Ideas for a new run

[Akasi]

Hello there!
I summon the wise people from this forum to advise me. I've been playing the game for a long time now but I don't consider myself an expert/pro.
Recently, I found myself without ideas for a new game and i've decided to take your advise for good. I read the forum on daily basis but never really get involve.
Anyhow, here is the deal.
Things I like:
- Challenging starts but not "impossibles" ones such as Byzantium (although I would like to play Byzantium properly)
- Interesting flavor and events
- I like to develop provinces
- Stacking goods produced modifiers combined with expensive goods.
- Tag switching, the more the better. Dunno why but I enjoy it.
- I prefer quality over quantity in terms of regiments.
- Min Max religion, ideas, etc...
- Make some combos such as: streltsy + professionalism = manpower

Things I don't like:
- WC or blobbing without purpose
- Colonization

I am opened for suggestions.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Kergan]

The main challenge I give myself is to only ever have cores in states (or soon to be states) - i.e. no territorial cores, no trade companies cores, etc.

When I don't have enough states to acquire new territory, I feed subjects - until, depending on the era, they either start to be too big to keep under a tight leach or reach their own state limit.

The only exception I make is that I allow myself to create cores for my subjects when I've admin points to waste (which invariably occurs) and I expect they'll increase autonomy the instant they'll receive the land.

As Italy for instance, it means you basically core Italy plus a couple of areas by the mid-16th century, and then need to rely on vassals to grow further until the next +5 states.

It makes for more interesting games IMO, in the sense that you end up keeping rivals until late in the game (typically Ottomans and France when playing in Europe).

 

[Dakka]

Play as Austria. You are only allowed to expand using vassals and personal unions. Your end goal is to form the HRE.

 

[Akasi]

Play as Austria. You are only allowed to expand using vassals and personal unions. Your end goal is to form the HRE.

I formed HRE "by accident" playing as tall Prussia. After religious wars I got elected emperor and then idk how it was super easy to form HRE. After that the game got boring 'cos you are unstopable.

 

[Akasi]

The main challenge I give myself is to only ever have cores in states (or soon to be states) - i.e. no territorial cores, no trade companies cores, etc.

When I don't have enough states to acquire new territory, I feed subjects - until, depending on the era, they either start to be too big to keep under a tight leach or reach their own state limit.

The only exception I make is that I allow myself to create cores for my subjects when I've admin points to waste (which invariably occurs) and I expect they'll increase autonomy the instant they'll receive the land.

As Italy for instance, it means you basically core Italy plus a couple of areas by the mid-16th century, and then need to rely on vassals to grow further until the next +5 states.

It makes for more interesting games IMO, in the sense that you end up keeping rivals until late in the game (typically Ottomans and France when playing in Europe).

It's a very good idea, I will try it and see how it goes. Now need the country

 

[Brynjar]

You may have done it already, and it may not be as challanging as you want, but it sounds like Brandenburg -> Prussia -> Germany might be something you could like.

 

[Akasi]

You may have done it already, and it may not be as challanging as you want, but it sounds like Brandenburg -> Prussia -> Germany might be something you could like.

I did it and it was really fun. Actually one of my first successful runs. The issue there is now with ages and stuff you don't get a shit playing Prussia if not tall because militarization melts and you don't get the age bonus for Germany either.
It kind of suck...however I could try and mod it.

 

[Dakka]

I did it and it was really fun. Actually one of my first successful runs. The issue there is now with ages and stuff you don't get a shit playing Prussia if not tall because militarization melts and you don't get the age bonus for Germany either.
It kind of suck...however I could try and mod it.

I think you can get the bonus so long as you take it before forming Germany.

Another run idea that is fun with some challenging bits is Baltic Crusader.

 

[Bouchart]

If you like goods produced modifiers and tag switching, try Pskov.