I do use and enjoy the new Trading Policies. To show their use I thought I might share something that just happened to me.
I was a passive alliance member involved in a war against neighboring Milan. Just when their last fort was being besieged I saw that I didn't have a claim on Piedmont, which I thought would fit well in my kingdom. I started to build the spy network to grab the claim, but noticed the fort would likely fall before I got the points needed. Sent a merchant to Genoa and was going to Hostile Trading Policy, but he didn't have a merchant there! Quick hustle to Venice where he had a merchant and I was in business. The extra 25% made all the difference. Got the points for the claim and made it. The fort fell a couple of days later and Milan immediately punched out. Kindly Mantua proceeded to give me Piedmont in the peace. The claim minimized the AE hit and off to core it I went.
Total cost for Piedmont = Some tied up diplomats, one worn out merchant, 12 months reduced trade in one node, and Admin to core. Not a bad trade. Let us see how much blood it takes to keep...
I was a passive alliance member involved in a war against neighboring Milan. Just when their last fort was being besieged I saw that I didn't have a claim on Piedmont, which I thought would fit well in my kingdom. I started to build the spy network to grab the claim, but noticed the fort would likely fall before I got the points needed. Sent a merchant to Genoa and was going to Hostile Trading Policy, but he didn't have a merchant there! Quick hustle to Venice where he had a merchant and I was in business. The extra 25% made all the difference. Got the points for the claim and made it. The fort fell a couple of days later and Milan immediately punched out. Kindly Mantua proceeded to give me Piedmont in the peace. The claim minimized the AE hit and off to core it I went.
Total cost for Piedmont = Some tied up diplomats, one worn out merchant, 12 months reduced trade in one node, and Admin to core. Not a bad trade. Let us see how much blood it takes to keep...