Fun, yet challenging countries!

[Ultima_Ratio]

Brittany, Granada, Golden Horde, Knights (without a colonization cop-out, that is ), Tibet, Nepal, Silesia, Mongol Khanate and Oman (ridiculous amounts of money flowing your way) are the best nations I've played. Still waiting for Navarra to get unique ideas...

And of course, cant forget Ryukyu.

 

[TheBloke]

They're somewhat unique since they get an event chain to make them turn Catholic (and stop being a tribe) once they've been discovered by Portugal though it is somewhat down to luck when it happens. You'll spend the first 50-100 years not doing much but that just makes it more challenging. Alternatively you can start in 1506 already Catholic (but still a tribe). Definitely not one for beginners though.

Ahhh so that's why AI Kongo is Cafholic in my game.

 

[Vedinu]

Genoa!
You can be an island, you can hold your colony in Crimea,
and of course make alliances, and get some northern Italy.

In the end of my Genoa game, I was able to be the war leader in a world vs Rev. France war, and
I made France release about 40% of it as small nations, so I might have a little too good memory of that game.
But it was fun also before that!

 

[Teije]

Lots of good suggestions in this thread for after I finish my current HRE game - thanks.

 

[billclintonmask]

I enjoyed a Serbia game quite a bit

 

[Tonytom]

As mentioned by some others, Brunei or other Malayan countries are also pretty fun. I had a pretty good game with Brunei, where I got almost all of the isles around me and destroyed Ming. Now everything is purple.

 

[LiberiusX]

Savoy is a fun game, precariously perched on the edge of the HRE but you can form Sardinia-Piedmont(do they retain Savoyard ideas, I know they didn't used to) then Italy!

S-P keeps Savoyard ideas, and IMHO, Savoyard Ideas are better than Italian ideas. Other than that I agree.

Savoy is a fun, but challenging game, though it was harder when the Burgundian Inheritance fired more often. Now, you can pretty much rely on Burgundy to be an effective ally against France and Austria. Also, fighting France and Austria in the Alps is even more viable since you will likely get Terrain(-3) AND Crossing(-1) modifiers.

 

[Knab]

I'd say Manchu.
With the latest patch, I find no more so easy to steamroll both the Oirats and Ming.
Not to forget that Japan tends to be aggressive toward you (allying with the Oirats) and that you have the bonus and the malus of being a horde (with unique ideas).

 

[Corvid]

I´m having a blast playing Georgia in the MEIOU & Taxes mod. The setup in the mod and the earlier start date make Georgia a challenging yet very interesting position to be in. All the mountains make warfare kind of tricky(make sure you have a high-shock general at the start!) but once you get going, it's a very target-rich environment.

 

[Xara]

S-P keeps Savoyard ideas, and IMHO, Savoyard Ideas are better than Italian ideas. Other than that I agree.

Savoy is a fun, but challenging game, though it was harder when the Burgundian Inheritance fired more often.

Actually Savoy is a very strong contender for taking the Emperor position away from Austria by the first vote. Which means YOU can take the inheritance from them, though you'll have to do some conquering of Provence, Switzerland, Milan, or Genoa to get the requisite 8 provinces.

You start with 6 relations and fast diplomacy gives another 2, which means plenty of alliances and marriages with electors, which you can manage better than Austria can. The only thing that stops it is Austria gaining a lot of IA due to Denmark or whoever trying to invade.

 

[LiberiusX]

^true. IF the inheritance fires...which from what I've read, happens far less often lately. Still, taking the HRE is yet one more reason to give Savoy a shot...multiple possible paths of play. HRE? Italy? Colonize? The world is your playground.

 

[Phi]

Spending 50-100 years with monthly autosaves in a 4 province country who knows no one doesn't come under my idea of fun. I've been slowly running the game through Kongo in my spare time and I can barely stomach a year of nothing before I have to go play a funner nation. I got an event which boosted relations with nations (the one that gives you less diplo points if you boost) and of course there was no one else to be boosted.

Starting from a non-1444 start is blasphemy I say!

You set the auto-save interval to yearly for the beginning of your Kongo game. You take exploration as your first NI and start to colonise Africa until you can Westernize. I am playing a very entertaining Kongo game at the moment, where I focus on Asia.

 

[RMcD94]

You set the auto-save interval to yearly for the beginning of your Kongo game. You take exploration as your first NI and start to colonise Africa until you can Westernize. I am playing a very entertaining Kongo game at the moment, where I focus on Asia.

Can't change your autosaves in ironman...

 

[Viperswhip]

If you avoid the colony game and fight in Europe either Scottland or England are wonderfully challenging with a bit of safety to them.

 

[PiriReis]

The Mamluks. Control the spice trade, remove kebab, conquer Africa and unify Islam! Their NIs aren't the best, but still ok, and unless you plan on fighting Austria and France at the same time, there's no need to westernise.

They cant change their government type and that is annoying.

 

[lareman]

They cant change their government type and that is annoying.

It's still pretty good. The +33% vassal income is sweet when feeding a lot.

 

[Red_warning]

Brunei, very different from other countries, go create your island empire fueled by the richest trade in the world.

 

[VeneziaIstanbul]

Brunei, very different from other countries, go create your island empire fueled by the richest trade in the world.

I'm somehow reminded of another city ..

 

[Phi]

Can't change your autosaves in ironman...

That is true. Countries like Kongo or Cherokee are terrible in ironman ...

 

[durvas]

S-P keeps Savoyard ideas, and IMHO, Savoyard Ideas are better than Italian ideas. Other than that I agree.

S-P also gets the best color in the game.