Played Venice and got Roflstomped

[dumberchild]

played twice as venice. 1st game was much easier than 2nd, its not just about experience and knowing what to do. both games i went after the trade model, did not expand unless for trade (ignored most missions). its probably not the most efficient way to play, but its fun
i found the early alliance with austria crucial, although it breaks really soon, the ottomans are really scared of the habsburg hre.
but on the 2nd game austria did not accept my alliance offer. soon ottomans declared war, i ceded a province immediately
expect austria to declare war later in game. but with a filled treasury to hire mercs and superior navy its possible not to lose by hiding in venice and only coming out to attack the beseigers of trevisco while evading the hunter stack

 

[Krevas the Good]

My attempt on Venice was going great... until I forgot that all the little Italian states around you are in the HRE. Oops.

 

[Cynical Dreamer]

My attempt on Venice was going great... until I forgot that all the little Italian states around you are in the HRE. Oops.

My attempt on Venice was doing great.. untill the HRE remembered that all I was was a small Italian state outside of the HRE. Oops.

 

[cwg9]

I made the Ottomans and Milan my rivals, which helped me form reliable alliances with the Polish Commonwealth, the Marmelukes, and Naples (I was also allied with Switzerland and Bavaria at one point but they betrayed me like the simpering cowards they are). Seems to be working pretty well to keep both the Austrians and the Ottomans in check, although I did invest a lot in improving relations with the Emperor just in case. Nothing ruins a nice day in Venezia quite like an angry German army coming through the mountain passes.

P.S. Aug. 13th can't come soon enough.

 

[WaverleyHonour]

At the start, put everything into constructing galleys. Disband the cogs and some barques as you build. Forget about the naval forcelimits, you should be able to afford to run 50 galleys without a problem. That'll keep the Ottomans from dowing you.

As for Austria, Bavaria should ally you straight away, and possibly Savoy or Switzerland too. That should be enough to deter Austria (I haven't had to fight them).

 

[coldsteel]

As for Austria, Bavaria should ally you straight away, and possibly Savoy or Switzerland too. That should be enough to deter Austria (I haven't had to fight them).

That's not enough I don't think. And if Austria declares war, the Ottomans or Bohemia/Hungary are likely to declare war at the same time. The most useful allies to me were Poland and Lithuania.

Austria takes the mission to claim Northern Italy sooner or later and then its relationship changes to hostile. It will cancel the alliance with you, but I was able to keep them from attacking by improving relation until France attacked Austria. At that point, I attacked Austria myself and my situation improved significantly.

 

[Hakko]

I found Venice pretty easy, i crushed Napoli and almost formed Italy in less of 3 hours of game... maybe you had an unlucky start?

 

[coldsteel]

First thing I did when I played Venice was ally someone powerful like France or England (Yes, they'll accept on day 1 and Austrians are pretty untrustworthy) Then basically try to conquer Milan when they're at war with someone. Once you become a powerhouse in Northern Italy, you're all set. My time ran out before I could finish it and unite Italy

I found that I cannot ally France since it has too many vassals and its diplomatic upkeep is full. England I could ally but would be too far from Austria and Ottomans.

Also a question: I tried to form a coalition against the Ottomans but no one joined. Is there some way to cajole others to join? The Ottoman AI was busy doing aggressive expansion all over the Balkans so I was very surprised that no one joined.

 

[Burgonde]

I got Ragusa and Cremona, Austria and Ottomans created claims but didn't DoW. Maybe it was because I sent diplos to Austria from the very beginning improving relations - but they had been busy with many wars with Poland/Lithuania, France and so on. The Ottomans were probably scared by Austria being Defender of the Faith.

 

[Will Lucky]

Tried a game, allied with Austria, they didn't go to war when the Ottomans came calling.

 

[Dr. Dan]

Interesting. I captured most of Italy; just had to claim non HRE territories. Then, I crushed the HRE Italian territories once Austria was bogged down by a war with France. I thought it wasn't too difficult, but I never had to deal with the Ottomans.

 

[spinoza013]

I usually play Milan when I play EUIII. It was tough enough in divine wind 5.2 but looking around the Demo it looks like death on a stick now. The later start sees Brescia in the hands of Venice. Also Pisa is part of Firenze*. uphill struggle. Bring it on.

*Tuscany

 

[Cynical Dreamer]

I usually play Milan when I play EUIII. It was tough enough in divine wind 5.2 but looking around the Demo it looks like death on a stick now. The later start sees Brescia in the hands of Venice. Also Pisa is part of Firenze*. uphill struggle. Bring it on.

*Tuscany

Hello,

Have you tried playing as Florence/Tuscany by any chance ? I would be interested in trying it, if it's a suicidal option of course.

 

[spinoza013]

Hello,

Have you tried playing as Florence/Tuscany by any chance ? I would be interested in trying it, if it's a suicidal option of course.

I haven't. They seem to have a much better start in EUIV 1444 . Worth having a go. Naples usually main Rival.

 

[MiracleTortoise]

My Venice game went pretty neatly, immediately claimed Ragusa and took that, then Rhodes shortly after. Beat Austria in a straight up war with Bavarian allies, and took Gorz from them. Although said war utterly depleted my manpower. I made sure that Austria, Hungary, and the Ottomans stayed on or near +100 relations. Which seemed to do the trick, the Ottomans put their attention elsewhere.

 

[machtharry]

In my first game i gave a shit on diplomacy and got crushed pretty hard. So i started over.

I allied with spain and keeped relations with austria, ottos and the mameluks as good as possible.
Conquering a lot of Italy (Naples, Paples..) and Ragusa was easy too. No one declared on me.
Take as much trade as you can out of Constantinople to Ragusa and to Venice to make 2 things at once, not only increase your trade income with would be possible on multiple ways but also decrease the ottoman trade income. I know they are rich as well and few ducats dont make a real big deal but it helps a bit.

I had a lucky event with a war everyone against france. Spain was included and called me in. At first i just sent some fleeds for blockading but after the france army got wiped out i walked everything over, conquered a lot of land and made seperat peace for about 1k ducats witch helped me a lot.

Went pretty well over all imo.

 

[Hootieleece]

Just played as Venice. Austria refused my Alliance. I ended up with Bavaria and Switzerland. Everything was going great until Austria got done fighting Flanders. I tried increasing relations, etc. it seemed to keep them away from me. Then in 1504 They just decided I was weak....They had Allied with Spain. Gameover!

I tried fighting but my Army and Bavaria's Together equal 1 stack of Austria's. Then there is their King. A 1 military ruler rating that has 2/3/4/1 as a General. The two times I played as Austria he was lucky to get a pip. Anytime I jumped a smaller Austrian Siege force his hunter-killer stack arrived to save the day even when it was 2 provinces away when battle started. Very Frustrating it seems that "Lucky Nations" are back with a vengeance.

 

[spinoza013]

Just played as Venice. Austria refused my Alliance. I ended up with Bavaria and Switzerland. Everything was going great until Austria got done fighting Flanders. I tried increasing relations, etc. it seemed to keep them away from me. Then in 1504 They just decided I was weak....They had Allied with Spain. Gameover!

I tried fighting but my Army and Bavaria's Together equal 1 stack of Austria's. Then there is their King. A 1 military ruler rating that has 2/3/4/1 as a General. The two times I played as Austria he was lucky to get a pip. Anytime I jumped a smaller Austrian Siege force his hunter-killer stack arrived to save the day even when it was 2 provinces away when battle started. Very Frustrating it seems that "Lucky Nations" are back with a vengeance.

I always try and get military access or an alliance with Switzerland. Those alps are a good hiding place/ defensive option and can turn wars your way if you time things right. At least it was in EUIII

 

[Andy_Dandy]

I usually play Milan when I play EUIII. It was tough enough in divine wind 5.2 but looking around the Demo it looks like death on a stick now. The later start sees Brescia in the hands of Venice. Also Pisa is part of Firenze*. uphill struggle. Bring it on.

*Tuscany

Oh Yeah, Milan will be a fun challenge now when starting out alot weaker then in EU3 (1399).

 

[vengen]

I played three games as Venice and it seems to be highly variable. In the first two games, Austria attacked in the first 5 years - game over both times. However, in the last game Austria did not attack, although it was starting to send insults by the end of the demo. The only difference was that in the last game I set rivals including the Ottomans. Maybe the rivalries are the key - we'll have to see how the full game plays out.