In a Prussia game, I am preparing to lead the Protestant League to victory. I realized that during the war, I will likely get all of the conditions necessary to dismantle the HRE. Therefore, I have some options:
Option 1: Win the League War and become Emperor. As the largest Protestant nation by far, and with a decent ability to sway other HRE nations, I expect that I could hold onto the Imperial throne for some time. This option gives me the benefit of the fixed empire rank, the manpower benefits, and the benefits of the Imperial reforms, though I will likely not get very many of those. (I have eaten enough Free Cities to permanently reduce their numbers.) In addition, this option would also require me to defend the Empire, which I am not keen on.
Option 2: Dismantle the HRE during the war. This will reduce the potential for AE and make my expansion path to Germany much, much easier. However, this does come with losing out on the benefits that living within the Empire offer. In addition, dismantling the Empire might bring me into conflict with great powers outside of the Empire more as I expand due to their expansion into ex-Imperial territory.
Regardless of which option I go for, I will be forming Germany, not the HRE, and conquering the historically German lands. Right now, I'm leaning towards option two, both for the benefits of not having to worry about the Empire as well as the flex of dismantling the Empire during the League war. Can anyone think of any reasons for me to instead keep the Empire while converting it to Protestant?
Option 1: Win the League War and become Emperor. As the largest Protestant nation by far, and with a decent ability to sway other HRE nations, I expect that I could hold onto the Imperial throne for some time. This option gives me the benefit of the fixed empire rank, the manpower benefits, and the benefits of the Imperial reforms, though I will likely not get very many of those. (I have eaten enough Free Cities to permanently reduce their numbers.) In addition, this option would also require me to defend the Empire, which I am not keen on.
Option 2: Dismantle the HRE during the war. This will reduce the potential for AE and make my expansion path to Germany much, much easier. However, this does come with losing out on the benefits that living within the Empire offer. In addition, dismantling the Empire might bring me into conflict with great powers outside of the Empire more as I expand due to their expansion into ex-Imperial territory.
Regardless of which option I go for, I will be forming Germany, not the HRE, and conquering the historically German lands. Right now, I'm leaning towards option two, both for the benefits of not having to worry about the Empire as well as the flex of dismantling the Empire during the League war. Can anyone think of any reasons for me to instead keep the Empire while converting it to Protestant?
