Lacking starting casus bellis

[ChewChewShoe]

I just re-installed Victoria II after over a year of not playing it, having both the A House Divided and Hearts of Darkness expansions. I loved playing Prussia in the past so I figured I'd go for another run playing as them now, however, I seem to lack all the powerful casus bellis they start with. I do not have the asset hegemony casus belli against Austria, nor do I have the acquire core against France and whatever the CB is called against Denmark.
Is this intentional, and if so, how do I resolve it? If it's not, do you have any idea what could be causing it and how I can rectify the situation?

 

[Owl Raider]

Yes, it's intended. In order to unlock the Assert Hegemony CB in HoD you need to research State and Government(3rd NF tech in culture tree, unlocks in 1840), in order to unlock the Acquire Core CB for territory of formable nations you need to research Nationalism and Imperialism(4th NF tech in culture tree, unlocks in 1850). Basically as Prussia you can either fabricate an Acquire State CB on France to take Alsace Lorraine right from the start or wait until 1850+ than get the CB for free. For Denmark you can either fabricate a CB(either Acquire State of Free People/Liberate Country will work) or just sphere them and take Schleswig Holstein from them later when you research Nationalism and Imperialism. For Austria just wait until 1840(just 4 years) and do the usual Assert Hegemony war. In the meantime focus on sphering Luxembourg, Hanover, Holstein and possibly Denmark and just work on your military until your CBs become available.

 

[MajorHeartfire]

The four year period you have to wait is a good thing anyway. Austria starts behind you and increases their tech slower than you. You will be able to defeat them easier the longer you wait. Just concentrate on those spherelings!