Mecklenberg expansion

[unmerged(153114)]

I'm trying to expand as Mecklenberg in HttT. I already attacked Pomerania to the East, absorbed one province, and then annexed them after they became vassal. So, I have 3 provinces now. However, I don't know what to do next. I allied with Denmark since they are pretty big, but they never go along with my wars of aggression. Plus, the nations around me seem to either be protected by big nations or have lots of allies (like Denmark which always breaks the alliance if I go to war). Not sure where I can expand from here.

Also, money is a problem. Going to war always means minting. National bank helps, but not much.

 

[roman566]

if you have problems with money when playing as mecklemburg then you are doing something wrong
as for "who to kill" maybe go after muslims? switch national bank to divine supremacy, this should give you religios CB against muslims and go after north africa
or reaserch naval 7 ASAP, switch to Qftnw and go to america
or become HRE...
or go after TO and create prussia for their military decision
or just DOW random country and see what happens

 

[Malurous]

Are you declaring war with a proper CB? I find that HTTT allies support you pretty well in such cases. In senseless wars of aggression, not so much.

Try to get a CB on some German minor(s) by warnings, fabricated claims, mission etc. or wait for an opportunity like an excommunicated neighbor. Really, it's most important to get any CB so you can get your allies with you. If it helps your infamy too, it's just a bonus.

You need to be patient here - you can't start any reckless operations before you've got some opportunities to grow your power base.

Minting is not dangerous if it allows you to grow from a minor to a medium power. You can reduce the inflation when you're strong enough to hold your own. However, don't overdo it - mint when you can gain something for it.

if you have problems with money when playing as mecklemburg then you are doing something wrong

You do remember that this is the HTTT Mecklenburg that initially only has one province and no CoT? It's nowhere near as rich as it used to be.

 

[naggy]

if you have problems with money when playing as mecklemburg then you are doing something wrong

They don't have the CoT in HTTT - Hansa has it.

 

[roman566]

which makes them better at trade, remember that free trade doesn't give you compete chance bonus in owned COTs

 

[unmerged(150720)]

which makes them better at trade, remember that free trade doesn't give you compete chance bonus in owned COTs

Are you actually saying that a COT is worthless as long you have free trade? Being full at free trade grants your enormous amounts of gold?

 

[unmerged(186483)]

1) bribe till you're HRE

2) kick everyone's ass

 

[unmerged(138406)]

Definitely go after some Muslims in North Africa or the Near East. By the time you get to the 16th century the tech for those states gets really slow in comparison to yours so you can beat them even if outnumbered.

It's hard to challenge the big states in the HRE without some manpower of your own. So you have to get some somewhere. Russia isn't a bad place to look either. And of course there's always wars of opportunity, especially against whoever is currently excommunicated. Once you get to the size of Bohemia or Austria then you can begin to start vassalizing electors and ensure your election as emperor.

 

[naggy]

1) bribe till you're HRE

2) kick everyone's ass

Not so easy anymore, since large nations get a +100 bonus. Your best bet to become HRE now requires you to grow and vassalize some electors. Mecklenburg is not in an easy position to do that.

 

[unmerged(153114)]

Not so easy anymore, since large nations get a +100 bonus. Your best bet to become HRE now requires you to grow and vassalize some electors. Mecklenburg is not in an easy position to do that.

I suppose I can try going into the Russian areas. How do I fabricate claims?

 

[unmerged(153114)]

Anyway, I figured out how to fabricate claims. I'm now playing as Scotland since Mecklenberg really can't do anything. Already used this to go to war against one of the Irish kingdoms, pulled Brittany into the mix, France beat them up, and I ended up annexing both of them.

 

[El Dingo Grande]

Playing small German states is slow and boring as you wait for openings to attack and expand. I played Meck back in the day when it had a CoT, it seemed way way quicker back then. I never liked the strategy of taking one or two provinces in B.F.E. as a way to get stronger. You should try Brandenburg starting in I think 1416ish, with that state I had easily united Germany by 1530 and I'm not hellaciously good at this game.

 

[roman566]

Are you actually saying that a COT is worthless as long you have free trade? Being full at free trade grants your enormous amounts of gold?

it's not worthless, it's simply better to NOT have it, because you don't get compete chance bonus from free trade in owned COTs, which means it's more difficult to keep maximum number of merchants
and yes, being at full free trade grants you enormus amounts of gold, well as long as you do want to get it... don't blame me for low income when you neglect trade as TRADE nation

 

[bippukt]

Not so easy anymore, since large nations get a +100 bonus. Your best bet to become HRE now requires you to grow and vassalize some electors. Mecklenburg is not in an easy position to do that.

And I think countries with small army size suffer from a penalty as well, so it is even harder.

Anyway, in my latest Austria->HRE game, Mecklenburg had the second highest TOTAL income after HRE (me). They were earning close to earning close to 100 ducats each month with just 1 province! Of course, I diplo-annexed them promptly in order to double my trade income

Now I am waiting for the wealthy CoTs in Asia and America to be discovered by me.

 

[Trin Tragula]

Does Mecklenburg retain it's sliders from when they were supposed to modell the hanseatic league?
That might be a bug if so. Their sliders shouldn't be any better than anyone else's.
They should never have had the cot to start with anyway as Lübeck never belonged to them.