How do you create good buffer states?

[Vapiritapiri]

My idea of a buffer state is a puppet or a custom nation that you get at diplo tech 23 located in some tricky area like a marsh, forest or mountain and then slap lots of forts there combined with the subsidized and "send officer" options for vassals so it can fend off an army or two to buy you a bit of time when your allies declare stupid wars that get you involved against 300k major nations.

Does this seem like a good idea?

 

[Zaddy]

Sure, in the late game when I'm at gov cap I'll give land in useless trade nodes to some march and send army officers. They can become quite the beast (considering it's an AI). In my Raja of the Rajput Reich campaign I went overland through Russia to reach Germany and fed Polotsk a decent chunk of the Russian region, by the end they had like 200K very strong soldiers and did a lot of the heavy lifting for me. Optimal? Maybe not exactly, but it saved me a ton of headache, which I'll GLADY take over "optimal" in EU4 lategame.

 

[Vapiritapiri]

Sure, in the late game when I'm at gov cap I'll give land in useless trade nodes to some march and send army officers. They can become quite the beast (considering it's an AI). In my Raja of the Rajput Reich campaign I went overland through Russia to reach Germany and fed Polotsk a decent chunk of the Russian region, by the end they had like 200K very strong soldiers and did a lot of the heavy lifting for me. Optimal? Maybe not exactly, but it saved me a ton of headache, which I'll GLADY take over "optimal" in EU4 lategame.

I assume Polotsk has good military ideas too? I mean it'd work great with the officers wouldn't it?

 

[Zaddy]

I assume Polotsk has good military ideas too? I mean it'd work great with the officers wouldn't it?

They're not great, actually, I just had to pick Polotsk because it was the only releaseable left in the region from the land I had conquered. They have 10% Infantry CA and 10% fort defense. You can do much better if you hunt for the right tags.

 

[Vapiritapiri]

They're not great, actually, I just had to pick Polotsk because it was the only releaseable left in the region from the land I had conquered. They have 10% Infantry CA and 10% fort defense. You can do much better if you hunt for the right tags.

I see. Anything else i should keep in mind? Subsidies?

 

[currylambchop]

Client states, an underused feature but they're pretty customisable, you can basically make custom nations in-game as your vassals

 

[Lord Sheogorath]

Paradox should make it so that vassals/colonial nations don't take influence ideas. Making strong marches and colonial nations in every continent is one of my favourite playstyles, but some stupid AI will take influence ideas and kneecap themselves. I understand diplomatic or espionage ideas may help getting support for independence or sieging during war but influence is just useless.