Fun, yet challenging countries!

[Geobog]

I enjoyed a Serbia game quite a bit

Me, too.

I like the OP's suggestions too. I'm playing a Mali game, and I had the goal of not only controlling West Africa, but preventing the Iberian colonial duo from getting around Africa to India; it actually worked! Now they have to go the long way around, and I'm even being a hindrance there (Easter Island and Tahiti are MINE ) . How's that for alternative history =P. It'll be interesting to see just how much of Oceania and Asia are affected by the Europeans this time around.

In fact, I think I'd broaden the suggestion of particular nations to picking a nation and having particular goals. For instance, picking the Papal State and having the goal of making sure all of the New World is Catholic, or as France, own the Arabian peninsula and convert it all to Reformed. Or see if you can conquer enough Hindu provinces as Portugal and rebel-convert (I dunno if that would even work). Or spread Hannoverian culture to the Swahili lands. Or the reverse, a bit more difficult! The possibilities for fun and challenging games are endless.

 

[unmerged(804580)]

Me, too.

I like the OP's suggestions too. I'm playing a Mali game, and I had the goal of not only controlling West Africa, but preventing the Iberian colonial duo from getting around Africa to India; it actually worked! Now they have to go the long way around, and I'm even being a hindrance there (Easter Island and Tahiti are MINE ) . How's that for alternative history =P. It'll be interesting to see just how much of Oceania and Asia are affected by the Europeans this time around.

In fact, I think I'd broaden the suggestion of particular nations to picking a nation and having particular goals. For instance, picking the Papal State and having the goal of making sure all of the New World is Catholic, or as France, own the Arabian peninsula and convert it all to Reformed. Or see if you can conquer enough Hindu provinces as Portugal and rebel-convert (I dunno if that would even work). Or spread Hannoverian culture to the Swahili lands. Or the reverse, a bit more difficult! The possibilities for fun and challenging games are endless.

I like some of your mini-goals. I certainly don't just sit down with a general goal of building an empire and play until 1821... I need my objectives more clearly defined. A few things I've done:

* Monoculture, homogeneous Gujarati India (a lot of diplo points, so expensive)
* Holy Roman Emperor as Ethiopia
* Holy Roman Emperor as Orthodox Khmer (failed! Austria acted too quick by the time I was able to mess with Europe)
* Move capital to Hawaii as Sukhothai
* Restore Buddhism to China as Ayutthaya
* A one-session marathon as Arakan, lasting maybe 10~12 hours.

As for converting the Arabian peninsula to Reformed, I think the hardest part would be getting yourself to Reformed. Otherwise, owning Rome, Judea and Mecca gives you extra missionaries that the conversion will be done in a snap. The Papal mission sounds far more challenging, since you cannot force religion on (say) GB once they turn Protestant.. you'd have to conquer every Protestant in the New World to achieve that.

And as for rebel-converting to Hinduism as Portugal, you'd have to probably rush to India if that is ever going to work. Hinduism needs to be your majority religion, and there's no one you can release within your Catholic mainland so you can reduce your Catholic portion of the empire... forego America (for a while) and head east, it might be a fun challenge that I might want to try for the sake of LOL.

 

[Yenzen]

Naples without joining the HRE is without a doubt the most fun game I've had yet.

First comes ensuring your freedom against a superior overlord, then comes espansion into the Papal states and retaking your Sicilian cores from said overlord. Then you have to be creative when it comes to further expansion:

- To the North there is the Holy Roman Empire where you have to be very careful about vassalizing and annexing the other Italian nations, least you anger the Emperor.
- To the west is Aragons remaining islands, where you now have to fight on equal terms.
- To the East is Serbia, the Ottomans and the shadows of the Byzantine Empire (vassalize them if you can manage!)
- To the South you can find he North African muslims, which will pose easier targets, but are hard to exploit for profit.

All in all, you always neighbour at least two or three naion that can kick your ass, so diplomacy is paramount.

 

[lordelenath]

I'm having a great game as Granada and it's surprisingly easier than I expected. Didn't have to restart once and I never had to abandon my European holdings. Now I have ~150 years left to take the rest of Africa, South America and Iberia. Very intense game, even now wars with Castille & Portugal are very close, especially since they're allied to a huge Austria.

 

[MiniaAr]

I like Qara Qoyonlu to Persia game, or more challenging, Aq Qoyonlu to Persia instead. It's doable at the start, with a very good Khan-General, but he has to live a little to win those early battles. An alliance with both the Mamelukes and the Golden Horde is advisable.

I've tried my hands on the Dutch OPM experience, and it's really hard. I relied mostly on France at the beginning, but once you get a border, they will set you as rival and break relations. I was kind of disheartened when I saw Castille colonising Delaware when most of the Spanish Main, Brazil and the Caribbeans were still unoccupied and stopped for the time being.

I can see the appeal for a Genoan playthrough, but never seem to get a decent start. Plus, I never get the good missions at game start and only take Sardinia, owned by Aragon at the beginning, which is impossible to beat on your own in the beginning. What starting ideas should I take? Plutocracy or even Administrative to focus everything on mercenaries? :huh:

 

[unmerged(635163)]

Aragon is interesting although everyone just goes for Castile instead.

I tried Aragon, and it's really just "castile with a chain gang": you lose a lot of valuable troops, monarch points, and time becoming spain and essentially in the same position as Castile after the iberian wedding.

 

[Calad]

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.

Mamluks are most OP nation. Historically they were something complitely else than supertraders, better than Veneci, Genoa and Hansa.

 

[Dakilla TM]

Play as Venice, and dominate trade!

Btw, how are the Indian states? I have yet to play as a nation in India, so which ones are a good start?

 

[Tonytom]

Vijanagra (Or whatever it means) is a pretty easy start in India. But if you want a challenge I recommend Garjat, since its a still doable challenge for India-Starters

 

[Dakilla TM]

Vijanagra (Or whatever it means) is a pretty easy start in India. But if you want a challenge I recommend Garjat, since its a still doable challenge for India-Starters

Is it better to play as a Hindu or Muslim state?

 

[grisamentum]

Is it better to play as a Hindu or Muslim state?

Muslim, because Islam is the best religion. Shia in particular, if you can manage it.

 

[Dakilla TM]

Muslim, because Islam is the best religion. Shia in particular, if you can manage it.

Islam and Christianity have the best bonuses so I do agree. I'm tempted at Gujarat, because they're Shiite and that morale bonus seems very helpful. I might just do Gujarat to start.

 

[unmerged(804580)]

Gujarat is great, DoW Kathiawar for reconquest before you unpause and make sure getting Deus Vult early on... IMO, the best thing about being Shi'a is not necessarily the morale bonus (though it's great) but the unlimited CB against all non-Shi'a, which there are plenty. But just be careful with your manpower, northwestern Indian provinces are rich but they suck at manpower. Merc, lots of mercs will be in order to fight that evil yellow.

 

[Dakilla TM]

Gujarat is great, DoW Kathiawar for reconquest before you unpause and make sure getting Deus Vult early on... IMO, the best thing about being Shi'a is not necessarily the morale bonus (though it's great) but the unlimited CB against all non-Shi'a, which there are plenty. But just be careful with your manpower, northwestern Indian provinces are rich but they suck at manpower. Merc, lots of mercs will be in order to fight that evil yellow.

So administrative ideas will be useful this time?

 

[Lord Finnish]

Trebizond.. Though I'm not sure on the "fun" part.

Vijanagra (Or whatever it means)

Vijayanagar means "the city of victory". Pretty badass if you as me.

 

[unmerged(773066)]

Oman!

You have about two hundred years to unify the Saudi Peninsula, Hollow out the Mameluks from the outside in, Keep the Ottomans and Persians out, and dominate the five Trade nodes around you. THEN you have to hold on to it once the Europeans get around your way and start interfering. Plus you can expand West colonially, North to place yourself in the Med, East in to India, and further out towards Asia.

 

[AndreasPhokas]

India is a very fun place to play I hope they give the eastern religions more flavor.

For a challenge I played Mewar and had a very fun game, india usually turns into 4 or 5 reigional powers with a few smaller states squished between and due to Mewar's position you have to unify the rajputs then fight delhi and Gujarat as well as hope that the timurids don't come after you.

 

[Chipawah]

India is a very fun place to play I hope they give the eastern religions more flavor.

For a challenge I played Mewar and had a very fun game, india usually turns into 4 or 5 reigional powers with a few smaller states squished between and due to Mewar's position you have to unify the rajputs then fight delhi and Gujarat as well as hope that the timurids don't come after you.

Yes, India is a very dynamic (read chaotic) place where lots of opportunities open up all the time, so you can basically start from anywhere and work your way up with smart moves. I moved in from Assam and managed to create an empire strong enough to withstand and kick out the europeans in the end (without westernizing).

 

[TheBloke]

Muslim, because Islam is the best religion. Shia in particular, if you can manage it.

Best overall, or just better than Hindu/other Asian religions?

If best overall in the whole game, can you elaborate on why? Are those piety bonuses good? I've not investigated any non-Christian religions/nations as yet.

 

[durvas]

Best overall, or just better than Hindu/other Asian religions?

If best overall in the whole game, can you elaborate on why? Are those piety bonuses good? I've not investigated any non-Christian religions/nations as yet.

Islam has good bonuses. Innately, Sunni gets 100% heir chance and 1 tolerance of the true faith. Shia gets 100% heir chance and 10% morale. For both Islamic sects, there is the piety scale. You can be Impious, which at 100% gives +25% tax modifier, +25% manpower modifier, and -10% tech cost modifier. You can be Pious, which gives +3% missionary strength, 25% morale, and 25% fort defense. However, most Muslim countries are Sunni and it would be harder to expand diplomatically, though PUs are much rarer because of the 100% heir chance. This is why I think Catholicism is the best overall (for a large, expanding country) for its great diplomatic bonuses, both in stats and expansion potential. In multiplayer, however, that may come into play less and the military/economic benefits of Islam would be better.