Papal Controller - waste of time and papal authority?

[HydroAC]

I've played a few games as Austrians and Castile, and now my first game as France. So I've had a chance to play the sub-game of Papal Authority as a Catholic and vie for Curia Controller.

In all my games I've been the Curia Controller exactly once, and then for a shockingly short period of time. When I can afford it I have my (papal) hat in the ring. But it seems there is always a lot of contenders, and I lose out.

In mid and late game PA is relatively abundant so spending 10 PA for a shot at being CA makes sense. But in the early game when PA is in short supply is this a waste of resources?

Have others had the same long run of bad luck in trying for being the Curia Controller?

 

[jhtagana]

in early game, as castile, i dump everything to mercantilism, when i maxed it out. i buy the other bonuses.
i only invest in papacy if i am max out in papal points. but i wont count on it.

 

[Lord Zsinj]

I never bother. The people you want to excommunicate never have bad relations with the Papal States, and you can’t have an excommunication lifted from yourself. Better to farm stability, inflation redux or mercantilism.

 

[Dalieux]

I have been the Pope just once as well, as France in the early game, and specifically for the sole purpose of calling a crusade against the Ottomans (which nobody took advantage of). I guess being the Pope is good for the extra diplomat and the ability to excommunicate some rulers, given that their relations with the Papal State are in shambles, thus you don't get to have much control on possible targets unless you are the Papal State yourself.

On the other hand, the other bonuses you could have spent on with your papal influence points are also very good... I would say it's definitely good to be the pope if you are the Papal State, otherwise it's very circumstantial.

 

[Ergil]

Regardless of excommunication, Curia Controller gives -20% AE, the importance of which can hardly be overstated. +1 diplomat, +1 yearly prestige, +1 leader without upkeep and -20% advisor cost are also very nice bonuses to have.

 

[True_Heir_of_Rome]

It's part of my opening strategy as any nation with a Cardinal to dump as many points into being the Papal Controller as possible. After the first two/three elections I don't bother again until I'm the only catholic nation left. Your odds are quite good in the beginning of the game and the end when there are so few people to compete with, but the in-between is potentially missing out on some nice bonuses for absolutely nothing at all in return.

 

[Strigoi Tyrannus]

It's always good to invest once for the odd chance of becoming the controller.

 

[LegacyCWAL]

Like Strigoi_Tyrannus, I'll often toss one click at it just to see if I get lucky. I don't bother with any more than that unless it's exceptional circumstances though.

 

[HydroAC]

PA has many uses. But I save up for Beatify Saint for +1 stability (admin!) and Papal Legate (+1 reputation). Mercantilism is a good place to dump points (cost 100 diplo otherwise) if I'm nearing the 200 cap.

As I've only been Curia Controller once I really don't have a feel for the benefits. -20% AE and =5% tech would certainly be nice!

 

[Bouchart]

Spending 5 PA on the papal lotto is usually worth it. You get some really nice benefits for being the curia controller. Being able to excommunicate is extremely powerful buy typically rare. Being able to call a crusade whenever you want is nice when you are playing a colonial game, or if you think you can take on the Ottomans.

The weird thing about the curia is that it encourages you to conquer other Catholics, or let them go Protestant, so you have less competition. Ideally you would be the only Catholic country in the world.

 

[jahodaradek]

Playing as Aragon,France or Castile i always get 10PA from clergy and spend them.
When i am curia controller I call crusade against Moroco. So I get morale boost when I attack them.
Playing Castile i never attack Granada with Reconquista, but rather I attack Moroco with Holy war CB.
This will allow me to get Granada, and also quite few provinces from Moroco. Then giving it to clergy i can get +2 for convert, that with inquisitor allows me to convert them quickly.
i use prestige from Holy war CB for estate mana points but I also send coins to clergy to get those +2conversions.
As France i just attack Moroco to get Tangiers so I can colonize faster than Castile because now I would have access to Arguin too.

And well -20% advisor cost is really good because more money=more farms=more money.

 

[Telenil]

There is also the benefit of breaking Royal Mariages without penalty. Somewhat circumstancial but it can allow you to switch sides sometimes.

 

[Dakka]

I usually invest five points so that there is *some* chance of winning, but the. I sit on the rest, unless I’m drowning in Papal influence (like as a Baltic Crusader)

 

[Steel_atlas]

in early game, as castile, i dump everything to mercantilism, when i maxed it out. i buy the other bonuses.
i only invest in papacy if i am max out in papal points. but i wont count on it.

I usually keep 100 in the pocket for +1 stab and dump the excess into mercantilism though the + 1 dip rep can be helpful occasionally

 

[Less2]

-20% AE + influence = even the HRE doesn't care about your blobbing too much.

 

[gia257]

It's always good to invest once for the odd chance of becoming the controller.

you should actually invest at least twice if you are stingy, 3 times usually (gives best returns), and up to 5 if you really really need it

 

[fyfaendeluxe]

As has been mentioned, the -20% AE is ridiculously strong, it allows you to easily reach 60% AE reduction in the 1460's (with influence ideas, age ability, prestige). I'd recommend always investing 15 points immediately, beyond that consider the new pope's age, sometimes they're 60+ and likely to die soon, thats when you use the estate interaction and invest all your PA.

 

[Badesumofu]

You can often snipe it early as France. The Estate interaction can give you a quick 10 PI and isn't horrible for boosting estate influence for your first milking, either. You have the most cardinals and should have good papal relations early on. Getting an early Curia can be really beneficial. -20% AE is huge and the other bonuses are very nice, too.

Just beware that if you push that AE too far that being controller gives you an opinion boost with other Catholics and if the boost is the only thing between you and a continent-spanning coalition then you need to be careful and mindful of the Pope's age.