East Frisia WC - Tips wanted

[DanielGrandi]

Hello, everyone!

After trying a WC with Timbuktu quite a few times (and learning a bit in the process), I decided to try it with East Frisia.

My attempts so far have been focused in, at the beginning of the game, no-CB Desmond to get Cork (and have a better coring range to Africa). From there, I join the HRE and just sit on my hands until I can core West Africa's provinces. Idea wise, I taking Quality first (since my army is so small, it needs to be as strong as possible), Humanist and Exploration.
Can I change anything to have a better shot at WC? Thanks in advance!

 

[CountKino]

Quantity is much better than Quality in most scenarios, including this one. Better you have 15 normal units than 10 stronger ones.

If you want to go WC, then joining the HRE early and becoming Emperor is probably the best way as East Frisia. For this, you want Diplomatic Ideas early on to get as many electors onside as possible. It's also good for improving relations and burning AE more quickly.

The No-CB Ireland to have non-HRE land to expand into is certainly a good option, and this will help with becoming large and becoming emperor. I might be wrong, but isn't Desmond the one with a level 3 fort? I'd recommend any of the other nations there over them.

 

[st360]

If you want to go WC, then joining the HRE early and becoming Emperor is probably the best way as East Frisia. For this, you want Diplomatic Ideas early on to get as many electors onside as possible. It's also good for improving relations and burning AE more quickly.

Totally disagree. Focusing on the HRE is a huge waste of time (unless this patch broke it so you can unite the empire in 20 years). Just wait until absolutism/reformation religions/2 countries own 80% of the HRE and then conquer it, instead of dying to get 1 province for 40 aggressive expansion or passing a reform for +1 legitimacy.

I would recommend taking exploration ideas, colonizing America and taking west and east Africa for a start. Focus on controlling the Caribbean, south Spain and Somalia, as those are some of the best trade nodes in the game that can double your income. There is also a "exploit" where you can have unlimited coring range if your uncored province is next to a vassal.

Try opening many fronts so you have lots of places to conquer while staying below 50 aggressive expansion. 2-3 regions in Africa, 1 in India, 1-2 in Indonesia, maybe Arabia. Avoid Europe since most of the time conquering there means fighting France for 5 provinces and getting 6 countries in a coalition against you.

Remember, world conquest is NOT about conquering before the age of absolutism. Its about getting a foothold in every region and building a strong economy/tech so you're ready to destroy when absolutism hits.

 

[Vetgirig]

Just play the HRE game - become the emperor - and use the vassal swarm to conquer the world.