HRE query

[trcanberra]

Hi all - just wondering if someone can point me at a good guide to how the HRE works. I've checked out the Strategy Guide and Manual but I'm pretty new to EU and the HRE mechanics are a bit of a mystery. I'm wondering things like how Electors are chosen, how to get them to vote for me if I am potentially Emperor, how you become a candidate for Emperor etc. I've played Austria in the demo and this part just went completely over my head.

Thanks in anticipation for any replies.

 

[MajorHeartfire]

I'll try to fill in some minor details. Electors are chosen based on history - and they can't change. They vote for whoever they like the best (typically) so sending a few gifts to the electors can't hurt. I haven't played the Austria game yet, but you should check to see if there is a way for you to get their votes through a diplomat.

A candidate for Emperor is any member state in the HRE. You just need the electors to elect you.

Elections happen when the current Emperor dies.

 

[Korashy]

That's not entirely true, the emperor can revoke an elector status in EUIV if i remember the dev diaries correctly.

 

[Vrahn]

A lot of this is from EU3 but I don't believe it's radically different in EU4 now,

The starting electors are set in stone, but can change if either an elector is eliminated or if the emperor revokes it via war. New electors are chosen by the current emperor.

Any christian country with a monarchy in the world is eligable to be the emperor, however in practice you will only ever really win if you are part of the empire. Electors vote for whoever they have the highest opinion of. In EU3 there was a very large boost if you had a lot of land in the HRE, I don't know if this was carried over but it was significant in determining if you could win the throne.

Electors will not vote for heretics (not their christian type), and the best way to get them on your side is generally bribes, prestige, improve relations, etc. Check the voting modifiers to determine what you can improve. If all else fails the old strategy used to be to vassalize troublesome electors which provides a massive bonus, again I'm not sure if this has carried over.

Once Emperor, you are emperor for life and your heir gains a bonus from your imperial authority towards his bid for the election. Additionally you gain a significant manpower and forcelimit bonus as well as bunch of other goodies, you can also pass reforms that further centralize the Empire eventually culminating in making it hereditary, vassalizing them all, and then assimilating the entire empire. This may have changed but is easily checkable via the various decisions in the HRE menu, just take a peek at their effects. You also get a CB if anyone attacks anyone in the empire, amongst other things.

Hope this helps.

 

[Heatth]

I'll try to fill in some minor details. Electors are chosen based on history - and they can't change. They vote for whoever they like the best (typically) so sending a few gifts to the electors can't hurt. I haven't played the Austria game yet, but you should check to see if there is a way for you to get their votes through a diplomat.

Wrong. I've just played an Austria game. As the emperor, you can declare war on an elector to revoke their status. A risk move probably, as this is certainly bound to make other electors to hate you. Also, as the emperor you can grant other states the elector status, as long as there are fewer than seven.

As for getting their votes. Their relationship towards you is one big factor. Not the only one, but it certainly can be decisive. So sending gifts and diplomats will certainly helps them to make their mind. However, it seems they are very quick to anger. Aggressive Expansion penalties can be brutal, for example as it can make them all to change their votes in a moment. You certainly don't want the emperor to die before the malus goes away.

 

[trcanberra]

Thanks all - some great info to get me going.