Looking for a new start (in-game, not IRL)

[JQuacker]

I've done:
Castile -> Spain
Muscovy -> Russia (with China beat-down)
Portugal (as colonizer)
France (Obligatory eating up Europe & GB)
Brandenburg -> Prussia -> HRE (Austria ****blocked me from going Germany)
Austria -> HRE

So, I'm looking to break out of Europe and try something new. I'd like something achievement-based, but nothing like Sunset Invasion.

Perhaps forming Japan? Which start would be a good one?
New World doesn't excite me as much, but perhaps with the right evangelist I'd be swayed
India intrigues me - Vian start?
Africa seems "meh" to me
Eastern Europe is another "meh," since I've done Austria & Russia
Georgia perhaps, since I live in USA Georgia (name alone the same, but it's still a reason)
QQ seems interesting, my last name starts with a Q (same as previous)

What would you recommend?

 

[TolHydra]

Ahmednagar has a nice color, and are quite challenging on their 1496 start (or so I can't remember) It should be significantly harder to just let the rebels convert you to hinduism as well.

 

[FreeSoc]

Vijayanagar is an interesting Hindu start in India - there's no Vijayanagar-specific achievements, but I did manage to get the Cold War achievement in that game and you could probably get a few of the trade ones if you played sensibly. It's also probably worthwhile if you want to see the new province layout. Orissa is another interesting Hindu start, and Jaunpur, Delhi or Gujarat look pretty good if you want to play as a Muslim Indian.

I would definitely *not* recommend Ming at the minute, because its setup is ridiculous, and you'll want to wait a few days to play as the Jurchen tribes -> Manchu -> Qing because currently the Form Manchu and Form Qing decisions are bugged.

For Japan, I'd recommend a daimyo rather than starting as the Shogun; the start is up to you.

In Eastern Europe, Poland is still a genuinely interesting game even if you're a bit meh about the region (and it has three specific achievements related to it), and the Ottomans might be interesting now that there's been a province rework and you have lucky Austria, lucky Muscovy *and* lucky Poland to deal with.

 

[Druplesnubb]

You could play as Uzbek and form Bukhara. They're the only Horde that can reform without the legitimacy and idea group requirements (you only need to own Bukhara after year 1500), but you lose your Siberian provinces by doing it. Bukhara also has one of the sweetest colors on the map.

You can play as Oman and conquer India and East Africa to rule the Indian Ocean. Don't even bother going for unpious, your unique religion means 25 piety every time you declare war on anyone.

One of the Daimyos, Otomo, is Christian in 1579. You can unite Japan and then convert all of East Asia to Catholicism. Be warned though that you'll have problems ever making alliances with anyone, and there's a random "trading with westerners" event that gives you -5 missionary strength. It's meant to prevent you from reconverting Christian provinces, but moronically enough affects you even if you're Christian and prevents you from converting Shinto provinces. I suggest reloading an autosave when it hits (it has pretty low chance of happening). You also get a decision to remove it once you become Shogun.

Dzab is an Ibadi Theocracy in Northern Africa. As the only non-Christian Theocracy outside Tibet (later starts only) and an East African nation I can't remember the name of, as well as the only Ibadi nation except for Oman, it's pretty much as unique as you can get.

Also, in West Africa, you can play as the Yao Sultanate and conquer the Manga province right next to them. You know you want to.

 

[Koivin]

While not specifically related to achievements, there is plenty to do as Nepal. You are right at the crossroads between many cultures and religions. Your national ideas will make you a powerful military beast if you manage to survive for long enough. I really had a blast playing them in 1.8. Give them a shot.

 

[Druplesnubb]

If you're truly suicidal you could play as The Knights or Cyprus and try to form Jerusalem. The Knights are Western instead of Eastern for some bizarre reason, but Cyprus starts with twice the Base Tax.

 

[Karabas1543]

I love playing Brunei. Lots of options available - conquest, trade, colonial. I once tried forming a continual coast from Malaysia to West Africa. I think it's doable and you'd totally wreck European trade if you could collect it all before it gets to Seville. Or you could colonize - either stop Russia in Siberia or go for western US. Or just roflstomp East Asia. I have a hard time having fun with other nations after playing Brunei.

 

[Koivin]

Also the Manchu tribes are lots of fun now! Firstly you have to unite the tribes. When you form Manchu you have to knock out Korea and Oirat while slowly eating away at Ming. Then you form Qing and you start devouring everyone left and right.

 

[atwix]

do great khan achievement? With Mongolia if you want a challenge; with Golden horde for the fun of it.

 

[Kh3lben]

do great khan achievement? With Mongolia if you want a challenge; with Golden horde for the fun of it.

I honestly would not recommend any achievement that is tied to province IDs atm.From what i ve seen the Basileus one is broken and i am willing to bet others like Great Khan and Sons of Carthage are too.

As for the Op's question : You can have a go @ The Chrysanthemum Throne(Unite Japan as a Daimyo). Uesugi is a good choice for this and they have a nice colour too.

 

[Quantum_AI]

LOL at thread title

 

[JQuacker]

Thanks for the input all. I'm going with Kh3lben's suggestion and working with Uesugi. Many of the other options were tempting (even Poland!), but The Chrysanthemum Throne had caught my eye. We'll see how it goes, I'm taking screenshots for an AAR.

 

[Brodacious]

IRL? In Real Life? What's that? A new Paradox series? Link?

 

[Prom_STar]

You could play as Uzbek and form Bukhara. They're the only Horde that can reform without the legitimacy and idea group requirements (you only need to own Bukhara after year 1500), but you lose your Siberian provinces by doing it. Bukhara also has one of the sweetest colors on the map.

Bukhara is among the top five prettiest countries, for sure. It's no longer the only way to bypass reforming the government, though. Forming Manchu makes you a monarchy and then Qing brings you into Chinese tech. Manchu is supposed to swap your tech group but doesn't at the moment. That'll be patched eventually I'm sure. With Ming as weak as it is now, doesn't take long to form Qing once you've united the Jurchens anyway.

 

[TenshiN]

Play Tibet. Just play it. Its national ideas are awesome and its colour is snow white!

 

[JQuacker]

You did have a rather impressive Tibetan empire, TenshiN.

Brodacious, it's still alpha, so I shouldn't even be talking about it. But there will be plenty for people to complain about.

 

[Blindbohemian]

Delhi -> Mughals is really fun.

 

[JQuacker]

For those interested, my Uesugian AAR is up and running.

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum...-Daimyo-a-Dozen-Uesugi-s-Chrysanthemum-Throne

 

[PhroX]

Also the Manchu tribes are lots of fun now! Firstly you have to unite the tribes. When you form Manchu you have to knock out Korea and Oirat while slowly eating away at Ming. Then you form Qing and you start devouring everyone left and right.

Yeah, the Manchurians are fun. Especially Yeren, thanks to their ability to reform to Muslim tech. Hell, I think it's possible to become a Merchant Republic Qing with them if you take all the decisions in the right order...