A trustful strong ally, or a "meh" PU ?

[Blust]

I'm at a crossroads right now. Spain (without Italy) have my dynasty on his throne, and a weak heir. I could break the alliance, wait for the truce to end, then make him my PU.

But I did it for Austria, and I'm disappointed. He was useful as my ally, but kinda useless as my PU. Is it always better to have a PU over an ally ?

 

[sebas379]

It is, as long as you can keep them loyal. If your army is large enough to keep them loyal, its a guaranteed ally that wont stab you in the back, which can be very nice.
Not to mention the option of integrating them at some point if thats useful. I currently have Spain in a union as Commonwealth. Whilst I wont integrate them theyr a great tool to keep the remaining majors from ganging up on you in a moment of weakness.

 

[atwix]

a PU can't send defensive or offensive call to arms...

 

[Jorlaan]

I find PU's much much more useful than allies normally.

 

[Comrade Kalle]

PU's are way better, assuming they're loyal

 

[SaucyBaron]

If you keep them loyal a PU is objectively better than an Ally, they join all your wars, and never start their own. They effectively become a weird vassal-March hybrid.

 

[Viktor Vaughn]

not to mention with spain you have the option to integrate and then get all their colonies

 

[Parapluman]

But I did it for Austria, and I'm disappointed. He was useful as my ally, but kinda useless as my PU. Is it always better to have a PU over an ally ?

Austria is only powerful because they are the emperor of the HRE. When you PU them they lose all their nice emperor bonuses, so they become a lot weaker.

Spain will be a bit weaker if you PU them as a vassals force limit and income is reduced a bit. But nowhere near as much as PU Austria. They will also keep colonizing and their colonial nations, (wich keep their full strength), will also help you while at war.

 

[Blust]

Thanks for the replies. If I PU Spain, do I get his colonies as well in my wars, or do I have to integrate Spain first ?

I guess I'll PU him soon, he's having a hard time against rebels.

 

[sebas379]

Their colonial forces will fight on your side, ssuming ofc they are loyal to spain

 

[babuchas1]

And they will never break the alliance and rival you with 100 trust just because your vassal has a province they desire....PU way better than ally.