Personal Note
I first picked up EU2 almost exactly sixteen years ago (first week of July 2002). I poured hundreds of hours into EU2, probably even a four figure sum. I even once started an EU2 AAR with the sole intention of turning Protestant, but left the work unfinished. Whilst events in my personal life ended up ensuring I played EU3 less than the preceding or succeeding game, I still did my time, and still avoided the Reformation. This has continued in EU4. I “only” stand at 579 hours according to Steam, as of writing. As an aside, I don’t really recommend trying to explain to most folk how 500+ hours in a single game isn’t that big a sign of commitment. Anyway, in all of those 575+ hours I had never, once, converted to a Protestant faith. I can’t quite say I have never converted, because in EU2 Catholics nations used to be able to “convert” to the Counter-Reformation Catholicism, but it is a mechanic I am glad they abandoned. Outside of that I don’t think I have converted. Last night was thus a significant first.
Now back onto the AAR.
AAR
The time has come. But first I have something else to do - I research Admin Tech 8, and then I click on the convert button, and then pass the Act of Uniformity and Dissolve the Monasteries.
The Centre of Reformation spawns in Namen (Namur). I send a missionary to Brabant, to convert Brussels. The to my surprise Nevers converts by itself a couple of days later, before I get around to Force converting it for the Reformation Age objective. And spawns its own Centre of Reformation. Which means the three Protestant CoR are in Nuremberg, Namen, and Nivernais. I admit to not spending long at the time thinking about this as I almost immediately attack England, calling in France for favours.
My initial strategy is simple: send two small 2k stacks to Cambray and Le Caux, and small siege stack (including now 4 artillery) to Picardie to take the fort. The remainder I send to my new lands in Holland to be prepared to stop any trouble from the East Friesians. I let France siege down Maine and Cotentin. The first stages of this war go very well, the four non-fort provinces fall, I get a breach in Picardie, and in the course of two battles I destroy the East Friesian army. I begin to siege their capital just about the time that Picardie falls.
I then send my siege-stack to take over that siege, and move the rest of the army back home in case the English come a-calling. They do, but not in my territories, but in Normandy.
I move my army into Picardie, when I notice a smaller English force is trying to land in Le Caux. I move my army into position. The initial fight is, to be honest, an altogether closer affair than I wanted, and it possible I only attained victory through French intervention.
In May the remainder of that army was wiped out in Cotentin, but another battle duly loomed with the first English army. This time I definitely needed French help for the first victory, but whilst the French stayed behind to retake Cotentin I followed the fleeing English and totally dispersed them.
Now I do realise probably no one else is as enthralled by Odoyev’s exploits as I am, but they are at it again, albeit on lesser scale given there is not that much left of the not-so Great Horde anymore.
After my two victories the war screen temporarily shows the enemy without any troops at all, but it is not long before they start building again. The East Friesland capital falls however, and so I Enforce Religion on them in the peace treaty. Otherwise just war reparations - there was far too much AE to do anything else.
We move into 1496. Between my own missions and the CoR about half my provinces have now been converted. I also around now take my one naval ventre, where I spy an opportunity to attack and sink a lone English light ship. From now on the war turns into a waiting game. My ideal peace is Cambray, War Reparations, with an added Humiliate. That is a 57 warscore, but I hope with the wargoal mine and the effects of war exhaustion I will eventually be able to get there. 1496 finishes with me researching Diplomatic 8, and 1497 begins with me taking the final Innovative Idea. The summer sees Friesland massively defeated in a war with Cologne, and though Cologne, shortly releases Meppen they look like they will be a power in this corner of the Empire.
At the start of 1498 I research Military 9, and choose Landsknechten. I must admit I have never really understood the practical differences between the different unit types, in terms of which is “better” for a specific situation, so I tend to always rp those choices. I should also note that in these few years I had a sequence of negative prestige hits from events, keeping my prestige around -20 to -15 for quite some time. From looking at the peace I now there is a chance of a coalition forming, so I have my diplomats working furiously in improving relations of Outraged countries, but I have also made sure to keep opinion topped up with both France and Austria.
In May my debate in Parliament (Support the War Effort: +1 Stability and +10% Manpower Recovery Rate) is passed. A couple of months later I have fully converted Belgium to Protestantism. It took about 4½ years. Unfortunately I only converted 6 provinces manually, so that particular Age of Reformation objective will not (yet) be fulfilled.
The situation regarding the English peace continues to nudge in my direction. The positive-negative balance has gone from the -40s to being just -10. A little more patience…
I wait into 1499, when Lorraine finally tries to break free from Provence. I am very glad I am not involved, as a quite large war now breaks out in Western Europe. That said, Provence I think will win as two of Lorraine’s backers (Portugal and Scotland) are just too far away to be effective. Also my main current general dies, so I start to use my backup. My army is just lurking in case of an English landing, but it never comes. As of June in that year I am able to get the peace I desire.
Of note, this means I now control all the Walloon provinces, and thus I am now at the limit of my direct southern expansion.
Austria then immediately calls me into a war against Venice, Switzerland, and Bosnia. I accept, as I know I will definitely need to keep this alliance. I also add my first Aspect of Faith, which I set to be Individual Creeds (-5% Idea cost). Over the next few months a Coalition does indeed begin to form until the end of the play session.
These are all to the West of me and my ally Gelre. I am adopting an attitude of cautious prudence - I keep my forts fully maintained, and indeed start to build a new fort on that border. As of the game session, however, they had yet to make a move.
Meanwhile my Heir had become an Obsessive Perfectionist. Increased construction costs are hardly fun, but at least it is just money. A small Venetian army manages to thread its way to Den Haag, where I annihilate it.
I unlock the Benign Diplomatics Idea (Diplomatic 4), and then in September 1501 the Age of Reformation begins. Part of me wonders if I should not have triggered a Golden Age at the end of Exploration era, but too late now.
Provence snacks on Brittany, which I find interesting. Provence and France are allied, but so far Provence also remains independent. All in all France is not yet whole, which I take to be a sign of success.
The next month, however, seems some less than pleasant news - it appears Austria has lost the Emperor-ship. It appears because their Heir was underage. It has gone, for the time being, to Bohemia. How this will impact me, I don’t know, but I think to keep the Austrian alliance for the moment.
Into 1502 and I get to choose my second Aspect of Faith. I choose Icons for the added prestige, to see if I can get out of this prestige trap I appear to be in. In May I research Admin Tech 9, and am able to unlock the next Diplomatic Idea. This triggers the fourth National Idea, which is +10% army morale. Finally at the end of May Austria successfully concludes its war with Venice. I realise I can actually add Venice as a rival, so I do. This is mostly just to get rid of the power projection malus, and because I think it will cement my relations with Austria, who also have Venice rivalled. I play a couple more months before saving.
As for the Reformation, a few more countries have no converted, but I remain the only sizeable nation thus far. A fair few French provinces have been converted though, so I do wonder if we might not see a Protestant France. I have decided to keep Nevers as a vassal for the time being as much for this reason as anything else. France will not attack them so long as we are allied. Even if they don’t eventually convert call it another way of weakening France slightly.
My plan with England is shortly to fabricate a claim on Picardie, and was that for a future war. I think I might be able to pull France into two more wars with England yet, putting off the day when France will take those provinces. I have to say, with a friend like me France does not really need enemies.
Otherwise my thoughts are simple: sit tight. I need to let that coalition fall apart, and AE more generally to dissipate. I may yet have to turn on my ally Gelre to acquire the whole of the Low Countries, but if so that will be for the future. I also currently have a free relation slot, but remain unsure where best to fill it. Another ally right now would be useful, but not if they are likely to draw me into wars. Will need to think about that.
