Getting to Great Power status (uncivilized start)

[MCBC6]

A couple days ago I booted up Vicky 2 again, and gave a second shot at Punjab, which I had failed miserably as the first time. Got extremely low conquest infamy, great, westernized by 1865. My primary goal was to form India, but the only option available was to get the crown from a gutter event, which, as I understand, is only available to great powers. Here is where the problem arose. I researched all the cultural techs asap, my industry was booming, even my army was above 120 men. But the 8tn ranked power, Japan, would increase its rating nearly twice as fast as me, so it seems I'll never catch up. Now I'm in 1908, the gap is about 200 points, and I have no way of invading them to knock them down as I have just 20 transports. My question here is, is there a better and more efficient way to become a great power, starting uncivilized? As a side note, my being in the UKs sphere is costing me thousands of pounds, so is there also any advice regarding leaving a sphere?

tl;dr: I can't think of a way to become a great power. Should I invade the 8th ranked or wait? Need advice from starting as an unciv.

 

[Fire and Ash]

You're going about it the wrong way. The idea is to ally with someone like Russia and invade India. As Punjab you should focus having as much army tech as possible. You should have a tech lead and just keep tacking chunks of British India till the Brits are forced to abandon it. You don't even need Russia. You should have more than enough troops to win the war.

If you really feel the need to cheese it, wait till the UK and Russia go to war. Give military access to the UK and revoke it once the majority of their troops are through. You can just leave them stranded in Russia.

If you want to form india you have to give up on achieving pretty much anything outside of that. Focus on army tech, conquer it and the wealth and industry alone will catapult you close to the top GP spot. The real issue with your game is it might be too late to achieve.

 

[JonStryker]

An actually pretty well working strategy for Punjab/Sikh Empire is to attack Portugal. UK will join and you can add wargoals Since you are attacking Portugal UK won't bring in the Indian states as allies and the war is pretty easily to win. After killing their Asian ground troops occupy everything and kill their occasional 30k troops they bring in by boat.

 

[MCBC6]

An actually pretty well working strategy for Punjab/Sikh Empire is to attack Portugal. UK will join and you can add wargoals Since you are attacking Portugal UK won't bring in the Indian states as allies and the war is pretty easily to win. After killing their Asian ground troops occupy everything and kill their occasional 30k troops they bring in by boat.

What land would I be asking for? The African colonies?

 

[JonStryker]

What land would I be asking for? The African colonies?

All provinces that they hold on the Indian subcontinent!?
Also Indian princely states should be set free.

For Portugal: Whatever is nearest so that you can actually take it an get ticking war score. Goa if they hold it -> War for Goa, take other stuff. Attack for Goa again 10 years later.