Playing the Pope: Between a rock and several hard places.

[Granite]

So, I've managed to thrive so far playing as the Papal States in Ironman.(Would love to post a screenshot, but the game decided that any screenshot= crash, so WE). To give a brief summary of how I got to where I am. Allied Austria, Joined HRE, Allied Genoa, Started taking OPMs, avoided any coalition, allied France after HYW, Curbstomped central Italy. Then Castille got an early Iberian wedding, which shot out my hope to consolidate power in Naples.
Then, once I pushed into Northern Italy, I beat Milan and found Genoa(My ally), Savoy(Allied to France and Castille), and the Most Serene Republic(Allied to France and England). Fortunately, England still held Calais: Which put Venice and France at odds when war broke out. I got Brescia and one more Province for my troubles, but I also got a new coalition of Savoy and Venice(when truce expires) I then took exploration for a laugh and have just developed Papal Brazil. I also hold Ragusa for wonderful trade bonuses. Then, Austria broke our alliance and went down from 150 relations to -200 because they got that mission.
But, right now, I find myself kind of stuck. I have a terrifying Spanish power block to the south, a decaying merchant republic to my east, an inconveniant ally to the west and am knee deep in protestants, in central Italy, what is this I don't even...:blink:
Do the wise people of the forum have any advice on how to take the Holy Father to greatness!
-This was my first post, sorry if it came off as rambling or seething of noobishness.
Extra note: If I broke alliance with Genoa, declared war on them with Savoy as a co-belligerant. Would France get my call to arms first, or Savoy's?

 

[Junuxx]

Extra note: If I broke alliance with Genoa, declared war on them with Savoy as a co-belligerant. Would France get my call to arms first, or Savoy's?

Simultaneous, but they'll side with the defender i.e. Savoy.

Also, welcome!

 

[Granite]

Was just curious, sort of hoped that maybe it worked Defender<- Attacker <- Co-belligerants. But no dice, I guess.
I swear, it's almost like Europe was a messy net of alliances and diplomacy at that time...
Unless you're France, then you just eat all the things.

 

[AlbTroll]

Extra note: If I broke alliance with Genoa, declared war on them with Savoy as a co-belligerant. Would France get my call to arms first, or Savoy's?

Savoy is going to get to call France, defenders get priority for common allies. If you don't Co-belligerent Savoy you should get to call France. Best bet is to take something small from Savoy (if possible) and make them break their alliance with France as a separate piece from Genoa, plus War Reparations, break other treaties etc. France may even take a chunk out of Savoy if they have a random claim.

Also you may want to think about messing with Spain sooner than you think you might. Since they have a PU with Naples or have already absorbed Naples then they will try and attack you from the South with the forces in Naples plus eventually some Expeditionary forces from Iberia. With France as an Ally they won't be able to come down from the North (usually). So if you can wipe out the army / armies already in Naples at the start of a war you can usually bleed Spain to death as the come at you "Kung Fu Style" (one-at-a-time). Just have a fast decent sized Navy to block a land retreat to Sicily. So if you win a battle in the boot of Italy and Sicily is blocked off the defeated army will bounce between the toe and the heal and you just keep chasing them until you wipe the whole army out. Repeat as long as Spain keeps sending in troops by sea. Just harbor your fleet when the transportation fleet comes in (if it is bigger/better) if not just sink it... Sometimes Spain has the bulk of its fleet(s) in its Colonies and you can pick off some smaller fleets before all Spain's ships get back to Europe and Doom Stack up. If you do all you can to sap Spanish manpower France will stomp Spain in Iberia. Which will allow you to take a nice chuck out of Spain's Italian possessions. Once you reach your OE limit in the peace deal don't forget to force the release of Countries like Sicily and Corsica. Even if it means taking a Province or two less.You don't get AE for the nation release. You can vassalize the released nation very easily because of the big Diplo bonus you get (+100 / -1.7 per year I think). As long as they will accept vassalization due to base tax comparisons. Don't be afraid to go over your relations limit by one or two if you have the opportunity to easily vassalize a neighbor.

Also if Spain has already absorbed Naples just take a single Naples province and then you can release Naples as a Vassal and feed its provinces back to it in later wars with Spain. It will cost your more Diplo points and time when you re-absorb Naples but your Aggressive Expansion will be drastically reduced.

 

[Granite]

Spain is integrating Naples Right now, I think I will let them:Then I DOW to take advantage of the fact that autonomy is set to 75% and take provinces on the cheap. Though, I worry about Spain's ally in Savoy even though Genoa+Switzerland+France might solve that issue.

 

[Erilaq]

Unless Spain has a strong ally a more or less consolidated Northern Italy + France should have no problem beating them. I'm assuming that Savoy hasn't grown too much either.

 

[Granite]

So, I'm still not over the fact that, without fail. The center of reformation in northern Germany chooses to convert provinces in my land.
You know, when there are still only like 2 German provinces that have gone Protestant.
Also, did I mention I'm the Pope. The Pope now ruling a -30% Protestant Italian nation.
Paradox plz.

 

[Squirrelloid]

With apologies for the OT-ness, but I have to ask: is the rock Peter?

 

[Granite]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I declared on Castille without fear. Lost some battles early, but when my allies showed up we kicked their main force back to Sicily and kept them blockaded the whole war. With that taken care of, we I captured southern Italy and Sardinia. Peaced out with savoy for Corsica. And when the warscore had just wipe their will to fight, I peaced out against Castille for all of Southern Italy, made him annul treaties, release Sardinia, and give me some cash.
And all of this for only 32 AE against Castille(Papal ideas and Curia controller)
And, as a bonus, Castille's king died in combat and they lost their union with Aragon they were 50% done integrating upon DOW.
But, fate can be just as cruel as kind. Rome flipped Reformed, Rome- Is this really a thing?
...Still totally worth it, though.