Advices for Baltic Crusader (TO)

[Blust]

Hi, I'm playing as the Teutonic Order in order to get the Baltic Crusader achievment (convert all Russia to catholicism) but I'm stuck. The year is 1586 and I can't do much (or I don't see what I can do).

So I'm here to see if anyone has advice, here is a map and a list of armies :

The HRE is protestant, emperor is Ansbach, allied to a couple of OPM (but also to the beautiful Hanovre). Russia guarantee Moldavia and Bohemia, and is allied to the Ottomans.
I'm allied to Spain and Lubeck (but the lost their league so... why do I even bother...) and I have Novgorod as a vassal to feed him back his core. I'm slowly eating Sweden who has no allies.

France is a rival of Spain and won't ally me. Austria get beaten up by the Otto every decade so, not worth as an ally. Timurid is my rival, and everyone else is too weak to be even interesting.

Here it is. Any advice ?

 

[Dominion]

Go full military idea groups, trigger Court and Country, eat all of Russia in 3 wars.

Until then feel free to fool around. Maybe eat Scandinavia, maybe nocb Ireland or Scotland to eat England, maybe ally Ottos, maybe attack Russia right now if you feel like it.

Russia really isn't the enemy you should be worried about. They are free dev due to their lack of forts or actual military NIs.

EDIT: Is that Hisn Kayfa? How are they still alive

 

[Sfan]

Russia has no rival? You can't get Ming to your side either if you trade/steal map until you see them?


You waited far too long imo, you should have rushed for Crimea-Nogai-Uzbek to cut off Russia from their expansion opportunities before they became this monster. You can try to force France to cancel rivalry with you and Spain and ally both. Maybe. But that's probably hard to get all of that in time, because Russia will attack you with the Ottos if you don't pull the trigger soon.

Your best bet is clearly a no CB on Moldavia, they shouldn't have anyone on their side besides Russia, right? The odds are still 1 vs 2, but if you can't get anyone else, that will only get worse. Stack money for mercs, increase FL with buildings, get quantity, and go for it soon, before they attack you with the Ottos.

@Dominion : I don't know if you read carefully, but he is probably rivalled with Russia and Russia is allied with the Ottos, he can't do what you suggest as the walk in the park you make it to be. Doable, but not easy: at some point Russia + Ottomans will attack him so he has to engage with Russia alone via Moldavia before that happens. He can't overcome "wrong religious group" + "allied with rival" and get an alliance with the Ottos with how small his army is. And neither Russia or the Ottos will collapse without player intervention.

 

[Dominion]

@Dominion : I don't know if you read carefully, but he is probably rivalled with Russia and Russia is allied with the Ottos, he can't do what you suggest as the walk in the park you make it to be. Doable, but not easy: at some point Russia + Ottomans will attack him so he has to engage with Russia alone via Moldavia before that happens. He can't overcome "wrong religious group" + "allied with rival" and get an alliance with the Ottos with how small his army is. And neither Russia or the Ottos will collapse without player intervention.

Ottos and Russia are both free dev after 1700. Most players fail to challenge them after picking up Quantity, looking at their idea groups and saying "yup, that's enough military ideas for today".

Not to mention policies, which are still getting turned on and off randomly by AI nations (or not used at all). Recently saw an AI unlocking increased force limit from vassals while being a vassal.

Wrong religious group + allied to rival can be overcome with influence+dip ideas, both are groups you want to have as Teutonic order that's planning to feed Novgorod while attacking Russia anyways. Bonus points since Ottos don't have many provinces of interest on him yet.

The hardest part of playing any nation is getting to the point where you are actually alive.
Meaning nobody can take away half your nation in one war and you don't collapse due to a horrible financial situation. Neither of which is an issue for him.
He has successfully pushed beyond that point (by the way, congratulations on that one).
In fact, his current situation seems to be perfect for him, almost as if the game told him "here's a nice tutorial. Use it to grow as a player".

All he has to do is follow European midgame basics.

 

[Blust]

Thanks for answers ! Yes, I was thinking about DOW Moldavia, but they're part of the HRE ! I have DOW Krakow instead, they're part of the HRE but Ansbach refuse to defend it, and since he was allied to Bohemia and Moldavia, I included Moldavia as co-belligerant, which brings Russia into the fight. Spain and Lubeck follows me into battle, here is the battle screen :

Looks pretty even, but it should be relatively easier if I control Krakow from the start and peace out the minor nations. I'm just hoping that Otto won't join, since it's a 1 superpower vs 2...

 

[Dominion]

How long have Russia and Ottos been allied to each other? Do they share rivals?

Asking, because there's a chance annull treaties may lead to them jumping each other's throat due to provinces of interest.
Ottos could get Black Sea Ambitions if they have no mission active currently.

Just something to keep in the back of your head, not a definite recommendation.

 

[Blust]

 

[Dominion]

Is that 26,7k stack almost full cannons with insufficient supply?

And send an insult to one of your rivals for +5 PP

EDIT: Did you hire a discipline or morale advisor? Doesn't look like it.

 

[Runite Drill]

Your best bet is clearly a no CB on Moldavia

hah. Love this. I'm currently doing a Baltic Crusader run and at a similar point as OP. Only difference is I'm in HRE and allied to Russia (big scary Ottomans and HRE hates France from unlawful territory, hence Russia is my only major ally). Ottomans guaranteeing remains of Lithuania, Russia guaranteeing remains of Sweden, HRE an AE slugfest - i.e. no where to go. Solution: No CB Moldavia, bringing in myself and Russia against Moldavia and Lithuania. Then instant DOW on Sweden while Russia can't help. Had to 1v2 Sweden and GB, but fortunately my navy was able to prevent english troops from landing. Got some breathing space again.

Anyway, in the case of the OP. I would say to fight hard to win this war. And by win I mean seperate peace Russia to cancel alliance with Ottomans, then hit them as soon as the truce is up. Otherwise, you could try to dismantle the HRE - easy if the victorious religion is not particularly strong.

 

[Blust]

Well I lost, I'm kinda pissed, I was greedy. I will give it another try later, thanks you anyway