented the historical division between royal and ducal Prussia.
One nation I think has sadly been overlooked is Hesse. I would definitely count it among the more successful principalities of the time period. While probably mostly associated with Hessian Mercenaries serving in the American War of Independence, and thereby the general practice of renting out armies in that time period, they were relevant beyond that. They were one of the more consolidated states in the HRE, although they eventually faced similar problems with being divided amongst heirs as Saxony, led the Schmalkaldic League along with Saxony and were also one of the major members of the Protestant League. Hessen-Kassel eventually became an elector shortly before the dissolution of the HRE, while Hessen-Darmstadt became a Großherzogtum.
The House of Hessen was also fairly prestigious, descending from Dukes of Brabant who in turn descended from the House of Reginar, who were Dukes of Lorraine. One Landgrave, Friedrich of Hessen-Kassel, also ruled for over 30 years as King of Sweden after the abdication of his wife Ulrika Elonore. The modern day British House of Mountbatten is also descended from the House of Hessen.
Yet it didn't really get anything in the patch besides a new province, Fulda, in its homestate (which initially belongs to Würzburg though). It's a two province minor - as much as Baden without Breisgau, less than a freshly released Lusatia - with unique ideas (which it had before though) in an increasingly weird-looking state. I even kind of get where it's coming from: Darmstadt would need to be forced below Frankfurt and inbetween Mainz and Aschaffenburg, and Mainz later actually became part of Hesse-Darmstadt, so that's probably why we get Mainz in the state of Hesse. It might be possible to get in Darmstadt, but there are options beyond that too.
I'd propose splitting the current two Hessian provinces into three. The one inbetween would either become Ziegenhain (which technically only fell to Hesse a few years into the game but eh) or get Marburg as capital (Marburg in Oberhessen is placed way too low anyways) with Oberhessen getting Gießen as capital.
An alternate option would be to make Nassau smaller; the free room could be added to Berg which could in turn split off Mark, fully representing all the territories of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.
The new state of Hesse would then either consist of Kassel (Niederhessen) - Marburg - Gießen (Oberhessen) - Fulda - Frankfurt or Kassel (Niederhessen) - Marburg (Oberhessen) - Wiesbaden (Nassau) - Fulda - Frankfurt.
There's also the option of doing all of the above including putting in Darmstadt and then splitting the provinces into two states: Northern and Southern Hesse, as seen in the attached quick draft.
This would also make it possible to introduce an event chain similar to Saxony to represent the split into Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Darmstadt. Katzelnbogen could be a generic tag.
EDIT: fixed some obvious mistakes
Missions for Hesse could include conquering those provinces, building an army, developing the economy, the reformation, gaining an electorate. And more far-fetched ideas like claims on Thuringia (formerly united with Hesse under House Ludowinger), Brabant, the greater territory of Lorraine, and obviously just random neighbours like the Palatinate too.
There's also the possibility for some interesting events. There's already a Women in History event for Amalie Elisabeth, though it could use a more flavourful description. Another subject might be the Rothschild dynasty which started in Hesse-Kassel.
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