Conclusion
One session to go for me, and as 666 leaders will be added the normal campaign can be considered over. Too bad as I normally enjoy the 18th century more than the two centuries preceding it. Often the best options for gains is from wars with other players, as AI nations are gone, and long term colonisation isn't profitable anymore. As is the tradition I'll comment on all countries who's players are still around. Of course I give out marks, 1-5 as when I was a schoolboy, with 5 highest.
Kaliphate - Bob
Very rapid inital conquests of provinces from the AI put the Kaliphate into a stability and tech trap it could never really get out of. Cannot recall if any provinces were ever taken in warfare against players, but the Kaliphate instead faithfully served as ally of Prussia, both in defence and conquest. Still, without a fleet, he managed to keep control over the COTs in India, which has to be regarded as a great diplomatic success. But the stale alliance with Prussia with few gains and the technological backwardness brings it down to mark 3.
Brandenburg - Absolut
With a difficult starting position, Brandenburg managed to piece by piece carve out province from almost all his neighbours, probably fighting more successful offensive wars against players than any other! Was the primus motor behind and benefactor of kicking Gelre out of the game. Formed Prussia and aquired two cultures. Still managed to stay diplomatically more than afloat, with allies and friends providing support in both defense and conquest. Trade never blossomed, and the colonies were a weak spot, even if he managed to keep them until sold for 10.000d to Denmark later on. Mark 5.
Golden Horde - cobjor
Helped initially by boosting events, GH grew very big and strong, all the way to Portuguese China. Divided Russia with the TO on his terms, after TO lost an initial war. Shifted alliances during the game, a healthy sign! Fought numerous wars in Europe from his uncontested and impregnable homeland. Didn't get much reward for it himself, nor managed GH to more than disturb Portugal in the east. That's why I don't raise my mark from 4.
Granada - Aladar
Played safe with an eternal allaince, formal and later informal. Mostly avoided conflict for the first 300 years and spent his time builing on his initaial good starting position close to Africa, which in the end was in his full control. Despite a huge economy never built a warship fleet, which puzzled me and further added to the defensive playing. By the end of the 17th century started to build up Naples, but still this didn't result in any successful offensive warfare. The armies were often seen fighting in Western Europe in the end, as Gelre was dismembered a part fell to Granada. Mark 4.
Denmark - Dud
After a few defeats over Eastern Scandinavia Dud started on a much more profitable project as ally of the Teutonic Order. With protestant trading bonus and a determined effort on refineries in his back he managed to lift a country among the poorest to the top tier. He was reluctant to enter costly wars and evaded the conflict with Portugal as much as he could, at least after capturing Manhattan. Long alliance with TO isn't very interesting, but a few sessions ago we were very close to waring, as I got tired of him backing down from conflict. Instead of trying to beat them in the fleet race they divided the oceans of the world.
This backing down from a conflict with uncertain outcome take my judgment down from the highest, still it's a 5!
Teutonic Order -Norrefeldt
Since it's my own country I'll only list what I was satisfied with, and what I think I should have done better. Starting position was rather hard, with very few protestant provinces. Beating up Denmark over Ugric culture was nice, as well as getting Prussia leave me Polish. Still I should have reconqered Prussia province from Prussia in the end game, OR perhaps attacked Denmark since my army was much larger than his and with good access. I'm happy GH never attacked me for real, since I would have lost. I think all my scheming against Portugal worked well, they had an outstanding position for a while. Still they managed to get away to China, which must count as 2-1 to them. My goal was to get a complete hold of southern North America, perhaps the end years would have let me a tad get closer to that, even if all players had remained. But resistence got tougher there too. Low stability from all different religions and bad trade kept me down for a century, but for a time my trade income was larger than all except Denmarks. Then embargoes began to hit me, and I never even tried to negotiate them, since POR and GRA was subbed or changed players.
Since other nations were played by different people, or not to the end, I wont write about them. Portugal did very well, and had a pivotal role, while Scotland (despite being left alone!) and Gelre didn't hit at all. Naples managed a bit better, and Brittany even more so.